FEMALE Photographer Lives in a 4x4 TRUCK
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Kat Carney is an adventure photographer to take life on the road in something a lot smaller than most people. She knew that she needed a vehicle with 4x4. That was non-negotiable, as a photographer anything without would limit her creativity. While others might opt to go with something a little bit bigger, Kat knew that a small profile would be crucial to remain flexible and go everywhere that she wanted without running into roadblocks.
What she landed on was a 2002 v72 4x4 Suburban truck with the off-road package. It proved to be a much more affordable option than a comparable 4x4 van, and has served her well for the 10 months she’s been travelling in it. When she and her fiance first got it, the plan was to just travel in it for a year. But, with the way things are currently going, it might go a little longer, just because Kat loves the lifestyle so much.
The truck, affectionately called ‘Hooper’ has had a few modifications done to make it the perfect offroad living space. They gave it a 2 inch lift and replaced the shocks themselves. They put on an LED light bar to give them additional visibility when driving down back forest roads in the dark, and got a roof rack that has worked very well for them.
It’s everything ranging from bicycles to surfboards. They also have a box carrier on this rack which they were able to get for under $30 dollars on craigslist. It’s super old, but it was basically mint condition when they got it. Perfect for storing wetsuits and ropes. On the back they’ve attached a trash bag that allows them to store their waste for longer periods of time away from the city while not having unpleasant odors on the inside of the rig.
On the side, they have their own homemade awning that works really well for them. It’s made from supplies that they were able to source from Harbor Freight Tools, so if anything breaks or tears, they’ve able to swap components easily and cheaply.
Since Kat is currently travelling solo, she has a crash pad and other bulky items in the passenger seat. In between the seats, she has access to an Indel B 30 Litre Portable Refrigerator that runs off DC electricity. This is powered by an auxiliary battery that she charges with Two Flexible 100w Solar Panels.
In the back seats of the truck cab, they have easy access to cleaning supplies like hand brooms, as well as a water tank that has been attached with Bungee Cords to the back of the passenger seat. This makes it super easy to remove and use while being self contained and out of the way when not in use. It works fine, but eventually Kat would like a more permanent solution for the water jug. For heat, she uses a Little Buddy Heater.
For cooking, she has a Two Burner Camp Stove that runs off propane. She’s able to set it up in the back of the camper shell by folding the back half of her mattress over, revealing a nice flat surface for food prep. This surface can also be lifted up to reveal climbing gear and other items that are stored under the bed at the back. At the front there’s a slide out drawer that holds a ton of Kat’s camera gear when not in use. It’s super easy to organize, and can be locked up so if someone got in the truck no one could easily steal these expensive items.
Kat’s favourite part of the rig is the shelving unit that they’ve built that runs along the drivers side of the truck. They ended up removing the original sound system which gave them a bunch of room to build this unit without losing a ton of space on the inside living area. They opted to use a cubby design instead of putting cabinet doors on, which keeps everything super accessible while keeping the weight of the build down.
Kat loves the ability to go so many places that she wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Many of them are on bad roads that normal vehicles wouldn’t be able to manage, so having something like the truck has been a great enabler in terms of finding new experiences and getting creatively inspired. While it might not be as spacious as the typical camper van setup, for Kat it’s the perfect compromise.
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