Joniel
Battenally and Clara Trindall, a couple who transformed a 2005 Isuzu truck into a cozy mobile home on wheels. With a queen-sized bed, kitchen, bathroom, dining area, and surfboard storage, this converted Coca-Cola truck is the perfect way to hit the road and discover all that Australia has to offer. Find out more about this inspiring DIY project and the couple behind it.
Key takeaways:
- A couple converted the Coca-Cola truck into a home to explore Australia.
- AU$ 17,500 was paid for the vehicle, and it took 11 months to renovate.
- It features a queen-sized bed, kitchen, bathroom, dining area, and surfboard storage.
Both Paul Battenally and Clara Trindall are from Australia, but they met while traveling and working in Japan.
The desire to explore their country, almost as wide as the United States, had always been present.
“We started looking into getting a motorhome and saw a few vans, but a lot of them were quite small, and I’m very tall, so the ceiling height wasn’t great,” Battenally told Insider. “Then we came across the Coca-Cola truck, purchased it in 2021 and started converting it.”
Over the next 11 months, the 32-year-old spent weekday afternoons and weekends refurbishing the 2005 Isuzu truck that was bought for AU$ 17,500.
When I bought the truck, I was living in a shared house with a bunch of friends in a coastal city in New South Wales, and so I was working on it in my free time after work,” he said. “I’m a carpenter, so I had all the skills necessary to build it, and it wasn’t too challenging for me.
With a dream of exploring the beauty of Australia, the couple from Wollongong made the bold decision to move into their tiny mobile home on wheels in November 2021.
After spending a year living in it, they hit the road in January 2023 with a budget of approximately AU$ 40,000 to fund their grand adventure. So follow along as this daring couple explores Australia’s vast and stunning landscapes in their unique mobile home.
To fit out the Coca-Cola truck, the couple spent AU$ 8,000 on materials and AU$ 17,000 on appliances, plumbing, electrical maintenance, and fixtures.
Paul and Clara live rent-free and spend roughly A$500 a week on fuel and food.
A queen-sized bed, kitchen with oven and gas stove, compost toilet, and shower are some of the features that the mobile home boasts.
Their surfboards, dirt bikes, and sports equipment are outside the truck’s storage area.
The Coca-Cola tautliner of the truck is kept and used as a curtain to keep bugs out. A timber cladding wall has also been added behind it.
Custom-made windows were installed by Paul and Clara for the truck.
To earn some money, Clara, a 27-year-old registered nurse, sells art, while Paul occasionally works as a carpenter.
The couple has set aside AU$ 10,000 for diesel expenses, and most of their spending goes toward fuel and food.
When the couple parks at campsites, their mobile home attracts much attention, and people frequently ask to see the interior.
They plan to explore Australia while living in the truck for a year and possibly reside there during a house renovation in 2024.
“If you’re thinking about embarking on a similar adventure, just take the leap and do it,” Paul advised.
Follow Paul and Clara’s exciting journey on Instagram by checking out @colas_truckingadventures.
“Today we installed an extra 220 watts of solar power, bringing our total to 540 watts. This should help us handle the cloudy and overcast weather we’re expecting in Thredbo for the next four months.”
They have visited Double Island, located in the Great Barrier Reef, and Tully Falls in northern Queensland, Australia.
“During the 4-month test of our big girl, she proved to be a champ, withstanding even freezing temperatures that caused our water pump to freeze on some mornings. Thanks to our diesel heater, we enjoyed warm and cozy nights without worrying about high power consumption, as it only consumed about 10L of diesel per week.”
“We love being able to move around every few days and waking up to nature and the freedom the lifestyle gives us.”
In conclusion, Paul and Clara’s mobile home adventure showcases the freedom and flexibility of a minimalist lifestyle. By customizing their truck, they’ve created a cozy and functional living space that allows them to explore Australia at their own pace.
Their journey is a testament to the power of taking a leap and embracing a new way of life. If you want to experience the joys of mobile home living, follow their journey on Instagram at @colas_truckingadventures.
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