Making a camper yourself is not too difficult a task for an experienced craftsman. But the time frame for such construction can be greatly delayed due to the constant improvement of the design. To avoid getting into such a situation, you should think through the interior in advance, abandoning obviously unnecessary elements. This is especially important when equipping small cars, for example, when creating a motor home from a GAZelle with your own hands.
A mobile home has undeniable advantages - comfort, coziness and mobility. Moscow is a noisy city that you sometimes want to leave. Trailer owners do not have to look for a place to stay overnight, and travel becomes very economical. If you haven’t had the opportunity to use this original housing before, you should first familiarize yourself with their classification.
Types of motorhomes and their classification
When choosing the type of future mobile housing, you can be guided by its division according to:
- in appearance - there are trailers, vans, or mobile homes combined with a car;
- class – there are three classes of comfort for motorhomes;
- trailer type - there are trailer trailers, hybrid trailers and fifth-wheel trailers.
If everything is clear with the trailer type of mobile home, then the difference between a van and a combined motorhome is not immediately visible. In the first option, the living space is located in the car van and is separated from the driver's seat.
This option is suitable when traveling as a couple, when no one stays at the “house” during the move. Thanks to this design, it is possible to fit in more functional furniture using a blank front wall.
Motorhomes converted from GAZelles or minibuses are precisely combined.
The comfort class can be called conditional. Thus, Class A motorhomes include spacious trailers made on the chassis of large trucks. Outwardly, they resemble a bus, can have folding structures, and inside, in terms of functionality, they do not differ from a small apartment.
Please note that the driver must have a category “C” license to drive this vehicle.
There is much less space in it, but it is still convenient to travel in them. What is important is that you can drive such a car with a category B license if the weight of the car or the total weight of the car with a trailer does not exceed 3.5 tons.
Class "C" indicates the most basic motorhomes. This could be a small trailer or a minibus converted into a camper. There is no separate sleeping place - its function is performed by folding sofas or armchairs. But by equipping such a mini camper with a trunk-tent, a folding canopy and a set of camping furniture, you can get a comfortable stay at a minimum cost.
Such construction trailers are also called hybrid trailers to distinguish them from simple trailers. Separately, it should be noted fivesville trailers, the shape of which is designed for use in conjunction with pickup trucks. Thanks to this, it is possible to reduce the length of the entire caravan, because part of the trailer hangs over the car body.
Mistakes when building mobile homes with your own hands
Prices for mobile homes are noticeably high. It is not surprising that skilled family heads want to save money and do everything themselves. It’s important to be wise and learn from other people’s mistakes:
- you shouldn’t make everything from scrap materials - you’ll have to live in the house for at least a week and you want to spend your vacation in comfort;
- serious modifications to the body, heating system, wiring will be required - you cannot do without the skills of an auto mechanic;
- if you still managed to fit in a shower and toilet, do not forget about the drainage tank - pouring dirty water onto the asphalt or lawn is extremely unethical;
- It’s better not to forget to make a connector for connecting 220V at campsites, and a converter for 12V from the car battery.
Making your own trailer
If difficulties do not frighten you, and the desire for action is unstoppable, you can try your hand at building a house. And whether to remake a GAZelle or build a trailer from scratch - the choice is strictly individual!
DIY mobile home from GAZelle
To work you will need a grinder, a welding machine, a hand saw for wood and a lot of patience. The gradual modernization of the car looks like this:
- The seats are taken out of the cabin, the old trim is removed. All metal parts are treated with a special solution that prevents rust. The walls and ceiling are insulated with foamed polyethylene, and sheets of plywood are laid on the floor. All wiring runs under the floor and wall cladding; this should be thought out in advance.
- The frame for the furniture is welded right in the body. If the car cannot be leveled, you can use a pipe as a level, its ends resting against the lower edge of the window openings. After rough welding, the frame is removed and everything is welded, cleaned and brought inside again.
- Window openings are covered with carpet. Ceiling panels covered with carpet are also installed. After completing the interior trim, you can attach the slats under the mezzanine and mount the furniture frames.
- A swivel mechanism can be made for the front seats. To do this, you will need a front hub, for example, from a VAZ, and part of a rotary strut. The scheme is quite simple.
- The final stage is installing furniture on the frame, connecting lighting, installing a pump for the kitchen washstand, covering the mezzanines and minor interior improvements. For cooking, you can put a small gas stove on one burner.
- Instead of welding the furniture frame, you can use ready-made sets, reinforcing them from the inside with corners and additional screws. The kitchen also needs to be attached to everything - the floor, the sofa, the wall. This is done to protect the furniture from becoming loose while driving on bumpy roads.
We should not forget that such a modification of the car requires registration with the REO. To do this, you need to write an application and receive a resolution from the technical department of the traffic police and a protocol from the authorized organization.
Stylish plywood trailer house
If your car has a towbar, it would be a sin not to take advantage of the situation and not make a nice “drop” trailer for overnight stays outside the city. For this:
- The side walls of the future van are cut and attached to the base. All holes for doors and windows, as well as to lighten the frame, must be cut in advance, so it is better to think through the drawing carefully.
- Shelves are assembled from furniture panels and installed on the base. These same shelves will serve as the front and rear walls of the van.
- According to the shape of the van, a plywood sheet is bent above the shelves on both sides, and a power frame made of timber is fixed on top. One side is made liftable, providing access to the kitchen.
- The top hatch and skylight are cut out. The entire frame is insulated and the wiring is installed.
- Everything is covered with veneer sheets on top. Once the door and window openings are cut out, you can begin exterior painting and varnishing.
- Doors, an overhead hatch and supply and exhaust ventilation are installed. After securing all the fittings, side lights and wheel fenders, you can safely set off on your journey!
And the video shows the detailed assembly of the motorhome with the installation of solar panels:
Let’s say you don’t need to drive straight through peat bogs, but it is quite enough that the trailer or self-propelled camper can withstand without any health problems a multi-day trip on broken roads with half-wheel holes, bumpy graders and mountain dirt roads with boulders sticking out of the road surface. Alas, it’s not easy to find such equipment ready-made...
But there is an old principle: “if you want something done well, do it yourself.” This is exactly what Ruslan, a car traveler and blogger, known online under the nickname “Off-Road,” decided. In principle, he had plenty of experience: at one time he was the chairman of the Argonaut autotravel club, was involved in organizing mass trips and already had a good idea of what he actually needed. But it is not enough to understand that mobile housing must be able to move not only on asphalt and not crumble. The torment of choice does not end there...
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The agony of choice
Actually, all off-road motorhomes can be divided into three groups. Firstly, these are self-propelled campers on all-wheel drive chassis. A huge window of opportunity opens up here. You can take a “loaf” (which in modern times is called UAZ SGR) or Sobol 4x4 and work closely with their internal arrangement. Alas, the internal volume of these vans is quite limited, and the problem of being able to stand at full height arises, excuse the tautology, at full height.
You can take an all-wheel drive chassis - say, a UAZ Pro or Sobol 4x4 Farmer - and build a house on this chassis. Also, in general, it will turn out to be “the house of godfather Pumpkin” - the size of the cargo area of these cars is about 3 meters long and two meters wide, but you can use the space above the cabin.
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Our popular mid-size pickups (Mitsubishi L200, Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Hilux) are not very suitable for such purposes: their cargo area is only 1.5 meters long and severely limits the capabilities of camper builders.
You can, of course, find a full-size American pickup truck, but it’s expensive... Or you can aim for “large forms” and take, say, the medium-tonnage Sadko as a basis. By the way, its cargo platform is only slightly larger (compared to the UAZ Profi), but its off-road capabilities are excellent.
But all motorhomes have the same drawback. Just imagine: a man in a campervan goes on vacation with his family. We arrived, found a nice place on the shore of a taiga lake or with a beautiful view of a mountain valley, began to settle down, stretched out the awnings, laid out the furniture... And then it turns out that we didn’t buy any meat, we ran out of salt, we forgot the beer, in the end... camper owner, what are your options? Either he hands the family chairs and leaves them sitting in an open field (the awnings and awnings, of course, will have to be unhooked), while he hurries to the store in the nearest town, or they break up camp and go to the store all together. The same conflict arises when you want to see the sights in the immediate vicinity.
But if you have a trailer, then you simply unhitch the tractor, lock the door and drive lightly.
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My home is my castle
So Ruslan decided that he needed a trailer. But there are also two types of trailers capable of following a tractor off-road. Firstly, this is a tent trailer. They are generally very compact and can be towed even by a tiny Suzuki Jimny. By the way, such trailers called “Picnic” are also produced in our country, and they are relatively inexpensive, 250-300 thousand rubles. But... Still, they are designed for use in the summer: the kitchen module with a stove and sink is usually made retractable, and the tent, the basis of which is the trailer, still needs to be set up: pull the guy ropes, hammer in the pegs... And such a camp is not suitable without supervision you leave it, and deploying the tent trailer takes time. If a person has spent a dozen or even more hours behind the wheel, he wants only one thing - to sleep, sleep and sleep again!
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This means, Ruslan decided, only a rigid trailer, or “caravan” in common parlance, meets his needs. Moreover, even in ready-made trailers of this kind, with which he had to deal, in order to bring the house from the transport position to the “bedroom” position, it is necessary to perform a number of operations - lower the table, shift the backrest pillow onto it, take out the mattress, spread it, make the bed... This time. This is how the basic concept was formed, and Ruslan got to work.
Go to sleep immediately!
Ruslan purchased the frame ready-made, but modified the suspension in the most radical way. I installed a new, reinforced axle with hubs from Mitsubishi Pajero and hydraulic brakes from the same. Equipped the brake system with a manual drive, with which you can block the wheels of the trailer. The axle is suspended on springs from Gazelle, which can be found anywhere, in any region. There are two spare tires on the back wall of the trailer, plus one more on the car. All wheels are the same and interchangeable, even the rims are the same. A working cylinder from the Volga is implanted into the drawbar, which operates the overrun brake. As a result, the trailer actually overcame very serious obstacles before my eyes, and in order to overcome them, Ruslan had to use both winches installed on his Pajero III.
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The frame is made of a hollow aluminum profile, inside of which a sprayed polyurethane insulation is pumped. The same insulation is used for thermal insulation of the main living space. It fills all the cracks and even penetrates microcracks in the plywood from which the walls are made. As a result, the trailer maintains its temperature like a real thermos. In hot weather it is cool, and in cold weather it retains heat for a long time. I confirm: while we were talking with Ruslan, the temperature outside exceeded +26, but coolness reigned inside. Taking all this into account, Ruslan did not bother installing an air conditioner, deciding to rely on natural ventilation.
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Then it was time to do the main thing - that is, the internal arrangement. Based on the concept of “sleep immediately!” Ruslan came up with a rather unconventional scheme for transforming the sleeping area: the bed is hidden behind the front inner wall. It turned out to be very convenient: once a latch, two latch - and the bed lowers, where the spring mattress lies. Please note: not “foam”, not foam rubber, but a full-fledged spring mattress purchased at a furniture store. And there is already a sheet laid out and a blanket lying there. You just need to take a pillow from the shelf - and that’s it, you can go to bed. In the morning I got up, threw the pillow on the shelf (by the way, this is not just a shelf, but quite a decent space in which you can organize another bed) and put the bed and blanket away, closing the latches.
Sometimes it's easier to carry cans
A folding table is attached to the same wall. It has two positions. The first is a coffee table, and its size is quite sufficient for two to have breakfast. Well, if you need a dining table, then the table is pulled forward, a support is placed under it, and you get a tabletop. The occupants sit on two voluminous lockers, and inside them there are isolated volumes, accessible from outside the trailer. “Dirty” equipment is placed there: tools, welding machine and the like. There is another such container, larger in size, in the front part. In principle, four bags with inflatable boats fit in it, but Ruslan has a gas cylinder, a fuel tank for a diesel heater and a generator there.
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In the middle part of the trailer, on the left wall in the direction of travel, there is an absorption-type refrigerator, which can use 220 V, 12 V and gas for power supply. Ruslan bought it used, and is actually not very happy with it. Like all absorption refrigerators, it, of course, uses electricity very economically, but there is a nuance. The system is not filled with freon, but with a mixture of water and ammonia, which gradually begins to crystallize in the coil. There is less and less ammonia in the system, and the device ceases to perform its main function. The only salvation is to pull out the refrigerator and turn it upside down so that the water flows down and washes away the crystals. And this procedure must be repeated ten times. In the new trailer that Ruslan is building together with the Leroy Merlin company, he used a modern 45 W compression auto-refrigerator. This level of power consumption does not pose any particular problems: Ruslan installed two solar panels and a battery with a capacity of 200 Ah on the roof of the trailer. A 3 kW inverter (it is located under the surface into which the stove is embedded) allows you not to be particularly nervous about the available power.
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Canisters for clean water are located under the sink. Ruslan deliberately abandoned the built-in tank. He explains it this way: “Well, let’s say there is a spring. I took the canisters, arrived, filled them, and set them down. And with a stationary tank, you will need to bring canisters, and then pour them into the filler neck. Pump? It’s not always possible to get close to the water.” But in the new trailer that he is building with Leroy Merlin, Ruslan still hung a reel with a 20-meter hose and a “Malysh” submersible pump outside. This is all connected to tanks inside the trailer, and there is a filler neck.
Experience, the son of difficult mistakes
Naturally, the kitchen corner is equipped with a two-burner gas stove. But at first she had to perform not only the functions of a food preparation device... On his first route, Ruslan lost his way with a trailer that was not fully developed. He himself explains it this way:
All summer I tinkered around, built a trailer, and “the poet’s soul couldn’t stand it.” It was so disappointing: 9 months a year you wait for summer, and then summer passed, and I didn’t see it. And then I realized that I needed to break out and go. Actually, that’s how I came up with the idea for the project “From Edge to Edge.” The first stage, from November to March, I traveled alone, with a dog, through 26 regions.
He missed the trip without installing the planned auxiliary heater, so he had to heat the trailer with a gas stove, and in order not to get burned, open the ventilation and leave a crack in the window. In the end, he still got burned, but that’s another story... And before that, on the very first cold night, his gas cylinder ran out.
I woke up - cold! Overboard - minus twenty-five. My dog is freezing! I wrapped the dog in two sleeping bags, took out a generator and a hair dryer, set it to 600 degrees, and we escaped until the morning.
The result of this adventure was the “Planar” diesel heater installed in the trailer, which Ruslan was very pleased with:
While on the go, you lower the temperature to 5-7 degrees, 5-10 minutes before stopping, open the application on your phone, launch it, set it to 22 degrees and press “start”. While you park, you walk in and the trailer already has those same +22!
Some options appeared in the trailer as experience accumulated - the same one that is “the son of difficult mistakes.” For example, in the Caucasus, in Kabardino-Balkaria, Ruslan almost lost his trailer, and in the most literal sense of the word. I set up a camp, went to the shed to talk with the shepherds, and upon returning in the dark I could not see my “caravan”, hidden in the folds of the terrain. I found it by the sound because I left the generator running. After this, Ruslan decided that the trailer should be autonomous in terms of lighting, and installed a five-pin relay with a switch. If you want, the dimensions light up from the car, if you want, from the trailer battery. The side lights themselves, in the form of LED strips, located along the edges of the trailer, are truly visible from afar.
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The last stage of construction was legalization and official registration. It turned out that getting state license plates is quite simple: after all, from the point of view of official bodies, a house on a trailer is just cargo. Naturally, transporting people in it is strictly prohibited.
How much does it cost to build a house
Work on the arrangement of the mobile home is not yet completed. So, the trailer should have a flow-through gas water heater and a shower. There is already a pan, but the drainage to it has not yet been done. Ruslan also wants to make an L-shaped bench that can be folded back so that it turns out to be something like a desk. You can put a laptop on it and work while sitting right on the unfolded bed. An awning awning will appear above the entrance. Surely Ruslan will have to take a more serious look at the issue of protection from mosquitoes, horseflies and other midges, especially if he goes on a summer route to the eastern regions. Today he only has mosquito nets for windows, which are attached temporarily using double-sided tape and Velcro tape (in common parlance - Velcro). But the doorway has no protection from flying evil spirits...
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Well, now the most serious question is about the budget for building such a trailer. The residential module itself, made from available materials, will cost about 100,000 rubles, but this is without a chassis. Chassis - another 25,000, windows - 20,000 each, heater 20,000, gas stove - about 5,000, sink - 600 rubles, awning - 45,000, pump - 5,000 rubles, Barrier water filter - 6,000 rubles, solar panels - 15,000 each, controller - 4,000... In total, about 350-400 thousand, provided that everything is done with your own hands.
Expensive? But the pleasure is worth it. Here's some simple arithmetic. Ruslan traveled from November to March... Now let's do the math: 500 rubles per day is the cheapest hostel. For 4 months - 60,000. Eating in a cafe once a day - 1,000 rubles on average. This is another 120,000, and together - 180,000. But for 180,000 you can already build a house on wheels, albeit with a minimum of amenities. And the most important thing is that where you stay - there is a house, but with a hostel - like it or not, you need to pull to the city, and even find it, this hostel. Otherwise, either spend the night in a car or sleep in a tent...
There will be campers - there will be campsites
I couldn’t help but ask Ruslan: why exactly is he doing all this: he built one “caravan”, is building a second one, plans to build large houses on a semi-trailer for a pickup truck and on the chassis of a heavy truck, writes a blog, organizes master classes...
According to him, he pursues three main goals with his projects. Firstly, to popularize Russia as a place for holidays and travel. Make a feasible contribution to the development of such a tourism segment as auto tourism. And finally, to the extent possible, popularize “caravanning,” because we have a “loop problem.” We are not developing the infrastructure that supports autotourism, because autotourism itself is not developed, and autotourism is not developing because the infrastructure is not developed. Because, according to Ruslan (and I can only support them), we have practically no campsites.
How so? - you ask. Here in the south you drive, and along the road there are a lot of signs: camping “Uncle Vasya’s”, “Uncle Petya’s”, “Tatyana’s”... But they have nothing in common with campsites. These are just paid parking lots. A real campsite is a cultivated area, divided into blocks, where caravaners, campers, cyclists and tent campers stand separately. Because everyone's leisure culture is different. A camper, as a rule, does not stay in one place for more than a couple of days. Caravaners, on the other hand, more often operate according to the “arrive, unhook and hang at one point for a week” scheme. So they need to be separated: it’s not very good when you have a bunch of children, a dog, everyone is running around, playing, and campers are constantly rolling back and forth.
Besides, camping is a service. This includes connection to electricity, Wi-Fi, the ability to drain gray water and refill with clean water. In any case, the campsite should have laundry, showers, and proper toilets. Then there are all sorts of spas, baths, saunas and so on, stationary barbecues and gazebos for relaxation... There should also be an entertainment program, a cultural program... On the campsite there should be an opportunity to hire a guide, rent bicycles... But we have such campsites , count, and no, except for camping in Suzdal. Moscow camping is just a transit point. There are showers there, but it's just a parking lot with a very cramped location, literally side by side. You can’t stretch out the awning, put a sun lounger...
There are probably very few people who would not like to travel and at the same time spend the night at home, without using the services of hotels or hotels. Many will say that this is impossible and any trip is accompanied by a hotel room. However, there is a solution - a motorhome or motorhome. You've probably seen such mobile structures in foreign films. And this is not strange, because let’s say in America, according to statistics, every 3 residents have a mobile home.
Such a house is not only convenient and comfortable, but also significantly saves money, since the question of finding housing disappears. You can talk about the advantages of a motorhome for a long time, and there really are many of them. However, there is one drawback - a caravan is not a cheap pleasure. But if you have patience and hard work, there is a way out - to build a mobile home on wheels with your own hands.
The main need for such a house is travel, which you can easily go on with your family and even small children. A motorhome is also useful for business trips; you don’t have to look for hotels, book rooms, collect luggage and carry it with you.
The main thing is that the driver is experienced, with good driving experience and, of course, with a positive attitude towards this type of transport.
Motorhome: what you need for comfort
Although the house will be in the form of a mobile home, this does not mean that it should not be comfortable and satisfy the minimum needs of the owners.
Home lighting
To supply light to a mobile home you will need:
- rechargeable battery;
- charger;
- wire system for subsequent electrical wiring;
- panel for controlling the supply of electricity.
Heating for home
To heat your home, you can use several types of heaters, this can be an autonomous type or a gas cylinder. It is preferable to use gas, since in addition to heat it will provide the possibility of cooking.
If you choose heating using gas, then you will have to seek help from a specialist. Of course, building everything with your own hands from start to finish is commendable, but you should remember the safety of passengers.
Air (ventilation) for home
Ventilation is very important, especially when using gas. In this case, there should be several holes, and one of them will be as low as possible.
For comfort: water, bathroom, kitchen
No housing will be comfortable if it lacks basic amenities. Think carefully about where exactly the kitchen, mini portable dry closet and shower will be located. Also don’t forget about water tanks and water pumps.
It is better to send the water that will be drained into a large bucket located under the body. To do this, you can use a special hose that should be laid in the floor.
Motorhome furniture
Certain difficulties may arise with furniture, since it should be as compact as possible. For such housing, folding furniture is used, it is mounted on the walls. In most cases, it is possible to purchase such furniture only on order, which is quite expensive. But if you have the opportunity to do it yourself, it will save a lot of money.
Additionally: doors, windows
As for windows, it is better to have at least 2, this way you can save energy and not turn on the lights during the day.
It is necessary to take into account that if the house is being built from a trailer, then the width and height ultimately should not exceed the dimensions of the car. If you are the owner of a domestic minibus that has not been to your liking for a long time, then you can safely use it as the main material for mobile housing. First, you need to thoroughly clean it, remove unnecessary seats, upholstery, and get rid of everything unnecessary. After clearing, you can begin making the necessary holes (for windows, ventilation, wires).
We build a motorhome from a GAZelle
A mobile home is a 2 in 1 housing that can be easily transported with the car to any point of travel. It gained popularity and distribution in America at the beginning of the last century. Today, campers travel all over the world, and there are quite a few of them in Russia. But the countries of North America remain the leader in the production and sales of motorhomes. Is it possible to make a camper with your own hands?
Features of home design
According to the standard, classic transportable housing should accommodate up to 8 people. Moreover, each resident must have his own bed. Be sure to have a kitchen, at least a small one. The presence of other amenities and additional equipment is optional and varies depending on the model of camper trailer and the preferences of the owner. But in 90% of cases, mobile homes are equipped with:
- gas stove;
- sink;
- oven.
More expensive models with luxurious living conditions, like for a camper, have a bathroom equipped with a dry closet, washbasin and mini-shower. Campers are very rarely equipped with a full shower, only if the space allows it.
How to Convert a Car into a Mobile Home
Please note that this question follows And Learn legislatively first. Registration organizations treat such mobile residential units differently, so it will be unpleasant to lose your only property in the form of a motorhome due to the illegality of its operation.
Construction is carried out in stages, and it consists of 8 steps. Check out one example of how to make a mobile camper with your own hands.
Design
At first, the number of residents/travelers is determined. Based on this, they select a vehicle and the internal contents of the camper or use what is available.
Don't forget to draw up a detailed design plan in paper or electronic form.
Body clearing
The body is being cleared. If dents are found on the surface of the car, they are removed by cleaning off the peeling paint. After this, several windows are installed, usually two. They are necessary to allow sunlight and fresh air to enter the camper trailer.
Arrangement of ventilation and thermal insulation
Ventilation holes and valves for gas supply are cut out. “Bare” metal is treated with a primer in order to prevent the development of corrosion processes. And also for protection against exposure to aggressive environments. Finishing is done with thermal insulation boards.
Internal surface finishing
The inside of the mobile home is being finished. For this, it is recommended to use either carpet or moisture-resistant plywood. First, start leveling the ceiling, and then proceed to the vertical surfaces.
Thick sheets of plywood with padded strips are inserted into the side walls for mounting furniture.
Water supply
When installing furniture inside your homemade camper, do not forget to organize a water supply. To do this, place a reservoir or canisters of water under the sink and install a household pump. In addition, it is possible to provide a location for a larger reservoir to supply water to the shower room.
Gas supply
To cook or heat food, as mentioned earlier, gas is used, preferably propane. The cylinder is placed in the lower part of the body, as well as an additional ventilation hole. This is easy to explain: propane weighs more than air, so in case of a leak, this will prevent gas concentration and the possibility of fire.
Energy saving
It remains to take care of energy saving. For these purposes, it is better to take a battery and equip it with an external charging outlet.
Constructing a mobile home from an old trailer
You can make a mini-camper with your own hands, using scrap materials and what a mechanic has on hand. Suitable for these purposes:
- trailer equipped with reinforced chassis;
- wooden elements: carriage planks, bars, slats;
- plywood;
- metal profiles for the roof;
- same type of fittings.
Of course, you will need a set of tools during the design process.
Features of camper production
For example, you can design an RV with a bunk bed in the back of the camper. The manufacturing process is divided into five stages. The first is preparing the foundation.
To do this, disassemble the trailer. Treat the chassis thoroughly with an anti-corrosion compound. Build a frame from pine boards, cutting out supports in appropriate places.
Frame assembly
It is advisable that the master have lining of different thicknesses in his arsenal:
- 6 mm - for side walls;
- 19 mm - for front and rear.
Please note that in order to increase the thermal insulation of a winter camper, the lining is laid in two layers.
Floor and roof installation
The floor surface is covered with plywood sheets.
Poplar beams are used for the roof, screwing them in increments of 30 cm along the length of the frame. Plywood is fixed on the beams, on top of which a layer of moisture-resistant material and a metal profile with a small cross-section are placed.
Windows and doors
The design assumes, in addition to the door, the presence of another one - a window opening. Presumably it will be located in the rear wall of the camper. It is advisable to make the window in the form of a bay window.
Door locks in RVs are typically located on the bottom. But security is enhanced by adding another one at the top of the door. The door has a casement window.
Internal filling
It is recommended to take care of the functionality and mobility of the camper on wheels and arrange it while maintaining usable space. In this option, the use of transformable furniture is acceptable. For example, a table that extends from under the bed. For this purpose, special lockers are formed under the berth.
In addition, a removable ladder is made for a double bed and hanging shelves are installed in order to save space.
Exterior decoration
The final stage of arranging a camper with your own hands is completing the exterior finishing. For this purpose, siding or wooden lining is used.
The camper is popular among travelers, because it is so convenient to take everything you need with you on a trip, even a house! Now you know how to make a motorhome with your own hands, and you understand that constructing a camper is not as difficult as it seems at first glance.
Making a mobile home with your own hands is not a very difficult task for any craftsman. The design will be improved as construction progresses and because of this, production times may be delayed. To prevent such a situation, it is necessary to think through the interior design in advance and get rid of inappropriate elements. This approach is important when converting small vehicles when assembling a motorhome, for example from an old trailer.
A mobile home is a type of transport that is both housing and a means of transportation. This type of housing gained its popularity at the beginning of the last century.
Motorhome structure
By standard, a mobile home must accommodate eight people. Each resident has his own sleeping place, and there is also a small kitchen. Other amenities and equipment may vary depending on the specific model, but in most cases there are also:
More expensive models have a bathroom consisting of (often replacing a chair, which gives several additional meters of free space), a washbasin and a shower. Sometimes mobile homes are equipped with showers.
Note! In a motorhome, the driver and passenger seats are movable, as a result of which they become an addition to the living space when parked. The tail is often equipped with a separate room with U-shaped furniture.
Story
Mass production of mobile homes began in the last century, although some historians believe there were earlier home-built equivalents. They were small vans equipped for living people (mainly cattle breeders).
The first mobile home mounted on a conventional automobile chassis was introduced in 1938 by Jennings.
Types of mobile homes
There are several classifications of motorhomes. So, according to the design features:
Depending on their purpose, they are divided into:
- those used as long-term/permanent housing;
- those used for travel.
In the first case, more comfortable conditions take place, while frequently moving structures are extremely rarely divided into the actual living area and the cabin.
Categories
Let's look at each of the categories in detail.
C-class
Small-sized houses intended for short trips. Usually made on the basis of SUVs, so at night the cabin can be converted into a double bed (if desired).
Teardrop camper - cottage on a trailer B-class
The only difference between it and the C-class is the berth - it is stationary and located at the rear of the vehicle. Very popular among young couples (at least in America).
A-class
Such houses, which look like a regular bus, are the most comfortable and, therefore, the most expensive. They are built on the basis of trucks, so from the point of view of transport classification they belong to category “C”.
They feature a large windshield, a fixed driver's seat and retractable partitions that create different areas and separate sleeping areas. Moreover, such structures are autonomous, equipped with a generator, have gas and a large supply of water.
Several additional categories can be distinguished.
About the name
The term “motorhome” (another name is “camper”) often refers to a car caravan.
Note! Campers are called B- and C-class trailers, while motorhomes are exclusively A-class models.
It is also worth noting that in some countries, all motorhomes without exception are called vinebago.
Turning a car into a motorhome will require a lot of effort and time, as well as the appropriate equipment.
Note! First, you should study this issue from a legal point of view. Different registration organizations view home-built motorhomes differently, and it would be a shame if the vehicle ends up being illegal.
Stage 1. First, the number of residents is determined and, based on this, the vehicle and internal “stuffing” are selected. A detailed design plan is drawn up - this can be done on paper, but it is better to use a computer.
Stage 2. Next, the car body is cleared. If dents are identified, they are removed and the peeling paint is cleaned off. Several windows (if there were none) are installed in the building for lighting and fresh air.
Stage 3. Ventilation holes and valves for gas supply are cut out. All areas of bare metal are coated with a primer to protect against corrosion and aggressive environmental influences.
Stage 4. The house is finished with thermal insulation material.
Note! To do this, you need to use only high-quality materials; saving is highly undesirable. In addition, the material from which the hardware (metal fasteners) are made must be similar to the metal of the car body - this is for additional protection against rust.
Stage 5. The inner surface of the motorhome is finished.
- carpet covering;
- moisture-resistant plywood.
Thick panels with padded strips for mounting furniture are inserted into the side walls. It is typical that first it is better to level the ceiling, and only after that move on to the walls.
Stage 6. After installing the furniture, you should take care of the water supply. To do this, you can place several cans of water under the sink and install small pumps. In addition, you can install large tanks - for example, for taking a shower.
Note! Don’t forget about wastewater - another tank is installed for this. An ordinary garden structure can be used as a toilet.
Step 7. For cooking and heating, as noted earlier, it is better to use propane gas. The cylinder is located in the lower part of the body, as well as an additional hole for ventilation. This can be explained quite simply: propane weighs more than air, so in the event of a leak, such safety measures will prevent dire consequences.
Stage 8. All that remains is to take care of the energy supply. The best option is a powerful battery equipped with an external charging outlet.
Mobile home made from an old trailer
Our trailer-trailer costs about 500,000 rubles. The amount is impressive, so if you have the opportunity to purchase an old car trailer, you can build a small motorhome with your own hands. For this you will need:
- trailer (necessarily with a strong chassis);
- wooden elements (slats, bars, carriage planks);
- plywood;
- metal profile (for roofing);
- fittings made in the same style;
- a set of appropriate tools.
Manufacturing technology
Such a motorhome will be a trailer with a rear part. By the way, it is better to make the bed the entire width of the structure - this way it will connect the side walls and thereby increase rigidity. The bay window will be manufactured later and equipped with a custom block. The door is installed of the Dutch type - it will consist of two halves.
Stage 1. The trailer is disassembled, the chassis is thoroughly cleaned and coated with anti-corrosion paint. A frame is constructed from pine boards, and supports are cut out in appropriate places.
Stage 2. A frame is constructed from slats with a cross-section of 2x2 cm; an oak slat with a cross-section of 3x3 cm is additionally installed in each corner. A horizontal slat is tied on top of the frame.
Note! For thermal insulation, you can lay the lining in two layers.
Stage 3. The floor is covered with plywood sheets. Poplar beams are used for the roof - they are screwed along the frame in increments of 30 cm. Plywood is fixed on the beams, on top of which a moisture-resistant material and a metal profile of a small cross-section are laid.
Stage 4. There will be only one window in the building (if you do not count the door) - at the top of the back wall. It is advisable to make the window in the form of a bay window.
The door lock in such designs is located at the bottom, but you can put another one - an additional one - at the top. In addition, the door is equipped with a small casement window.
Stage 5. It is recommended to equip a table that extends from under the bed (as was once the case on Great Britain trains). For this purpose, special lockers are formed under the bed. By the way, the lower space can also be used as a sleeping place.
In addition, shelves and a removable ladder are built from wood.
Letter of the law
No additional permit is required if the dimensions of the mobile home do not exceed:
- 400 cm in height;
- 255 cm wide;
- 100 cm in length (excluding the part that does not protrude beyond the trailer).
If the dimensions are larger, then the motorhome is transported according to special rules (flashing lights, escort, etc.). Of course, this only applies to caravans.
Organizing a mobile home business
You can organize your own business in the construction of motorhomes. There are four options for developing such a business.
Option #1.
Production of houses for sale for summer holidays or living in the country. This will not require serious material costs, since the houses will be of a simplified design - for example, without insulation.
Option #2.
Rent out mobile homes. This is a relatively new business, and everything new can be very expensive. The number of motorhomes in this case increases as the customer base grows.
Option #3.
Make mobile eateries or shops.
Option number 4.
| He's the most interesting. It consists of creating a car park and its further use as a hotel. The main thing here is to divide the trailers into budget, premium and middle class. | For a more detailed introduction to construction technology, watch the thematic video. | Video - DIY mobile home | TOP 10 best motorhomes | |||
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⭐ 100 / 100 | ||||
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⭐ 99 / 100 | ||||
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⭐ 98 / 100 Name | ||||
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Rating | ⭐ 96 / 100 Price | |||
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Top 5 best motorhomes | ⭐ 90 / 100 3 - votes | |||
| POSSL ROADCRUISER | ||||||
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4 - votes | ⭐ 100 / 100 Motorhome KAMAZ 43118 | |||
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2 - votes | ⭐ 99 / 100 | |||
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Top 5 Best Fleetwood Mobile Homes | ⭐ 98 / 100 | |||
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Fleetwood RV Jamboree Sport | ⭐ 97 / 100 Motorhome KAMAZ 43118 | |||
| #5 |
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1 - vote | ⭐ 96 / 100 Name | |||
Fleetwood RV Tioga Ranger DSL
Fleetwood RV Storm
- Fleetwood RV Bounder
- Fleetwood RV Discovery
- This real palace on wheels is based on MAN. The length of the motorhome is almost 9.5 meters, which requires the driver to have absolute skills to drive vehicles of this class. Everything here is subordinated to the main thing - maximum passenger comfort. The interior is designed in the style of finishing expensive yachts - the elegant narrow doors of numerous cabinets suspended from the ceiling contrast with the high-quality leather trim of the sofas and armchairs of the living area. Every lamp, every, even the smallest, interior detail (curtains, for example) fills the space with luxury and splendor.
The base of the camper was created on the basis of a Fiat Ducato truck, as a result of which the vehicle has good handling and stability on the road - the camper's windage does not exceed the permissible values for this chassis. The spacious and bright mobile home is designed for four people. Light penetrates not only through the side windows (all have curtain systems, including the windshield), but also through the transparent hatch located in the front of the camper. Expensive and sophisticated interior trim accentuates the interior space, and swivel driver and passenger seats make the living area simply enormous by integrating it with the cabin.
Fleetwood RV Storm
- better comfort;
- country of origin: Germany;
- average price: 13,367,000 rub.
The motorhome is based on the Mercedes Sprinter 316 CDI and has all the driving capabilities of this reliable and trouble-free vehicle. And if from the outside the integrated camper does not particularly stand out and can easily get lost in city traffic, then inside it is a real compact house for 4 people. One drop-down bed is located above the driver's seat, and two others are located in the rear of the house, behind the toilet and shower. It is noteworthy that these two beds can be transformed into one huge one for maximum comfort.
Fleetwood RV Storm
- unique body protection;
- large luggage compartment;
- country of origin: Germany;
- average price: 9,176,188 rub.
