A family of 4 travel around Europe in a red fire truck that they converted into a mobile home with solar panels on the roof

Armani SyedFeb 23, 2022, 00:02 IST

The tiny home was converted from a fire truck by Jess Branton and Dave Smith.Courtesy of Jess Branton

A family of four uses a converted fire truck as a mobile home for their European travels.
Jess Branton and Dave Smith traveled to five countries in 2020 with daughters Poppy and Luna.

Jess Branton and Dave Smith are a British couple based in England who converted an old fire truck into a red house on wheels.

The English fire truck purchased by Jess Branton and Dave Smith, who turned it into a mobile home.Courtesy of Jess Branton

The couple had their first taste of van life years earlier when they placed a mattress in a small van they once owned and used it to travel to France.

Inside Jess Branton and Dave Smith's fire truck before they converted it.Courtesy of Jess Branton

The fire truck renovation was completed in 2018 and the couple said they spent a further £7,000, or around $9,500, on converting the 23-foot-long, 5.5-ton "big red beast."

Another view of Jess Branton and Dave Smith's emptied fire truck before they converted it.Courtesy of Jess Branton

The fire truck renovation was completed in 2018 and the couple said they spent a further £7,000, or around $9,500, on converting the 23-foot-long, 5.5-ton "big red beast."

Inside the fire truck, the couple have two sleeping areas as well as a table that can be hidden away. There's also a gas oven, stovetop, fridge, and a freezer.

Poppy and Luna Smith, Branton and Smith's daughters, in their bed in the fire truck.Courtesy of Jess Branton

The family's vehicle is powered by solar energy, generated by two panels on the roof.

Solar panels on the roof of the family's converted van.Courtesy of Jess Branton

The family mostly travels through Europe in their fire truck, and they visited five different countries in 2020 and traveled through the UK in 2021.

The exterior of the fire truck family's van conversion home.Courtesy of Jess Branton

While the family no longer lives in the fire truck and only uses it to travel, they have a number of storage solutions on board.

The main double bed is used by Jess Branton and Dave Smith in their mobile home.Courtesy of Jess Branton

While many van-life couples travel together in a tiny home, it's less common to have a whole family on board. Branton said their daughters Poppy and Luna "absolutely love it."

A tiled kitchen with a gas oven and stovetop in the van conversion.Courtesy of Jess Branton

While many van-life couples travel together in a tiny home, it's less common to have a whole family on board. Branton said their daughters Poppy and Luna "absolutely love it."

Branton said that the UK has a growing van-life community because house prices are rising and remote working has become more popular.

A pull-out dining table and seating area in the converted van.Courtesy of Jess Branton

The family have warm memories of their time on the road and want to empower others to try alternative living.

A view of the mobile home during countryside travels.Courtesy of Jess Branton

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A family of 4 travel around Europe in a red fire truck that they converted into a mobile home with solar panels on the roof

Jess Branton and Dave Smith are a British couple based in England who converted an old fire truck into a red house on wheels.

The couple had their first taste of van life years earlier when they placed a mattress in a small van they once owned and used it to travel to France.

The fire truck renovation was completed in 2018 and the couple said they spent a further £7,000, or around $9,500, on converting the 23-foot-long, 5.5-ton "big red beast."

Inside the fire truck, the couple have two sleeping areas as well as a table that can be hidden away. There's also a gas oven, stovetop, fridge, and a freezer.

The family's vehicle is powered by solar energy, generated by two panels on the roof.

The family mostly travels through Europe in their fire truck, and they visited five different countries in 2020 and traveled through the UK in 2021.

While the family no longer lives in the fire truck and only uses it to travel, they have a number of storage solutions on board.

While many van-life couples travel together in a tiny home, it's less common to have a whole family on board. Branton said their daughters Poppy and Luna "absolutely love it."

Branton said that the UK has a growing van-life community because house prices are rising and remote working has become more popular.

The family have warm memories of their time on the road and want to empower others to try alternative living.