Silverton resident John Labovitz is tired of his stuff.

He’s tired of trying to find places to put it. He’s tired of paying for it. He’s tired of looking at it.

So when Labovitz decided to live on less, he went to the extreme and is building his own housetruck where “stuff” is not an option.

Following the tenants of the tiny house movement, Labovitz is building his own home on wheels that he will use as a full-time domicile while traveling the country and possibly the world as a photographer and computer programmer.

“I’ve been interested in small houses and cabins and cottages forever,” he said. “I’ve got books about how to build a shed in the woods that I bought 20 years ago.”

While he already owns a home that is just over 800 square feet, Labivitz thought he could live on less, keep his environmental impact to a minimum and propel his desire to travel, all at the same time. However, when he started looking at options he ran into two distinct problems. He noted that quality of most RVs of the market were terrible and even if he found one of higher quality, such as an Airstream trailer, it didn’t meet his personal needs.

He initially studied the designs of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company based in California. He planned for months to build his new home on a trailer, but later opted to buy a small 4-cylinder Isuzu utility truck without a box and put his home on that.

“The advantage to me is that it doesn’t have a peak roof like the Tumbleweed houses and the model seemed to work better for the way I planned things,” Labovitz said.

Construction utilizes a steel box frame designed with a high roof. It also includes many windows for natural light and air circulation. While steel added weight, he said it is stronger than wood and ultimately more sustainable.

At less than 100 square feet, the interior is designed to maximize utility and comfort. The front third is a loft bed with room for storage underneath. On one side he will have a small couch with storage under the seats and a tiny wood stove designed for sailboats.

The other side will have a food preparation area where Labovitz will process fresh fruits and vegetable for canning and a small desk and chair where he can work. He will cook outside with propane. He intends to install a small solar system and batteries to provide electricity when he can’t, or chooses not to, connect to outside electricity.

“I didn’t want it to be so grid-like so I fudged to make it more comfortable,” he said about his design.

The tiny home is insulated with recycled wool to retain heat. Additionally, he limited the use of plastics both for longevity and the personal choice to limit waste.

“I guess it’s kind of a paradox,” he laughed. “I’m environmentally sensitive in a truck that gets eight miles to the gallon. But I won’t be driving it every day.”

While he may not drive it frequently, the self-described vagabond plans to journey across the country, beginning with Mardi Gras in February. He also wants to showcase his design at the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta, Ore. in July. There are plans to visit friends and family in various parts of the country as well.

He knows his lifestyle isn’t contemporary, but as an artistic photographer with a flair for the unique, Labovitz’s new home is well suited to him, he said.

“It’s a very un-American lifestyle if you look at it,” he said with a laugh. “Fundamentally I’m designing this as though it was a time before the 40s. I joke and describe this as my Victorian RV.”

For additional information or photos visit http://polymecca.com/housetruck/index