Homemade mobile home. DIY mobile home: design photos, step-by-step work process

Is it difficult to build a mobile home based on a conventional car trailer? What materials can this trailer-house-cottage be built from? What are its minimum dimensions? What internal layout will allow the most efficient use of the internal space? Let's try to find answers to this list of questions.

Objectives

A small country cottage is probably the most widespread hobby in the post-Soviet space over the past half century. The area of \u200b\u200bcities is growing every year, and areas are naturally moving away from the center of settlements. Distances are sometimes measured in tens of kilometers; the most comfortable way to overcome them is to drive your own car.

At the same time, not all summer residents are ready to turn a small plot into a place of permanent residence. The maximum that an average urban family can decide on is to spend the night on their site once a week. To build a capital house for this overnight stay is a dubious undertaking; sleeping in a car is very uncomfortable ...

For summer residents who have basic skills in working with a power tool, homemade caravan trailers are often the way out.

We have to study one of such structures, having got acquainted with the materials used and design solutions.

Acknowledgments: The photos used in this article were kindly uploaded by one of the regulars on the League of Caravaners.
The author's work boiled down to just explaining some of the technical subtleties.

Choice of materials

In most cases, a single-axle trailer with a maximum load of no more than a ton becomes the basis on which a compact caravan-caravan is built. Taking into account the weight of household items and a couple of people, our choice is a dacha trailer weighing up to 750 kg.

The weight limitation leaves its mark on the choice of material.

We will make the frame of the building from a pine bar with a cross section of 50 mm.
The walls are made of 10 mm plywood (moisture resistant or impregnated, which reduces the hygroscopicity of the material and prevents it from rotting); the floor is 12 mm. It is also used for construction inside.
External cladding - galvanized steel. Sheets are hemmed to the frame bar with self-tapping screws; the overlaps are additionally sealed with silicone sealant. The outer corners are reinforced with an aluminum corner - again sealed with silicone.

What to choose as insulation, laid between the inner and outer layers of plywood - we leave it to the reader to decide. Here is the comparative thermal conductivity of popular heaters:

Nuance: glass wool will inevitably cake over time.
Better to use tough insulation.

Dimensions

A reasonable minimum of the size of the trailer required for our purposes is 2300x1600 mm. Such dimensions will make it possible to build a rather comfortable sleeping place for two people inside and leave some space for a table under the washbasin and / or a gas stove.

A two-axle trailer cottage will provide much more comfort; however, the price of such a trailer will be twice or three times more. Its dimensions (up to 4.5 meters in length) allow you to build a full-fledged toilet room.

A reasonable minimum building height is generally 2 meters. The height can be adjusted depending on the size of the owners: it is clear that a very tall person does not want to constantly cling to the ceiling with the crown of his head.

Building

So let's get started. How is a dacha built from a trailer with your own hands?

Floor, bottom rail

The sides are completely dismantled. Only a flat area remains from the trailer. If the horizontal base is sufficiently rigid, the floor joists and harness can be attached directly to it; It is better to weld a thin flexible sheet with a frame made of a professional pipe with a section of 50x25 mm.
Then the lower strapping of a bar, laid along the perimeter, is fixed to the base with bolts; the side bars are connected with logs with a pitch of 20 cm (for 12 mm plywood).

Alternatively, the entire structure can be assembled at the stand and only then pulled to the base of the trailer.

The lags are attached to the strapping with a galvanized corner; the bar must be soaked in hot linseed oil twice.

Advice: instead of drying oil heated in a water bath, you can use cold oil.
In this case, after applying each layer, the bar is warmed up with a building hairdryer.

Insulation is laid between the lags; then the floor is covered with plywood, which is attracted by self-tapping screws.

Frame

The instructions for assembling the frame are no different from the construction of the lower strapping: the bar is connected by corners with self-tapping screws. Before or after assembly, the tree is impregnated with linseed oil. Do not be afraid that the frame will not be rigid enough: the sheathing will give the structure strength.

Sheathing, insulation

The finished frame begins to be sheathed from the inside. Plywood is attracted by self-tapping screws 32 mm long in increments of about 25 cm. The self-tapping screws are only galvanized: in wet weather, black steel will inevitably decorate the walls with untidy rusty streaks.

Three nuances:

The holes for the self-tapping screws are pre-drilled and countersunk so that the hats do not cling to clothes. An alternative is the use of self-tapping screws with half-countersunk heads.

Plywood from the inside must be sanded before varnishing and after applying the first layer. Any moisture will raise the pile on the top veneer layer, which will make the surface rough.
The volume of work will be quite large, so it is better to use a grinder - even the simplest, vibration one. If there is no electricity where you are building, there is always a way out: renting a diesel generator for a summer residence costs from 1000 rubles a day.
The outer side and ends of plywood also need a protective impregnation. And in this case, the cheapest and most practical option is two layers of hot drying oil.
The insulation is fixed in the grooves formed by the frame and the inner cladding, after which it is sheathed on the outside with plywood rolled on both sides.

The door is assembled similarly to walls and hung on galvanized hinges; an ordinary door lock or a pair of latches are used as a lock - inside and outside.

The last stage is the external galvanized finish. It is fixed with self-tapping screws 25 mm long in 10 cm increments along all the frame bars; then the corners are closed with a corner. Do not forget about the sealant: it will protect the corners and joints from water leakage.

In the photo - the cladding, ready for painting.

Window

If you want your miniature home to have light windows, no problem.

The opening is provided even at the stage of construction of the frame. It is girded with a bar with a section of the same 50x50 mm.
A duralumin corner is used as an outer glazing bead, flush with the outer cladding with self-tapping screws. The seat for the corner is pre-coated with sealant.
A piece of plexiglass cut to the size of the opening sits on the sealant and is fixed from the inside with a glazing bead from the same duralumin corner.

Internal layout

Our choice is a convertible seat bed and a folding table. The transformation mechanism will make the pictures understandable.

Useful little things

An alternative to galvanized plywood - external sheathing made of profiled sheet... In a similar scheme, country houses are often built from block containers.
Do-it-yourself cottage trailer repair usually comes down to periodic painting of galvanized... Old paint can be removed with removers. In those few cases when the wheels, fenders or suspension of the trailer are damaged, spare parts for the caravan are bought at the nearest auto shop.

The easiest way to organize ventilation is to provide a pair of hatches closed with a mosquito net (bottom and top) in the door.

Conclusion

Let us omit, you do not need to drive straight through peat bogs, but it is quite enough that a trailer or self-propelled camper can withstand a multi-day trip on bumpy roads with half-wheel pits, bumpy graders and mountain dirt roads with boulders sticking out of the roadbed without any health problems. Alas, it is not easy to find such equipment ready-made ...

But there is an old principle: "if you want something to be done well, do it yourself." This is exactly what Ruslan, an auto-traveler and blogger known on the Internet under the nickname "Off-Road", decided. In principle, he had no experience: at one time he was the chairman of the club of auto-travelers "Argonaut", was engaged in organizing mass trips and already had a good idea of \u200b\u200bwhat, in fact, he needed. But it is not enough to understand that mobile housing should be able to move not only on the asphalt and at the same time not crumble. The agony of choice does not end there ...

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The agony of choice

Actually, all off-road mobile homes can be divided into three groups. Firstly, these are self-propelled campers on an all-wheel drive chassis. This opens up a huge window of opportunity. You can take a "loaf" (which is now called UAZ SGR) or Sobol 4x4 and work closely with their internal arrangement. Alas, the internal volume of these vans is rather limited, and the problem of being able to stand in full growth arises, excuse the tautology, in full growth.

You can take an all-wheel drive chassis - say, UAZ Profi or Sobol 4x4 Farmer and build a house on this chassis. Also, in general, it will turn out to be the "house of the Pumpkin godfather" - the size of the cargo area of \u200b\u200bthese vehicles is about 3 meters long and two meters wide, but you can use the space above the cab.

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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 possibilities of camper builders.

You can, of course, find a full-size American pickup, but it's expensive ... Or you can swing at "large forms" and take, say, a medium-tonnage Sadko as a basis. By the way, its cargo platform has only slightly larger dimensions (compared to the UAZ Profi), but off-road capabilities are at a height.

But all motorhomes have the same flaw. Just imagine: a person in a camper van 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 tents, laid out furniture ... And then it turns out that they didn't buy meat, the salt ran out, the beer was forgotten, in the end ... camper owner what are the options? Either he gives the family chairs and leaves them to sit in an open field (tents and awnings, of course, will have to be unhooked), and he hurries to the store in the nearest settlement, or they turn camp and go to the store all together. The same collision occurs when you want to see the sights in the immediate vicinity.

But if you have a trailer, then you simply uncouple the tractor, lock the door and go light.

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My home is my castle

So Ruslan decided that he needed a trailer. But trailers capable of driving behind a tractor on the road are of two types. First, there is a tent trailer. As a rule, they are very compact, even a tiny Suzuki Jimny can tow them. 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 operation in the summer: a kitchen module with a stove and a sink is usually made retractable, and the tent, the basis of which is the trailer, still needs to be set up: pull the stretchers, hammer in the pegs ... And without supervision, such a camp is not leave, and the deployment of the tent trailer is time. If a person has spent ten or even more hours driving, he wants only one thing - sleep, sleep and sleep again!

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This means, Ruslan decided, that only a rigid trailer, in everyday life a "caravan", 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 - to lower the table, shift the back-pillow on it, get the mattress, spread it, make the bed ... This time. So the basic concept was formed, and Ruslan got down to work.

Sleep immediately!

Ruslan bought Rama ready-made, but altered the suspension in the most radical way. I installed a new, reinforced axle with hubs from Mitsubishi Pajero and hydraulic brakes from it. Equipped the brake system with a manual drive, with which you can block the trailer wheels. The axle is suspended on springs from the Gazelle, which can be found anywhere, in any region. There are two spare wheels on the rear wall of the trailer, plus one more on the car. All wheels are the same and interchangeable, even the discs are the same. A slave cylinder from the Volga is implanted into the drawbar, which drives the overrun brake. As a result, the trailer really overcame very serious obstacles in front of 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 an aluminum hollow profile, into 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 the microcracks of the plywood from which the walls are made. As a result, the trailer keeps the temperature like a real thermos. In hot weather it is cool, and in frost it keeps warm for a long time. I confirm: while we were talking with Ruslan, the temperature overboard exceeded +26, but inside was cool. Considering all this, Ruslan did not bother with installing an air conditioner, deciding to rely on natural ventilation.

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Then it was time to deal with the main thing - that is, the internal arrangement. Based on the concept of "sleep - immediately!" Ruslan came up with a rather non-standard scheme for transforming a bed: the bed is hidden behind the front inner wall. It turned out very conveniently: one latch, two latch - and the bed goes down, where the spring mattress lies. Please note: not "foam", not foam rubber, but a full-fledged spring mattress bought in a furniture store. And there is already a sheet and a blanket. 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 removed the bed along with the blanket, 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 enough for two people to have breakfast. Well, if you need a dining table, then the table moves forward, a support is placed under it, and a table top is obtained. The inhabitants sit on two voluminous lockers, and inside them there are isolated volumes, which are accessed from the outside of the trailer. It houses "dirty" equipment: tools, a welding machine and the like. Another such container, larger, is in the front. In principle, it can hold four bags with inflatable boats, 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 wall to the left in the direction of travel, an absorption-type refrigerator is installed, which can be used to supply 220 V, 12 V and gas. Ruslan bought it second-hand, and in fact he is not very happy with it. Like all absorption refrigerators, of course, it uses electricity very economically, but there is a nuance. The system is not filled with freon, but a mixture of water and ammonia, which gradually begins to crystallize in the coil. Ammonia in the system becomes less and less, and the apparatus ceases to perform its main function. The only salvation is to pull out the refrigerator, turn it upside down so that the water, flowing down, rinses off the crystals, And this procedure must be repeated ten times. In the new trailer, which Ruslan is building together with the Leroy Merlin company, he used a modern 45W compressor auto-refrigerator. This level of power consumption does not pose any particular problems: Ruslan installed two solar panels and a 200 Ah battery on the roof of the trailer. An inverter with a power of 3 kW (it is located under the surface into which the plate is embedded) allows you not to be too nervous about the available power.

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Cans for clean water are located under the sink. Ruslan deliberately refused the built-in tank. He explains it this way: “Well, let's say there is a spring. I took the cans, arrived, filled them, put them on. And with a stationary tank, you will need to bring canisters, and then pour them into the filler neck. Pump it up? So it is not always possible to drive close to the water ”. But in the new trailer, which he is building with Leroy Merlin, Ruslan nevertheless hung up a reel with a 20-meter hose and a submersible pump "Malysh" outside. This is all connected to tanks inside the trailer, and there is a filler neck.

Experience, son of difficult mistakes

Naturally, the kitchenette is equipped with a two-burner gas hob. But at first she had to perform not only the functions of a cooking device ... On his first route Ruslan fell off with an unfinished trailer. He himself explains it this way:

All summer I was digging, building a trailer, and "the poet's soul could not bear it." It was so offensive: 9 months of the year you are waiting for summer, and now the summer has passed, and I did not see it. And then I realized that I needed to break loose and go. In fact, this is how the idea of \u200b\u200bthe project "From edge to edge" was born. The first stage, from November to March, I drove alone, with a dog, 26 regions.

On the trip, he broke off without installing the planned autonomous heater, so he had to heat the trailer with a gas stove, but in order not to get stoned, open the ventilation and leave a crack in the window. As a result, he still got mad, but that's another story ... And before that, on the very first cold night, he ran out of gas in the cylinder.

I woke up - cold! Overboard - minus twenty-five. My dog \u200b\u200bis freezing! I wrapped the dog up in two sleeping bags, took out a generator and a hair dryer, set it to 600 degrees, and we saved ourselves until morning.

The result of this adventure was the Planar diesel heater registered in the trailer, with which Ruslan is very pleased:

On the go, you lower the temperature to 5-7 degrees, 5-10 minutes before the stop you open the application in your phone, start it, set it to 22 degrees and press “start”. While you park, go in - and in the trailer there are already those +22!

Some options appeared in the trailer as we gained experience - the one that is "the son of difficult mistakes." For example, in the Caucasus, in Kabardino-Balkaria, Ruslan almost lost his trailer, and in the truest sense of the word. I set up a camp, went to the koshara to talk to the shepherds, and upon returning in the dark I could not see my "caravan" hiding in the folds of the terrain. I found it by the sound, because I left the generator working. After that, Ruslan decided that the trailer should be autonomous in terms of lighting, and installed a five-contact relay with a switch. If you want - the dimensions are lit 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 really visible from afar.

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The final stage of construction was legalization and official registration. It turned out that getting state numbers is quite simple: after all, from the point of view of the authorities, a house on a trailer is just a load. Naturally, it is strictly forbidden to transport people in it.

How much does it cost to build a house

The work on the arrangement of the mobile home has not yet been completed. So, a flow-through gas water heater and a shower should appear in the trailer. The pallet is already there, but the drain has not yet been made to it. And Ruslan also wants to make an L-shaped bench, which can be folded back so that it looks like a desk. It will be possible to put a laptop on it and work, sitting right on the unfolded bed. An awning awning will appear above the entrance. Surely Ruslan will have to deal more seriously with the issue of protection from mosquitoes, horseflies and other midges, especially if he goes on a summer route through the eastern regions. For today, he has only mosquito nets on the windows, which are fixed on a temporary basis, with the help of 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 living module itself from the available materials will cost about 100,000 rubles, but this is without the chassis. Chassis - 25,000 more, windows - 20,000 each, heater 20,000, gas stove - about 5,000, sink - 600 rubles, marquise - 45,000, pump - 5,000 rubles, Barrier water filter - 6,000 rubles, solar panels - 15,000 each, controller - 4,000 ... Just about 350-400 thousand, provided that everything is done by hand.

Expensive? But the pleasure is worth it. Here's some simple arithmetic. Ruslan traveled from November to March ... Now let's calculate: 500 rubles a day is the cheapest hostel. For 4 months - 60,000. Eat in a cafe once a day - 1,000 rubles on average. This is another 120,000, and together - 180,000. But for 180,000 it is already possible to build a house on wheels, albeit with a minimum of amenities. And the most important thing is that where you are staying - there is a house, and with a hostel - whether you like it or not, you need to drag yourself to the city, and even find it, this hostel. Otherwise - either spend the night in the car, or sleep in a tent ...

There will be campers - there will be campgrounds

I could not help asking Ruslan: why, in fact, is he doing all this: he built one "caravan", is building a second, plans to build large houses on a semitrailer for a pickup truck and on a chassis of a heavy truck, maintains a blog, arranges master classes ...

According to him, he pursues three main goals with his projects. First, to popularize Russia as a vacation and travel destination. To make a feasible contribution to the development of such a tourist segment as auto tourism. And finally, to the extent possible, popularize "caravanning", because we have a "loopback problem". We do not develop the infrastructure providing for auto-tourism, because auto-tourism itself is not developed, and auto-tourism does not develop, 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. In our south, you go, and along the road there are solid signs: camping "At Uncle Vasya", "At Uncle Petit", "At Tatiana" ... But they have nothing to do with camping. These are just paid parking lots. A real campsite is a cultivated area divided into blocks, where caravaners, campers, cyclists and tents stand separately. Because the culture of recreation is different for everyone. The camperist, as a rule, does not stay in one place for more than a couple of days. Caravaners, on the other hand, more often act according to the scheme "arrived, unhooked and hung at one point for a week." So you need to separate them: it's not very good when you have a bunch of children, a dog, everyone runs, plays, and the campers keep rolling back and forth.

Besides, camping is a service. This is an electricity connection, Wi-Fi, the ability to drain gray water and refuel clean. In any case, the camp should have laundry, showers, normal toilets. Then there are all sorts of spas, baths, saunas, etc., stationary barbecues and gazebos for relaxation ... There should be an entertainment program, a cultural program ... On the campground, it should be possible to hire a guide, rent bicycles ... But we have such campsites , consider it, and no, except for camping in Suzdal. The Moscow camping is just a staging post. There are showers, but this is just a very tight parking lot, literally side by side. You cannot stretch the awning, put the chaise longue ...

Mobile home - 2 in 1, housing that can be freely transported with a car to any point of travel. It gained popularity and distribution in America at the beginning of the last century. Today campers travel around the world, and there are many of them in Russia. But the leaders in the production and sales of mobile homes remain the countries of North America. Is it possible to make a camper with your own hands?

Features of the device at home

According to the standard, classic transportable housing should accommodate up to 8 people. Moreover, each tenant must have his own bed. The presence of a kitchen is required, at least a small one. Other amenities and additional equipment are optional and will vary depending on the camper trailer model and the owner's preferences. But in 90% of cases, mobile homes are equipped with:

gas stove;
sink;
oven.

In more expensive models with chic, like for a camper, living conditions there is a bathroom, complete with a dry closet, washbasin and mini-shower. Campers are rarely equipped with a full shower, only if the area allows it.

How to transform a car into a mobile home

Please note that this question follows andto learn at the beginning legislatively. Registration organizations have different attitudes towards such mobile residential objects, therefore it will be unpleasant to lose the only property in the form of a motorhome due to the illegality of its operation.

The design is carried out in stages, and it consists of 8 steps. Check out one example of how to make your own mobile camper.

Design

At first, they are determined with the number of residents / travelers. Based on this, they select a vehicle and the inner filling of the camper or use what is available.

Don't forget to draw up a detailed design plan in paper or electronic form.

Body cleaning

The body is cleared. Having found dents on the surface of the car, they are removed, cleaning off the peeled paint. After that, several windows are equipped, usually two. They are necessary for the access of sunlight and fresh air to the inside of the camper trailer.

Arrangement of ventilation and thermal insulation

Cut out vents and valves for gas supply. "Bare" metal is treated with a primer to prevent the development of corrosion processes. And also to protect against the effects of aggressive environments. Finish with thermal insulation plates.

Internal surface finish

The inside of the motor home is finished. For this, it is recommended to use either carpet or moisture-resistant plywood. Start by leveling the ceiling, and then proceed with vertical surfaces.

Thick sheets of plywood with stuffed strips for furniture installation are inserted into the side walls.

Water supply

Once you've installed furniture inside your homemade camper, don't forget to arrange for water supply. To do this, place a tank or cans of water under the sink and mount a household pump. In addition, it is possible to envisage the location of a larger reservoir for supplying water to the shower.

Gas supply

To cook or heat food, as mentioned earlier, gas is used, preferably propane. The balloon is placed in the lower part of the body, as well as an additional vent hole. The explanation is simple: propane weighs more than air, so in the event of a leak it 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 materials at hand and what the mechanic has on the farm. For these purposes, suitable:

trailer equipped with reinforced chassis;
wooden elements: wagon boards, bars, slats;
plywood;
metal profiles for the roof;
accessories of the same type.

Of course, you will need a set of tools in the design process.

Features of camper production

For example, you can design a mobile home with a bunk bed at the back of the camper. The manufacturing process is divided into five stages. The first is to prepare the foundation.

To do this, disassemble the trailer. Carefully work the chassis with an anti-corrosion compound. Build a frame from pine boards by sawing props in the appropriate places.

Assembling the frame

It is advisable that the master's arsenal contains lining of different thicknesses:

6 mm - for side walls;
19 mm - 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 arrangement

The floor surface is covered with plywood sheets.

For the roof, poplar beams are used, screwing them in steps 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 section are put.

Windows and doors

The design assumes, in addition to the door, the presence of one more - 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 structure.

RV door locks are usually located at 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 equip it while maintaining useful space. In this option, the use of transforming furniture is acceptable. For example, a table that slides out from under the bed. For this, special lockers are formed under the berth.

In addition, a removable ladder is made for a double bed and hinged shelves are equipped in order to save space.

Outdoor decoration

The final stage of the do-it-yourself camper arrangement is the exterior decoration. To do this, use siding or wooden lining.

The camper is popular among travelers, because it is so convenient to take everything you need and even your home with you on a trip! Now you know how to make a mobile home with your own hands, and you understand that designing a camper is not as difficult as it seems at first glance.

Perhaps there are 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 every trip is accompanied by a hotel room. Nevertheless, there is a solution - a motorhome or a motorhome. You've probably seen such movable structures in foreign films. And this is not strange, because, for example, in America, according to statistics, every 3 residents have a mobile home.

Such a house is not only convenient and comfortable, but also saves a lot, since the question of finding a place to live disappears. You can talk about the advantages of a motorhome for a long time, and there are really a lot of them. However, there is one drawback - a car-home on wheels 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 safely send with your family and even small children. The 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.

Mobile home: what you need for comfort

Although the house will be in the form of mobile housing, 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;
wiring system for subsequent wiring;
panel for controlling the supply of electricity.

Heating for home

Several types of heaters can be used for home heating, it can be a stand-alone type and a gas cylinder. It is preferable to use gas, since, in addition to heat, it will provide an opportunity for cooking.

If you have chosen heating with gas, then here you will have to seek the help of a specialist. Of course, building everything with your own hands from start to finish is commendable, but you should remember about the safety of passengers.

Air (ventilation) for home

Many car owners dream of their own motorhome on wheels so that they can easily travel with their family to different places. But a family cannot always afford to buy a motorhome, so many people make it themselves. For this you need a little:

But, in addition to this, you should have a high-quality, and most importantly, reliable vehicle that can accommodate a motorhome on wheels.

So what should you do? Before you create a camper with your own hands, you should visit a legal consultation. Such modernization of the car requires legalization. There are different requirements for each country.

The first step is a do-it-yourself camper

The whole process of creating such a structure can be conditionally divided into several stages:

outdoor work;
execution of internal works;
provision of water supply for the camper;
supply and connection of gasification and electricity systems;
placement of furniture;
small work.

After that, you can travel by camper at any free time.

Number of seats

As an example of creating a camper, let's take a regular average van. If the van will be operated by only two people, there will be plenty of space. If the family has more people, then it is necessary to think over the additional number of places. Remember that all seats must be secured with seat belts.

Determine in advance how many beds your mobile home will have. There is a very good option for increasing them. Set up bunk beds inside. You can also make a bed that will "fall out" from under the roof. This will help save space on the camper.

At this stage of planning, you should have a clear plan of the internal structure. Of course, you can make your own adjustments during installation, but the basis must be thought out to the smallest detail.

Exterior work

First of all, take care of the cleanliness of the inside of the campsite. The area should not contain dirt, dust, significant defects. This will be the key to the successful formation of the motorhome.

You should also plan out the form in general terms. In addition to the outline, you can sketch on paper.

The bodywork rarely has windows, which is disastrous for camper travel. Plan where the windows are best placed for the best view. In addition, they will open access to the flow of fresh air and allow the sun's rays to penetrate, which will create additional lighting. Windows can be chosen from completely different shapes, types and structures. Everything will depend solely on your preferences, as well as on the characteristics of the bodywork.

Additional holes in the body

When creating a camper with your own hands, do not forget to make some holes:

to remove gas in the event of a leak;
for ventilation;
for output from the heater;
for water fillers.

Of course, you can perform some of them after the camper is created, but this can already be much more problematic. It's best to do everything at once and in advance. But this should be done only when you are sure that these holes will be located in those places.

Areas with exposed metal should be immediately primed to prevent corrosion.

Internal work

How to equip a camper inside? With your own hands, you should create partitions between the front seats and the main body of the body. But if you wish, you can not do them. The installation of the partition is also different. It can be fixed with screws or welded to the body itself. If necessary, use a grinder at this stage.

When using the grinder, do not forget about safety measures. Work with it carefully, especially if you are using the tool for the first time. Do not forget to wear safety glasses over your eyes, and also make sure that the circle is securely fastened. Also, in the process of working with the grinder, sparks will fly, which, if they hit the glass, will create defects. Therefore, make sure in advance to securely close it.

Insulation

The insulation layer for a mini camper is very important. The temperature inside, as well as sound insulation, will depend on its quality and correct installation. A large number of materials from various companies are presented on the market. Their choice will be exclusively individual, based on the characteristics of the environment, financial situation, body type.

The insulation should be cut into small pieces and carefully glued on. The main feature and the main one is protection against moisture ingress. If the insulation layer does not cope with its immediate duty, remove it.

Prepare in advance for hull plating:

Use a thick layer of plywood on the side covers. This is done so that it can support the weight of the furniture that will be mounted directly on it.

The side walls must be coated with glue that can withstand a wide range of different temperatures. Use it to glue the insulation to the side walls. Glue for different temperatures is used because the van will be used in different conditions: both in severe frosts and in the scorching summer sun. Heating is additionally arranged. If the glue does not have all the necessary properties, then the sealant and coating will simply disappear.

Camper trim

The cladding of the motorhome begins from the roof itself to the floor covering. First of all, we install the insulating and cladding layer and only after that we smoothly move on to If you will equip exclusively a winter camper, then the sealant layer should be increased and additionally compacted.

To ensure sufficient insulation space, use wooden planks that are mounted to the floor. Fasteners must be made with a special sealant suitable for the coating. After that, a layer of insulation is laid, and then they are covered with plywood. The plywood itself is attached with screws or sealant. Do not forget about the place of laying water supply, gas cables and electrical cables.

Water supply

A prerequisite for the water supply of a mobile home is that it must have a running water supply. To do this, place a couple of canisters of water under the sink. The installed pump will produce the required flow of water to the tap.

If desired, the camper can also be provided with hot water. This will be useful if you want to place a shower. This requires placing large tanks of water under the vehicle body. To connect the heating system, you will need to purchase and install additional hoses.

Don't forget about waste water. They can be withdrawn using a hose placed in the floor, or water can be drained into a portable tank. The container should be emptied as soon as possible, since in summer it will go from it and in winter it will simply freeze. You can also install a toilet.

Gasification and electricity

The installation of the hose for gas and electrics must be entrusted exclusively to qualified specialists. With the slightest mistake in self-installation, this can lead to a disastrous outcome.

A propane tank can be used for cooking. You can do without it by replacing the container with an ordinary electric stove. Store the container in a separate place.

The camper's electrical system consists of a charger, a battery, a control panel and a wiring system.

Gas and electricity in a camper-trailer is very important. In the case of going to nature far outside the city, the autonomy of both systems should be at the maximum level.

Furniture

If you wish, you can use absolutely any furniture you like. You can buy new furniture items or design and make it yourself.

Almost everyone who has a camper leaves extremely positive reviews. You can create more than just a small family caravan. It is also quite possible to make huge off-road campers. The choice is yours!

A motorhome on wheels, and even equipped with your own hands, is the dream of many lovers of auto travel and outdoor activities. It provides its owner with amazing freedom when traveling, freeing him from the need to look for and book a hotel, purchase tickets, pack suitcases, etc. In addition, its own motorhome makes it easy to travel even with a large family, including pets - for this you need to use the appropriate furniture , as a rule, transforming.

When a caravan on wheels first appeared on the road, it is quite difficult to answer. The first such experience was implemented by the Jennings company back in the 38th year of the last century, although self-made models of motorhomes appeared much earlier. All motorhomes on wheels can be equipped with almost all the necessary attributes of a familiar and comfortable life - a bathroom, a shower, a gas stove, a full-fledged sleeping place, which are present even in the smallest motorhomes, which are often based on a budget gazelle in Russia.

Depending on what type of caravan belongs to, it can be:

trailed;
van;
combined.

A fairly common practice at the present time is the hand-made conversion of a suitable vehicle, the same domestic gazelle, into comfortable motorhomes for travel. But before you make a motorhome on wheels with your own hands, you need to determine the main purpose of the conversion - long or short-term residence in the motorhome, as well as select or manufacture the appropriate furniture.

Motorhome - comfort categories

According to the generally accepted classification, all motorhomes on wheels are divided into three main classes.

Attention! Any "A" class motorhome made on the basis of a bus or a truck, according to the transport classification, requires the driver to have a "C" category license.

Speaking about the classification of motorhome trailers, the following concepts should be highlighted:

House trailer tent - comfort and simplicity

A homemade motorhome on wheels does not have to be expensive and difficult to make, especially if it is used relatively rarely and for a small number of people. Some types of motorhomes do not even require furniture and are used as a sleeping place. In order to independently make a caravan trailer, you will need to make some effort and a sufficient amount of time.

The main "power" element of such a motorhome is the frame, which can be purchased ready-made, or assemble it yourself, which requires skill and certain technical knowledge. When self-manufacturing, special attention should be paid to anti-corrosion treatment of all steel elements of the future motorhome.

The frame, mounted on the chassis prepared for the motorhome, can be either steel or wood. When creating it, the main attention should be paid to the quality of the connection of parts, since when such a motorhome trailer moves, the entire structure will be subjected to serious dynamic and vibration loads. Inside such a motorhome, you can arrange a fairly comfortable sleeping place, and at the time of rest stops, the design of the motorhome unfolds, and a tent is quickly installed on top. Such a motorhome on wheels, the photo of which is presented below, is optimal for short trips and simple outdoor recreation.

Another option for the device of such a trailer can be seen in the video:

How to make a motorhome on wheels with your own hands

In order to make a motor home on wheels with your own hands, you can use any minibus, truck or even a bus. In order to create it, you will need to make a lot of effort, time, and be ready for a fairly serious material investment, which subsequently will more than pay off comfortably when traveling in your own motorhome.

The process of converting a standard gazelle into a motorhome on wheels will certainly be accompanied by a number of works that are mandatory:

In the event that a mobile home trailer is created for the purpose of long travel, it is advisable to provide for a good audio-video system and satellite TV. If financial possibilities permit, it would be a good option to install solar panels, which will extend the generator's service life.

Attention! In most cases, re-equipment of a vehicle into a caravan trailer requires a preliminary legalization of all "alterations" in order to avoid legal problems in the future.

Internal work

Many lovers of travel with comfort are interested in the question - how much does a motorhome on wheels cost in Russia, but having learned the cost of a ready-made option, they prefer to create a motorhome with their own hands. And this makes sense, since making a motorhome on wheels from a gazelle with their own hands is within the power of any person who is ready to put in a certain amount of effort and spend his time on it.

The first thing that needs to be done inside the cabin of the future motorhome on wheels is to dismantle the partition located behind the passenger seats. If it is bolted, there will be no problems; if a welded joint is used, a grinder is required. After dismantling, you should completely free the interior of the interior. In parallel with this, it is worth checking the metal parts for corrosion foci. Take measures to eliminate them, bearing in mind that it will be much more difficult to disassemble a finished motorhome.

Before proceeding with the insulation and interior decoration of the motorhome, you should carefully consider the water and power supply system, since it is better to hide all pipes and electrical cables under the casing to avoid accidental damage. After that, a motorhome on wheels based on a gazelle requires serious insulation. In addition to special materials with vibration and thermal insulation characteristics, you can use basalt mineral wool or extruded polystyrene foam for a motorhome.

An important point in the interior and exterior of a motorhome on wheels is the protective treatment of the material used. Thus, additional metal elements outside the motorhome must have a high-quality anti-corrosion treatment. Internal cladding elements are usually made of wood. For their treatment, it is recommended to use a special fire-retardant impregnation, which will prevent the spread of flame, will not allow the formation of fungus, which may simply be impossible to get rid of.

Certain ideas for creating your own project can be "borrowed" from the manufacturers of such houses by watching the following video:

Gas and electrical equipment should be entrusted to professionals

Any motorhome on wheels - a Mercedes or a gazelle - requires special attention in terms of electricity and gas supply. Do not naively believe that without proper education, you can perform high-quality electrical wiring and install the appropriate equipment in a motorhome. The same applies to gas equipment.

For example, few people know that for a gas cylinder in any motorhome, it is necessary to "allocate" a separate closed area, in the lower part of which there should be openings that communicate with the outside atmosphere. This will allow propane, which is heavier than air, to escape from the RV, if it leaks, and will not cause poisoning or a fire in the passenger compartment.

An important point for a motorhome is the correct calculation of the battery capacity. To ensure maximum autonomy, the daily energy consumption of all devices in the motorhome should be summed up. The resulting value in watts will need to be divided by 12 (V), resulting in a value in ampere-hours (Ah) - it is this value that is indicated on the battery and allows you to judge its power. So, if the energy consumption in a motorhome is 50-60 Ah / day, it is optimal to purchase a battery of 120-150 Ah. Such a motorhome on wheels can operate autonomously for two days. It is advisable to provide an external outlet for recharging the battery of the motorhome in parking lots.

Caravan furniture on wheels

Despite the fact that at present it will not be a problem to buy ready-made furniture for a motorhome, according to reviews, it is not able to satisfy all the needs of car owners, especially those who create a motorhome on wheels according to their own drawings. Therefore, the best option is either its independent production, or an individual order for furniture production.

In most cases, making your own furniture is more optimal for a motorhome. Since for a small motorhome, for example, based on a standard gazelle or UAZ, not so much furniture is required, and it does not differ in particular complexity, at this stage of work you can save money. For the proper level of comfort in a motorhome, as a rule, the following furniture structures are made:

When a KamAZ or a bus is taken as a base for a motorhome, the amount of furniture listed above increases. When making a motorhome on wheels with your own hands, to facilitate the task of determining the type and quantity of furniture, you can use special computer programs, or draw a detailed plan for the future layout of the motorhome on paper, where you can clearly indicate not only the type of furniture, but also its location.

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 are really a lot of them. However, there is one drawback - a car-home on wheels 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 thing is that the driver is experienced, with good driving experience and, of course, with a positive attitude towards this type of transport.

Mobile home: what you need for comfort

Although the house will be in the form of mobile housing, 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;
wiring system for subsequent wiring;
panel for controlling the supply of electricity.

Heating for home

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 home will be comfortable if it lacks basic amenities. Think carefully about where the kitchen, mini-size portable dry closet and shower will be. Also, do not forget about water tanks and pumps for it.

It is better to send the water that will drain into a large bucket under the body. To do this, you can use a special hose that should be laid in the floor.

RV Furniture

Certain difficulties may arise with furniture, since it should be as compact as possible. For such housing, folding furniture is used, it is attached to the walls. In most cases, such furniture can only be purchased on order, which is quite expensive. But if there is an opportunity to do it yourself, then this will significantly save money.