Do-it-yourself tent for a car trailer. Which is better for traveling: a sleeping bag or a trailer tent

Experienced travelers know that it is not always possible to spend the night cheaply and comfortably. Therefore, with long trips and having your own car, it’s a sin not to buy a towbar and not to pick up a trailer-cottage. In fact, this is a house on wheels - such a small room with a kitchen, a toilet ... Well, in general, with all the objects of civilization. In such a "mini-hotel" you can not only comfortably spend the night, but even cook food for several people, and dine there, and most importantly - completely free! And today we will look at how a do-it-yourself trailer is made.

Chassis and frame

The main component of any trailer is the frame. It is on her that the entire load from the metal body (the frame of the “house”) falls, and from below the bridge, beam and wheels. By the way, you will not have any particular difficulties about it, because the design of the trailer has no fundamental differences from the car system, with the exception of motor units. Therefore, when done as a running system, you can completely “pull out” part of the wheels, springs and other suspension parts from an old car. For such a vehicle, any model of car can be suitable, be it Volga, Moskvich or Zhiguli.

How to make a do-it-yourself trailer-cottage? Room design

And if the algorithm for designing a dacha trailer practically does not differ from the usual cargo version at the stages of building the chassis and frame, then difficulties may arise with the body. The fact is that a home-made trailer should really be comfortable and practical, so even on the drawing you need to develop a plan for the design and location of all the details. Indicate where the bedroom, kitchen will be located, and if it is a frame with a length of 5 meters or more, you can additionally install a bathroom. However, remember that each new room entails additional expenses, which means that the price of a finished trailer will be significant. Moreover, in order to legally drive in such a coupling, you also need to register this vehicle with the traffic police. And this is at least a few thousand dollars on top. Therefore, do not oversaturate your trailer with unnecessary devices.

Retrofit option

The most practical option is the design, which has a built-in frame for an awning on the side (remember the legendary Soviet "Skif"). When it is in the unfolded state, it turns out a kind of large tent. This significantly reduces the cost of work and the effort expended on it. Such a do-it-yourself cottage trailer is very functional and at the same time convenient to use.

Drawbar and illumination

At the final stage, it is worth taking care of how the finished structure will be attached to the car's towbar. Also, a homemade cottage trailer should have a pair of brake lights and turn signals. In the center or on the side, think over the location for the license plate and draw a backlight to it, best of all LED. Such a trailer on wheels will definitely be the best hotel for a traveler.

Those who like to go out of town by car with an overnight stay know that it is not convenient to sleep in a car, so you need to take a trailer with you. This is a house on wheels, you can spend the night in it, cook food, perfectly protect yourself from rain and snow. There you can put a large bed and have a great time. The trailer itself is very convenient.

There are many manufacturers that produce various motorhomes. But they are quite expensive, sometimes even b. y. caravans also cost a lot of money. Therefore, many craftsmen make a cottage trailer with their own hands, inventing their own design. For each individual case, its own type of trailer-cottage.

Advantages of making a do-it-yourself trailer

Unlike factory dacha trailers, home-made options have their advantages:

When a do-it-yourself trailer is made, the soul of the one who made it is felt in it, therefore it is more comfortable in it.
By making a trailer-cottage yourself, you can make it as convenient as possible for yourself.
The main plus is the low production cost, and the functionality can be maximized.
The design is made taking into account the capabilities of the car.

Inexpensive trailer option

The simplest and most inexpensive is considered a tent trailer. When it is folded, it looks like a simple light trailer, and when it is unfolded, a tent roof appears above the trailer and a little further from it.

To make such a camper, you need to buy a factory trailer, install fasteners for the base of the tent on it, and also make a folding porch so that you can enter the room. The main thing here is to make sure that the size of the tent fits the trailer.

In order to equip the intratent space, you will need air mattresses and a folding table. This is quite enough for fishermen who went fishing overnight. In such a tent, 2-3 people can easily spend the night. But it will be cold in winter, so such a trailer-cottage is only suitable for the warm season.

Trailer in the form of a capsule

The base also contains an ordinary passenger trailer, but the result is a more solid dwelling. These will already be full-fledged walls with a roof. In such a trailer-dacha, you can even live for some time. You can make several windows for convenience. The tent should have all the necessary household items such as a gas stove, dishes and other accessories.

To make such a capsule, you need to remove the sides in the trailer. Make guides from a metal corner and weld them to the trailer. Next, you need to make a frame and fix it.

In order for the capsule to have a rounded shape, it must be cut out of special moisture-resistant plywood. In the upper part, you can make flooring, put doors on hinges, windows can be made of polycarbonate or plexiglass.

All parts must be processed with sandpaper, then it can be painted and varnished. In such a capsule, 2 people can easily fit.

Wooden cottage trailer

If there is a two-axle trailer, then you can build a wooden house on its basis. To make everything go smoothly, you need a wooden beam, plywood, metal tiles, waterproofing film. A frame is first made from a wooden beam. Next is a video where a guy makes a do-it-yourself trailer:

Then everything must be done according to plan:

Cover the frame with a waterproofing film and sew up with plywood.
The roof must be made of metal tiles, you can also use corrugated board or ondulin.
The walls of the house must be covered with a layer of waterproofing, after which the house is finished with clapboard or plastic siding.
Put the door, cut out the windows and arrange the interior to your liking.

This is already a large cottage trailer, in which several people and even a family can easily fit. You can live in such a cottage from spring to the end of autumn. In winter it will still be cold.

Auto-cottage station wagon

If there is an old station wagon car, then it is not necessary to scrap it, you can make a trailer out of it. The main thing is that the back of this station wagon is in good condition. It is necessary to cut off the front of an unnecessary car, and make a trailer from the back.

First you need to make measurements of the future trailer so that the length is suitable in order to fit comfortably into it. If everything is done correctly, you will get a multifunctional trailer in which you can spend the night.

The front part must be reinforced along the perimeter with a rigid frame made of a steel corner, and it is also necessary to sew up the front part with a sheet of iron, at the very least, plywood can also be used.

In front, in the lower part, you can install a towing device, usually it is made from a channel. The entry door will be the trunk lid, and the side doors can be used to load things.

So you can even make a trailer yourself with your own hands, the main thing is that there is imagination and a desire to create something so unusual. A motor home is very convenient, you can always leave the bustle of the city for nature and live in fairly comfortable conditions.

The only problem is that it is possible that the registration authority will not want to register such a trailer, because it may not seem to them to comply with road safety standards. Therefore, the easiest way is to take a used trailer-cottage and redo it, while keeping the documents.

autocool.com

Own mobile cottage-house on wheels

In Western Europe and in the USA, living, traveling or relaxing in the company of a motor home has long been widespread. The owners of such houses are not chasing large dimensions. The trend there is precisely small mobile homes, but multifunctional so that they are able to independently filter their own water, produce electricity and heating with the help of solar panels on the roof and use every centimeter of space in such a way that a two-story van with a base area of 14 square meters looks quite full-fledged housing.

Who is a supporter of life on wheels in a mobile home

There is no pronounced preference in the West, however:

young people more often use this method not for living, but for traveling and recreation, as they traditionally gravitate towards the bustling life of the city and do not need solitude;
families in which children grow up are already more tolerant of such a mobile home, because it is able to solve some financial problems, especially in times of crisis, unemployment and more than high prices for housing maintenance, as well as food;
active pensioners - they are ideal consumers of the style of a motor home. Knowing how to drive, they travel with pleasure not only in their own country, but also in accessible foreign countries.

Trailer-dacha on wheels in Russia

The fashion to use mobile homes has recently come to Russia. The direction is developing very slowly. First of all, because of the cost, because if in the West a motor home is really affordable housing relative to real estate prices, then in Russia such vans are more expensive than a good apartment. In addition, more than half of the country's population lives in harsh winter conditions, and insulated campers often cost as much as 2 apartments.

Mobile homes are conditionally divided into classes that describe the category of spaciousness, interior content and comfort:

class A - looks like a bus and is closest to the usual housing;
class B - this includes a trailer that is fully equipped inside, the berth is located directly in the trailer itself;
class C - small-sized, designed for movement on the basis of an SUV or a passenger car, while the cab of the car is transformed into a berth.

The most budgetary of the currently existing options is a tent trailer, which is disassembled at the camping site directly around the trailer.

But, if it is the equipped trailer houses that are not available for many, then a self-made dacha on wheels is more than a real option.

See also: Choosing sliding windows for terrace glazing

Do-it-yourself transforming house

A folding transforming house on wheels of a car will be a panel house design, from which one of the walls can be folded down or removed along the side. In this case, such a house becomes like a large gazebo. Interior amenities include a table, sofas or bed, gas stove and fixed water supply.

Whichever version of the trailer house is chosen, a do-it-yourself mobile home on wheels will not only be the pride of the owners for their work, but will also give new opportunities to spend the weekend with the family. Indeed, in order to get into nature, it is not necessary to have your own piece of land. You can easily travel and stay in the most attractive countryside places.

How to make a home on wheels with your own hands

The most compact, simple and budget option is a design on a single-axle trailer. Given the weight restrictions for light trailers in the Russian Federation up to 750 kg, it is necessary to choose a durable and lightweight material.

For this purpose, pine is well suited:

The frame is made from paving stones.
The walls are sheathed with plywood, the optimal thickness of the sheets is recommended at 1 centimeter.
For furniture - tables, beds and shelves, plywood sheets are also used.
The external finish will be of galvanized steel sheets, overlapped.

Alternatively, you can use another building material for the front skin, as long as it has sufficient strength and flexibility.

See also: Facing the facade of the house: what material is better to choose

Between the outer skin and the frame, a layer of mineral wool, mineral slab or other insulating material must be placed to maintain the microclimate inside, especially in hot weather, when, due to the metal skin, the structure can heat up inside above 50-60 degrees Celsius.

Do-it-yourself cottage trailer - installation of a mobile house

Installation of the structure is carried out using self-tapping screws, weak points, such as external corners, are reinforced with a metal corner.

Material protection includes:

antiseptic strengthening impregnation for wood material;
sealing the seams with a silicone compound of the outer skin;
front side painting.

The dimensions of the trailer can vary, the optimal one can be called 2.3-2.4 x 1.5-1.6 m.

Building a house on wheels

The construction of the caravan takes place in two ways - on the trailer itself, for this its sides must be dismantled, or on a special stand, with subsequent installation on the trailer.

Windows are taken into account at the design stage and can be of different configurations - from sliding to folding.

Ventilation is provided by the installation of a mosquito net. Additionally, you can consider installing a hatch in the ceiling.

A more solid solution would be a motorhome trailer with a base of a two-axle trailer. The principle and method of manufacturing such a structure are similar to the construction for a trailer on one axle. Of course, more material will be required, so the costs will increase proportionally.

Attention, only TODAY!

landshaftnik.com

Do-it-yourself mini camper trailer-cottage. detailed plan

Designed for backpackers and travelers, this project is an extreme weather proof, small affordable self-contained home for the homeless or those affected by natural disasters. A camper can be easily built with SIPs (structural insulated panels) and commonly available materials. Low cost and super insulated for year round living in extreme weather conditions. This is a mobile home that can be parked anywhere and be a disaster relief home. This small camper is also designed for people who play outdoor sports or seek adventure in extreme conditions. Because of its light weight, super insulation, this camper trailer is ideal for people who have kayaks, mountain bikes and other equipment they want to take with them.

This camper is designed for extreme weather conditions and is so well insulated that it can only be heated by body heat or a small heater designed for indoor use. With a white roof and vents, it will stay cool in the summer when parked under the trees.

Best of all, the camper is built on the basis of a 120x240 cm trailer, and the material cost of the camper does not exceed $1000 depending on the materials used.

Full step by step plans are available below.

These drawings require basic building skills and you accept full responsibility for any use of these plans.

1: What makes this camper so special?

Storage cabinets above the foot of the bed with space for a small LED TV or tablet, iPad with speakers or radio and DVD/CD player or this space underneath can be used for drawers. All devices will be powered by a solar panel located on the front of the camper.

The camper has a 100 cm by 205 cm bed which is sufficient for two people and very comfortable for one person. Above the head of the bed are open shelves for storage and two LED positional reading lights. Built into the wall by the bed, an integrated folding table for eating or studying.

The mobile home has a door for easy access and a porthole window so you can see who's behind the door, but small enough that a person (or bear) can't break open the door. There is a window on the opposite side for light and ventilation and a slanted deflector on the roof.

Usually the walls of a small caravan are 5 cm thick with insulation and are not designed for extreme weather conditions throughout the year of use. This camper has 10 cm thick walls and a roof with thermal insulation (more than most houses) and this will allow a person to stay warm in cold winters and cool in hot summers. In most cases, only body heat will keep the camper comfortable, but it can also be warmed up with a small propane heater. The roof is white to reflect heat, roof ventilation and side window vents for passive cooling. There is room in the outer walls to install a small air conditioner if desired, but if you park your camper in the shade of trees, there is no need for an air conditioner.

The camper has a cooking kitchen at the rear that includes a sink, cutting board, water canister, propane/butane burner and space cooler. There is plenty of storage space for canned and dry foods, pots and utensils.

You've probably seen other small campers and mobile homes but you've never seen anything quite like it because it's made from CIP and has super insulation and strength while keeping towing weight to a minimum.

This caravan is designed to be towed by small cars or trucks, the base of the trailer is 120x240cm, so it can be parked even in a standard parking space. It has a super strong 10cm thick roof with rack and racks for kayaks, mountain bikes, skis. The roof rack design is included in the drawings or you could use commercial racks.

Homemade cottage trailer made from a car trailer: a photo of the construction of a camper with a detailed description, also a video in which a motorhome is shown.

We decided to build a small residential house on wheels in order to go to nature in our car. Since we didn’t have camper drawings, we decided to make a removable module for the factory trailer (so that there were no problems with re-registering the vehicle).

Bought for this boat trailer of the Kurgan plant(only they don’t specify in the TCP what kind of trailer it is. just a trailer, other manufacturers indicate that this is a boat trailer and you can’t put a house on it).

The dimensions of the module corresponded to the dimensions of the trailer - 1400 x 2400 mm. Naturally, the removable module must be durable, and for our roads a plywood house will definitely not work, we had to weld a steel frame.

The base is welded from a 60 x 30 mm profile, the walls and ceiling from a 20 x 20 mm profile. On the pipe bender, 2 identical arcs were bent.

The most difficult thing was to think over the doors, it took us 1/3 of the time spent on the doors. Anyone who was interested in this topic saw factory doors, ventilation hatches, gas stoves, sinks, heaters, etc. on American trailers. etc. There is only one problem: cost. one factory door costs about 700-800 bucks (and you need 2 of them), a sunroof with an exhaust hood is about 300-400 bucks, I didn’t even look at the sinks and stoves, and so it became clear that we would choose from what we would find in household stores .

As a result, the doors were made by ourselves, because with our course the budget for the doors alone went out more than 100 thousand (on alik, ebay, in Europe, America, Russian online stores - the prices are about the same).
Doors decided to do with power windows, because. This is the easiest way in our opinion. It makes no sense to describe the whole process, I will only say that making the doors was very dreary. but at cost they came out 5 rubles each door, taking into account everything. the savings were worth it
Outside, the case was sheathed with 0.8 mm aluminum sheets, they were looking for specially large sheets so that they could be covered with one sheet without joints. As a result, we found AMTs2 sheets measuring 1500 x 3000 mm, which suited us perfectly.

Now I would choose a composite material for building cladding, 4 mm thick (who does not know, these are 2 sheets of 0.4 mm aluminum, and between them a special composite that ideally withstands all weather phenomena).

They glued aluminum onto a plywood substrate, riveted around the perimeter and sealed all joints. It was possible to leave the trailer aluminum, but initially they wanted blue on the outside, so they ordered a vinyl film for wrapping the vehicle in a printing house and fitted it on top.
Many people ask about the refrigerator. There is no refrigerator, and there cannot be, because. The module is removable and has its own car battery. The wiring of the module is completely autonomous, and is not connected to the wiring of the car and the trailer in any way. Therefore, you can't connect a refrigerator here. Although I do not understand the problem if it can be put in the trunk of a car.
We also made 2 220V sockets in the residential area, a 400W inverter, enough for charging and for a TV. Lighting is LED throughout.

Water is supplied from a canister by a fountain pump, not very powerful, but economical.
They made a niche for the countertop under the kitchen, it seemed very convenient, but in fact the top and bottom ribs were from a 15 x 15 profile, a very flexible and not reliable profile. As a result, the niche bent a little and the chipboard table did not fit in there, it had to be made of plywood.
After assembly, the trailer was tested by Karcher at all joints, slots, etc. 100% tightness.

The cost of building a cottage trailer.

We started building the camper in May 2015 and finished in June 2016. We work with a friend in shifts, i.e. per week 2-3-4 days could devote to the trailer. Very hung with the decoration of the kitchen and doors. If you expect to collect in 3 months - plus a triple time.

In terms of finances: everything was bought new, nothing used was used. The trailer itself cost 44 thousand, and about 110 thousand was spent on materials. fixed everything, up to the gloves, so the price is close to the real one. You can do it cheaper, but you should know in advance.

By weight: trailer + module weighs about 600 kg, the module itself is about 460-480 kg. A large amount of chipboard added gravity, who will do it - look for lighter material for partitions.

The passenger car 1.4 Octavia drags the trailer with a bang. On the highway, it accelerated to 130 km / h, the trailer is not felt at all, the streamlined shape practically does not slow down. consumption increases by 1-2 liters. On a bad road, more than 90 is difficult to drive, after all, the weight is not small, it twitches the car. But 80-90 is quite acceptable for such a trailer. I drove through the fields, along dirt roads, the trailer never struck anywhere.

Video, which tells in detail about a homemade mobile home.

With clothes, camping utensils for cooking, various equipment, he will not be able to understand and appreciate the convenience of such a transport device as a tent trailer. Photos of models for a family or for one person prove the popularity and convenience of such modules on wheels.

Let's start with the "pros"

The so-called "mobile homes" include the following:

light trailers-tents;
car rental;
travel trailers;
trailers-transformers;
motorhomes.

Depending on the size, such mobile premises can be used for temporary or seasonal accommodation of small work teams or lovers of countryside recreation. Some of the most comfortable models are equipped not only with stoves and toilets, but also with double beds and extra children's beds. In the most expensive models, even a camp shower is provided.

The presence of a gas cylinder stove, a drinking water tank and a small refrigerator make the mobile home even more convenient.

A big plus is the presence of a built-in tent and a canopy made of water-repellent material. The entire structure is quickly installed on special steel supports. After assembly, an additional kitchen and dining area is formed.

The trailer tent can be towed by any vehicle. Inside the folded module, you can put the right amount of cargo, provisions, clothes, bedding, sports, travel, fishing or hunting equipment, folding chairs and a table. Even the fact that there is no need to unload the contents of the trunk between trips adds points in favor of such a device as a trailer tent.

Not without cons

The negative qualities of this category of mobile devices include the low carrying capacity of some finished models. In addition, when driving on a country road, the speed of a car with a trailer must be less than 80 km / h. These values must be observed for your own safety.

In addition, for the transportation of heavy (over 750 kg) motorhomes, category "E" in the driver's license is required.

When choosing a residential mobile module, you should pay attention to the correspondence of its dimensions in traveling form to the dimensions of the towing vehicle. And you should think about the garage as a place for permanent parking in advance, since the trailer tent takes up much more space than a regular sleeping bag and all hunting equipment combined.

Mobile tents are mainly designed for use in the warm season. If you plan to travel in the cold, the mosquito net on the windows should be covered with thick plastic wrap. For long and constant trips, a real motor home is better suited - an auto trailer with all the amenities.

Do-it-yourself trailer-tent: is this possible?

Our people can do everything! Why buy a ready-made caravan, if you can make a cart “for yourself”: in accordance with your requests and ideas about comfort and convenience?

As a basis, you can take a frame on springs from a conventional trailer with wheels from a UAZ. In order for the mini-trailer to be controlled when driving down steep slopes, it is necessary to convert the wheelset mount to a swivel one. By installing a brake system, it will be possible to easily control even a fully loaded motorhome on the road.

Do-it-yourself trailer tent: what else can be added

For a convenient location of cargo of various purposes, it is possible to arrange sector-compartments of suitable sizes.
A propane tank fits easily on the drawbar.
A water tank is placed in the luggage compartment.
A mobile gas stove and a washstand are attached to one of the folding sides.
You can optionally install a pull-out table.

The supports and the awning are folded during the trip; when installed, the trailer tent is converted into a residential mini-complex with a dining room, kitchen and sleeping places.

Where, when and who can use the tent on wheels

Not everyone likes to travel for several days in the cramped car interior. However, there are supporters of such a vacation. Beautiful and new landscapes, constant change of impressions - this is a wonderful break from the daily routine.

The trailer tent is designed to create relative comfort for travelers, hunters and fishermen. The beekeeper, when leaving for a remote apiary, will have a great sleep in such a mobile house. Yes, and flasks of honey will fit freely in the cavity of the trailer.

Taking with you a small heater powered by a car battery, or a tourist gas burner, you can wait out even several days of bad weather in such a camping dwelling.