I built a LUXURY micro camper for less than $1,000

Summary

Two brothers embark on an ambitious project to build a luxury micro camper from an old trailer for under $1,000. With creativity and resourcefulness, they repurpose materials like bus windows, scrap wood, and pallet boards to construct a cozy and functional living space. Overcoming challenges, they ingeniously waterproof the exterior and insulate the interior, creating a tiny home on wheels complete with beds, a kitchenette, and a living area. Their journey culminates in a successful camping trip, proving that with determination and resourcefulness, even grand dreams can be realized on a shoestring budget.

Takeaways

• 🛒 The goal was to build a luxury micro camper for less than $1,000, using an old trailer purchased for $100 as the base.
• 🛠️ The camper was built using inexpensive materials like 2x4s, OSB, drywall, and repurposed items like bus windows and metal scraps.
• 💰 Innovative techniques like 'poor man's fiberglass' and pallet wood countertops helped keep costs extremely low.
• 👷 The construction process involved steps like insulation, framing, sheathing, waterproofing, electrical work, and interior finishing.
• 🔧 Challenges included fitting all desired amenities (beds, kitchen, living area) into the 48 sq ft space while staying within weight limits.
• ♻️ Repurposing and upcycling materials from previous projects and free online listings were key to cost savings.
• ✨ Despite the low budget, the final camper was fully functional, comfortable, and visually appealing.
• 🌳 The camper allowed them to enjoy camping and the outdoors in a self-contained, affordable way.
• 💡 The project demonstrated creativity, resourcefulness, and the ability to transform basic materials into something remarkable.
• 🔨 With careful planning and execution, it's possible to build high-quality, customized projects on an extremely tight budget.

Q & A

What was the initial idea behind building this luxury micro camper?

The initial idea came from finding an old trailer on Facebook Marketplace for $100, which they planned to convert into a luxury micro camper on a tight budget of less than $1,000.

What were the main features they wanted to include in the camper?

They wanted the camper to sleep two people, have a mini kitchen, and a living room area, all within a limited space of around 48 square feet.

How did they insulate and waterproof the camper?

They used foam for insulation and covered the exterior with quarter-inch OSB or plywood. Then, they applied a DIY waterproofing technique called 'Poor Man's Fiberglass,' which involved layering glue and drop cloths, followed by multiple coats of paint.

Where did they source materials for the camper build?

They utilized various free or inexpensive materials found on Facebook Marketplace, such as bus windows, scrap wood, and leftover insulation. They also repurposed materials from their previous bus build.

How did they create the countertop for the kitchen area?

They made the countertop using pallet boards, which was a cost-effective solution that saved them a couple of hundred dollars compared to purchasing regular countertops.

What unique feature did they include in the camper's interior?

They included working windows in the camper, which is an uncommon feature in many DIY camper builds.

How did they address the electrical needs of the camper?

For the electrical system, they used an inexpensive extension cord instead of regular house wiring, although they acknowledged that this is not a recommended practice.

How did they create the beds in the camper?

For the beds, they used foam mattress toppers, layering two of them on each bed and wrapping them in a cover to make them look like mattresses.

What was the total cost of building the luxury micro camper?

They were able to build the entire camper, including the trailer, for under $900, which was within their budget of less than $1,000.

What was their motivation for building this camper on a tight budget?

Their motivation was to create a comfortable and functional camper that they could take anywhere, while staying within a strict budget of less than $1,000, as they had previously struggled with the high costs associated with their previous bus build.