Why They Decided to Stop Living in a 1987 Jeep Comanche

In 2019, Jim and his wife were in Boise, Idaho, when they knew that they wanted to travel before deciding where to settle down. They bought a jeep with the goal of adding a camper, but the engine blew up, so instead of buying a camper, they purchased another jeep, and then Jim went to work combining the two jeeps and building them out to make them habitable.

Jim already had experience working on jeeps from high school and experience living in small spaces from working on a boat in Alaska, so he came to the project with an advantage.

As you walk into the jeep, there’s a fold-out table and an upholstered bench with under-bench storage.

The kitchen has a deep sink for washing dishes, with an extendable faucet that can go through the window and be used for outdoor showers. There is also a two-burner stove. Jim originally had an oven in the jeep but got rid of it to save space when he redid parts of the build; he still regrets getting rid of the oven and thinks he would put it back in if he was re-doing the build again.

The kitchen also has an 85-liter SnoMaster fridge with under-fridge storage and magnetic strips for storing knives so they don’t fall when the Jeep Comanche is in motion.

Living in a jeep comanche

When Jim’s wife became pregnant, they decided to move into a more traditional living space before the baby was born. They moved out when she was eight and a half months pregnant to make room for their new member of the family.

However, they’re still happy for their time on the road and grateful for the fun experience of living in something unique that they built themselves.

For more stories of life on the road, take a tour of this couple's romantic van dwelling or this British-inspired double-decker tiny home.

To see more videos, check out the Tiny Home Tours YouTube channel.