NJ man converts SUV into home with small kitchen to avoid paying rent — and saved $16K

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The cost of rent can drive anyone crazy, but one man decided to ditch the crazy and went full in on the drive.

Arslan Shono, a Medical Technologist from New Jersey, was fed up with paying $1,800 in monthly rent that he made a drastic change by transforming his SUV into his home — equipped with a bed and small kitchen space.

“I hate paying rent so I ended up converting my car into a house and this is me getting ready to go to sleep,” Shono said in one of his TikTok videos.

Shono, known as @solarcampercar across social media, says his SUV is “pretty comfortable” and revealed he’s saved $16,200 in his first nine months since ditching his previous living arrangement.

The TikToker revealed that he only lives in his car nine months out of the year and spends the other three months living with friends and family.

Shono explained that living in your vehicle on the East Coast is different than other van life influencers people see on social media.
Shono explained that living in your vehicle on the East Coast is different from other van life influencers people see on social media.
TikTok/@solarcampercar
Shono works full time as a medical technologist and chooses to live in his SUV to save money.
Shono works full-time as a medical technologist and chooses to live in his SUV to save money.
TikTok/@solarcampercar

Shono showed his followers how he crafted his Chevy Suburban SUV into his new home on wheels in a Youtube video.

The crafty man removed all the seats in the back of his SUV, aside from the single rear passenger seat he uses as a desk, laid wood paneling down, and built a frame for his bed to give to feel at home.

Shono also installed three solar panels on the roof rack of his car — hence his @solarcampercar username — while placing the battery inside the frame of his bed.


It took Shono three weeks to complete transform his SUV into his home.
Shone attached three solar panels on the roof rack of his car to have access to power when the SUV’s not running.
Youtube/Solar Camper Car

It took Shono three weeks to complete transform his SUV into his home.
It took Shono three weeks to completely transform his SUV into his home.
Facebook/Arslan Shono

Crafting a small l kitchen space, Shono completed the transformation, and the once average SUV now looked as spacious as some Manhattan studio apartments.

He revealed it took him three weeks over the summer to complete his new home.

For basic daily activities like cooking, Shono sizzles up his meals on a hot plate installed on his makeshift kitchen counter.

When it’s time for a bathroom break, the SUV living social media star installed a removable cassette toilet that can be easily emptied out.

Shono cooking up a meal on the hot plate in his makeshift kitchen.
Shono cooking up a meal on the hot plate in his makeshift kitchen.
TikTok/@solarcampercar
Shono installed a small toilet inside the SUV that he's able to remove and empty when needed.
Shono installed a small toilet inside the SUV that he’s able to remove and empty when needed.
TikTok/@solarcampercar

To stay warm in the cold, Shono has an electric heated blanket which he cherishes on fridged winter months.

If it gets too cold, he turns on the SUV till it heats up to his liking.

Across his platforms, many commentators praised Shono for his ingenuity and break from the normality of living many in America are familiar with.

“With the cost of living, well played,” one commented, praising Shono.


Shono says in his video he enjoys the privacy and freedom he has by having his home also be his mode of transportation.
Shono says in his video he enjoys the privacy and freedom he has by having his home also be his mode of transportation.
Youtube/Solar Camper Car

“So creative. Great build. I love the setup and the kitchen and bed storage are fantastic. It looks so nice,” on user comments on the Youtube video of him transforming the SUV.

“This is so fantastic! I would love to do something similar one day,” another wrote.

But not everyone is on board with Shono’s lifestyle.

“Is he beating capitalism or is capitalism beating him,” one user sarcastically asked.

“There’s smarter ways to get ahead. Share an apartment,” one user wrote, to which Shono replied that he values his privacy.

“I hate paying rent but I’d hate living in a car more,” another wrote.

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