An artist converted a Ford minibus into a mobile pink tiny home and studio for $9,000 — check it out

Jyoti MannAug 6, 2023, 16:03 IST

Rita Carr.Rita Carr

Muralist and graphic designer Rita Carr bought a secondhand Ford minibus for $3,500 in 2020.
She then spent $9,000 converting it into a mobile tiny home and studio.

Rita Carr said she'd always loved the idea of living and working on the road.

In 2020, she decided to take the plunge, setting off on a six-month road trip across the US in her Jeep Wrangler.

But the muralist and graphic designer said that after a while she started to find that the Jeep was too small for what had turned into "a full-time lifestyle."

So in August 2020 she bought a secondhand Ford minibus, which had close to 400,000 miles on it, for around $3,500.

She then spent a week — and $9,000 — converting it into a mobile tiny home and studio.

Carr told Insider how she converted it and how she crafted a new life on the road.

The first thing she did after buying the minibus was wash it.

Rita Carr

It took her six hours to paint.

Rita Carr

Carr stripped out the minibus and added flooring.

Rita Carr

It has a bed area, kitchen, studio space for her to work, a bathroom, and an outdoor shower.

Rita Carr

The renovation cost her around $9,000, she said.

Rita Carr

Carr started getting work painting murals on walls for breweries.

Rita Carr

She picked up more clients on the road.

Rita Carr

Half of her income comes from creating murals and the other half comes from graphic design work.

Rita Carr

She's visited the 48 contiguous US states.

Rita Carr

She likes to visit places that are off the beaten path.

Rita Carr

Carr said she's much happier now.

Rita Carr

People underestimate how exhausting it is living in a tiny space, Carr said.

Rita Carr

Giving yourself breaks is important.

Rita Carr

Carr said she's now certain about what she wants out of life.

Rita Carr

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An artist converted a Ford minibus into a mobile pink tiny home and studio for $9,000 &mdash; check it out

The first thing she did after buying the minibus was wash it.

It took her six hours to paint.

Carr stripped out the minibus and added flooring.

It has a bed area, kitchen, studio space for her to work, a bathroom, and an outdoor shower.

The renovation cost her around $9,000, she said.

Carr started getting work painting murals on walls for breweries.

She picked up more clients on the road.

Half of her income comes from creating murals and the other half comes from graphic design work.

She's visited the 48 contiguous US states.

She likes to visit places that are off the beaten path.

Carr said she's much happier now.

People underestimate how exhausting it is living in a tiny space, Carr said.

Giving yourself breaks is important.

Carr said she's now certain about what she wants out of life.

An artist converted a Ford minibus into a mobile pink tiny home and studio for $9,000 — check it out