An idea to try and transform something rather unexpected, a vehicle that used to be seen on our motorways, into something spectacular that people want to stay in has become less of a unique circumstance, especially thanks to TV programmes such as George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.
Coaches and buses, horse boxes and fire engines have all been bought as rusty, sad and dilapidated vehicles destined for scrap but rescued by optimistic renovators who want to revive them, and some do it with a nationwide television audience watching too.
Away from the TV screens many people are working away to bring their own unique ideas and creativity to the conversion of a rust bucket vehicle, but probably not many have turned to the army for inspiration.
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Couple Jennie and Jonathan Tunley are no strangers to renovating, but it's usually buildings. And it was while they were working on a farmhouse renovation on Spain's Almeria coast that they kept seeing unusual campervans and motorhomes wandering past them through the sunny streets.
The couple thought it was the ideal solution to provide living quarters in Spain while they renovated the farmhouse, and they could drive a vehicle from the UK to Spain too, so no worrying about how to get their new little, albeit temporary, home to the Spanish site.
But an old campervan with too many miles on the clock and doubts if it could even manage to get to the English Channel ferry crossing let alone through France and Spain, meant the couple wanted to choose their old vehicle to renovate very carefully. Enter Big Daf the army truck into the couple's journey - literally.
Jennie says: "Military vehicles are reliable and the 4x4 element means it will drive anywhere. An eBay search followed the decision and we found one for sale in Luton. My dad went with Jon to collect it and it drove home perfectly - and still does."
They named the army truck Big Daf, a mix of the name the manufacturer Leyland gave this truck design and its soon to be Welsh home, surrounded by daffodils, as it headed its way to Usk, Monmouthshire.
The transformation from truck to terrific little home began. Luckily as well as being a farmer, Jonathan, 48, is a builder too, so although time consuming to fit in around the day job, the truck was in safe hands to be converted from basic to beautiful.
Jennie, a 46-year-old nurse and Jon's general labourer, says: "There was nothing to rip out apart from the back which was canvas. We made a metal frame for the back to replace it that has windows. The cab is in its original state.
"There was so much to do, from plumbing and electrics to installing a kitchenette, windows and shower room. We wanted optimum storage, which is now provided by lots of cupboards, and then came the building of bunk beds."
It might be a basic army truck but the couple wanted to give it a dusting of luxury, so there are comfy sofas that flank a central table and, with the table removed, morph into a king size bed. To make the utilitarian vehicle feel more cosy and promote visual warmth, the walls have been covered in the same material as the flooring, and even the ceiling has had a tactile makeover.
And just to finish off the maybe surprising level of luxury, there's a flat screen inside Big Daf too. The chosen interior design is shades of grey to keep the robust feel of the truck going inside, but softened with velour and splashes of pattern - of course, mainly in classic camouflage design.
The cute, camping kitchenette at the opposite end to the bunkbeds has a two ring gas hob, microwave, fridge with ice compartment, toaster and kettle. Imagine making your morning mug of tea and toast and climbing into the truck's cabin to enjoy the rural views from behind the wheel.
And somehow the couple have managed to squeeze in a toilet and a shower within a separate compartment. The choice of toilet was key in this small area so a space saving unit that uses the top of the flush area as an integrated sink, with the water used to wash your hands doubling up as the way to flush the loo below, was ideal.
The waste goes into the same septic tank that the other two cottages on the site, both owned by Jennie and Jonathan, use.
But the cottages and the farmhouse in Spain weren't the couple's first few property renovation projects. The pair from Cwmbran who have been together since their teens, been married for 25 years and have a brood of two sons and a grandson, have also done three barn conversions and renovated two old houses.
The Daf truck build began in 2019 and went without too many complications, Jennie saying the only stressful part was the wiring as Jonathan doesn't like electrical work.
But the biggest challenge was the timing because as the conversion progressed over a 12 month period as a weekend project to fit around their lives, the Covid-19 pandemic hit and so Big Daf has not made it to Spain.
Jennie says: "I'm glad we finished it before the prices of materials went through the roof, but we haven't been able to use it. It's now parked in Usk, next to our holiday lets, and we've only used it twice ourselves, but we could still take it to Spain if we needed to."
Big Daf is not going on its European adventure any time soon, so the couple have invested in making it a unique and memorable place for others, adding a private terrace with charcoal BBQ, although if you fancy some pub grub too, the local watering hole is only two miles away.
Next to Big Daf is a Scandinavian, wood-fired hot tub under a wooden roof and with two walls for privacy, very handy as there are some nosey neighbours on site - a family of friendly goats who like to peer over the fence.
The rural views across the Wye Valley are sweeping and absorbing, the location is peaceful and uplifting, and Big Daf has become a popular destination as a base for people wanting to spend some time exploring the Brecon Beacons and Forest of Dean.
But if you want your own version of Big Daf Jennie has some important advice. She says: "If it's over land exploring you want then it's perfect but it's not a luxury ride like a campervan, even though it is very modern and relaxing inside you are still in a lorry."
Big Daf has definitely captured the couple's heart, as well as all the guests who now enjoy staying at this unique spot, so it could be the start of a collection of substantial and robust vehicles to finesse into holiday lets.
Jennie says they would definitely do another army truck renovation but next time go for a Unimog truck, an even more impressive hunk of a vehicle, and if they find one it will be lucky to have been saved from the scrapheap and totally transformed by this inventive couple.
If you fancy staying in Big Daf, go to breaconcottages.com. And if you want to see more amazing renovations or the inside of unique homes, join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter, sent to your inbox twice a week.
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