Japanese Road Trip in Transforming Toyota Truck

Ok, this car isn’t nostalgic (or even a car, really), but the idea is timeless. After graduating high school, three Japanese buddies decided to follow their dream of a year-long cross-country road trip, from the northeastern island of Hokkaido to the southwestern one of Yakushima. But before they set out, the trio built one of the coolest road trip cars ever conceived, from a decrepit mid-80s Toyota Toyoace.


Here’s what they started out with. It took them two years to build the truck, because, according to the website, they “are not carpenters or engineers.” Which makes the build all the more incredible.


Here’s the final product. It looks like any other nondescript box truck in civilian form. The living compartment was built from large sheets of stainless steel.


But then, push the a button in the cab and pneumatic arms swivel several of the container’s walls upward, creating a whole second story complete with tatami mats, skylight, and window. Then, a freaking front porch folds out from the bottom half.


Here’s a rear view. It’s a house on wheels!


This is what the top floor looks like. Seriously, it’s nicer than some of the places I’ve lived.


If you’ve ever seen a kei car you know that Japanese vehicles are masters of packaging efficiency. Here’s the stairs leading up to the second floor.


The first floor has a pretty nice kitchen so you can make ramen noodles without Optimus Priming the penthouse.


And the bathroom even has a fully functioning tub!


You can see more of Japan’s beautiful natural scenery from the trip on this page, or learn more about the truck here. There’s also a movie of the transformation process. Jack Kerouac would be proud. And now, with trip over, the Toyoace is on sale for a mere $5,500, shipping not included.

[Two Story Camping Car via Jalopnik]

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This post is filed under: japan, road trip, toyota, trucks.

17 Responses to Japanese Road Trip in Transforming Toyota Truck

  1. Sr-FairladyZ says:

    O.k., I am fascinated by this thing. Maybe it was from growing up playing in refrigerator boxes? $5,500 is a STEAL!!

  2. Ben says:

    Ha, me too. Makes me feel old though. Darn kids today, with their Myfaces and their X-Station Wees!

    Also, In these tough economic times, this thing sure beats paying rent.

  3. 4AGE KE70 says:

    Nice Truck-House! I wish I have one,I like it!

  4. michael says:

    I’d like to buy it! As long as they deliver to Los Angeles…

  5. Zellcorp says:

    import them into Australia you’ll make a fortune

  6. VictorV says:

    it could be such a good business sell this kind of vehicles in Europe or Latin America.. imagine this.. go to london (for instance) rent this thing for a month, and travel trough Europe, with no need to worry about hotel bills. or even for countries like Chile, where you have so much places to go…. this is an incredible idea, i think that you should patent the design and export the idea…

    great work and great travel… and congratulations for your achievement

  7. Borneo Bob says:

    If I have the sex in there will there be good orgasms?

    If the house be arockin…dont come a-knocking.

  8. This is wonderful! I’m in the process of designing a two-story RV of my own. This is the best I’ve seen thus far. Thank you for sharing!

  9. geniealpages says:

    5500$? great, If I only could get it shipped to Europe…

    Anyway, such deployed vehicles would be striclty forbidden within european cities, but it would be easy to fool the neighborhood when the truck is in compact configuration.

    Oh, by the way, do you get crushed if you sleep upstairs and the roof collapses, or is there a security space between the floor and the roof?

  10. Rajbir D says:

    Wow… that’s incredible. If only I could do the same thing after graduating. Wouldn’t mind doing a road trip in Canada then maybe going into the U.S.

  11. Smackdaddy9 says:

    You can make a truck like this. Unless you’re a lazy pot-head, like all of you.

  12. patiwaq says:

    And you Smackdaddy9 must be a holier-than-thou jerk!!! This truck is awesome….good luck Rajbir D….hope you are able to take your road trip!!!!

  13. jeff says:

    How did you find out it is for sale for $5500? It doesn’t say that on the website?

  14. Chad says:

    I think this is so great and amazing inovation went into this bad boy! Who do you contact to get one built for you? Please let me know. ems911fire@hotmail.com

  15. Ted Berner says:

    Genius! Genius! …Genius!

  16. eRLyN says:

    I would love to have one, if only i could afford it. hehe 🙂

  17. Kathleen Parker says:

    Mmmm, I wonder what the gas milage is like?? I have a van conversion and while it’s good by comparison to its larger counterparts, I still feel guilty driving it very far.

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