Earlier in the old days, when they finished building a bridge, a weight test was carried out. By tradition, the Chief Designer stood under the most loaded bridge, and with his life proving the reliability of the structure.

The Chief Designer of PODzilla bought the very first Avtodom manufactured for 399,000 rubles and the most affordable all-wheel drive chassis Sobol for a sale for 600,000 rubles. He travels all over Russia as soon as there is even a little free time.

RV travel is a completely different level of freedom and satisfaction with your life.

At first, a long time ago, we remodeled vans and drove them. Then we were taken by the idea of \u200b\u200bbuilding a House on Wheels for Russia. To, like yourself, reliably and inexpensively.

There is no way to see what they prefer in Russia - the market has not yet been formed. Now RVs in Russia are mostly junk from Europe. There are only a few new motorhomes of imported production, but no Russian production.
We discussed for a long time what a real Russian Motorhome should be. Here's our conclusion:
In Russia, a motorhome needs a durable, warm, versatile, simple, reliable design and, most importantly, most importantly, not to be expensive.

How to combine these qualities, and even so that the Russians like it, is a real challenge.
When we realized what Russian Motorhome was in our view, we began to solve all the issues in order.
The first question is for our roads. Strength. Where is the weak point in RVs? The answer is in the joints and seams, it can flow there, but at the joints imported equipment on the next bump can develop, and it happens.

So you need to get rid of the joints. We make a one-piece monocoque, no seams - no leaks and no weak points, simple and reliable design.

Next question. Warm. It's warm in Europe. But we don't. The main heat loss occurs through the windshield and through the metal in the frame and body. Metal also provides cold bridges and condensation. Condensation will cause the Motorhome to become damp, and mold and rot will form over time. Even the timber frame gives off condensation under the inner lining.

This means we are building an all-weather capsule and an insulated composite frame without cold bridges.
Versatility. Thanks to its shape and fasteners, the autonomous vehicle capsule can be easily installed on domestic and imported trucks.

The choice of chassis is great: Gazelle, Gazelle Next, Sobol, Valdai, UAZ are ours, and from imported ones: Ford Transit, Fiat Ducato, Renault Master, Peugeot, Citroen, Volkswagen, Mercedes and that's not all. You can even put it on a platform trailer and pull it with a light car.
And here's another bonus: the chassis can be used separately and only occupied by the motorhome during travel.
For dessert, the most important thing! A motorhome for Russia should not be expensive!
Manufacturing in Russia provides a significant price gain. Various economical configurations allow the use of inexpensive new, rental or used chassis.
You can learn more about the company's products.

A mobile home is not cheap. Prices for high-quality imported equipment in Russia start at five to six million rubles. It is all the more gratifying that on the territory of our country there are firms engaged in the construction of motorhomes for every taste and budget. We got acquainted with the products of some of them at the Caravanex exhibition in Sokolniki.

Externally, the motorhome of the Avtokemper company is difficult to distinguish from imported analogues

One of the main suppliers of caravan vehicles to Russia, the Avtokemper company, has recently started its own production of caravans. The first sign of the company was the Helix camper model 4200. It is built on a Citroen Jumper chassis with a 130-horsepower diesel engine and a "mechanics" with a gross weight of 3.5 tons - this means that the driver needs to have a category B license to drive it.

In the back there is a solid sleeping place

The walls of the motorhome are made of sandwich panels, and the plastic elements of the cladding are made by the Togliatti company Avtoritet Plast. Inside there are sleeping places for six travelers. At their service there is a gas stove, a sink, a 90-liter refrigerator, and a bathroom, which includes a shower and toilet.

Combined bathroom

The motorhome is equipped with two independent heating systems (if one fails, the equipment can still be used for its intended purpose), and the gas equipment is located in a separate compartment, in which heating and ventilation are provided. The clean and waste water tanks (100 l each) are also heated.

The body is integrated with the cab into one whole

At the moment, several similar motorhomes have already been built. Moreover, at the beginning of the summer, their additional production should start in Kolomna, Moscow Region. Moreover, the cost of one such camper is four million rubles.

The back of a Toyota housed a small, but full-fledged house

Another solution is a "house" in the back. For example, the four-seat module Helix 2400 quietly sits in the cargo platform of the Toyota Hilux four-wheel drive pickup. This module is designed for four people.

It is cramped inside than in a full-fledged motorhome, but there is also a kitchen and a toilet with a shower. The approximate cost of such a superstructure is in the range of one and a half to two million rubles, depending on the content.

Want to get cheaper? Then a smaller house with a lifting roof - Helix 1500 can be installed in the back of a pickup truck. At the exhibition, this structure was installed on a Volkswagen Amarok. In the bowels of such a “tent” there is a large bed (2x1.4 m), a table and a sink with a fold-out washbasin. The price starts at 650 thousand for a superstructure without a heater. And this figure seems big? Then welcome to the "DIYers".

At the exhibition a well-worn old Gazelle buried its face in the bushes, and in its body there was a simple-looking, but neat motorhome, finished with aluminum panels. Its author is the Russian traveler and engineer Yuri Litovka.

Everything is very simple inside, but cozy

The motorhome itself is removable: it is installed in the body of any flatbed truck - for this you just need to remove the sides on the sides and front. Inside you will not find finishes with "purebred" materials, but it is very cozy here. In front there is a huge bed. In the middle there is a living room area with a table and sofas, which can also be transformed into sleeping places. Behind - a huge (for motorhomes) shower stall.

The bathroom is larger than the more expensive competitors

The motorhome was made entirely by hand, only sandwich panels for the walls were ordered by Yuri from the company Istok from Krasnogorsk, which produces trailers with various superstructures. According to Yuri, if you build such motorhomes to order, then they will cost no more than 350-400 thousand rubles.

So, with a strong desire, even in the Russian market, you can find a completely budget solution even in such a highly specialized segment as the construction of motorhomes.

Making a mobile home with your own hands is not a very difficult task for any master. 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 accommodate eight people. Each tenant has his own sleeping place, there is also a small kitchen. Other amenities and equipment may vary from model to 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, during parking, they turn into an addition to the living space. At the tail end, there is often a separate room with U-shaped furniture.

History

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 herders).

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).

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 means a car 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, all motorhomes, without exception, are called vinebago.

It will take a lot of effort and time, as well as the appropriate equipment, to turn a car into a mobile home.

Note! First, you should study this issue from the point of view of legislation. Self-made motorhomes are perceived differently by different registration 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 are found, they are removed and the peeling paint is peeled off. Several windows (if there were none) in the case 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 interior 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 regular 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, so in the event of a leak, such safety measures will prevent the sad consequences.

Stage 8. It remains only 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 strong 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 type - 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. 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 metal profile of a small section 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 - 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

You can organize your own business on the construction of motorhomes. 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

This real palace on wheels is based on 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 living 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 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 \u200b\u200bfor this chassis. A spacious and bright mobile home for four people. Light enters not only through the side windows (all are equipped with 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 vehicle. 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 can be transformed into one huge one for the greatest comfort.

Specifications:

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