The "Ugly Truckling" housetruck is an unique home that Kai and Ben have been building on for the last five years. They installed the Dward 4kw as an off-grid source of heat to be prepared for grid outages during the winter months.
Who are you? Tell us something about you!
We are Kai and Ben, we've been building our housetruck "The Ugly Truckling" for five years now, and now are finally approaching the end of the build. It's an expression of my (Kai's) design esthetic, as well as an homage to others who have lived this lifestyle before us. It's our cabin in the woods, a cozy place to run away from the modern world.
Where did you install your stove? Do you stay in cold climates much?
We installed our stove in our housetruck. It was very important to have an off-grid source of heat, because the power grid frequently goes down in the winter. Also wood heat is just so cozy! We live on the west coast of Canada, and although it gets cold in the winter, it doesn't go more than -10 Celsius. We live in a rainforest, so moisture control is very important, and the dry heat of a wood stove helps to dry out everything inside when it's pouring rain for days and days.
How did your tiny living journey begin and what were your reasons?
We both lived in small structures before the housetruck: Vans, Boats, RV's etc. Real estate is ridiculous in our region, and living tiny is one of the things we do to allow us freedom from overpriced rental costs. We've been full time in the housetruck for about a year and a half now.
How did you decide on a Dwarf stove?
I had to have a beautiful stove. The wood stove is such a center point in a home, you stare at it for hours, so it should look good! I even went so far as to have our Dwarf 4kw shipped to a vitreous enameller and enameled a deep shiny forest green color. I love the look of vintage french and Scandinavian stoves, and wanted to approximate the look in a smaller package. Out of everything in our home, the stove/hearth has had the most money and thought spent on it.
How difficult was the installation process? Did you need any assistance of any kind?
We thought it would be difficult, but it was actually quite easy. We didn't get around to installing the stove until New Years last year, so we had to actually shovel snow off the roof in order to cut the hole for the stovepipe! That was a little stressful, but it hasn't leaked and we've had no problems with it.
How has your experience been using the Dwarf? Have you been enjoying having a tiny wood stove in your space?
The stove is wonderful, it's so cozy to get a ripping fire going. Now all we have to do is install the tile surround, and get some shiny brass accessories for the shiny green stove, and the fireplace will be complete.
Would you recommend a tiny wood stove to others? Why?
Yes, especially if you live in a rural area. Have heat in the dead of winter isn't just a luxury, its a survival necessity when you can't always count on the power grid.
Interested in a small stove for your tiny space? Contact us on the form below and we can help you sort through all the details in getting the perfect stove and installation configuration for your unique space!
