What does it take to walk away from a conventional life, sell your house, and hit the open road with three young children and a dog? For Kiera and Richard Reid, a couple from Essex, England, it took one idea they describe as a little crazy and an enormous amount of courage. Back in 2019, the pair decided they were done with the nine-to-five grind and everything that came with it. Seven years on, they are still living the life they once only dreamed about, and they have no intention of going back.
Before the big leap, the Reids had a fairly ordinary setup. They owned a three-bedroom house, Richard worked in forestry, and Kiera had a career in marketing. The family now includes their three children, nine-year-old Piper, eight-year-old Jack, and five-year-old Teddy, along with their Labrador, Charlie. Their first taste of nomadic life came after purchasing a camper van and spending five months exploring Europe as a family. That trip apparently sealed the deal, and the couple committed fully to life on the road. These days, they are touring the coastline of Great Britain, finding new spots to park up and explore.
The interior of their truck has been thoughtfully converted to suit a family with young children, and Kiera has been sharing glimpses of their home-on-wheels on TikTok under the account @touringwiththekids. One of her most talked-about videos, which has racked up nearly 34,000 views, gives followers a detailed look at the children’s sleeping area. Kiera explained that getting the sleeping arrangements right was a non-negotiable priority when they were redesigning the space. “When we were converting the truck for full-time living with children, one thing was certain: they had to have really good beds,” she said.
@touringwiththekids We live full time in a 7.5t lorry and this is where our kids sleep 💤 #lorrybuild #homeonwheels #kidsroom #vanbuild ♬ original sound – Touring With The Kids
The bunk beds were custom-built to fit the truck’s dimensions without sacrificing comfort. “They are all standard single size, with no compromise on comfort,” Kiera noted, adding that head clearance was carefully considered so each child could sit up, read, and relax in their own space. She described these nooks as more than just places to sleep, calling them personal corners the kids could genuinely call their own. It did not take long for the children to claim them entirely. “They have completely taken them over, filled them with toys, trinkets, and all the treasures kids somehow collect along the way,” she said.
The response online has been overwhelmingly warm. One commenter wrote, “I honestly love how homey and fantastic everything looks. We are also thinking about van life and this has really inspired us,” while another simply called it “beautiful, very comfortable-looking.” The comment section filled up with admiring remarks, reflecting a growing curiosity around alternative living arrangements and the growing community of families choosing mobility over mortgages.
The financial freedom the lifestyle has brought the Reids is a huge part of its appeal. The couple regularly seek out free camper parking spots to keep their costs down, and Richard has spoken openly about how dramatically their financial picture has changed. “Before, we had a mortgage and were paying the bank every month, and now we have no debts at all,” he said. “Everything we have is ours and we don’t owe anyone anything.” For a family of five, that kind of freedom is no small thing, and Richard has made clear that they plan to continue this nomadic lifestyle for the foreseeable future.
Education has also taken on a different shape for the Reid children. Kiera and Richard homeschool all three kids using a flexible schedule, dividing subjects between them. Kiera handles English and nature studies, while Richard takes on mathematics. Beyond the structured lessons, the children are encouraged to follow their own curiosity. Richard shared that when the kids expressed an interest in oceans, the whole family dove into learning about marine life together. “That is something they might not have gotten in a traditional school system,” he said. He acknowledged that life in a compact space with five people and a dog can get chaotic, but he finds joy in watching his children bond and play together in a way that feels rare and genuine.
The number of families living full-time in vehicles has risen sharply since the early 2020s, with estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands of people in the United States and United Kingdom now identify as full-time nomads. Custom truck conversions can cost anywhere from $20,000 to well over $100,000 depending on the build, though many families, like the Reids, do much of the work themselves to keep costs manageable. Labradors, interestingly, are one of the most common dog breeds found in nomadic family setups, likely because of their adaptable, good-natured temperament.
Would you ever trade your home for life on the road? Share your thoughts in the comments.
