Tom Grantham, 29, and Kylie Barnes, 30, spent $ 2,000 to buy out an old shuttle bus - and turned it into a posh mobile home 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 except them believed that this purchase would make sense. The couple had to invest many months of labor and about $ 15,000 to turn it into a super home on wheels, equipped with everything necessary for a family with three children.


The spouse has personal memories associated with this bus: as it turned out during the purchase, for many years he had been running along route 51 from Grimsby to Loot, passing by the spouses' house every day. Now he's turned into their very own luxury travel van.


Tom and Kylie have three children - Henry, 3, Poppy-May, 7, and Logan, 8. They will not be cramped in the former bus converted by Tom's forces!


The RV's main living room has two wide sofas. You can sit on them with the whole family, admiring the views, and if necessary, they are decomposed into two wide double beds. "This is the perfect car for a weekend trip as a family!" - says Tom. He was mainly involved in the technical part and the manufacture of furniture, and Kylie became the interior designer.


In the mobile home, Tom has built all the necessary amenities, equipping it with a stove, oven, gas fireplace, sink, toilet and shower. From the previous bus, only the traditionally decorated driver's seat remained.


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


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


In their mobile home, the family travels to music festivals throughout Britain, as well as vacations in France and Belgium.


However, when trying to go to Italy, the former bus let the owners down: due to engine breakdown, they got stuck in Switzerland. “It was a nightmare,” Tom recalls. - The police took away 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 the French Disneyland!

The conversion of the regular bus into a van for travel lasted more than one year.

The floors in the car are finished with wood and covered with carpets, so that passengers feel 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 biggest problem.

Funnily enough, the family recently decided to list the completely finished and refurbished van on eBay. The starting price is £ 9,100, or about $ 12,000. “The kids are terribly unhappy that we want to sell the van! - says Tom. "But we think it's time to try something else new and interesting."

Making a mobile home with your own hands is not a very difficult task for any craftsman. The design, in the course of construction, will be improved and because of this, the production time may be delayed. To prevent such a situation, it is necessary to think over the interior design in advance, to get rid of unsuitable elements. This approach is important when converting small vehicles when assembling a RV, for example from an old trailer.

A mobile home is a type of transport that is both housing and a means of transportation. This kind of housing gained its popularity at the beginning of the last century.

Motorhome device

By standards, a mobile home should be able to accommodate eight people. Each tenant has his own sleeping place, there is also a small kitchen. Other amenities and equipment may vary depending on the specific model, but in most cases there are also:

In more expensive models, there is 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's and passenger's seats are movable, as a result of which, when parked, they turn into an addition to the living space. At the tail end, there is often a separate room with U-shaped furniture.

Story

The series production of mobile homes began in the last century, although some historians believe there were earlier homemade counterparts. They were small vans equipped to accommodate people (mainly pastoralists).

The first mobile home mounted on a conventional car chassis was introduced in 1938 by Jennings.

Varieties of mobile homes

There are several classifications of motorhomes. So, according to the design features, they are distinguished:

Depending on their purpose, they are divided into:

• those that are used as long-term / permanent housing;
• those that are used for travel.

In the first case, more comfortable conditions take place, while often moving structures are extremely rarely divided into their own living space and a cabin.

Categories

Let's take a closer look at each of the categories.

C-class

Small houses for short trips. Usually made on the basis of SUVs, so at night the cabin can be in a double bed (if desired).

Theardrop 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 tail of the vehicle. It is very popular among young couples (at least in America).

A-class

Such houses, outwardly similar to a regular bus, are the most comfortable and, therefore, the most expensive. They are built on the basis of trucks, therefore, from the point of view of transport classification, they belong to category "C".

They are distinguished by a large windshield, a fixed driver's seat and retractable partitions that form different zones and separate berths. 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 an automobile caravan.

Note! Campers are called B- and C-class trailers, while mobile homes are exclusively A-class models.

It is also worth noting that in some countries, without exception, motorhomes are called vinebago.

It will take a lot of time and effort to transform a car into a motorhome, as well as the appropriate equipment.

Note! First, you should study this issue from the point of view of legislation. Self-made RVs are perceived differently by different registering organizations, and it will be frustrating if the transport ends up being illegal.

Stage 1. First, the number of residents is determined and, based on this, a vehicle and internal "filling" 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 cleaned. If dents have been identified, they are removed and the peeling paint is peeled off. Several windows (if there were none) in the building are equipped for lighting and fresh air supply.

Step 3. Cut vents and valves for gas supply. 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 heat-insulating material.

Note! To do this, you need to use exclusively high-quality materials; it is extremely undesirable to save money. In addition, the material from which the hardware (metal fasteners) is made should be similar to the metal of the car body - this is for additional protection against rusting.

Stage 5. The inner surface of the motorhome is finished.

• carpet covering;
• moisture resistant plywood.

Thick panels with stuffed strips for furniture installation are inserted into the side walls. It is characteristic that at first it is better to align the ceiling, and only after that move on to the walls.

Step 6. After installing the furniture, you should take care of the water supply. To do this, you can install several canisters of water under the sink and install small pumps. In addition, large tanks can be installed - for example, for taking a shower.

Note! Do not forget about waste water - another tank is installed for this. A common 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 balloon is located in the lower part of the body, as well as an additional vent for ventilation. This can be explained quite simply: the weight of propane is greater than that of air, therefore, in the event of a leak, such safety measures will prevent unfortunate consequences.

Stage 8. All that remains is to take care of the power supply. The best option is a powerful rechargeable battery equipped with an external charging outlet.

Mobile home from an old trailer

Our trailer-trailer costs about 500,000 rubles. The amount is impressive, so if there is an opportunity to purchase an old car trailer, then you can build a small motorhome with your own hands. This will require:

• trailer (always with a sturdy chassis);
• wooden elements (slats, bars, wagon boards);
• plywood;
• metal profile (for the roof);
• fittings made in the same style;
• a set of appropriate tools.

Manufacturing technology

Such a motorhome will be a trailer with a rear end. By the way, it is better to make the bed for the entire width of the structure - this way it will connect the side walls and thereby increase the rigidity. The bay window will be manufactured later and equipped with an individual unit. The door is installed in the Dutch style - it will consist of two halves.

Stage 1. The trailer is disassembled, the chassis is thoroughly cleaned and covered with anti-corrosion paint. A frame is constructed from pine boards, props are cut in the appropriate places.

Stage 2. A frame is constructed from slats with a section of 2x2 cm, an oak strip with a section of 3x3 cm is additionally installed in each corner. From above, the frame is tied with a horizontal strip.

Note! For thermal insulation, you can lay the lining in two layers.

Stage 3. The floor is covered with plywood sheets. For the roof, poplar beams are used - they are screwed along the frame with a step of 30 cm. Plywood is fixed on the beams, on top of which a moisture-resistant material and a small-section metal profile are spread.

Stage 4. There will be only one window in the body (if the door is not taken into account) - in the upper part of the back wall. It is desirable to make the window in the form of a bay window.

The door lock in such structures is located at the bottom, but you can put another one - 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 can be pulled out from under the bed (as was once the case in Great Britain trains). For this, 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 staircase are built from wood.

Letter of the law

No additional permission is required if the motorhome dimensions do not exceed:

• 400 cm high;
• 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 trailers.

Business organization on mobile homes

On the construction of motorhomes, you can organize your own business. There are four options for developing such a business.

Option number 1. Manufacturing of houses for sale for summer holidays or residence in the country. This will not require serious material costs, since the houses will be of a simplified design - for example, without insulation.

Option number 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 is growing as the customer base grows.

Option number 3. Making mobile eateries or convenience stores.

Option number 4. He's the most interesting. It consists in the creation of 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 acquaintance with the construction technology, check out the thematic video.

Video - DIY home on wheels

TOP 10 best motorhomes

	Photo	Name	Rating	Price
Top 5 best motorhomes
#1			⭐ 100 / 100
#2			⭐ 99 / 100
#3			⭐ 98 / 100 2 - voices
#4		POSSL ROADCRUISER	⭐ 96 / 100 3 - voices
#5		Motorhome KAMAZ 43118	⭐ 90 / 100
Top 5 best Fleetwood mobile homes
#1		Fleetwood RV Jamboree Sport	⭐ 100 / 100 1 - voice
#2		Fleetwood RV Tioga Ranger DSL	⭐ 99 / 100
#3		Fleetwood rv storm	⭐ 98 / 100
#4		Fleetwood rv bounder	⭐ 97 / 100 1 - voice
#5		Fleetwood RV Discovery	⭐ 96 / 100 3 - voices

This real palace on wheels is built on the basis of MAN. The length of the motorhome is almost 9.5 meters, which requires unconditional skills from the driver to drive cars of this class. Everything here is subordinated to the main thing - the maximum comfort of passengers. The interior is designed in the style of luxury yachts - the elegant narrow doors of the numerous cabinets suspended from the ceiling contrast with the high-quality leather upholstery of the sofas and armchairs in the seating area. Each lamp, each, even the smallest, interior detail (curtains, for example) fills the space with luxury and splendor.

Specifications:

• the most luxurious mobile home;
• spacious bathroom;
• average price: 23,602,000 rubles.

The base of the camper was created on the basis of the Fiat Ducato cargo truck, as a result of which the car has good handling and stability on the road - the windage of the camper does not exceed the permissible values ​​for this chassis. A spacious and bright mobile home for four people. Light enters not only through the side windows (all have curtain systems, including the windscreen), but also through the transparent sunroof located in the front of the camper. Expensive and sophisticated interior furnishings accentuate the interior space, while the swivel seats for the driver and passenger make the living room huge by integrating with the cockpit.

Specifications:

• better comfort;
• country of origin: Germany;
• average price: 13,367,000 rubles.

The motorhome is based on the Mercedes Sprinter 316 CDI and has all the capabilities of this reliable and trouble-free car in management. And if from the outside the integrated camper does not stand out in any way, it 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 the other two are at the back of the house, behind the toilet and shower. It is noteworthy that these two beds for the greatest comfort can be transformed into one huge one.

Specifications:

• unique body protection;
• large luggage compartment;
• country of origin: Germany;
• Average price: 9 176 188 rub.

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

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

The service of converting minivans into motorhomes gives you the opportunity to create "mobile home of your dreams" in the truest sense of the word. You determine the layout of the camper, the color of the furniture, materials for upholstered furniture, the number of berths, and its technological qualities. If you plan to operate the motorhome in harsh winter conditions, the specialists of the Avtokemper company will install "winter package": reinforced heating system with heated water lines and Webasto pre-heater. If, on the contrary, 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 extended range of kitchen equipment - any of your expectations can be realized in a motorhome built according to an individual project.

Another significant plus of the construction of a motorhome on an individual project is the ability to determine the budget, the amount of financial costs for the purchase of a camper. You can choose from a new van or a used one. The cost of the project is also influenced by the list of equipment and technical characteristics of the motorhome. For instance, You don't need a kitchen unit, which is always present in the basic configuration of industrial caravans. By refusing to install this type of equipment, you reduce costs.

The base for a mobile home can be:

Peugeot boxer
Citroen jumper
Fiat ducato
Mercedes Sprinter
Your van	Any other van that has passed the examination at the Avtokemper service center

A set of works for the conversion of a van into a motorhome:

• Insulation of the van body (thermal insulation)
• Inset of glass and hatches into the body of the minibus
• Production of furniture for motorhomes from lightweight furniture board, laminated with veneer
• Interior decoration of the walls of the minibus with lightweight plywood, covered with leather
• Laying of electrical wiring, installation of lighting and electrical equipment inside the minivan
• Installation of gas equipment and heating systems for mobile homes (Truma, Alde)
• Installation of toilet block and shower cabin of the 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 a mobile home

Making a camper with your own hands is not too difficult for an experienced craftsman. But the timing of such a construction can be very delayed due to the constant improvement of the design. In order not to get into such a situation, you should think over the interior in advance, abandoning obviously unnecessary elements. This is especially important when equipping small cars, for example, when creating a home on wheels from a GAZelle with your own hands.

A mobile home has undeniable advantages - comfort, coziness and mobility. Moscow is a bustling city from which you sometimes want to leave. Trailer owners do not have to find a place to sleep, and travel becomes very economical. If earlier it was not possible to use this original housing, 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 by:

• mind - there are trailed, van or mobile homes combined with a car;
• class - there are three comfort classes for motorhomes;
• trailer type - there are trailer trailers, hybrid trailers and fifth-wheel trailers.

If everything is clear with the trailed view of a mobile home, then the difference between a van and a combined caravan is not immediately visible. In the first embodiment, the living space is located in the van of the car and is separated from the driver's seat.

This option is suitable when traveling together, when no one stays in the "house" during the travels. Thanks to this design, it is possible to fit more functional furniture using a blank front wall.

Motorhomes converted from GAZelles or minibuses are exactly combined.

The comfort class can be called conditional. For example, class “A” mobile homes include spacious trailers made on the chassis of large trucks. Outwardly, they resemble a bus, they can have folding structures, but inside they do not differ in functionality from a small apartment.

It should be borne in mind 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 - 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 simplest motorhomes. It can 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 roof rack, a folding awning and a set of camping furniture, you can get a comfortable stay at a minimum cost.

These construction trailers are also called hybrid trailers to distinguish them from simple trailers. Separately, it is necessary to note the Fiveswil trailers, the shape of which is designed for use in conjunction with pickups. Thanks to this, it is possible to reduce the length of the entire caravan, because part of the trailer hangs over the body of the car.

Mistakes in the construction of mobile homes with your own hands

The prices for mobile homes are noticeably biting. Not surprisingly, the desire of the skilled heads of families to save the budget and do everything yourself. It is important to be wise and learn from other people's mistakes:

• you should not do everything from scrap materials - you will have to live in the house for at least a week and you want to spend your vacation in comfort;





• serious revision of the body, heating system, wiring will be required - you cannot do without the skills of an auto mechanic;



• if you still managed to fit a shower and toilet, do not forget about the drain tank - pouring dirty water onto the asphalt or lawn is extremely unethical;
• it is better not to forget to make a connector for connecting 220V at camping sites, well, and a converter for 12V from a car battery.

Making a trailer in-house

If difficulties do not frighten, and the desire for action is unstoppable, you can try your hand at building a house. And to remake a GAZelle or build a trailer-trailer from scratch - the choice is strictly individual!

DIY GAZelle mobile home

To work you will need a grinder, a welding machine, a hand saw for wood and a lot of patience. The step-by-step modernization of the car looks like this:

1. The seats are removed from the passenger compartment, the old trim is removed. All metal parts are treated with a special solution to prevent rust. The walls and ceiling are insulated with polyethylene foam, plywood sheets are laid on the floor. All wiring runs under the floor and wall cladding, this should be thought out in advance.



2. A frame for furniture is welded directly into the body. If it is impossible to set the car straight, you can use a pipe resting its ends against the lower edge of the window openings as a level. After rough welding, the frame is removed and everything is welded, cleaned and again brought inside.



3. Window openings are pasted over with Carpet. Carpet-pasted ceiling panels are also installed. After finishing the interior trim, you can fix the slats under the mezzanine and mount the furniture frames.



4. For the front seats, you can make a swivel mechanism. To do this, you need a front hub, for example, from a VAZ and part of a pivot stand. The circuit is pretty simple.





5. The final stage is the installation of the furniture on the frame, connecting the lighting, installing the pump for the kitchen sink, lining the mezzanine and making minor improvements to the interior. For cooking, you can put a small gas stove on one burner.



6. Instead of welding the furniture frame, you can use ready-made headsets, reinforcing them from the inside with corners and additional screws. You also need to fix the kitchen to everything - the floor, sofa, wall. This is to protect furniture from loosening when driving on bumpy roads.

It should not be forgotten that such a modification of the car requires registration with the REO. To do this, you need to write a statement and receive a resolution from the technical department of the traffic police and the protocol of an authorized organization.

Stylish plywood trailer house

If the car has a towbar, it’s a sin not to take advantage of the situation and not make a nice “drop” trailer for spending the night outside the city. For this:

1. The side walls of the future van are cut and attached to the base. All openings for doors and windows, as well as for lightening the frame, must be cut out in advance, so it is better to think over the drawing well.



2. Shelves are assembled from the furniture board and installed on the base. The same shelves will serve as the front and rear walls of the van.



3. A plywood sheet is bent on both sides in the shape of the van above the shelves, and a load-bearing frame made of timber is fixed on top. One side is lifted, giving access to the kitchen.





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



5. Everything is glued on top with veneer sheets. When the door and window openings have been cut, you can proceed to the exterior painting and varnishing.





6. Doors, top hatch and supply and exhaust ventilation are installed. After securing all the fittings, side lights and wheel fenders, you can safely go on a journey!

And the video shows a detailed assembly of the motorhome with the installation of solar panels: