CamperPlans.com
Excluding tools, what is the approximate build cost of the camper? How much was the underlying frame with wheels part?
It was $4900 dollars for all parts, title, registration, tax, everything. I purchased everything new off the shelf. For the frame, axle, wheels, tires, hitch, jack, chains that make up the underlying frame it was about $1200 in materials. Again all new materials were used.
How much working space will I need to build a camper like this? Would an average American double garage work?
I built it in my 2 car garage so I know it is possible. It helps to build it in stages. Stage 1. Build the rolling chassis. Stage 2. Build the cabin that sits on the chassis. Stage 3. Finish building out the interior. After each stage it can sit outside so that you can still park in the garage.
Do the plans include metric measures? I’m in Australia, we love our mm over here 🙂
They don’t currently but if more than 5 people are willing to pay for metric measurements, I will make it happen.
What is the time-frame for an inexperienced builder to complete this project? How about if you bought a trailer instead of building your own? (I’m no welder.)
320 hours is a good estimate for completion time. Some people build much faster and some much slower. For this trailer you would be better off paying a welder to weld it for you than you would trying to modify another trailer.
You mentioned Gluing up materials several times in the build I am sure for the plywood and wood sections a good exterior yellow glue would work fine, but how about the glue for the canvas and more importantly the foam walls and roof same glue?
Titebond 2 works really well to glue to canvas to the insulation. Gorilla glue works great for gluing insulation to insulation or to wood.
There sure are a lot of terms and conditions attached to purchase of your plans. What engineering standards, review, etc., if any, were applied in this design?
Hi Holly,
Unfortunately we live in a very litigious society. The terms and conditions exist to make sure builders take personal responsibility for their project. An advantage of building a trailer is that there are very few mission critical components in the entire project. The hitch, axle, tires and the chassis are the only critical pieces. The hitch, axle and tires are purchased from companies that specifically make those components and those components have proven their safety in millions (if not billions) of miles of collective use. I describe my thought process for designing and building the chassis. This includes showing all the engineering equations used to determine flexing of the chassis. I also point out how the chassis compares to the chassis of the millions of trailers currently on the road as a way to verify that the chassis as designed is at least as strong as the ones in use. In the end, it is up to each builder to take responsibility for their project. It’s the only way that it can be. Building a trailer or baking a cake means taking responsibility for the project even if you choose to follow someone else’s recipe.
Are you required to register the trailer with the state? If so, are there regulations and safety requirements you have to implement? Tia!
Hi Mel,
Each State’s requirements differ so you will have to check with your specific state. For example, New Mexico requires that the trailer have all the appropriate lights for signaling in traffic (brake lights, turn signals, side markers, etc.) It also requires brakes on trailers weighing 3000 lbs or more and safety chains to keep the trailer attached to the tow vehicle in the event that the hitch fails. I think you will find that most States will have laws that are very similar. In New Mexico, there is a form with check boxes and when you take the trailer to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get it titled and registered, they go through the check list to make sure that the item is equipped and that it functions.
How much does the finished camper weigh?
Hi Bruce,
It’s dry weight is approximately 1200 lbs and with all my gear and food/water it is about 1500 lbs.
-Ron