How a couple turned the $40,000 van where they live full-time into a tiny home office

Joey HaddenDec 31, 2020, 02:24 IST

Kara and Nate altered the convertible table to make it function as a work desk.Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

Kara and Nate Buchanan bought a converted sprinter van for $40,000 in March to travel across the US during the pandemic.
They needed to be able to work from their tiny home on wheels, so they purchased a van with a bed that transforms into a workspace.
When renovating the van to suit their needs as bloggers, Kara and Nate added a coffee station and a charging safe for their electronics.

Kara and Nate Buchanan, a couple from Nashville, Tennessee, visited 100 countries before the coronavirus pandemic, documenting their travels on YouTube - but they hadn't seen much of the US.

"We always figured we could do it when we're old," Nate told Insider in March. But with international travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the duo found a way to keep traveling: They bought a converted sprinter van for $40,000 to drive around their home country.

The Buchanans live and work in their van, which has a bed that transforms into a workspace, a charging safe for their electronics, and a coffee station next to the workspace.

International travelers Kara and Nate Buchanan became vanlifers in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kara and Nate traveled to 100 countries before the pandemic. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

"We wanted the opportunity to continue traveling in a safe and responsible way," Nate told Insider.

Kara and Nate stopped traveling internationally due to the ongoing pandemic. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

The couple purchased a $40,000 converted sprinter van for their travels.

Kara and Nate are seen outside of their converted sprinter van. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

Kara and Nate began their journey in Tennessee. From there, they traveled to Colorado and continued west.

Kara and Nate drive through Kansas. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

Kara and Nate are bloggers, so they said having a workspace in their van was essential.

Kara works in the van. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

That's why the couple purchased a van with a convertible bed that transforms into a workspace.

Nate reinstalled the table slightly higher to make it function as a desk. Courtesy of

Kara and Nate said that they use the table for working and eating meals.

Nate works in the van with a smoothie made by Kara. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

The couple renovated the van to suit their needs as bloggers in other ways, too.

The interior of Kara and Nate's van. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

To make videos for their YouTube channel, the couple uses a lot of electronics.

Kara points to USB outlets in their van. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

That's why they converted this closet ...

This closet looks very different now. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

... into a safe and charging station for their gadgets.

The couple's electronics safe keeps their belongings secure. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

Since they no longer have a closet, Kara and Nate keep their clothes in cabinets and drawers.

Storage space in Nate and Kara's van. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

The couple said they don't mind this since they're used to living out of suitcases.

Kara and Nate keep their clothes in cabinets and drawers. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

The converted van came with a TV nook.

The TV nook was next to the bed. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

The couple repurposed the nook to serve as a coffee station, which is essential in any office environment.

Nate and Kara's coffee station is next to their bed and workspace. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

Their workspace, charging safe, and coffee station make it easier to work on the road.

Nate reinstalls the table to function as a workspace. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

"Everything worked," Kara said of the van upon purchasing it. "We just made everything a little bit better for us."

Kara and Nate are seen inside their van. Courtesy of Kara and Nate Buchanan

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