Toyota Siesta

It was finally time to say goodbye to the RAD4 and get something a little more spacious without compromising on capability, and that would allow for all-season living. I found a 2015 Toyota Sienna AWD with 34,000 miles in Golden, CO in the fall of 2024 and knew it was the one.

I had a little more than a week and a half to complete the build, which was a tight deadline to say the least. Luckily my second family, Mike and Louise Hering who own the farm I worked on during COVID let me set up shop at their place and get to it. Special thanks is also owed to my parents for a better than market rate loan for the purchase. Close to 180 hours later, the Toyota Siesta was born!

I tore the interior down to bare metal and got to rebuilding. I had to make a subfloor to accommodate the less than level frame of the van, install a diesel heater, affix click-and-tap wood flooring, frame and build the bed and cabinetry, cut and mount a roof vent fan and wire the whole thing for electric.

The best part of being a boring looking minivan means it’s inconspicuous. With the window covers up, it just looks like an empty family van that nobody would expect has somebody living in it! It’s plenty warm in the winter thanks to the heater and insulation, and rides shockingly well in the snow and off-road thanks to the lift, AWD and amazing tires. I’ve been living in it since October and have no intentions of going back indoors unless rent becomes affordable or Shannon starts refusing to park next to me!


Modifications and Improvements Made:

  • Traxda 2” spacer lift kit, now 9” of ground clearance

  • AirLift 1000 rear coil spring airbags

  • Michelin Cross Climate 2 235/60 r18 Tires

  • Vevor 2kW Diesel Heater

  • Bed with storage, cabinets, flip up countertop

  • Wool interior insulation

  • Dometic 12V 30 Qt. refrigerator/freezer

  • Suburban CAN sink and 2 burner propane stove, running water thanks to the Dometic Faucet

  • 5 gallon fresh & 2.5 gallon grey water tanks

  • 10lb. Propane tank and propane alarm

  • Carbon Monoxide alarm

  • VTOMAN FlashSpeed 1500 1.5kWh power station

  • VTOMAN 220 watt folding solar panel

  • Interior pee funnel that drains under the van

  • MaxxAir MaxxFan Dome Plus roof vent fan

  • Recessed 3-zone ceiling lighting

  • Tailgate flood lights and interior door open switch

  • Window rain guards

  • Window insulators: Reflectix with affixed black cloth for inconspicuousness

  • Dash Cam

  • Thule Force XXL Roof Box

  • Window screens (to annoy the bugs)