DIY home on wheels: design photos, a step-by-step process of work. We build a house on wheels with our own hands How to make a house out of a bus

This type of rest and travel option is used by lovers of freedom and independence from tickets and flights. It is a good solution to have both a car and a home on a vacation trip. Thanks to the presence of a mobile home, a family can travel in comfortable conditions and stop wherever and whenever they want, without reference to time. Camping sites gained their popularity at the beginning of the 20th century.

DIY home on wheels

Through such an independent vacation, you can see those places on the way to your destination that not accessible from plane or train... In addition, camping during renovation of an apartment or construction of a house on the site can serve as temporary housing. You can also rent a camper van when there are no travel plans.

The cost of such a pleasure is rather big, some options reach the price of an ordinary apartment, but to save money, you can create a camping or motorhome yourself.

Options for large campsites are being converted from buses and oversized vans, but this is too expensive for those who do not mind spending a lot of money on such mega-comfort.

Camping options

There are three budget options for self-taught people:

To build a motorhome with your own hands, you need:

  1. Have wheels.
  2. Visually draw a plan of a camping house, drawings - this is one of the main points in creating a mini motorhome.

When drawing up a plan, you need to think through all those comfort details that are in an ordinary apartment.

Internal communications of the motorhome

As in any regular campsite house too need communications- This is electricity, water, gas, toilet and possibly a shower. Without these amenities, mobile housing will not be comfortable. In order to have light in the camp, it is advisable to purchase a battery with a battery and a device for recharging. It is worthwhile to think over the internal wiring well in advance. It is necessary to take into account the external connectors when charging and the fact that they have different capacities.

It is easier to use a conventional bucket to drain waste through a hose hidden in the floor, by placing it under the body of your RV. Kitchen water can be stored in large containers by immersing pumps in them to supply it to the tap. To drain the used water, a reservoir is also used inside or outside the room. A small shower can be set up as a mixer tap, for example, above the sink.

Unfortunately, it will not work to build a usual toilet in a mobile home, since there is no place and it is difficult to drain waste constantly. A dry closet is perfect here.

The camping lighting system will require :

  • battery;
  • charger;
  • wiring.

What is needed to heat your motorhome?.

At the ready of an autonomous heater, you can purchase a battery and a gas cylinder, because it will also come in handy in the kitchen and the operation of the refrigerator. You should not use a lot of electrical appliances and equipment for two reasons - this is an additional power consumption and a load on the wiring, since this is a small room compared to a house. The services of an electrician should be used when working with gas, since it is extremely risky to do it yourself if you are not an electrician.

Interior arrangement of the camping

Ventilation system.

It is also important to deal with ventilation so as not to clog the room with odors.

The location of the holes is important as it is best not to expose them in plain sight for reasons of beauty. It is best to place them at the bottom of the walls above the floor, you can also put a gas cylinder there.

Furniture.

Practicality and compactness when arranging furniture is a guarantee of comfort in a camping, given the small space, as well as the layout. Folding or pull-out berths, tables with attached stools and everything in that spirit will create the necessary comfort and the desire to relax in a self-made motorhome. There are special compact headsets on sale, but if there is a desire and time, it is quite possible to make furniture on your own using old boards, tabletops, and for a sofa and chairs, you can take seats from the same car or old wheels can also be converted into chairs or stools.

Carpenter at the campsite.

In such a dwelling, if it is one-story, it is recommended to make two windows so that you do not have to consume electrics during the day. It is better to make the door double-winged so that it does not sag and the wind does not blow into the room.

Minibus or caravan, let's look at the principle of transforming each one.

To start transforming a Gazelle minibus into a camping, you need to clear the body, remove the seats and upholstery, make holes for windows and a valve for gas supply:

Body preparation

To process the body you need:

  • against corrosion, a primer is applied inside, and then you need to insulate the walls, floor and ceiling with thermal insulation;
  • cover with plywood or carpet;
  • what glue and plywood need to be of good quality so that the insulation will serve you for a long time;
  • after the stage of warming, you can proceed to electricity and gas, then go to the kitchen, think over a place for the sink and oven, install water tanks, a bathroom and at the end arrange the rest of the furniture for rest, beds, chairs or stools, cabinets and shelves, depending on what is available space.

A house from a trailer is different in that there are only wheels and you need to do everything from scratch, like on a plot, first build a box - the future room.

Lodging from a trailer is done as follows:

To make a roof for a motorhome, you need :

  • assemble a frame from supporting structures - beams, if you want a triangular roof;
  • further, we sheathe it with plywood;
  • you need to cover it with a water-repellent material.

After that, a rain gutter can be made and attached to the back wall from the outside and from the inside to drain waste. You also need to veneer the outer walls. Internal wiring and thermal insulation must be covered with fiberboard and then the stage of manufacturing one or two doors.

To protect the tree from drying out, and pests, you need to cover the outside and inside of the wall with a primer, apply a layer of paint on top. For an aesthetic look, you need to close the threaded holes and also paint. All these procedures will reliably protect the house from the influence of external harmful factors. At the end of the work, since this is a trailer, you need to install the headlights and fenders.

This kind of mobile homes fall into three categories:

Travel in your homemade RV, of course nice and comfortable... However, you need to decide for yourself whether you can independently master all the work on the construction of a motorhome.

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.



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 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 4 - 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.

RV is a special type of vehicle that is becoming more and more popular. The reason for this demand is based on the fact that a car of such a plan is both a means of transportation and a place of residence. If you know how to make a house on wheels with your own hands, you can get a home that can easily accommodate up to eight people at a time. For everyone there will be their own sleeping place, as well as a bathroom and a small kitchen.

Most models are noted for common design features and device rules. For example, the driver's seat and passenger seats are fully movable. Due to this, during the parking period, the free area significantly increases. In the back of the car, there is usually a separate room with real U-shaped furniture. In this article, you can find out what types of modern motorhomes are, as well as how to make a similar design yourself.

At the moment, there are several classifications of mobile homes. According to the main design features, the following categories can be distinguished:

  • trailed;
  • camper van;
  • a caravan house connected to transport.

Mobile modern homes can be divided into types, not only according to certain structural features, but also by purpose. This category includes mobile homes that are used as permanent or long-term housing, as well as those intended exclusively for travel.

There is another form of classification of modern motorhomes. They can be divided into three main categories:

  • C - small, used for short trips;
  • C B - semi-integrated car houses;
  • B A - fully integrated.

The first ones are made on the basis of an ordinary SUV; the sleeping places here need to be transformed in a special way. Class B mobile homes are distinguished by a permanently located berth, which is located at the rear of the vehicle. A class motorhomes are similar in appearance to ordinary buses. They are quite comfortable and, therefore, very expensive when purchased ready-made.

To save money, you can build a mobile home with your own hands, using photos and special instructions as a guide. If you correctly follow the main stages of making a mobile home, you can get a vehicle that will have a large windshield, a fixed driver's seat, as well as special retractable partitions that form zones of different functionality and separate berths.

Below you will find information on how to make a mobile home with your own hands, which can be considered autonomous. The structures can be equipped with generators, have a gas conduit and a sufficiently large supply of water.

Stages of building a motorhome with your own hands

If you want to build a motorhome with your own hands, you should carefully follow the instructions presented. Below is a description of how to build the body of a motorhome depending on the base, how to properly equip it and equip it with all the equipment necessary for living and traveling.

Making a plan

Self-made mobile homes are quite serious structures. The process of their construction, here, as in any important event, you need to start with a detailed plan. It is at this stage of the work that the master must think over the most basic aspects of the case, all possible little things and draw up the most accurate drawing.

Performing a motorhome from a trailer with your own hands, you need to clearly adhere to all the points and rules indicated in the plan and drawings.

The general internal space of a building on wheels should be divided into three main zones:

  1. A dining room where you can eat, work on your laptop or read the newspaper at the table. Here you can place a small sofa, chairs and a table. These items should fold easily enough to take up the minimum amount of free space.
  2. Sleeping place. This is one of the important areas, as proper sleep ensures activity and good mood. For the driver, night rest is very important, since his concentration and attentiveness depend on it, which directly affect the safety of movement during the day. It is advisable to equip this area with a comfortable bed, which should easily rise and free up space.
  3. Bathroom with toilet. To equip such a zone, you need to install a sink, a shower cabin and a modern dry closet.
  4. Kitchen. This zone takes up the minimum amount of space, since most of its elements are built-in. For maximum comfort, you need to install two burners, a small sink, a countertop, a small refrigerator and a cooker hood.

Due to the fact that a standard motorhome space is rather limited, its zones need to be integrated into one another. It is for this reason that a preliminary plan is so important, which must be followed carefully.

In the process of drawing up a plan, you need to carefully consider what interior items are really required, what you can refuse.

After that, everything you want, indicating the exact dimensions, is transferred to a sheet of paper. Further, the plan is drawn up according to the following principle:

  • the estimated area of ​​the motorhome is divided into pre-divided zones. For example, a bedroom needs more space than a kitchen;
  • the location of the bathroom and the options for separating it from other rooms are noted;
  • all elements of furniture are drawn, as well as methods of their fastening and folding options.

In the process of drawing and designating these areas of the room, it is imperative to take into account the dimensions of each element.

Don't forget about free space as well. A mobile home should not be littered with things and pieces of furniture.

After drawing up a detailed and well-thought-out plan, after specifying the size of the common room and pieces of furniture, you can begin to implement such a structure as a house on wheels from a trailer with your own hands.

Base selection

Among the most affordable budget options that are optimal for everyone who loves to craft something with their own hands, there are three most convenient designs. A residential trailer with your own hands can be made on the basis of a gazelle, a trailer with a reinforced chassis and an old minibus. Let's consider two of them in more detail.

Minibus

To make a motor home with your own hands from a minibus, you should start with a thorough cleaning of the body, with the removal of the upholstery. After that, you need to make special holes for ventilation, under windows and for gas supply. After these general preparatory work, you can begin special processes related to the arrangement of the living area. Work of such a plan must be performed in the sequence given below:

  1. Smoothing out dents on the inner surface and priming all metal parts of the base. This will prevent destructive corrosion from occurring.
  2. Internal surface - walls, ceiling and floor are covered with thermal insulation material.
  3. A moisture-resistant coating is laid on top.
  4. Gas and electricity are provided.
  5. Bathroom equipment is being manufactured.
  6. The kitchen is equipped, furniture is being installed.

It is equally important to tidy up the travel van's engine and chassis. For the reason that it is a mobile vehicle, its ability to move should be given no less close attention than arrangement and comfort.

Trailer

Making a camper from a trailer with your own hands is much more difficult than from a minibus. The main difficulty lies in the fact that the walls and ceiling have to be built from scratch. An approximate scheme of action in this case will be as follows:

  1. Cleaning the chassis, trailer.
  2. Fastening to the base of the frame of the future motorhome.
  3. Covering the frame with a layer of plywood.
  4. Arrangement of the floor with the simultaneous use of thermal insulation.
  5. The structure is sheathed with outer material and covered with special moisture-resistant compounds.
  6. Arrangement of the roof.
  7. Construction of a drain, conduction of wires to provide the house with electricity.
  8. Installation of door and window openings.

All this is a general scheme for performing a mobile home. Each stage will be discussed in more detail below.

Outdoor finishing works

As soon as the main body of the mobile home is ready, you can start the main outdoor work. It is very important to ensure that the campsite is kept to an optimum level. There should be no dust, dirt and significant defects here. This is what guarantees the successful formation of the structure. The main points of outdoor work include:

  1. Removal of corrosion and different types of damage.
  2. Arrangement of holes.

Speaking about the necessary holes, it can be noted that these are not only window openings, but also those that are designed for gas outlet, ventilation, water fillers.

Openings must be made in the process of arranging the camper. Otherwise, you may encounter certain difficulties.

The external arrangement of such a structure as a house on wheels with your own hands from a minibus or a trailer consists in performing the following work:

  1. Creation of partitions between the main body and the front seats.
  2. Arrangement of internal insulation. Here you need to remember that the overall temperature and sound insulation inside the room will directly depend on the quality and proper installation of this material.
  3. Sheathing of the structure from the roof to the floor covering itself.

On the modern market there is a huge amount of a wide variety of materials. The choice can be made based on personal preference, environmental characteristics, general financial situation, and the type of body used.

Home furnishing

The equipment of a motorhome lies in its bulk in its interior arrangement. To make the house convenient and comfortable, you will need to bring water, electricity, gas into the house, as well as install certain furniture.

Water supply and bathroom

A prerequisite for the water supply of the structure on wheels is to ensure the supply of running water. To carry out this process, a couple of canisters and a compact pump must be installed under the sink, which will provide the necessary flow of water to the tap.

Thinking over wastewater disposal is a basic rule when arranging a full-fledged toilet. They can be withdrawn by means of a special hose located in the floor surface. A little engineering knowledge, and it will be possible not to manually drain the water into special portable tanks. Although many do so.

As for the bathroom, the best option is the purchase and installation of a dry closet.

Electricity

One or more special batteries can be fully responsible for the accumulation and storage of electricity in a wheelhouse. These devices can be charged while the tractor is running or when connected to external sources. When equipping a motorhome with electrical networks, modern inverters occupy a special place. These are special devices that are capable of converting a direct current with a voltage of 12 V into an alternating current equal to 230 V. Due to this, it will be possible to connect devices operating from a standard 230-volt network to a 12-volt network without any problems.

Heating and gas

Gasification of the described design consists in a simple installation of a gas cylinder in the room. To do this, you need to select a separate closed area. In the lower part of it, you need to equip special holes that go out.

This rule cannot be neglected! The holes will allow leaking gas to escape from the motorhome and not cause fire or poisoning.

To provide heat inside the structure, you just need to purchase a small heating device. It should be a compact device that operates on a conventional electrical network and, if necessary, can be easily removed to a secluded place.

Furniture and interior

Do-it-yourself furniture for a motorhome. Standard items won't fit. Everything should be as compact as possible and at the same time comfortable.

Making furniture with your own hands will not only allow you to get those items that are optimal for the construction area, but also save money.

The price of the issue

The cost of a mobile home directly depends on the price at which spare parts were bought for it, for how many people such a car is designed for, and what size you prefer. The general price range here is quite large and ranges from 600 thousand to 1.3 million rubles.

Conclusion

If you build a house on wheels correctly, using the diagram presented to your attention, a residential vehicle can be used in the country. If a house has not been built on the territory, if work related to the arrangement is still underway, such a car will be a real salvation. In addition, the presence of a motorhome on wheels is the optimal solution for long and short trips.

A mobile home is the dream of many travel lovers, since there is no binding to one place of rest, the need to book hotels and purchase tickets. It is both a home and a vehicle that allows you to travel anywhere with maximum comfort. The price of such a product on the market is large, so many are interested in how mobile homes are built with their own hands.

Varieties of mobile homes

It is much cheaper to make such a vehicle with your own hands from an old car or completely from scratch. In addition to the vehicle itself, it is necessary to prepare a different tool. Moreover, making a mobile home will require work experience, a lot of effort and free time.

Before investing money in such structures, you need to find out from the regulatory authorities the legality of the movement of such a vehicle in order to avoid any violations. Otherwise, traveling with him will not work.

A large mobile home can be made from a van, but the price is too high. Cheaper options can be made from:

  • bus;
  • gazelles;
  • an old but still sturdy trailer.

To build a mobile home, it is necessary, in addition to the vehicle, to make a plan for the future construction. Planning will make your caravan as comfortable as possible. It can be simply drawn on paper or designed on a computer.

RV communication

If there is no electricity, gas or water in a mobile home, then it can hardly be called a comfortable journey. For the presence of electricity in it, batteries and chargers are used. How the electrical wiring will take place in such a house must be planned and displayed in the drawing. You also need to think about where the external connector will be located for recharging the battery. They come in different capacities. It should be selected according to the expected range of travel and the load on the electrical network.

Gas cylinders are often used to cook food and heat the van. If you use electricity for this, then the financial costs will be much higher. When a mobile home is equipped with a kitchen, it is necessary to install an extractor hood with a ventilation system. This is especially important when using gas.

It is not recommended to independently install the gas system and the electrical network if there is no relevant experience. Such work should be done by professionals. If incorrectly installed, it could cause injury or death to the traveler.

Such a kitchen cannot be as comfortable as possible without a dedicated storage space for water. Usually, a special container with a pump is used to supply water to the tap. As a sewage system, they also use a container inside the room under the sink or outside. Sometimes such a motorhome is equipped with a shower. It will be difficult to make a bathroom in it, and a dry closet is used for this.

Furniture must be installed small and compact, since there will be little space in such a house. To save space, you can use folding beds, sliding tables and the like. Such structures must be well anchored to the walls to ensure safety while driving. Furniture for a motorhome can be bought ready-made in a store, but if there is a great desire to save money and learn something new, then you can easily make it yourself, taking into account the size of the room.

Sometimes car seats are used as a sofa and chairs. It is quite possible to equip a house on wheels from a trailer with your own hands. Before that, you need to prepare the room. Depending on what basis is taken - a minibus or a homemade trailer - the stages of work will differ.

Using the Gazelle and the old bus

It is necessary to start altering the minibus with a complete cleaning of the body from seats, trim and dirt. After that, you need to cut out all the holes for windows, ventilation, and so on.

The further sequence of actions will be as follows:

  • Leveling and cleaning all damaged surfaces. To do this, use a metal brush, hammer or special equipment for leveling dents. If necessary, then it is necessary to weld the places of corrosion where holes have formed. Then they are cleaned and primed to prevent further rust formation.
  • The interior is carefully insulated, including the floor and ceiling.
  • After the thermal insulation coating, it is necessary to sheathe everything with waterproof plywood.

After such work, you need to carry out gas, electricity, water supply, install a bathroom and furniture. To securely fix the furniture, it is necessary to pre-install thick plywood on the walls. Furniture needs to be attached to it. Alternatively, you can install reinforcing strips on the floor and fix the headset to them.

If such a house is made not from an old trailer, but from a gazelle or a bus, then the chassis must be brought into working order. Then such a structure will actually be mobile.

Trailer as the basis of the design

You can also make a motorhome with your own hands from a trailer, but there will be much more work here. First you need to clean the chassis from corrosion and other defects. Then all the holes, as in the minibus, need to be welded, cleaned and primed. This is followed by painting.

When the base is ready, you need to start building the floor, walls and roof. You need to act in the following sequence:

After these works, you can start installing gas equipment, wiring electricity, organizing a kitchen and toilet, as well as installing furniture. Then you should install the headlights, license plate and fenders. The trailer is ready for travel.

Before starting work, you need to think carefully about the possibility of performing them efficiently. They require special skills and a lot of tools. But in any case, you can make a trailer house on wheels with your own hands if you have a great desire to learn how to do it.

Comfortable movement

Although such a structure is not intended for permanent residence, the need for comfort on the road and travel has not been canceled. Today, there are many techniques that can make living in a mobile home easier.

Indoor light

To ensure the availability of constant light and electricity, you can use a battery or accumulator, a charger, wires for electrical wiring, a control panel for supplying electricity.

Heating in the house

For these purposes, you can use several types of heaters. It is preferable to use a gas cylinder, as this will also enable cooking.

If the technology for installing gas supply is rather complicated, then you need to seek help from a specialist. Do-it-yourself construction of such a vehicle is commendable, but the safety of its inhabitants must be taken into account first of all.

Water supply, kitchen and bathroom

Any home will not be comfortable if it does not have basic amenities such as a bathroom, a well-equipped kitchen, and the availability of water. At the planning stage, you need to think carefully about their location for maximum comfort. Do not forget about the automatic water supply system and tanks for it.

Furniture installation

When installing furniture, certain difficulties may arise, since it should be as compact as possible along the entire perimeter. Basically, they use folding furniture, which can be folded out if necessary. This saves a lot of space. You can buy it only to order, and it will not be cheap.

It is better to make at least 2-3 windows. Due to their large number, there will be no need to turn on the light during the day.

Legality of construction

If we talk about the legality of movement, then such a vehicle will not have any special status of a vehicle. A RV in the legal framework does not differ from a conventional trailer. All that is needed is the presence of headlights and dimensions on the back side, as well as a license plate.

An additional permit is required if such a trailer exceeds the dimensions:

  • 4 meters high;
  • 2.55 m wide;
  • 10 meters long.

If the dimensions are larger, then such a vehicle can move according to special rules: the presence of flashing lights and police escort. You can make good money on such facilities by organizing a business. There are many options for such entrepreneurial activity.

Alternatively, you can make such houses to order for summer vacations and temporary residence in the country. This does not require large initial investments, since small economical motorhomes can be made without insulation.

Houses like this can be rented out. An entrepreneurial activity of this kind is new. The market value has not yet formed, and, accordingly, you can set your own price. The number of such facilities should be increased as the client base expands.

You can also make your own car park and use it as a hotel. An important factor here is their division into economy classes, medium and vip.

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 canopy and a set of camping furniture, you can get a comfortable stay with a minimum of costs.

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: