If you’re hoping to move around a lot, a moveable tiny home isn’t always the best option. While vans and school bus conversions take the spotlight, my guest Tom Roszko set his sights on a medium-duty ambulance. In this conversation, we’ll learn why used ambulances actually make a fantastic starting point for a conversion, how to find them, and other tips for a DIY, super mobile tiny home. Plus, Tom shares details about his solar, water, and off-grid living in his home.
In This Episode:
10 years of living tiny: the quest for the right mobile tiny dwelling
The super single tire conversion and the headaches that go along with it
How do figure out the existing wiring system and what should be modified or added?
Water in and out of an ambulance
It's possible for your tiny house to be propane-free
How often does the ambulance go off-road?
The fluid process of an ambulance conversion
What were the costs associated with the ambulance conversion?
Tom has been in one camper or another for the last 25 years. 10 years ago he stepped out of the rat race and got serious about living small. After multiple vehicles that weren't just right, he decided to make his own. A year of labor and a pile of cash resulted in a tiny homemade from a medium-duty ambulance. Formally owned by Yellowstone National Park, this go-anywhere tiny home now fits the bill for a full-time life of fun and adventure.
Have you been working on planning or building your tiny house and feel like you want to connect with other people, get your questions answered, and just support each other on the way? Well, Tiny House Engage is the community for you. Tiny House Engage brings together tiny house hopefuls and DIYers to share plans and resources, learn from each other’s challenges and mistakes, and celebrate our successes so that we can feel less alone while we build faster, safer, smarter, cheaper homes and embrace the tiny house lifestyle. Whether you’re a tiny house dreamer who is still figuring out all the systems, plans, and everything you need to go into your tiny house, or if you’re actively building, Tiny House Engage has the resources for you. There are professional contractors in the community here to answer your questions about plumbing, electricity, and ventilation, and there’s also plenty of interaction between members. If you need some encouragement or just need to know how someone else solved a problem, you’ll get those answers in Tiny House Engage. I’m also very active in the community, answering questions and keeping an eye on things, so if you want to interact with me, this is a great way to do it. To learn more and register for Tiny House Engage, go to thetinyhouse.net/engage. Registration is open Tuesday, November 17th, and it’ll be open through the following Tuesday or when we get 20 members, whichever comes first! I can’t wait to meet you in Tiny House Engage and I know you’ll love your new tiny house community.
Tiny House Engage members are also able to listen live as I record these podcasts and interviews, and ask questions of our guests. So if you’re a big fan of the show, it’s a great way to get an inside look at the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast and get access to episodes weeks – or even months – before they go live on the feed. To learn more and register for Tiny House Engage, go to thetinyhouse.net/engage. Registration will open Tuesday, November 17th, and it’ll be open until we get 20 members or for one week, whichever comes first! I can’t wait to meet you in Tiny House Engage and I know you’ll love your new tiny house community.
More Photos:
Solar panels up on top
Tom uses an electric cooktop, making his home propane-free
The bench makes a perfect bed platform
Built-in cabinets are perfect storage!
He rarely stays in RV parks
No dualies for this ambulance: Tom did a super single conversion on the back tires
