RV tiny houses combine the best of both worlds, giving you the mobility of an RV with the chic aesthetics of a tiny house. In this article, we’ll show you 9 amazing RVs that look like tiny houses, plus everything you need to know about life in an RV tiny house.
What’s the Difference Between a Tiny House and RV?
Tiny houses and RVs have a lot in common at first glance. Both have small living quarters and can be moved from place to place. So what exactly is the difference between a tiny house and an RV?
One difference is that many tiny houses are designed to be moved occasionally. They’re more akin to mobile homes or RV park models than a typical RV. They stay in one place or only get moved periodically. Frequent time on the road can speed up structural problems.
But that’s not always the case. Many RV tiny homes are just as roadworthy as any other RV. In these cases, their appearance is the biggest thing that sets these tiny houses apart from their factory-built brethren.
Comparing most RVs side-by-side, there will be few radical differences in aesthetics. Inside and out, most RVs look pretty alike. But tiny houses have much more unique and attractive designs.
Tiny houses use a variety of aesthetics and inspirations, creating unique looks. Their owners remodel the RV tiny house, giving them a more personalized look and feel.
9 RVs That Look Like Tiny Houses
Let’s look at 9 RV tiny houses that will blow you away.
1. Roadhaus Tiny Home-RV Hybrid
The Wheelhaus Wedge combines an RV and a Tiny Home perfectly.
The Wheelhaus Wedge is an absolutely stunning tiny home-RV hybrid with an incredible design. The Wedge combines a chic, modern design with a rustic feel for a truly one-of-a-kind RV tiny home. In fact, the Wedge has such a unique design you might not even realize it’s an RV tiny house at first glance.
The Wedge utilizes reclaimed Wyoming snow fencing to create the roofline and exterior siding for a sustainable and attractive exterior. It has many windows to let in plenty of light, including an optional beautiful glass wraparound window at the entrance.
Inside the Wedge’s 400 sq. ft. of living space, you’ll find a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher. You’ll also find a stylish dry bath with a European-style glass shower and high-end fixtures.
The Wheelhaus Wedge is a truly different take on an RV tiny home like no other. But despite that, it’s still certified by the RVIA as an RV!
2. 1978 Dodge Commander Makes a Gorgeous RV Tiny Home
Jessy made her RV tiny home from a 1978 Dodge Commander motorhome.
In 2016, Jessy bought a 1978 Dodge Commander RV to turn into her own home. With such an old RV, it wasn’t an easy job. But, a year later, she finished rehabilitating and renovating her RV, creating a lovely RV tiny house she calls “Mander.”
Even more impressive, Jessy did the entire remodel herself. With such an old RV, there was a lot of work to do to get Mander in working order. She had to learn carpentry, electrical, and plumbing to do so, but she didn’t let any setbacks stop her.
Mander has a spacious, chic interior with custom cabinetry and tons of great touches. It features a well-equipped kitchen and has an extended, remodeled bathroom with a shower and composting toilet.
Jessy didn’t just fix up Mander’s interior. While Jessy has had to fix many things along the way, her RV tiny home is also fully driveable!
3. Neo-Classic Fifth Wheel Transforms into Nomadic RV Tiny Home
Rooster and Shelby live the active military lifestyle in their 2006 Heartland Bighorn 3400RL Fifth Wheel RV tiny home.
Shelby and her husband Rooster were no strangers to tiny living, having previously lived on a houseboat. But they wanted something more mobile to keep up with Rooster’s military life that transferred him around the country.
So in 2018, they purchased a 2006 Heartland Bighorn 3400RL fifth-wheel RV and remodeled it into the nomadic RV tiny house of their dreams. Named “Louise,” this RV tiny home features a “surf shack” inspired interior design with tons of handmade touches.
Inside, you’ll find custom carpentry by Rooster, plus unique decorative touches. You’ll also see handcrafted curtains and a straw hat repurposed into a lamp.
One of the most remarkable features is a special area designed just for the couple’s cat. The cat has a special space in the rear seating area to hang out and enjoy privacy.
4. 2003 Keystone Cougar Turned into a Modern Luxury RV Tiny Home
The Petrones feel right at home in this 2003 Keystone Cougar Half-Ton RV tiny home travel trailer.
After purchasing land and starting to build their dream home, the Petrone family knew they’d need somewhere to stay. So they decided to renovate a travel trailer into an RV tiny home.
They purchased a 2003 Keystone Cougar travel trailer and got to work. In only three short weeks, they completed a luxurious remodel.
The remodeled RV tiny house has a lovely, cozy interior with tons of open space for the whole family. One of the most notable features is the rear triple bunk beds where the Petrone’s three kids sleep. Each child has a little private space, with storage at the foot of the bunks for their things.
The Petrones didn’t just remodel the inside of their RV tiny house. They also gave it a brand-new paint job. Their home has a pure white paint job that gives it a beautiful clean look.
5. Large Family Live in a 5th Wheel Bunkhouse RV Tiny Home
This 33 ft. Heartland Cyclone 4006 Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel is the RV tiny home to the 7-member Proha Family.
You might think a family of 7 could never live in an RV tiny home, but the Proha family is here to prove you wrong.
The Prohas previously lived in a dream house they built on ten acres of land in Washington state. But they realized that life just wasn’t for them. So they decided to sell the house, get in an RV and hit the road.
Their first RV was a 33-foot travel trailer that didn’t quite meet their needs. That’s when they got into their current home, an RV tiny house based on a Heartland Cyclone fifth wheel toy hauler.
They completely renovated the space to create the RV tiny house of their dreams, giving it a stunning and cozy new look.
Their RV tiny house is well equipped with a full kitchen, a master bedroom up front for mom and dad (with ensuite bathroom), and a bedroom for the kids in the rear. The kid’s area is upgraded with new flooring, extra storage, and a power system to raise and lower their bunk beds.
6. $400 RV Tiny House Camper Renovation
This incredible RV tiny house was made on an equally tiny budget.
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have a fantastic RV tiny house. Ben and Meg Black Wolf started with a used 15′ Layton Skyline travel trailer. With only 3 weeks and $400, they completely renovated it into a beautiful tiny house.
The Black Wolfs didn’t know anything about renovating beforehand – they learned it all “on the job.” Yet, despite their shortcomings, they still created a stunning RV tiny house.
The duo completely changed the interior, adding new flooring, upholstery, paint, and more. They also upgraded the exterior, adding a solar power system and giving it a lovely blue paint job.
Despite the small size and budget, this RV tiny house still has everything the Black Wolfs need. It features a kitchen with a two-burner stove and fridge, perfect for Ben, a professional chef. In addition, you’ll find a bathtub in the bathroom, big enough for Meg to enjoy.
7. One of a Kind DIY Travel Trailer Tiny House
If you can’t find an RV model you like, build it DIY style!
Mike and Ciera’s RV tiny house is truly one-of-a-kind. In fact, they built their home 100% from scratch! Called the “Big Caboose,” this RV tiny house is constructed from 20 gauge galvanized steel with a unique teardrop design, making it tough and aerodynamic.
Inside, the handmade wood furnishings give the RV tiny house a shabby-chic aesthetic. They have a kitchen built into a unique piece of furniture they constructed, with pull-out drawers holding a burner, fridge, pantry, and more. Below their own bed, they’ve built two sleeping areas for their two dogs.
Their workstation is probably the most notable part of Mike and Ciera’s build. Mike and Ciera run an Etsy store, making and selling wooden crafts like signs and puzzles. The workspace in front of the RV features storage, cubbies for their laptops, and even a water-cooled laser cutter.
The Big Caboose features a solar power system with a 100-watt solar panel to keep it all powered.
8. From North Hollywood to Class C RV Tiny House
The 2004 Fleetwood Jamboree 23E Original Floor Plan
Many zoombirds work from their RVs. Some of the most common jobs are blogging and teaching English online. But what about working as a DJ and producer out of your motorhome?
That’s what North Hollywood natives Chris and Christi do in their unique Class C RV tiny house. Their home has tons of unique touches, like a custom dinette table. But easily, the most impressive part of their renovation is their music production studio.
They built a big custom desk to hold all their production equipment in the slideout that previously held a couch. The most remarkable feature is that the desk has a televator that raises the monitor up from the desk when it’s time to work.
This remodeled RV tiny house has a great look and many great features.
9. A-Frame Pop-Up RV Tiny House on Wheels
Original Chalet Arrowhead Floorplan
Here’s an RV that really puts the “tiny” in RV tiny house. This A-frame pop-up camper house on wheels is only 60 sq. ft. That’s just enough space for its owner Sarah and her dog.
The A-Frame Chalet Arrowhead is small and light enough to be pulled by a Subaru crossover. Plus, the A-frame collapses down for easier towing. Inside, Sarah has just the essentials: a kitchen and 2 convertible dinettes.
Her rear dinette workspace features a lovely wooden work desk, where she makes art and teaches art classes online. The table collapses down for easy storage and transport.
Sarah makes the most of her space with touches of art to decorate the walls that are attached to velcro. With this hack, she can easily pull it off the walls when it’s time to collapse the roof and hit the road.
Can You Live in an RV Like a Tiny House?
Living in a tiny house is very similar to living in an RV.
You can definitely live in an RV, like a tiny house. The most significant difference between RVs and tiny houses is aesthetics and furniture. Yet living in RVs and tiny houses are very similar experiences.
It’s also possible to park your RV tiny home in one place for long periods, only moving it occasionally as many people do with their tiny houses. In fact, plenty of full-time RVers use their RVs this way.
Is it Cheaper to Live in an RV Than in a Tiny House?
It can be cheaper to live in an RV than in a tiny house, but it depends on several factors.
If you always pay to park your RV at campsites and put a lot of mileage on your RV, you’ll probably spend as much or more as you would living in a tiny house. But, if you primarily boondock, especially if you don’t frequently move, living in an RV can be cheaper than a tiny house.
Because boondocking doesn’t require paying for a campsite, it can save you a lot of money. In addition, if you stay put for extended periods, you’ll spend less on gas. Yet RV maintenance will still need to be kept up.
Your typical tiny house can’t handle the trip to many off-road boondocking sites, which can be far off the beaten path. You’ll have to pay for a campsite or park your RV tiny house elsewhere. B somewhere else, on the plus side, you’ll save on gas and maintenance because RV tiny houses often don’t get moved as much as other RVs.
Can You Live Permanently in an RV Tiny House?
As long as you’re comfortable living in an RV tiny house, there’s no reason you can’t do so forever. But, at the end of the day, an RV tiny house is a house just like any other… just smaller.
How Much Do Tiny Homes Cost Compared to RVs?
An RV tiny house typically costs between $50,000 and $90,000, but prices can get into the six figures.
This makes RV tiny houses on par with full-length (35-40 foot) travel trailers. On the cheaper end, You can purchase many used towable trailers under $50,000, especially smaller and midsize coaches.
Overall, a tiny RV house will cost about as much as a mid to high-range RV. They may be a bit more expensive than a travel trailer or fifth wheel of a similar size, but rarely by a considerable amount.
Would You Live in an RV That Looks Like a Tiny Home?
RV tiny houses combine the go-anywhere, anytime mobility of RVs with the beautiful and unique designs of tiny houses. Unlike your typical cookie-cutter towable trailer, an RV tiny house lets you show off your personal style.
Whether it’s a remodeled RV or a custom tiny house on wheels built from the ground up, an RV tiny house is a home like no other. Would you live in an RV that looks like a tiny home? We know we would!
Jennifer Jennings is a full-time RVer and part-time van lifer. She is one half of DashboardDrifters.com and the founder of RVSpotDrop, a web service for full-time RVers.
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