Buying a standard 5-by-8 cargo trailer usually signals the start of a moving company, but David Rule saw a blank canvas for a luxury camper instead. He decided to take on an ambitious eight-state road trip where he committed to adding a new major feature to the build in every single state.
From Metal Box To Insulated Shell
The process began in his home state, where he cut holes in the sheet metal to install RV windows and a proper latch. The build moved to Idaho for insulation. David admitted early on, “This is an ambitious project to begin with, but the craziest part of this is I’m doing the entire build while on the road.” He glued foam boards to the walls and installed a wood laminate floor before heading to Oregon. There, he tackled the roof by cutting a hole for a ventilation fan and mounting two solar panels. This phase turned the rig from a suffocating box into a habitable space.
Powering The Luxury Camper In Washington
Washington brought the most technical challenge of the trip, which was the electrical system. David constructed a custom pine cabinet to house a massive battery and inverter. He wired the system himself to power the lights. He noted, “When I built my first tiny home, all this wiring seemed super overwhelming.” However, he managed to create professional custom cables to run the system. This step was the turning point where the trailer stopped feeling like a cargo hauler and started functioning like a legitimate home.
Creating Comfort On The Road
Comfort became the priority once the utilities were installed. In Montana, David built a bed platform with storage and a folding desk that converts into a bed extension. He then traveled to South Dakota to install a diesel heater and a TV, finalizing the interior of the luxury camper. David reflected on the transformation and said, “It feels like just yesterday I was sleeping in a cold, lifeless metal box, but we’ve transformed it into a beautiful tiny home on wheels.”
The Final Exterior Touch
The journey concluded in Colorado, where the focus shifted to the exterior. David applied a custom mountain graphic and a Bigfoot design using stencils and automotive paint. The result is a fully off-grid rig that proves you do not need a massive budget to travel in style. This project serves as a perfect blueprint for anyone looking to build their own rig without needing a massive shop.
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