Jennifer Sheahan: 'I turned my car into a tiny home on wheels. See the small-space living ideas I love'

Irish Examiner

2 days ago

If you've followed my campervan journey from the beginning, you'll know it started with a dream: to create a tiny, nimble home-on-wheels that could double as my everyday car.
For those who missed my previous adventures, I bought a seven-seater Nissan Serena in 2022 and had it converted to a micro-camper by Pathfinders in Leitrim — they relished the challenge of packing camper essentials into such a small van and installed a rock-n-roll bed, a narrow kitchen unit with sink and camping stove, an electric shower, and a leisure battery system.
The goal was to have a vehicle that could serve as my daily car but transform into a comfortable home on wheels for weekend escapes around Ireland, and Pathfinders nailed it.
Since I last wrote about my camping escapades, I've added some new equipment to my setup, all put to the test in a mix of Irish weather, from warm sunny days by Wicklow lakes in our recent heatwave to a yellow weather warning on the Wild Atlantic Way.
The rear acts as a dining and living space and converts to a bedroom.
If you're thinking about starting your own campervan adventure, my advice is to start simple, pack light, and get out there. You'll learn the rest as you go.
Magnetic living kit
A tiny campervan is great for all the reasons listed above, but it lacks a living space. When you're parked up for a day or more, you need space for practicalities such as changing and storing wet gear, but also to relax after a long day hiking and swimming.
I bought the Vango Tolga drive-away awning from Charles' Camping in Blessington in the summer of 2023, which I love, but it was always a bit fiddly to attach it securely to the van with the straps.
You can get awning rails attached permanently to the side of your van, but I wanted to be able to easily detach and drive away. Enter the Dometic Magnetic Driveaway Kit, which uses a strong magnetic strip that clings to the roof of my van, creating a seal between the van and the awning.
In light to moderate winds, it's rock solid, and it definitely speeds up the driveaway process. That said, it did partially lift during one particularly dramatic evening in Kerry when winds reached up to 85km/h. Lesson learned: magnet is mighty, but Mother Nature is mightier. I'd still recommend it, but use the extra guy lines when storms are brewing.
Perry gets in on the action as Jennifer Sheahan pegs in one of the guy lines.
Speaking of storms, the Vango Tolga awning once again proved its worth. Despite a yellow weather warning and a long night of gale force winds, it held firm — no leaks, no rips, just some flappy fabric. I continue to rate it highly.
Self-inflating mat
My rock-n-roll bed — car seats that fold fully flat into a camping bed — does the trick for a night or so, but is a bit firm to sleep on for any longer than that, especially if you're a side-sleeper like me.
Nothing is more important than a good night's sleep, so we invested in the Outdoor Revolution Rock 'N' Roll Self-Inflating Mat, and it's been such a game-changer. It is specifically for rock-and-roll camper beds, so it fits perfectly.
To inflate, you simply roll it out and leave it to work its magic for about half an hour. You then simply open the valves and roll it up to deflate. It is quite neat, just about small enough for me to fit in my minivan, and is super comfortable. A top recommendation from me.
Camping table
One of the joys of campervan life is eating outdoors, but finding the right camping table has been a process. I wanted one that I could put a portable BBQ safely on top of, and I wanted it to fold away to a size small enough to fit in my under-seat storage area.
Jennifer Sheahan and Daniel Singleton with Perry at Mannix Point Camping and Caravan Park, Caherciveen, Co Kerry. Pictures: Alan Landers
I finally found the perfect table on (yet another) trip to Charles' Camping — the Outwell Canmore camping table (we bought a size large). It takes about a minute to set up, has more than enough space to seat four people comfortably, and rolls away neatly into its own carry bag for easy storage.
The legs are adjustable, so you can raise it if you have chairs or lower it if not. Best of all, for me, the aluminium makes it easy to clean and you can put hot items — even your BBQ — safely on top of it.
Grill and fire pit
I might get heat for this, but I never really got BBQs. I already have a gas stove in my little van, and my house is so tiny that my kitchen is practically in my garden anyway, so I never saw the point in putting another cooking appliance within arm's reach of my oven.
Jennifer Sheahan with her dog Perry in her converted car/mobile microcamper. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
But I will admit nothing tastes better than flame-grilled, plus it's hard to beat the cosy warmth of sitting around glowing embers on a summer evening. So the search began for a compact BBQ that doubled as a fire pit, and we bought the Campingmoon X-Mini-PRO earlier this year — a compact stainless-steel charcoal grill that doubles as a fire pit. It's light, fits in a small bag, and sets up in seconds.
The Campingmoon X-Mini-Pro barbecue doubles up as a fire pit.
The only downside is that it needs to be used in a sheltered spot, as the ash collector is too shallow and ash can blow everywhere in even a light breeze. But if you can find a nook out of the wind, it's a nice piece of kit for the price.
The perfect stopover
This year, I finally made it to Mannix Point Camping and Caravan Park in Caherciveen, Co Kerry, which had been on my list for a while. It's everything a camper could want. The basics are clean and well-maintained — hot showers, a communal kitchen, and a laundry.
The 'tiny home on the move' at Mannix Point Camping and Caravan Park, Caherciveen, Co Kerry. Pictures: Alan Landers
The location is unbeatable, nestled on the edge of the water with sweeping views of the Kerry landscape and walking distance to lovely restaurants on the main street of Caherciveen. But the magic is in the warm welcome, the cosy outdoor terrace, the roaring fire in the living room on a rainy evening, and the instruments contained within that everyone is encouraged to pick up and play. I'm already planning a return visit.
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