Cars converted into motorhomes. Gorgeous house from an old bus

28.09.2020

Making your own camper is not too difficult for an experienced craftsman. But the terms of such construction can be greatly 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 do-it-yourself home on wheels from a GAZelle.

The mobile home has undeniable advantages - comfort, coziness and mobility. Moscow is a noisy city, from which you sometimes want to leave. Trailer owners do not have to look for 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 according to:

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

If everything is clear with the trailer type of a mobile home, then the difference between a van and a combined motorhome is not immediately visible. In the first version, the living quarters are located in the van of the car and are separated from the driver's seat.

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

Motorhomes converted from GAZelles or minibuses are just combined.

The comfort class can be called conditional. So, class “A” motorhomes 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-sized apartment.

It should be borne in mind that the driver must have category "C" rights to drive this transport.

There is much less space in it, but it is still convenient to travel in them. Importantly, you can drive such a car with category B rights if the weight of the car or the total weight of the car with the 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 trunk-tent, a folding canopy and a set of camping furniture, you can get a comfortable stay at a minimum cost.

Such construction trailers are also called hybrid trailers to distinguish them from simple trailers. Separately, it should be noted fivsvill-trailers, the shape of which is designed to be used 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 car body.

Mistakes when building houses on wheels with your own hands

Prices for mobile homes significantly "bite". No wonder the desire of skilled heads of families to save the budget and do everything themselves. It is important to be wise and learn from the mistakes of others:

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

a serious revision of the body, heating system, wiring will be required - one 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 asphalt or lawn is extremely unethical;
it's better not to forget to make a connector for connecting 220V at campsites, and a converter for 12V from the car battery.

Making a trailer on your own

If the 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 from scratch - the choice is strictly individual!

Do-it-yourself house on wheels from a GAZelle

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

The seats are taken out of the cabin, 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 sheathing, this should be thought out in advance.

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

Window openings are glued with carpet. Ceiling panels glued with carpet are also installed. After completing the upholstery of the cabin, you can fasten the slats under the mezzanine and mount the furniture frames.

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 swivel rack. The circuit is pretty simple.

The final stage is the installation of furniture on the frame, the connection of lighting, the installation of a pump for the kitchen washstand, the lining of the mezzanines and minor interior improvements. For cooking, you can put a small gas stove on one burner.

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

We should not forget that such a modification of the car requires registration in the REO. To do this, you need to write an application and get a resolution from the technical department of the traffic police and a protocol from 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:

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

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

According to the shape of the van, a plywood sheet is bent over the shelves on both sides, and a power frame made of timber is fixed on top. One side is liftable, giving access to the kitchen.

Cut out the top hatch and skylight. The entire frame is insulated, wiring is laid.

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

Doors, an upper hatch and supply and exhaust ventilation are installed. After fixing all the fittings, parking lights and fenders for wheels, you can safely go on a trip!

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

Making a house on wheels 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, get rid of unsuitable elements. This approach is important when refurbishing small vehicles when assembling a motorhome, for example from an old trailer.

A motor home is a type of transportation 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, the mobile home should accommodate eight people. Each tenant has his own sleeping place, there is also a small kitchen. Other facilities and equipment may vary depending on specific model, but in most cases there are also:

More expensive models have a bathroom consisting of (often replacing a chair, which gives a few extra meters of free space), a washbasin and a shower. Sometimes mobile homes are equipped with showers.

Note! In a motorhome, the driver and passenger seats are movable, as a result of which, during parking, they turn into an addition to the living space. In the tail, a separate room with U-shaped furniture is often equipped.

Story

Mass production mobile homes was launched in the last century, although some historians believe that there were earlier home-made counterparts. They were small vans equipped for human habitation (mainly pastoralists).

The first motor home mounted on a conventional automobile chassis was introduced in 1938 by Jennings.

Varieties of mobile homes

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

Depending on the purpose, they are divided into:

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

In the first case, there are more comfortable conditions, while often moving structures are extremely rarely divided into actual living space and a cabin.

About the title

The term “motorhome” (another name is “camper”) often means a car caravan.

Note! B- and C-class trailers are called campers, while motorhomes are exclusively A-class models.

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

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

Note! First, this issue should be studied from the point of view of legislation. Different registration organizations perceive homemade motorhomes differently, and it will be unpleasant if the transport ends up being illegal.

Stage 1. First, the number of residents is determined and, based on this, vehicle and internal stuffing. A detailed design plan is drawn up - this can be done on paper, but it is better to use a computer.

Stage 2. Next, the car body is cleared. If dents are found, they are removed and the peeling paint is scraped off. Several windows are equipped (if they were not) in the housing for lighting and fresh air.

Stage 3. Ventilation holes and valves for gas supply are cut out. All areas of "bare" metal are coated with a primer to protect against corrosion and aggressive environmental influences.

Stage 4. The house is finished with thermal insulation material.

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

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

carpet covering;
waterproof plywood.

Thick panels with stuffed planks for furniture mounting are inserted into the side walls. It is characteristic that at first it is better to level the ceiling, and only after that go to the walls.

Stage 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, you can put large tanks - for example, for taking a shower.

Note! Do not forget about wastewater - another tank is installed for this. As a toilet, you can use the usual garden structure.

Stage 7. For cooking and heating, as noted earlier, it is better to use propane gas. The cylinder is located in the lower part of the body, as well as additional hole for ventilation. This is explained quite simply: propane weighs more than air, so in the event of a leak, such safety measures will prevent sad consequences.

Stage 8. It remains only to take care of the power supply. The best option- powerful accumulator battery, equipped with an external outlet for charging.

Mobile home from an old trailer

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

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

Manufacturing technology

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

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

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

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

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

Stage 4. There will be only one window in the case (if the door is not taken into account) - in the upper part of the back wall. The window is preferably made in the form of a bay window.

The door lock in such designs is located below, but you can put one more - additional - on top. In addition, the door is equipped with a small casement window.

Stage 5. It is recommended to equip a table that slides out from under the bed (as was once the case on British trains). For this, special lockers are formed under the bed. By the way, the lower space can also be used as a bed.

In addition, shelves and a removable ladder are built from wood.

Letter of the law

No additional permit is required if the dimensions of the motorhome will not exceed:

400 cm high;
255 cm wide;
100 cm long (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 trailer trailers.

Setting up a mobile home business

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

Option number 1. Making houses for sale for summer holidays or living 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 motorhomes. This is a relatively new business, and everything new can be charged very expensively. The number of motorhomes in this case is increasing as the customer base grows.

Option number 3. Make food trucks or shops.

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 trailers into budget, premium and middle class.

For a more detailed acquaintance with the construction technology, check out the thematic video.

Video - Do-it-yourself motorhome

TOP 10 best motorhomes

	Name	Rating
Top 5 best motorhomes
#1		⭐ 100 / 100
#2		⭐ 99 / 100
#3		⭐ 98 / 100 2 - votes
#4	POSSL ROADCRUISER	⭐ 96 / 100 3 - votes
#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 - votes

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

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 a truck Fiat Ducato, 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. The spacious and bright mobile home is designed for four people. Light penetrates not only through side windows(all have curtain systems installed, including windshield), but also through a transparent hatch located in the front of the camper. Expensive and exquisite interior decoration emphasizes inner space, and swivel driver and passenger seats make the living room look huge by integrating with the cab.

Specifications:

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

The motorhome is based on Mercedes Sprinter 316 CDI and in control has all the features of this reliable and trouble-free car. And if the integrated camper does not stand out from the outside, it can easily get lost in city traffic, then inside it is a real compact house for 4 people. One drop-down bed located above driver's seat, and two others 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 rubles.

29-year-old Tom Grantham and 30-year-old Kylie Barnes spent $2,000 to buy back an old shuttle bus - and turned it into a posh mobile home for a family of five with every comfort and even a fireplace!
How did they do it? Let's get a look!

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

With this bus, the spouse has personal memories: as it turned out when buying, for many years he ran along the 51st route from Grimsby to Loot, passing by the house of the spouses every day. Now it has become their very own luxury travel van.

Tom and Kylie have three children - three-year-old Henry, seven-year-old Poppy May and eight-year-old Logan. In the former bus converted by Tom's forces, they will not be cramped!

In the main living room of the motorhome there are two wide sofas. You can sit on them with the whole family, admiring the views, and if necessary, they are laid out in two wide double beds. "This perfect car for a family trip for the weekend!” says Tom. He worked mainly technical part and furniture making, while Kylie became the interior designer.

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

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

The kitchen-living room in the central part of the van is finished with light wood and is as illuminated as possible.

In their motorhome, the family travels to music festivals all over Britain, as well as holidays in France and Belgium.

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

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

Alteration scheduled bus in the travel van lasted more than one year.

The floors in the car are finished with wood and covered with rugs, so that passengers feel at home.

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

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

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