I recently brazenly followed what was definitely a homemade RV into a parking lot to talk with the owners, Kyra Campaña and Andrew Morrison. What I at first thought was an armored car-turned-motorhome was actually a 1998 diesel construction truck.
Kyra and Andrew were delighted to talk with me and even invited me in to see the inside. What was so very refreshing was to hear their unbridled joy in RVing. They talked excitedly about the places they had been and all the wonderful fellow RVers they had met.
Along with Andrew’s dad, they put a lot of work into making this unique homemade RV livable and inviting. They had solar panels, wood flooring, a compact refrigerator and range, a compost toilet and even a full-size shower!
The couple spent about six months converting the truck to an RV. Their deadline to finish was the end of their apartment lease, when they could quit their jobs and take off. Andrew and Kyra consider themselves on “early retirement” until they need to find work again.
The trip from North Carolina to New Mexico had not been without trials: first, a pump went out, then a brake line burst. Andrew is pretty handy and not only could do the remodel, but he is also able to keep the RV going.
I shared some hints about work camping, boondocking, Quartzsite, and, of course, RVtravel.com! They shared their youth and excitement.
As we parted ways, it gave me pause to appreciate how lucky we all are to have this lifestyle, whether in a 40-foot luxury motorhome or a 24-foot construction truck-turned-homemade-RV. It is the joy, freedom and friendships we share that makes this lifestyle so special.
Safe travels, Kyra and Andrew!
##RVT1023
My very first rv was a 18ft step van. What fun it was. Of course in the 70’s and 80’s campgrounds didn’t care about the age of a unit or what it was made from
just cash.
Job WELL DONE, looks great. As a great cowboy use to say “Happy Trails”.
Thank you, Nanci! This story and fascinating accompanying pictures reminds me of a series of videos that Technomadia has on their YouTube channel. So interesting to get some of the back story of other RVers. Thank you for being so emboldened to get the story and then sharing it!
My first RV was a converted step van, it was more comfortable than most I have owned since.
It’s Andrew & Kyra, it was so nice meeting you! Thank you for writing such an amazing article about us. The great people we have met along our journey had made it even more enjoyable than we imagined. We love when people can appreciate how much hard work went into our build – @birdiestacotruck on Instagram!!
Both Kyra and I have been saving money since our first part time jobs as 16 year olds and, almost a decade of jobs and school later, we decided to commit and follow one of our ultimate dreams. The experience so far has taught us a lot, and has not disappointed.
Thanks for saying hi and showing interest in our DIY step-van! Safe travels!
I am so glad you enjoyed the article. It was a pleasure meeting both of you too! Love that you can follow your dreams now. Wishing you all the best on wherever your travels take you.
What Nanci said (except that I didn’t meet y’all). 🙂 Safe travels Andrew and Kyra!
Glad those two are enjoying their time out there.
During my working years i drove that trucks twin sister. I considered doing a camper out of it. After thinking about the 6/8 miles per gal I gave up on that thought.
Great Job on RV. Hope my taxes aint paying for their lifestyle. Yes, the older I get the more cynical I get, because I see want ads everyplace and people who own those business cannot find other people to work, because our governments pays them to sit on thier backside. I worked from 11 years old, it did not hurt me one bit. Workcamping is just fine if that is what they want to do, and hopefully he can come to my area and get job, we need industrious young people here. Several restaurants cannot open all week, no workers. Need 80,000 truck drivers to fill shortage-both OTR and local, lots of work, no workers. One day I will have to start hunting deer to eat, if conditions continue to degrade nationwide.
SPOT ON.!!
Ugh…. I’ve been working since I was 14, and recently retired (early) at 55, because I was tired of having my bosses continue to demand production increases without giving us any compensation. This is the way that most ‘hourly’ workers out there feel, IMHO. They can’t afford (or even get without being on Mom & Dads) health insurance, rent or a mortgage without roommates, a vacation or even cable TV. Meanwhile, ‘job creators’ are buying yachts, a fifth vacation home at Lake Como or fighting against giving their employees a pay raise! I’m glad these kids could tell the Boss, ‘We gone!’ and hit the road! These kids aren’t “living off ‘your’ tax dollars” – they’re just LIVING!
Our great grandparents generation fought for a 40 hour work week, vacations, equal pay (still not there…) and the ‘moneyed-interests’ have been fighting back against those demands – down to convincing people that ‘money equals free speech’. It’s time everyone gets a shot at the American Dream.
The American Dream is there for EVERYONE!
Too bad you did not embrace that opportunity!
There’s 168 hours in a week. You work 8 hours a day 5 days a week that’s 40 hours, you sleep 40 hours, you git 10 hours to go back and forth to work, you got 48 hours OFF on the weekend. That leaves 30 hours OR 6 hours each work day of the work week to do whatever you want to do.
Don’t tell me you didn’t have TIME as I know that’s a lie!
Most folks WASTE those 6 hours a day.
Successful folks work those extra hours to achieve the American Dream!
I concur!
Spoken like a certified “bean counter”, you may want to recalculate I think you may have missed 5 seconds. Do you not sleep on the weekends or doesn’t that equate?
I wonder how tiring it is to be so negative?
My first RV was an 18ft International step van one of the most comfortable units I’ve owned.
Loved this article, Nanci! Thanks for being interested enough to follow them and talk to them.