He Spent 6 Years Turning a Ford Truck Into a 30-Foot Diamond-Plated RV—and Now You Can Buy ItMotorBiscuitRahaan MazumderSat, September 26, 2026 at 1:45 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleWhen Andrew Steele, host of the popular YouTube channel RVing with Andrew Steele, spotted a massive, diamond-plated custom camper rig sitting in a Costco parking lot, he knew he had to film it. What he didn't expect was that a simple walk-around video of the homemade beast would explode online, racking up over 7 million views and making it the most viral coach his channel had ever featured.Now, years after that initial encounter, Steele has finally tracked down the owner for an exclusive interior tour of the viral sensation. Even better? The 30-foot, 17,000-pound custom rig is officially up for sale."I've followed your channel for a long time," the owner, Tom, told Steele during the tour. "I've never posted one picture, I've never posted one video… everybody else does it for me".From a 12-Foot Lance to a Custom "Bulletproof" WedgeThe story of the viral camper began in 2003 when Tom purchased a 2001 Ford F-350 powered by the legendary 7.3L Power Stroke diesel engine, topped with a standard 12-foot Lance camper. For years, he used it as a standard vacation vehicle with his partner. But after she tragically passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2015, Tom transitioned into a full-time "snowbird" lifestyle, splitting his time between Minnesota and Florida.He quickly realized the 12-foot Lance was simply too small for six months of continuous living. So, the former facilities manager and engineer spent six and a half years meticulously redesigning and expanding the camper into the 30-foot, diamond-plated wedge you see today.AdvertisementAdvertisement"It's wood frame, 3-inch walls with foam insulation, and then I added the diamond plate, which is glued and screwed… all stainless screws with neoprene washers," Tom explained. "It's basically bulletproof, it's hailproof, it's leakproof, and it cuts the wind great".Tom even solved the age-old problem of cramped "cab-over" sleeping arrangements. Instead of the typical claustrophobic setup, he built out the front wedge, creating enough room for a king-sized bed, his-and-hers closets, and a cathedral-style wood ceiling.The Ultimate "Simple Man" SetupThe exterior looks like a post-apocalyptic road warrior, complete with a custom rear "garage" that houses a drop-down ramp, fishing poles, and an electric pulley system capable of hoisting two electric bikes.Inside, the remodel is surprisingly elegant. Tom gutted the original Lance interior, keeping only the control panel, and installed custom wood cabinetry, diamond-plate backsplashes, and a heavy-duty residential cooktop for stir-fry.The rig is entirely self-sufficient, featuring a 400-watt solar system, a slide-out Honda generator, two 30-pound propane tanks, and a custom air suspension system to handle the massive 17,000-pound curb weight.AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd true to his self-proclaimed "Simple Man" aesthetic, one of his original cabinet doors holds a piece of southern rock history: a framed set of autographs from the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd band members, collected during a fan cruise. (Though Tom was quick to clarify that the autographs are not included in the sale of the camper).Time to Pass the TorchNow in his later years, Tom is ready to sell the custom camper shell, though he is reluctant to part with his beloved 7.3L Ford truck, which is just broken in at 265,000 miles.For any prospective buyers, Tom has set the price at $20,000 for just the camper unit, or $40,000 for the entire package (truck included). However, he issued a very clear warning for whoever ends up buying the viral rig."If you're looking to meet people or to get attention for your business or whatever you got planned, this is the vehicle that you can really get that attention," Tom warned. "Now, if you don't like attention, don't buy it… If you want privacy, you ain't going to get it".