The company "Avtocamper" offers the service conversion of minibuses and minivans into motorhomes. You yourself choose the van and chassis that best meet your requirements for the weight, dimensions and speed characteristics of the motorhome.

The conversion of minibuses into motorhomes is carried out by specialists in Moscow who have undergone training at enterprises and specialized tuning centers in Germany. To build a camper, equipment and accessories used in the mass production of motorhomes are used.

The service for converting minivans into motorhomes gives you the opportunity to create "the mobile home of your dreams" in the literal sense of the word. You determine the layout of the camper, the color of the furniture, materials for upholstered furniture, the number of beds, and its technological qualities. If you plan to operate the motorhome in harsh winter conditions, the specialists of the Autocamper company will install "winter package": reinforced heating system with heated water communications and Webasto pre-heater. If, on the other hand, you prefer to travel on hot summer days, the camper will be equipped with air conditioning system. Air suspension, increased ground clearance, solar panels, multimedia, an expanded set of kitchen equipment - any of your expectations can be realized in a custom-built motorhome.

Another significant advantage of building a motorhome according to an individual project is the ability to determine the budget, the amount of financial costs to purchase a camper. You can choose either a new van or a used one. The cost of the project is also affected by the list of equipment and technical characteristics of the motorhome. For example, You don't need a kitchen block, which is always present in the basic configuration of industrially produced motorhomes. By refusing to install this type of equipment, you reduce costs.

The base for a motor home can be:

Peugeot Boxer
Citroen Jumper
Fiat Ducato
Mercedes Sprinter
Your van	Any other van that has been examined at the Autocamper service center

Set of works for converting a van into a motorhome:

• Insulation of the van body (thermal insulation)
• Inserting glass and hatches into the body of a minibus
• Manufacturing furniture for a motorhome from lightweight furniture board laminated with veneer
• Interior decoration of minibus walls with lightweight plywood covered with leather
• Laying electrical wiring, installing lighting and electrical equipment inside the minivan
• Installation of gas equipment and heating systems for motorhomes (Truma, Alde)
• Installation of a toilet block and shower cabin of a motorhome
• Formation of the kitchen area of ​​the motorhome and installation of a refrigerator, sink, gas stove, hood, oven, microwave oven
• Installation of any additional equipment at the client's choice: air conditioning, audio and video equipment, satellite TV, navigator, solar panels, awnings and other equipment for the motor home

Making a camper yourself is not too difficult a task for an experienced craftsman. But the timing of such construction can be very 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:

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.





5. 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.



6. 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 tow bar, 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:

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.





4. The top hatch and skylight are cut out. The entire frame is insulated and the wiring is installed.



5. Everything is covered with veneer sheets on top. Once the door and window openings are cut out, you can begin exterior painting and varnishing.





6. 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:

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.

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	Photo
Name
#1			⭐ 100 / 100
#2			⭐ 99 / 100
#3			⭐ 98 / 100 Rating
#4		Price	⭐ 96 / 100 Top 5 best motorhomes
#5		2 - votes	⭐ 90 / 100
POSSL ROADCRUISER
#1		3 - votes	⭐ 100 / 100 Motorhome KAMAZ 43118
#2		Top 5 Best Fleetwood Mobile Homes	⭐ 99 / 100
#3		Fleetwood RV Jamboree Sport	⭐ 98 / 100
#4		1 - vote	⭐ 97 / 100 Motorhome KAMAZ 43118
#5		Fleetwood RV Tioga Ranger DSL	⭐ 96 / 100 Top 5 best motorhomes

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.
• Characteristics:

the most luxurious mobile home;

Fleetwood RV Bounder

• spacious bathroom;
• average price: RUB 23,602,000
• 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 room simply enormous by integrating it with the cabin.

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 doesn’t 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 Bounder

• unique body protection;
• large luggage compartment;
• average price: RUB 23,602,000
• average price: 9,176,188 rub.

Tom Grantham, 29, and Kylie Barnes, 30, spent $2,000 to buy back an old shuttle bus - and turned it into a luxury caravan for a family of five with all the amenities and even a fireplace!
How did they do it? Let's get a look!


When Tom Grantham and Kylie Barnes bought a 23-year-old shuttle bus for $2,000 in 2011, probably no one but them believed that any good would come of this purchase. The couple had to invest many months of work and about $15,000 to turn it into a super home on wheels, equipped with everything a family with three children would need for a vacation.


The husband has personal memories associated with this bus: as it turned out upon purchase, it ran on route 51 from Grimsby to Louth for many years, passing the couple’s house every day. Now it has become their very own luxury travel van.


Tom and Kylie have three children - three-year-old Henry, seven-year-old Poppy-Mae and eight-year-old Logan. They won't be cramped in the former bus that Tom rebuilt!


The main living room of the caravan has two wide sofas. You can sit on them with the whole family, admiring the views, and if necessary, they can be converted into two wide double beds. “This is the perfect car for a family weekend trip!” - says Tom. He was mainly involved in the technical part and furniture manufacturing, and Kylie became the interior designer.


Tom built all the necessary amenities in the mobile home, providing it with a stove, oven, gas fireplace, sink, toilet and shower. All that remains from the previous bus is the traditionally designed driver's seat.


To fit a bedroom for three children in the car, we had to try hard, using all the vertical space, from floor to ceiling.


The kitchen-living room in the central part of the van is decorated with light wood and has maximum light.


The family travels in their caravan to music festivals across Britain, as well as holidays to France and Belgium.


However, when trying to go to Italy, the former bus failed the owners: due to engine failure, they were stuck in Switzerland. “It was a nightmare,” Tom recalls. - The police took our passports, and we had no right to leave the bus! I had to call a friend for help and change the engine.”


However, this story did not make the family disappointed in their mobile home. Children especially love him: after all, it was thanks to him that they visited French Disneyland!

The conversion of a regular bus into a travel van lasted for many years.

The car's floors are finished in wood and covered with carpets, so passengers feel right at home.


Tom had to make almost all the furniture for the van with his own hands.

According to Tom, the kitchen gave him the most problems.

Oddly enough, the family recently decided to put the fully finished and refurbished van up for auction on eBay. The starting price is 9,100 pounds, or about $12,000. “The children are terribly unhappy that we want to sell the van! - says Tom. “But we think it’s time to try something new and interesting.”