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Chevrolet Express Unicell Conversion Combines Tiny-Home Comfort With a 23-Foot Mobile Layout

This Chevrolet Express G3500 combines tiny-home comfort, off-grid capability, and spacious living in a custom fiberglass body.

Chevrolet Express Unicell Conversion Combines Tiny-Home Comfort With a 23-Foot Mobile Layout

This 2021 Chevrolet Express G3500 Unicell conversion turns a cutaway van chassis into a spacious mobile home designed for long-term travel and off-grid living. With about 6,000 miles, a 6.6-liter V8, a multifunctional living area, full kitchen and bathroom, and a substantial solar-and-battery system, it offers considerably more interior width than a conventional van conversion.


A Chevrolet Express Built More Like a Tiny Home

Traditional van conversions can provide a surprising amount of living space, but their narrow bodies inevitably limit how much room is available inside. This Chevrolet Express G3500 takes a different approach by pairing a 2021 Express Cutaway chassis with a custom Unicell Aerocell fiberglass body.

The result is a 23-foot-long mobile living space that is about 7.6 feet wide inside. With a standing height of 6 feet 3 inches, the box provides dimensions that make the interior feel closer to a compact apartment than a conventional camper van.

The conversion was professionally built by Savannah and Drew of Our Way to Roam for long-term travel, off-grid camping, and full-time living. It has about 6,000 miles on the odometer and is being offered on the used market for $134,000.

Chevrolet Express G3500 Specifications

The vehicle uses a Chevrolet Express G3500 cutaway chassis powered by a 6.6-liter V8 gasoline engine.

According to the listing, the powertrain produces:

  • 401 horsepower
  • 464 lb-ft of torque
  • Two-wheel drive

The vehicle has a 12,300-pound GVWR and comes with a clean title. The listing identifies the title as a New York State "Home on Wheels" title.

The custom fiberglass box measures 23 feet long, or 24 feet when the removable rear step is included. Its exterior height is 9.8 feet, while the interior provides 6 feet 3 inches of standing room and 7.6 feet of width.

That additional width is particularly significant because it allows the builders to create separate living, cooking, sleeping, and bathroom areas without the interior feeling as constrained as a typical van.

Why the Fiberglass Unicell Body Matters

The living box is built from one-piece molded fiberglass rather than a conventional metal box. The structure is reinforced with a custom 1-by-2-inch steel frame, while the doors and windows were positioned around the planned interior layout.

The fiberglass construction also has a practical benefit: fiberglass doesn't oxidize or rust when exposed to moisture, road salt, or chemicals. That makes the material particularly suited to a vehicle intended for extended travel and outdoor use.

An Arctic Tern Wildlands entry door provides access to the living area.

A Modern Rustic Interior

Inside, the conversion combines natural materials with contemporary details. A light cedar-planked ceiling and butcher block countertops contrast with deep teal-blue cabinetry.

Other details include:

  • Woven cane cabinet inserts
  • Cream-colored linen curtains
  • A soft beige sofa
  • Integrated storage
  • Decorative fairy lights

The overall design gives the interior a residential feel while retaining the functionality needed in a mobile living space.

The Five-Way Living Area

One of the most practical parts of the layout is the convertible living area. Its furniture system can be configured in five different ways depending on how the space is being used.

It can function as:

  1. A couch
  2. A two-person dining booth
  3. A four-person dining area
  4. A workstation
  5. A guest bed

The benches also contain integrated storage, allowing the same footprint to serve several purposes without requiring separate furniture for each function.

A Full Kitchen for Longer Stays

The kitchen sits opposite the convertible living area and is designed more like a permanent home kitchen than a basic camper galley.

It includes handmade cabinetry, a pull-out pantry, substantial counter space, and a pull-out cutting board. There's even a dedicated drawer for pet food and water bowls.

Cooking equipment includes a 12-inch RecPro gas stove and oven, supplied by a 20.3-gallon under-mount propane tank.

The rest of the kitchen includes:

  • A 3.5-cubic-foot refrigerator
  • A separate 23-quart freezer
  • A butler's sink
  • Cutting board insert
  • Pull-down sprayer
  • Separate filtered-water tap

The filtered-water system uses a three-stage APEC in-line filtration system.

Rear Bedroom With Storage and Entertainment

The bedroom occupies the rear of the living box. A raised bed uses a full-size, 8-inch memory foam mattress, while the space underneath provides a garage-style storage area.

Additional cabinets provide storage around the sleeping area.

For entertainment, the bedroom has a projector screen with a magnetic mounting system.

Full Bathroom in a Compact Space

Despite the vehicle's mobile format, the bathroom includes a full standing shower with a glass enclosure.

The shower has a custom stainless-steel pan and teak floor mat. One waterproof wall uses a finish designed to imitate residential tile.

A Thetford 565e cassette toilet is also incorporated into the bathroom.

The plumbing system is supplied by a 75-gallon fresh-water tank, while separate gray-water tanks collect wastewater from the sink and shower.

There's also an outdoor hot-and-cold shower for situations where using the indoor bathroom isn't necessary.

Solar Power and Off-Grid Capability

The electrical system is designed for extended stays away from conventional hookups.

Its main components include:

  • 1,200 watts of solar panels
  • 560Ah lithium iron phosphate battery bank
  • 3,000-watt pure sine wave inverter
  • 60A MPPT solar charge controller
  • 40A AC battery charger
  • Bluetooth battery monitoring
  • 30A shore-power connection

This combination is intended to support the vehicle's off-grid use while still allowing it to connect to shore power when available.

Heating, Ventilation and Climate Control

The conversion is equipped for year-round use with several heating and ventilation features.

The floor has radiant heating with a thermostat, while a Dickinson Marine P12000 vented propane heater provides additional heat. Two MaxxAir ceiling vents handle ventilation.

There is also an air-conditioning unit, but the listing states that it isn't operational. The future owner would therefore need to replace it.

What the $134,000 Package Includes

This Chevrolet Express G3500 conversion is listed at $134,000 and has approximately 6,000 miles.

Its defining feature is the wide Unicell fiberglass body, which provides substantially more interior width than a conventional van while keeping the vehicle on a truck-based cutaway chassis. Inside, the space combines a convertible living area, full kitchen, rear bedroom, bathroom, substantial water capacity, and an off-grid electrical system.

The non-operational air-conditioning unit is one condition specifically identified in the listing. The vehicle is otherwise described as having a clean New York State "Home on Wheels" title.


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