Chatting with Tim Johnson of Truck House Life
Tim Johnson - @TruckHouseLife
The DRIVEN team had a chance to connect with Tim Johnson of Truck House Life. Maybe it was the diesel, the wood stove in the Truck House or just his general vibe, but we immediately loved Tim’s content and his desire to try new things, either taking his Truck House out on Arctic adventures or building a new house in Alaska, we just had to share Tim with you folks.
Tim…your original vision for the Truck House on the back of your F350, to now, your YouTube channel (Truck House Life) was this always the plan or tell us about how it just all came about?
I have been making videos on YouTube since the platform started in 2006 (mainly whitewater kayaking videos and adventures). I full-timed in a Toyota 4x4 motorhome for 6 years in Anchorage and never filmed any of it (but vlogged about it www.timmystoyota.blogspot.com ). I sold the Toyota camper and used that money to build the truck house, made a YouTube tour video about the truck house… and the video blew up. So, I decided to begin filming my lifestyle and adventures in the truck house and here we are today!
Q. Over time, we noticed how your Truck House evolved, tell us about the evolution of your Truck House unit?
The main change was that I sketched up a flatbed design and had the custom flatbed made for the truck, then added storage boxes, which allowed me to carry what I need to go on extended road trips around Alaska, Canada and the lower 48. I’ve done several 6-month long road trips and had everything I needed with me. Other than that, not a lot has changed and I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done.
Q. Tim, did you grow up in AK? And what your attraction to AK?
I grew up in the North Georgia mountains. My pops had an extremely remote (140 miles by bush plane) cabin that he built up here when I was about 10 years old, so I would spend large chunks of time up in Alaska in the summers and always loved it. I moved up to Alaska when I turned 20 and have been here ever since.
Q. What’s the oddest thing you have seen while exploring with the Truck House?
Pretty sure I spotted a UFO driving north of Fairbanks in the winter one time.
Q. What’s the oddest question someone asked about your Truck House?
Nothing too crazy, but I get asked where the toilet is all the time… it’s under the wood stove.
Q. Besides producing awesome content about Truck House touring/living, what do you do professionally…your other day job?
I teach people how to drive and I’m also a road test examiner for drivers’ licenses. Been doing that for a long time. Youtube is my 2nd career now.
Q. What can we expect to see from Truck House Life (YouTube) for the 2024 season?
Some absolutely epic adventures with the truck house and a big road trip!
Final question…What’s your fav trip thus far?
My long-term road 6-month road trips from Alaska down through Canada and all around the USA. I get to do so many different things, meet so many great people and have incredible experiences in different environments every other day!
Photo Credits: Tim Johnson @TruckHouseLife