RV: how to make a dream come true and not be left on the street

Many of us, probably, dreamed of traveling around the most popular corners of our country in our car and at the same time being completely autonomous, not depending on the services of the tourist and hotel business. Living in a tent during this kind of travel is, of course, romantic, but it comes with certain inconveniences, especially if there are children among the travelers. In this case, the most convenient solution would be to use a trailer equipped with both places for rest and for cooking, as well as taking water procedures. A mobile home - types, advantages and disadvantages, how to choose and use it correctly, as well as the features of DIY manufacturing and an overview of prices for popular models - this is the topic of this article by the homemaster.techinfus.com/en/ editorial office.

A mobile home can include all the necessary premises characteristic of a permanently located building - from a bathroom and a pantry to a kitchen and a bedroom

The content of the article [Hide]

1 What is the name of a mobile home and why is it needed
2 Advantages and disadvantages of caravan trailers
3 Types of car houses on wheels with photo examples
4 Caravan based on a trailer with a photo inside and outside
5 How to choose a mobile home - our editorial team's recommendations
6 Rules for operating a mobile home
7 What amenities are provided and what difficulties do mobile home owners have?
8 Features of self-production
- 8.1 DIY mobile home from a trailer
- 8.2 Making a home on wheels with your own hands on the basis of a GAZelle car
9 How much is a mobile home - price overview
10 Video: RV life

What is the name of a mobile home and why is it needed

RVs are called differently in different countries, so sometimes this can cause some confusion for an unprepared user when it comes to such a technique. In the countries of South and North America, mobile homes are called trailers, and in Europe - campervans or caravans. In our country, mobile homes are called caravans, and they are gradually conquering their consumer. Abroad, this type of equipment is used both for travel and for permanent residence, and in our country - exclusively for tourist purposes.

The use of a mobile home allows its owner to be completely mobile, and at the same time enjoy all the amenities typical of an ordinary home

Advantages and disadvantages of caravan trailers

In our country, trailers are not as common as, say, in America or Australia, due to the presence of certain difficulties with their use. Nevertheless, due to the presence of a number of advantages inherent in such a technique, this type of vehicle is becoming more and more popular. The advantages that the copyright holder of such equipment receives are the following indicators, namely:

mobility and freedom of movement, accompanied by comfortable living;

The interior layout and equipment of the camper depends on its size and personal preferences of the user

reducing travel costs associated with paying bills for accommodation services in hotels and motels;
ease of buying, selling and re-registering, as well as processing other actions related to registration with regulatory authorities;
lack of utility bills for used energy (water, heating, electricity);
motorhomes are not subject to property tax because they are classified as vehicles;
simplicity of maintenance and operation - are the key to a successful holiday using this type of equipment.

The trailer-based camper is smaller than the full-size camper, but still functional

Of the shortcomings inherent in trailers during operation in our country, the following points should be noted:

a significant consumption of liquefied gas used for heating and cooking requires refueling and the availability of information about such places in the regions of movement;
a small amount of internal space allows you to take on the road only a limited number of things that may be required during the trip;
the bathroom, if available, is very small and not very convenient to use;
as a rule, mobile homes are not equipped or are poorly equipped with a noise insulation system, which is inconvenient when used near a motorway or in settlements;
on the territory of the Russian Federation, there is practically no developed network of campgrounds designed to accommodate motorhomes, therefore it is impossible to deliver mail or other correspondence to the address of a user who is resting in this way;
technical means require periodic maintenance and repair, which is associated with certain financial costs.

Modern models of motorhomes can be equipped not only with places for rest, but also even have a garage for a passenger car in their design.

Modern models of motorhomes can be equipped not only with places for rest, but also have in their design even a "garage" for a passenger car

Types of car houses on wheels with photo examples

All mobile homes are divided into several classes:

class "A" - one- and two-story, in which the salon and the cabin are one whole - integrated;
class "B" - manufactured on the basis of a minibus, and there is no sleeping place above the driver's cab - semi-non-flat;
class "C" - a berth is provided above the driver's cab - these are alcove mobile homes;
class "D" - small-sized models designed for 1-2 travelers, manufactured on the basis of low-profile modifications of cars.

Class "A"

Integrated motorhomes are built on the basis of large trucks or buses and are equipped with everything needed for extended stays.

One of the options for the layout of an integrated motorhome

Mobile homes of this class can be designed with sliding walls, which allows to increase the internal volume of premises during parking.

The combination of the driver's cab and other premises increases the internal volume of the premises

During the movement, motorhomes of this class may not stand out from the general range of vehicles and resemble an outwardly simple bus or large truck.

Truck-based integrated mobile home option

Class "B"

Semi-integrated models are the most popular, due to the combination of sizes sufficient to accommodate 4 people, and the availability of the necessary equipment for their existence.

Models of this class have all the necessary premises for a long trip: a bathroom and a toilet, a sleeping area and resting areas, as well as a kitchen, storage rooms and technical rooms. In addition, motorhomes of this class are equipped with all necessary built-in household appliances.

The seat of the driver and passenger is easily transformed for use in the interior of the motorhome during the parking period

In models of the semi-intensified type, to increase their internal volume, an add-on can be provided for storing things and located above the driver's cab.

The design of the motorhome can provide for the presence of various additional devices that improve the rest with their use - in this case, it is a canopy mounted while parking

Class "C"

Alcove mobile homes are also a fairly popular design, due to their functionality during residence, and maneuverability when moving.

Classic Alcove RV

This class of vehicles is also called "Campervan", their design provides for the placement of a single berth above the driver's cab.

The berth above the driver's cab is small, but due to this design, the useful volume of other rooms increases

In this type of motorhome, the driver's area is separated from the living area, and the driver's seat and front passenger's seat cannot be transformed into an interior space.

Motorhome on wheels based on a Mercedes car

Class "D"

This group of motor homes has a small internal volume and is technically equipped to a minimum, which is explained by the small overall dimensions of such vehicles.

A motorhome based on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter looks no different from a regular camper van

A motorhome based on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter does not differ at all from a regular campervan

“Lowprofile” is the name of mobile homes of this class when sold abroad.

The D-class camper based on the Ford Transit is minimalist in every way

Caravan based on a trailer with a photo inside and outside

This group of caravans in the classification of similar vehicles belongs to the class "house-dacha" on wheels and can be made in the form of a stationary trailer or a trailer-tent. A trailer intended for housing can be moved by any vehicle equipped with a special coupling, since in terms of its overall dimensions and weight it is similar to analogs intended for technical purposes.

The size of the trailer determines its equipment and technical capabilities

The tent trailer is not intended for long-term stays and can be used for short-term travel.

One of the options for equipping the tent trailer

How to choose a mobile home - our editorial team's recommendations

A RV is a rather complicated vehicle, so choosing it is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. When choosing a motorhome model, the experts of our editorial team recommend answering a number of questions for themselves, then making an appropriate decision, and this is how they are formulated:

The class of the motorhome determines its functionality and the possibility of using it in certain conditions, therefore this is the first question that should be answered initially.
The brand of the vehicle chassis guarantees the reliability of movement. According to this indicator, the most popular brands are Ford and Mercedes, Volkswagen and Fiat.
The transport characteristics of the motorhome depend on the engine power and drive type.
The choice of layout and equipment of a mobile home depends on the individual preferences of the user and the number of family members.
Different classes of RVs require a different category in the driving license, so this should also be considered at the model selection stage.

The purpose of the motorhome can be different: from living and resting to a mobile office and a public building.

Rules for operating a mobile home

When operating a motorhome, its use can be divided into two components: transportation and stationary mode. When moving a home on wheels, he, like all vehicles, must comply with the Traffic Rules adopted in the country where the movement is carried out. When used in parking areas while traveling, as well as in storage areas, it is necessary:

at the place of accommodation during travel, the motorhome must be securely fixed on the surface of the ground in order to prevent overturning, if it is a trailer, or spontaneous movement, if it is other classes of mobile homes;
control the water supply and replenish it in a timely manner, if necessary, and when placed in storage places, the water should be drained;
when using in the cold season, it is necessary to monitor the temperature level inside the motorhome in order to prevent defrosting of engineering networks;

Reliable installation at the accommodation is the key to a successful holiday

within the timeframe set by the manufacturer, the dry closet should be cleaned and refilled;
to prevent disruptions in the operation of functional systems, it is necessary to control the amount of liquefied gas used for cooking and heating, as well as heating water for a shower;
as in any house, cleanliness is a guarantee of the health of those living in it, therefore it is necessary to perform dry and wet cleaning in the premises;
For reliable operation of the motorhome during its storage period, it is necessary to carry out preventive maintenance on the chassis and engine, as well as in other systems in the vehicle.

A class “D” motorhome is an affordable Volkswagen California car

What amenities are provided and what difficulties do mobile home owners have?

When used in our country, the main difficulties of rightholders of motorhomes are the roads and the lack of special parking lots necessary for accommodation during travel. In addition, difficulties with refueling with water, gas and dry closets are possible, especially in regions remote from the center. The number of berths for different models in different classes can vary greatly, but the most common are 2-6 pieces. As a rule, a motorhome has the following engineering support:

the ability to connect to an external electrical network with a voltage of 220 volts;
internal, on-board network of the vehicle 12/24 Volts;
a container for storing water used for drinking and technical purposes;
bottle (s) with liquefied gas.

The bathroom can be combined with a shower or be made separately

Models of classes "A", "B" and "C" are equipped with built-in household appliances for the kitchen (refrigerator, microwave oven, hob, etc.), as well as for recreation - TV, radio and other media devices.

Features of self-production

Due to the fact that mobile homes are quite expensive, if there is a desire and free time, such a vehicle can be made independently. In this case, the main requirement will be the use of a factory-made chassis, because otherwise, the finished product will not be able to be used on highways in accordance with the requirements of the traffic police. There are two options in this case:

use a car trailer;
convert an existing vehicle - a minibus or full-size bus.

DIY mobile home from a trailer

When choosing this manufacturing option, the dimensions of the motorhome will depend on the size of the car trailer and its carrying capacity.

Self-made camper based on a car trailer

Initially, it is necessary to draw a drawing or sketch of the object to be manufactured and think over the options for using the available materials. The most convenient version will be the frame structure, which can be insulated by using the appropriate materials placed in the inner space of the frame. In addition, work should be done on interior and exterior decoration, laying the necessary utilities and installing window and door blocks. The availability of furniture and household appliances depends on the size of the camper being manufactured, as well as the financial capabilities of the user and his personal preferences. Particular attention should be paid to the location of the water tank, as well as the arrangement of the electrical and gas facilities.

Option for arranging a GAZelle car as a mobile home

Making a home on wheels with your own hands on the basis of a GAZelle car

Having a GAZelle car in stock, it is quite easy to convert it into a mobile home corresponding to the class "C" or "D", for this you will need:

remove existing seats and other structures provided by the factory, with the exception of load-bearing ones that provide body rigidity;
perform anti-corrosion treatment of the inner surface of the body, and then finish the interior space in accordance with the user's creative intention;
provide for the placement of the necessary engineering equipment and furniture, carry out their installation.

The simplest and most affordable option for converting a GAZelle

How much is a mobile home - price overview

The domestic auto industry does not produce motorhomes on an industrial scale, there are only single models that are not included in the series, therefore, if necessary, you have to purchase models of foreign production, both new and used. Used motorhomes are cheaper, but they are less functional and not as fully equipped as their modern counterparts. The following table shows the cost of motorhomes when sold on the domestic market. The price is indicated as of the III quarter of 2018.

Model	Year of issue	Number of berths	Cost (as of August 2018), rubles
"Adria Matrix Supreme 700SL"	2018	5	7700000
"Hymer ML-T 580 CL"	2017	4	7000000
"Hymer B-DL 444"	2018	2	7800000
"Adria Aviva 360 DK"	2018	4	1200000
"Hymer Eriba Living 525"	2017	5	1800000
"Buerstner Ixeo Time IT650"	2013	6	3900000
"Adria Action 361 LH"	2015	3	1300000

Video: RV life

For those who want to buy a mobile home, but still have doubts, the following video will tell you how you can live in a mobile home and, perhaps, dispel the last doubts.

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