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Look! Small Space Living...In a Garbage Truck

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The sleeping loft on the top level, the built-in sectional on the mid-level, and the kitchen and home office on the "ground" level...with a path to the cab.

Big thanks to AT reader Maren who sent us these awesome photos of a guy who lives out of...garbage truck? Correction: A highly modified garbage truck. This small space is nicer than some apartments we've seen! Hardwood floors...custom kitchen (with perfect storage!)...and a comfortable built-in sectional. See all the photos after the jump...

 
 

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The custom galley kitchen.


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Lovely home office with a path to the front cab.


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Kitchen and view of raised sectional


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Kitchen drawers that hold everything...


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With a space this small, everything has its spot.


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Another view of the pantry


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The back of the truck, ideal for a dirtbike...


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The apartment...from the outside.

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Look!, small space, loft apartment, garbage truck

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Comments (61)

Does he drive this around? Is this his primary mode of transportation? That must be as expensive (gas prices and all) as it is environmentally harmful, or at least I would imagine. Well designed though.

posted by Garrett on 2008-08-27 19:11:18
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I never thought I would be jealous of a garbage truck... great find!

posted by sarahrae on 2008-08-27 19:11:38
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Looks like a Unimog to me. They are an ultra-SUV or survival vehicle that can be built out in custom configurations. Looking at it I don't think it is one of that but there are a few different manufacturers of this type of vehicle.

posted by Patrickinchicago on 2008-08-27 19:21:28
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MIND. BLOWING.

I'm officially gobsmacked. This is amazing!

Is there a WC?

posted by Bx on 2008-08-27 19:23:24
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What a great machine - It seems much larger inside than outside.

Garrett--

It's a diesel - probably a Bio-Diesel.
And see the Motorcycle? That's how he gets around locally.

posted by bepsf on 2008-08-27 19:23:35
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I think he uses it as a RV right? Does he actually live it it or for road trips? Look awesome either way

posted by souk1501 on 2008-08-27 19:59:14
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bathroom anyone? Where oh where is that?

posted by teeze on 2008-08-27 20:12:10
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I use to want a tumbleweed home, but now I want garbage truck! That think is awesome!

posted by blonde7327 on 2008-08-27 20:15:15
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That is so cool! I want one!

posted by megbot on 2008-08-27 20:18:18
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This is impressive-looking. I can't believe how much of a real kitchen feel is in such a small space. However, I'd also like to see the bathroom.

My parents did a similar thing in a much smaller truck (a smallish former Wise potato chip delivery truck) though it wasn't nearly as elegant as this. They had a bed that converted from a table for themselves and bunks that folded up against the walls for us kids. It also had a little water closet and a chemical toilet as well as a camping kitchen. They built it on a shoestring budget with a lot of recycled materials.

posted by Orchid64 on 2008-08-27 20:39:01
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This is absolutely incredible.

posted by VLADCOLE on 2008-08-27 20:45:13
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Ingenious.

posted by Seaside on 2008-08-27 20:48:36
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If this mobile home were any manlier it'd be leaking testosterone out of the exhaust pipe. Me want!

posted by Blandwagon on 2008-08-27 20:52:04
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I stand corrected. Or rather sit, on my couch... corrected.

posted by Garrett on 2008-08-27 20:52:23
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I think the bathroom is through that door across from the kitchen sink.

posted by Allsunday on 2008-08-27 20:56:55
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Great idea indeed.
I wonder if a truck (new) like this cost as much as a nice condo---plus all the stuff inside. I'm thinking 250K at least.

posted by poptart on 2008-08-27 21:11:26
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holy wow! i am BLOWN away! this guy is incredible! i love how everything in the kitchen has its very own spot! wowowow! what a cool thing to have for travelling!!! that truck is SWEET!!

posted by piratemptress on 2008-08-27 21:14:52
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This is awesome. I am guessing that the bathroom is behind that door that is in nearly every picture- the one right across from the kitchen.

posted by hessilou on 2008-08-27 21:21:22
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We can't figure out where the windows are, so does it expand? From the outside shot the windows, well, disappear. Is there an original article to refer to? My curiosity has gotten the best of me.

posted by Kimber on 2008-08-27 21:25:32
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i googled this... apparantly the top of the truck raises up when it's not in motion.... can you see the ledge that goes around the inside that is on the same level of the bed area? the roof rises from that point, and reveals the windows when it is up all the way.

posted by littlejex on 2008-08-27 21:37:54
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wonderful.

posted by TheoJ on 2008-08-27 21:45:05
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Some more info for you guys: The company that makes these trucks is called Unicat...They created a series of RVs that can go offroading (EV = expedition vehicle). They start around $500K.

And yes, there are bathrooms on board...you can see a few more shots of a different truck (including the bathroom/shower) here.

posted by grace on 2008-08-27 21:53:46
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LOVE it! I've saved the photos of the kitchen so I can show them to my cabinet guy when I redo my disaster area.

posted by madampince on 2008-08-27 22:16:31
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it doesnt look that small from the inside.

never thought i would say this but i'd live in a garbage truck ...if it looks like that.

posted by cscamp20 on 2008-08-27 22:18:21
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shut up! Can't believe this! Fantastic!!!

posted by Brazilian on 2008-08-27 22:18:40
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$500K? You can get a houseboat for less.

posted by mdtown531 on 2008-08-27 22:18:59
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oh, hey, great. what you save on a mortgage and bills you spend on gas, while polluting the environment ridiculously.

in theory, such a fun idea. in reality, it's like living in a huge hummer.

posted by indiasoup on 2008-08-27 22:29:26
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Lighten up, indiasoup. This is about the design, on a website that's mostly about design. Take yer cryin' over to Re-Nest. Just sit back and be amazed. If the zombies were chasing you, you'd pass on refuge in this truck because it used wasn't environmentawey wesponsible enough? REALLY?

posted by Bx on 2008-08-27 23:13:24
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Better than living in a MacMansion AND driving around in the huge hummer.

posted by Clairepetrol on 2008-08-27 23:21:44
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Bx, I often make life decisions based on impending zombie outbreaks.

Grace, thanks for the link. I'm even more intrigued by it now. For THAT price, I would expect it to be converted to biodiesel. I feel better knowing it isn't a garbage truck now. ;)

posted by Kimber on 2008-08-28 00:46:00
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If this runs on diesel, then with a little finagling, it can be converted to run on veggie oil which can be gotten for FREE if you work something out with a local diner.

posted by BSmeltz on 2008-08-28 06:51:57
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This is a little more than a "modified garbage truck." It is a 6x6 expedition vehicle that is designed for large scale trips throughout the world and is virtually self sufficient.

For all the folks moaning about it's cargo footprint, I am pretty sure you could rack up about 20,000 miles exploring South America and emit less CO2 than a family of 4 would flying a 747 to Tokyo.

posted by tallguylehigh on 2008-08-28 08:39:32
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This would be perfect protection from the zombie apocalypse!

posted by alisong on 2008-08-28 08:42:50
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Anybody else notice that the interior photos clearly show windows, yet they've MIRACULOUSLY disappeared on the exterior photos?!!

posted by Daily Nuance on 2008-08-28 09:12:01
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The first thing I thought about was zombie apocalypse!!

posted by BuddhaBellysMum on 2008-08-28 09:16:06
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The truck comes from the german company unicat:
http://www.unicat.net/

posted by und on 2008-08-28 09:19:59
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This is AWESOME! I'm totally jealous of that gorgeous kitchen storage. Sooo organized! *swoon*

posted by BambiJo on 2008-08-28 11:19:17
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Whoa. That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. And I thought I had a small apartment. This takes the cake. Genius!

posted by Goosebucket on 2008-08-28 12:21:32
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Very Cool. What a great use of space and so well designed. As for the environmental impact, he probably wouldn't drive it around to go pick up groceries and such so he might use less gas than the people who have 2 SUV's in their driveway that get 11 miles to the gallon. And when the Zombies do come (and they are coming!), I'd want to be in one of those. Maybe with a few mounted machine guns and a flamethrower. : -)

posted by modernguy on 2008-08-28 12:45:44
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I would drive across the Earth with that.

With it, I would go to many places first like Burning Man, the Grand Canyon, up and down the West Coast, back to the Northeast Coast, etc.

Then, I would put it on a barge and cross the Ocean to Europe where I will travel from country to country working stints at various small village restaurants.

At times, my wife and I would cook for small groups of friends we meet along the way--the countryside will be the dining room.

I'm sure we will find some place to park it semi permanently...eventually.

posted by art on 2008-08-28 13:24:36
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awesome.
I want one.
I, too, am thinking about the zombie apocalypse.
and "I am pretty sure you could rack up about 20,000 miles exploring South America and emit less CO2 than a family of 4 would flying a 747 to Tokyo." -- thank you, I bet you're right. Especially if it's biodiesel.

posted by piez on 2008-08-28 13:29:51
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Lots of pictures of the pantry. None of the bathroom.

posted by House of Peanut on 2008-08-28 13:52:22
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Ha! I was wondering what was under the elevated couch section. Turns out it's a four wheeler, perfect for reconnaissance missions to find supplies in the Mad Max future.

As an added bonus, the windows that can be closed off with truck section will help keep those pesky zombies from breaking in as well.

In a more serious note - I hope people who are freaking out about this compost every scrap of organic matter, never throw anything away they can't help, and buy only minimum packaged goods, because most people with one of these babies will probably have a lot smaller carbon footprint than the fleet of real garbage trucks out there servicing all of us.

posted by Kaete on 2008-08-28 14:25:59
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wow, I want one so badly. I wish I had half a mil lying around...

posted by alicia on 2008-08-28 16:38:10
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I really like it. Looks so cozy!

posted by Snugglitas on 2008-08-29 13:07:54
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The roof lowers and hides the windows as seen in the exterior photos. It raises to provide room for the loft bedroom.

posted by G_r_e_e_n on 2008-08-29 17:16:20
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More photos here:
http://www.unicatamericas.com/photos_ex70.html

posted by G_r_e_e_n on 2008-08-29 17:18:48
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Amazing, especially with a dishwasher and a coffee making machine. Wish I could have got them both into my 100 sq foot The Lux Pod. I wonder though, if all of the images are from the one vehicle. For example, the loo and the shower do not occupy the same space - look for the floor drain in the pics. In the first set of images (top of this posting) the home office is where the dishwasher is in G_r_e_e_n's link. Therefore, I conclude that all of these items would not be in the one unit.

posted by JudithLuxPod on 2008-08-29 20:35:39
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That blows me away... Now I want to trade Fiver for a garbage truck RV.
The Artful RV Adventurer
mark

posted by The Artful RV Adventurer on 2008-08-30 13:16:00
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Fun! Though this isn't practical for everyone, it's definitely something new and clever. And, it's given me lots of ideas to incorporate into my rv that my husband and I will be living in for the next while. I love the storage in the kitchen- it keeps everything organized, cuts down on clutter, and will keep the cups and plates from breaking on the road. Clever, clever.

posted by orrismb on 2008-08-31 03:42:11
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wow!!! i had been wondering aout the windows, too, thank you for the further explanation.
brilliant use of small place without letting it become too crowded.

posted by maike on 2008-08-31 11:17:00
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now this would make one killer thursday giveaway haha!

posted by mikey_hong on 2008-08-31 16:47:30
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Uber swell.

posted by simplystage on 2008-09-01 01:15:31
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These things START at $500,000 but there's no way that the one pictured is that cheap. Lame RV's cost $800,000 - with this interior, this thing must be pushing toward $1,000,000 delivered. Which puts it in "concept" territory.

And I'll be borrowing this concept as soon as I hear the first zombie howl and taking it down under to ride out Armageddon.

posted by Easyenough on 2008-09-02 10:35:05
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I guess this was a brand new garbage truck?

posted by heathercheryl on 2008-09-09 07:55:42
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I am officially jealous of a guy who lives in a garbage truck.... i should have no excuse for my place. I could fit two or 3 garbage trucks in here!

posted by cogentdiversion on 2008-09-10 23:44:39
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How about editing the title of this post so this "garbage truck" nonsense isn't perpetuated? Quality posts will keep readers coming back. Crap like this, plus the endless "Hot Posts," "Most Popular Posts" and contest updates are on the verge of taking AT out of my daily rotation. Editors, where are you?

posted by cheapo on 2008-09-15 09:10:52
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I want my own fancy garbage truck to go on fancy road trips!

Who would have thought a garbage truck could be turned into something so stylish?

I love it when things like this are posted, because it defies the saying that it's all been done before.

posted by La loca on 2008-09-21 13:33:24
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Smart, efficient and looks great. Thumbs up!

posted by click212 on 2008-11-02 15:02:48
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Mmm...Fail! Not the same vehicle pictured inside and out. Notice outside, no windows. Also notice outside there is maybe three feet above the side door. Then notice inside above the door, about three feet, but there's also about four feet of bedroom above the kitchen, where'd that come from? Yeah, nice vehicle, probably exists, but not as pictured on the outside.

posted by sed6 on 2008-11-21 05:40:59
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Mmm...fail, on not reading the whole post! Thought I did read carefully, missed the part about the roof. Stupid comment retracted, like the roof :)

posted by sed6 on 2008-11-21 05:43:09
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