Old delivery truck outside, fast-transformer homestudio inside

Vaughn Dabney bought an old food delivery van for $9500 and spent $8000 in supplies to convert it into a fully custom home powered by solar.
Trained as an engineer, but with no construction experience, he educated himself on everything from plumbing to wiring to photovoltaic installation and spent the following year or so building his home inside the empty metal cab.
He installed a sink, shower, dry flush toilet, dual-zone drawer refrigerator, bike garage, and projector screen, but it’s the hyper-custom stuff that sets his build apart. He created his own Murphy bed using two forty-pound gas struts that he calls the fastest wall bed transform (his clocks in at 5 seconds, at a leisurely pace).
He only cut one small window in the side of the van (it keeps the place in stealth mode for better parking), but he added two skylights that he created in a couple of hours using a bit of Lexan (stronger than plexiglass) to provide light for his shower and living room.
Dabney appropriated locking shelf brackets to create an adjustable seat back for his sofa bench. To create a super-secure manual lock, he used the magnet holds you find in hospitals, mounting a 600-pound-force magnetic lock vertically on his door which can only be deactivated by a remote. The van had 250,000 miles on it when he bought it so he had to change the radiator, alternator, spark plugs and starter, all of which he did on his own.
Unoma Haus: unomahaus.com/
Tiny Home Truck videos: / @thetinyhometruck
*faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/engi...

[@thinkplanetearth2946]

I'm always impressed, and a little envious, of people that have the confidence to just figure things out even though they've never done it before. Such an affable guy with great energy.

[@JazzApe]

Indeed, I'm just smart enough to realize how much I don't know and tend to suffer from Dunning Kruger. Seeing these sorts of builds is inspiring.

[@marvinboggs]

Me too.

[@dietmarkneidl]

Same.

[@dustygreene3335]

I feel the same way...but I'm working on changing that.

[@harkyo]

Nearly anything can be learned through KZbin and your phone. That's a HUGE first in human history: power at your fingertips. How much do you want to learn? Now go figure something out! 🖖🏽✌🏽🤞🏼🤜🏽🤛🏾🤘🏼

[@coachingRN]

When asked about the mileage his motorhome got, my dad would always say "it's pretty poor compared to a car but it's not bad for a house".

[@veganvocalist4782]

haaa ;D great answer

[@henryottis295]

Gotta love dads.

[@zxth]

Houses stand still anyways 😅 anything that’s a house and mobile is better

[@janchapman3746]

@@zxth thank you.

[@WindsongPodcast]

Haha nice!

[@deedeegray7489]

Vaughn is not only an engineer, he is a genius !!! This build-out is incredibly amazing !

[@JWPhotosanddesigns]

Indeed.

[@Samuel-sx1mq]

Yea.. real genius..... Living broke in a van... Any 9 year old boy could build this hunny.

[@Gabe1stt]

@@Samuel-sx1mq I’m getting a feeling that you’re very upset lol

[@GraceXIEgx]

@@Samuel-sx1mq Oh please.

[@nameme2745]

Looking forward to see more engineering videos from Vaughn!

[@jillwklausen]

This build is a masterpiece of engineering. I love that his mom helped him with it. ❤️

[@kgoak5765]

So many good ideas!!! The gas struts on the Murphy Bed hack and the 600lb. magnetic door lock are wonderful! ❤️

[@jonothandoeser]

That door lock was cRaZY!

[@justinm2697]

@@jonothandoeser It is crazy but it also makes sense. It almost seems like an alternative to a regular front door lock on a regular house provided it could have a stable electricity source.

[@jonothandoeser]

@@justinm2697 You're right. I suppose if you had back-up batteries it would work well on a house too.

[@TheMjphoto45]

Agree

[@jebise1126]

@@jonothandoeser yes for sliding door. for regular i suppose not so much. but yeah it would surprise somebody a lot. usually lock needs to hold just enough for people to give up.

[@ravent3016]

Love this truck home! The bed is genius. And only $8K for the whole build - wow. He could go even more stealth by getting two fake company name magnets made for the sides.

[@DiggingFrance]

SWAT TEAM, would be good!

[@jonothandoeser]

LOL! I LOVE that idea!

[@kwik2hear915]

I'm sure that's coming,he thought of everything else 😊😊😊

[@yosquidd242]

Yeah like when he said himself ''delivery of happiness'' or something like that.

[@dankosek4274]

Just put his own company name on the sides.

[@sherryludwig2714]

I think this is one of the best layouts for a van that I’ve seen. I wish I was forty years younger or more.. it would have given me freedom both mentally and physically that I desperately needed and helped me escape from a abusive marriage. Now I’m free and to old to do these things. Your van is a home. You did an awesome job.

[@lolazal1]

You're never too old Sherry.

[@janchapman3746]

Never to old. Just get out there and do this for yourself. Try it for a month. Thank you. Oh. Enjoy freedom and happiness. You will be glad you did. May god bless. Prayers is with you all. Love you all. Pray 30 minutes before you go to sleep. You can sleep better to.

[@iamthatiam9936]

It's not a Van though

[@cntrldfision5746]

as an engineer myself this gets my brain cells going, can tell he's a real engineer, if you don't know something, you learn and figure it out

[@she5152]

Anyone backyard mechanic with common sense can build this.

[@paolabueso]

I love the aesthetic of the build! The exterior color, the fabric print on the benches and the mural are so lovely. He did such a great job! 😀🙌

[@ChuckSilva]

This…what you said…his marriage of aesthetic and clever engineering…so cool & inspiring !

[@tommytube268]

Watched maybe a hundred videos about homemade van homes. Liked different aspects of each, but this build is a totally genius build. Rustic, functional, stealthy, and just better engineering. Enjoy your cool built home! Thanks for this video.

[@marvinboggs]

Genius-built. Yes indeed.

[@goudagirl6095]

Note to self: make friends with an engineer! So many clever parts and pieces, wow!!! Love it!

[@robertmuckle2985]

Engineer!🤣

[@MChanDor]

Lol 😆 yeah right 🤗

[@rcnacura]

Impressive build and love that he used this type of truck too. Really loved the fridge, he seemed to really think outside of the box instead of using conventional options. Well done man!

[@jayhuiting5748]

I also really like that fridge. One other of Kirsten's videos showed a top opening fridge. I remember the person saying it used only a 10th the energy of a conventional fridge, True??

[@OIII-IOOO]

genius build. i envy his “figure-it-out” work ethic and his inventiveness and creativity. thanks for sharing your home with us.

[@FrankyDesign]

I like how he learned everything from scratch as he goes along. He's a genius.

[@henryottis295]

He was raised right. I give his mom alot of credit.

[@ec9833]

How could you not love this guy’s mind & his character, personality…it’s all great.

[@mixflip]

Definately not an instagram vanlifer. No bed that opens up to a big door over looking the ocean with a hot girl laying on the bed half naked. This is what more people should be doing if they dont have kids and still young. Live in a van and save tons of money to travel or take vacations etc.

[@JamesLRossin]

We need more like him. Genius build! Very functional w/just the right things that work for his situation. Thank you for sharing his story and creativity.

[@rynkllz]

one of the best conversion builds i’ve seen based on just the engineering design alone. wow!

[@marvinboggs]

Wow is right.

[@kittimcconnell2633]

An engineer with a designer's eye and artist's heart - it's a joy to hear his thought processes!

[@hyacinthdibley2420]

Well said. :)

[@billyray323]

Clever lad ✌🇬🇧🇺🇸stay safe & happy youngster 😉 No better friend than a great mother, way to go Mum 😋

[@whtzmb]

What an ingenious and efficient build! Kudos on the engineering and aesthetically pleasing artwork design, both very seldom seen together. Vaughn is a brilliant man!

[@r.a.barrett4095]

Brilliant indeed!

[@mackmcmillan9905]

This strikes me in the "Necessity is the Mother of invention" vein. Well done. EDIT - AND well documented, thank you for sharing these homes!

[@retrogamer2548]

I love this. Living in California, sold the 500 sq foot house for 5 million. Just bought a giant camper to live in now. Loving it.

[@Sharonnecs]

Engineers are the most under appreciated profession on the planet...Thank GOD for engineers.

[@sashastarshanti3599]

Wow, I cannot believe how nice this man's truck is. It's cool, minimalistic, and so well thought out. I love that he even has natural lights and plants, and his design aesthetic is like zen/cool/modern/industrial. And I'm vegan too, so he's extra cool in my book. Hope he keeps selling "happiness."

[@earthlingsunite1405]

He gets an A+ rarely do I see someone who fully embraces this way of life. With new tech comes new ideas and this has increased the odds of more "people" figuring it all out. If more people understood not to sell themselves short taking the easy road of mass consumerism more of them would understand what is happening on this planet...

[@gammaphi1929]

That seat back is clutch! One of my biggest issue with booth style seating is that it’s hard to have good posture if you need to use a computer or sit up straight because the seat back is so far away. Awesome solution to that issue! Also love the table on a swivel, allowing it to be utilized in multiple seating positions and can be moved out of the way . Excellent work, the engineering background came through on this build!

[@c5cpe]

I thought the same thing too. I want a little 50s style booth in my kitchen, but it would drive me crazy to slide in and out, without an adjustable table like his. Brilliant. That seat back is on another level!

[@rayarena879]

You're an amazing engineer! Really impressed with everything from your murphy bed to that sofa that you can adjust the back. The plants are nice too. They add a homey touch.

[@enochthrockmorton2nd214]

I love what this guy has done. He's an absolute genius.

[@jonothandoeser]

I wish I could buy one of these. Seriously!

[@lmbjae6128]

The truck is too big. Better a suv or van

[@jonothandoeser]

@@lmbjae6128 The fact that it's a delivery truck makes it even less suspect that anybody would be living in it.

[@kebbotnet4170]

Definitely in the top 10 of your videos. This is incredibly impressive; this guy is a beast. All of his choices seem ingenious yet practical.

[@theresasalazar5822]

I haven’t seen talent like this very often. How refreshing, thanks for sharing.

[@81redddd]

I’ve seen a lot of black women doing van life but I haven’t seen a lot of black men doing it but he did a really good job with his build. I’ve been watching van life videos since 2014 and I love seeing new ideas.

[@nikolai6860]

This guy is a true engineer besides being super creative and cheerful, what a great combination!

[@ojasdigital]

The home van reflects his personality. Kudos dude

[@studio1954thereflections]

What a genius build ...this guy did an amazing job! 🇨🇦❤️🇨🇦

[@juventusventuno9213]

So inspirational. What a warm, intelligent and caring man! Definitely an engineer who takes pride in building his home!

[@AgentIzzy35]

This is a great conversion! Love this over the smaller camper vans that are so common. If the pricepoints are about the same- this is much more worth looking into.

[@maobfh]

Price points and accessibility are not even close. He said he paid $9500 for that truck. A new van will cost $50k-$90k+. Used ones in his price point with close to the amount of room he has and still solid is really hard to find. I won’t say impossible but I looked for a couple of years and then just bought a shuttle bus. I don’t think you can find a van as large as his truck and a van, like a sedan, is narrower by a couple of feet. The widest van is the RAM ProMaster at 6ft. Step vans are usually right at or 2in short of 8ft wide. I think a step van, and his build, are superior and yet significantly cheaper.

[@OMGtehEPICNESSS]

10 mpg tho xD

[@Samthemancharles]

The difference is the sprinters get around 23 mpg but hey this is nicely done.

[@benbrown8258]

You have no idea how much this man inspires me. I also use an induction hob and the same make of refrigerator freezer. I like his Murphy bed. Mine's a bit simpler as a trundle bed and not quite as invisible. Your channel is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration

[@fredfells209]

what's the brand of that fridge please? thanks

[@jsbhmm8232]

@@fredfells209 It looks like a Dometic CFX3 75 to me.

[@fredfells209]

@@jsbhmm8232 thanks

[@uniworkhorse]

What a beautiful and complete build! The natural light and attention to interior design really makes this such a cozy space.

[@shirleygabriel5967]

What an astute man. A delivery truck of homeliness! A charming tour, all well explained! I'm a 68 year old envious woman!!! Nothing to be improved upon, just to be enjoyed.

[@underacheiver2000]

Awesome job, great planning and execution. Your positivity just shines through.

[@veggiebowls6489]

Awesome. Love the magnetic locks on the doors.

[@delftbrown75]

You are a natural, true to life engineer. I am very impressed at the creativity AND attention to safety, security, function, and careful ergonomic design.

[@tayj1313]

His engineering skills to build gadgets to make things work is amazing. If he had his own studio apartment he would definitely make his own Murphy bed. Murphy beds are expensive.

[@dustygreene3335]

Huge respect for giving respect to all of his ancestors.

[@GypsyHeart2012]

Vaughn Dabney is a very talented man, and I think he is living very smart in some hard times.

[@doloresalston4409]

I cry when I watch this video because it shows in America there is HOPE to see this person make it living and take each day positive I like watching him fix his van you never to old to learn

[@noseefood1943]

What a chill dude he’s a renaissance man

[@GrayWithMe]

Such an amazing job putting this together. I’m so envious of the intelligence and skill. I don’t think I could ever do what he has done. He is an amazing guy. Love the garage and bike storage. I love this

[@susanmaguire9009]

I’ve watched years of conversions and this is by far the best. Bravo!

[@loa81]

I have been so pleased to see this man’s work. I believe I’ve seen 3 or 4 of his builds for himself and others. Out of chronological order, this is the most recent. I love the ingenuity he possesses and his ability to apply his ideas. The Murphy bed is my favorite! Swivel hardware for kitchen stools to move it up and down! So cool! Thank you, it’s been a delight to watch. Regards…

[@retireearlyandoften]

Brilliant door lock! I totally need that on my "stealth van" and didn't even know it existed! Thanks.

[@sylviewalker7560]

This person is so good at bringing his skills and personality into real design solutions that are brilliant. Wow! Beautiful stealth home on wheels.

[@2chuck]

Wow, I've been in expensive RVs that don't even compare to this truck. Love the industrial light fixture overhead. Well Done!

[@user-zt6gu1ph7c]

Thanks for sharing 😊 Apartments and homes are far beyond the prices for people to live. Thanks again.

[@dpnice7721]

Wow just wow. I am 71 yrs old and would love to downsize and live in something like that.

[@SABOREAME68]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great video, what caught my interest was the magnetic lock that Vaughn came up with, to keep burglars out . Unquestionably, I will incorporate this idea. Vaughn, makes his inventions look so effortlessly due to his personality, awesome guy. Stay Safe & Healthy... Abrazos

[@linedanzer4302]

Genius build! Love it. The bed engineering is everything. *This guy's design ideas and skill-set is very impressive.*

[@KimberlyLetsGo]

Now, that's impressive. Vaughn doesn't let the thought that it hasn't been done before detour him. Plus, what a cool guy!!

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

*deter.

[@yosquidd242]

Excellence in mobile home creation. As nice as it is, the price of the initial purchase and the build-out cost make this my favorite presentation seen to date. If only you can correct the mpg with a newer engine with more torque, but you're good as is.

[@zacherybutter7349]

Honestly, less than $20K for basically a house on wheels. Not bad considering the labor was mostly done by himself. I’d only be concerned with longevity troubles, which could probably be handled by have a good insurance company that offers roadside assistance.

[@mcz68l]

Love the lock

[@m.taylor548]

Nothing but love. One of my favorite conversations vans yet! Very simplistic and genus!

[@edwardsdeacon]

🤔 this young man is very intelligent and used some forethought in the design of the van/home. This was very cool.

[@chriss.9398]

Just saw Clifford with my little niece the other day and the main character in it lived in a delivery truck. Reminds me a lot of that. Well done!

[@Strylover]

Amazing....absolutely amazing..... I love this The ingenuity, and creativity (and the hand skills) of this man. And he seems to often follow the "rehab, redo, refurbish, deconstruct, reconstruct, salvage build..." principles that are so desperately needed in this world now. I am always in awe of what the human mind is able to create.....when allowed the freedom to do so. And he is a musician, on top of all the rest.....He basically has his own "tour bus"....🙂 Thanks for posting this....what an inspiration.

[@marvinboggs]

Ma'am, this man has done an amazing job turning a delivery truck into a beautiful, movable, home. Excellent. (Plus, he's obviously darn smart, given all the attention he has paid to every single element; from solar, to storage, to comfort, to practicality.) Beautiful Home! In addition, I wanted to take this opportunity to to say "Thank you" for every one of your videos. They are amazing.

[@OITW]

The bike storage got me. Sweet set up, eclectic ride, and awesome attitude. The development of the home, and all of its parts is such a treasure. Loved this episode.

[@Johnnyk999]

I like the astro-turf 'front yard'! Nice touch with a healthy sense of humor.

[@alanmcrae8594]

Superbly engineered! He's well-equipped to get thru the hard times ahead. And if the local scene becomes too hostile, he can just drive away to someplace more hospitable. Options... lots of options.

[@pj101]

One of the best mobile houses. Very inspiring

[@daniellemitchell3118]

This is awesome! The amount of ingenuity and engineering you used to do this. I'd bet the late Benjamin Banneker would be impressed. . Your mom must be so proud. You must be proud of yourself. I love that the bottom of your bed has a mural that you use for zoom meetings. Genius. Congratulations!

[@stephanieallangarman5598]

This is a GREAT HOME build…I would be on the beach 🏖️ with this. I love camping during the SUMMER months, but also love rain on the water while listening to CLASSICAL MUSIC 🎼. This man is living the good life. Excellent work. 🙆🏻‍♀️🙏🏽❤️👏🏽

[@misutaylor1941]

This highly skilled, creative man is a true visionary. Wow, BRAVO! Thank you for sharing his story, Kirsten. LOVE your channel. :)

[@VintageTexas59]

Smart fellow indeed, making all the space inside to 100 %. Nicely done !

[@MrsReggieRegg]

He is the kind of man that I would love to have. A man that I know will figure out everything in the end, so ill have full trust in him and will always feel completely safe with him no matter what situation

[@seviregis7441]

Brilliant conversion, very cool and creative. Very smart guy, super skilled.

[@EEVENEEVEN-vb5qy]

Nice mural, nice decor. Nicely built!

[@danthestuntman]

What a legend! I totally understand his pleasure in building and living this home!

[@scienzchic1807]

Amazing! Kirsten Dirksen finds these amazing examples for us. Kudos to both Kirsten & Vaughn Dabney for building such a master piece!

[@binbin9196]

Wow! His energy and ingenuity was amazing. I loved the way he used his engineering know it all to create such a beautiful space. Loved this one.

[@Ashlee1985]

Wow! Who would have thought a delivery truck! Skills.

[@kkouz45]

Love this episode beyond reason. The functionality, problem solving, and aesthetics of this truck/home are a joy. 🙏

[@Hyperfist]

Love the way he set up his home. Plus the ingenuity, that gas strut assisted Murphy bed...brilliance. And that magnetic locking mechanism, that is some forethought.

[@shadestaples7903]

My brother this is a awesome build....My wife and I are really interested in traveling in a few years and this build is motivating...keep sharing....Stay blessed.

[@melissabenson6749]

BEAUTIFUL, your engineering degree helped immensely throughout this build! Ingenuity, style, beauty, practicality, common sense designs also, the entire package! Way to go, be very proud, Amazing 👍🏻🦋👏🏻

[@katietatey]

Who IS this guy? Just... WOW! The build is really cool and I love his style, and he just figured everything out himself? Just the automotive repairs were so impressive. I am going to keep my eye out for this green delivery truck in case I see it around LA. :) Favorite part was him showing the bed can take a lot of weight. Yaaaassssss! Hahaha

[@robertmuckle2985]

Shouldn't any adult be able to figure out how to replace an alternator/starter yadayada? Seriously...I was doing more impressive shit than this at 12 years of age. Doesn't take much to impress folks today that's for sure!🙄🤣

[@henryottis295]

@@robertmuckle2985 I agree with you Robert, there was a time that the average guy just did all those things..... That ship has sailed sadly. That's why the people are so amazed watching this video, nobody can do anything like this anymore without it standing out !

[@hearmenow909]

You sound hungry.

[@stonedog23]

Some people just aren’t into automotive repair. We take our vehicles to a mechanic and the average person is not trying to experiment with auto repairs.

[@stonedog23]

@@henryottis295 So you think the average person can figure out how to build out a van? If this wasn’t impressive, it wouldn’t be featured on a KZbin channel.

[@leahunfeigned5955]

He's so intelligent and innovative. I love his design skills as well. Very nice!

[@ivonnemontijo8461]

I am truly impressed with the men that are capable of turning trucks and vans into a living space - the more I see these videos the more I want to live like this.

[@LindaSChastain]

Awesome home build. This is one I'll show my husband. We're looking to replace our 31' motorhome which is too big for me and my cat. If my husband passes before me, he's 91, I'm 67, I'd go mobile fulltime, we never know our future. I don't think I'd change anything if it were mine home.

[@niccolosia]

This build is absolutely fabulous!!! Love industrial feeling, the engineering ingenuity and creative ways using items other than what designed for i.e. shelving brackets for the backrest and the industrial door magnet. Just genius here and a great entertaining video to watch. Well done sir!!! 👍🏻

[@shirleycarter2451]

Hats of to this guy this is one of the best homes I've ever seen. You could open your own van conversion company. Really impressed !!! 👏

[@Mayousse]

Absolutely brilliant build. Love how he figured everything out & carried it out. 👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@sueg2658]

Best build out I have ever seen! He has some brilliant ideas indeed! Good job :-)

[@dtdyvr]

wow! this guy is amazing - thanks for posting...

[@sircharlesmormont9300]

What a great build! Vaughn's personality is infectious, too!

[@victorhex6380]

We have watched a lot of build videos before we started ours. This van is heavy, it needs more spring rate in the rear . But...its one of the best overall builds out there with a very well thought out design. Those door locks are a great idea. Mr. Dabney is the man! Thanks for a lot of good ideas.

[@ultimatehomestead1466]

I believe that's the absolute best conversion we have seen. An Original , very efficient and the best overhead cost we have heard . Stunning job for sure .

[@gregmgm06]

I love this build. That guy is very talented!

[@mdj2742]

The genius of this is so beautiful and inspiring. MacGyver isn’t just a character on a tv show. We’re living among them. His personality is so genuine and kind. It’s great to see kindness and ingenuity all in one. Thank you for sharing this video with us.

[@LilyBecca]

I love that he spent $8k on the build. It's perfection. I'm always stunned by folks who say they did the conversion themselves, but still spent $30k to $40k on the build. I guess that's still cheaper than hiring a company, but it seems like way too much for doing it yourself. His cost of $8k seems just right.