Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

The New Living Vehicle Micro Home Is an Off-Grid Dream Come True

The New Living Vehicle Micro Home Is an Off-Grid Dream Come True

The aluminum travel trailer is topped with solar panels and packed with flexible spaces that live larger than its 232 square feet.

Designed by Santa Barbara–based Matthew and Joanna Hofmann, the 2022 Living Vehicle travel trailer is an eco-conscious adventurer’s dream. "Our company is about getting off-grid and living your best life," Joanna says. "The 2022 model has a completely new energy system. The ability to capture natural energy from the sun and turn it into raw power that’s stored in a large energy pack for use later is what makes Living Vehicle so capable."



Living Vehicle enables nomadic homeowners to live sustainably while working and traveling.



The home on wheels is clad with aluminum, which is durable, low-maintenance, and long-lasting.

The Hofmanns, who call their own Living Vehicle home, started their company in 2017 after Matthew, a LEED-accredited architect, designed and built an Airstream as his office. "The Airstream eventually became my permanent home on a piece of land in Santa Barbara with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean," he says. "I grew up in the rugged mountains of Mammoth Lakes, California, and so I have a fierce passion for the outdoors and creating indoor spaces that seamlessly connect people with the outdoor world."



Rooftop solar panels help to power the home’s major appliances and its heating and cooling.

Joanna, who has a background in nutrition, holistic health, and business, is the company’s chief marketing officer-and her contributions to the small-space design process are invaluable. "One thing I bring to the table is how to make the trailers functional and comfortable enough for everyday living," she says. "There’s a big difference between camping for a weekend and making this your full-time home."



"Living Vehicle was designed to connect people with nature-and its 60-square-foot outdoor deck allows owners to get even closer to it," Joanna says. "Owners can use the deck as an outdoor kitchen, a yoga studio, a place to relax without being bothered by ground bugs, or as a stargazing platform."

Joanna considers elements she found difficult while living in previous micro homes, and she works with Matthew to create solutions. "It’s one of the best things about creating a product that serves real-life, everyday needs," she says. "We’ve lived in so many small spaces together, and I know that if something annoys me, it must be an issue for others. After I found out Matthew worked in the trailer world and wanted to pursue the lifestyle with me, I had a long list of non-negotiables before I’d commit."



The flexible kitchen is equipped with a full-size refrigerator.

A sizable kitchen with plenty of storage was on Joanna’s list of must-haves for the tiny home on wheels-as was a comfortable bathroom. "Making healthy and delicious meals in a small space is possible with the right design," she says. "And above all, I needed a nice bathroom-bathrooms in trailers are notoriously terrible. I wanted a space that felt great when I took my morning shower...a space that connected me to nature."



A removable island provides space for food preparation in the open-plan kitchen.

The new Living Vehicle starts at $250K, and it comes equipped with a kitchen and an ample pantry, extra storage for hobby and exercise gear, a tall closet that accommodates hanging clothes, a spa-like bathroom that connects to the outdoors, and a 60-square-foot outdoor deck. "We found that most small spaces weren’t able to go off-grid for very long, so we wanted to design a full-time off-grid residence with as few limitations as possible," Matthew says.



Sliding glass doors connect the kitchen to the outdoor deck and the landscape beyond.

The four-season residence is designed with an array of flexible spaces-a built-in sectional in the living/dining area converts to a bed for overnight guests, and in the bedroom the queen-size bed turns into an 80-inch desk. "When the bed is put away, some of our customers also use this extra floor space as a children’s play area," Joanna says.



The dining area features a removable table, and it can convert into a lounge or living area.

Clad with aluminum, the tiny home is as durable as it is efficient. "Aluminum is one of the most common natural elements, and it’s a fully recyclable resource," Matthew says. "It’s lightweight, low-maintenance, strong, and will last a lifetime."

The Hofmanns were also drawn to the way aluminum takes on a patina. "It’s an honest material that gets better with daily use and the passing of time," Matthew says. "The oxidation process forms a naturally occurring protective layer that prevents corrosion."



The bedroom has a large viewing screen, a projector, and a queen-size bed.

Sustainability was also an important design consideration for the Hofmanns. According to Joanna, the Living Vehicle has more solar power than most homes. Every year, the couple aims improve on the previous year’s model with the ultimate goal of creating an all-electric, net-zero product. "The 2022 model brings us one step close to that vision," Joanna says.



A laundry area and a tall closet that accommodates hanging clothes are located in the bedroom.

Solar energy can be used to power all of the Living Vehicle’s major appliances, heating, and cooling systems. "With the advent of electric tow vehicles, the near-term vision is to store solar energy and then charge the same truck that pulls the trailer, bringing the concept of a fuel-free world one step closer," Joanna explains.



The bedroom’s queen-size bed folds into the wall and converts into a desk so that the room can be used as an office space.

The company currently delivers to Canada and within the United States-and lately, they’re shipping more models than ever. "One of the effects of the pandemic was an increase in housing prices," Matthew says. "As a result of the pandemic, the 2020 California wildfires, and Texas power outages, Living Vehicle has become a solution for homeowners looking to live simply and freely. People are choosing not to depend on big utility provider corporations that are becoming increasingly unreliable."



A skylight in the spa-like bathroom provides the feeling of showering outdoors.

The couple has also learned that customers simply want a different way of life. "Our typical client is the nomadic homeowner," Joanna says. "If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that commuting to work to grind away at a desk is not the only way to live and be successful. In the last year, professionals have thrived in remote environments, and they are now finding creative ways to be productive while traveling and exploring."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×