Building our own TINY CAMPER-with photos

This is for the Do-it-Yourselfer who might one day want to build a tiny camper. This is no tin can or stick-made camper that could be swept off a road during wind, torrential rain, or road problems. It's
made to be safe and secure.

It begins with a utility trailer, single axle, to which we added new tires and wheels. Also two angle irons were welded onto the front tow bar for stability. Then the side walls are built with two x fours. We hope when completed it weighs 2000lbs or less. We'll take it to a scale to weigh so we'll know for sure. We will be towing it with a Silverado long cab truck. In the back of the truck we'll carry camping supplies like bottled water, folding chairs, back pack, firewood, fire pit, and various other things we don't want or need to store in the tiny camper.

Here both side walls have been constructed and secured to the deck.

This is the beginning of the roof build. We chose the peaked roof for room inside for a loft bed and for strength.

This is the camper with windows installed, one on each side, and the shingled roof.

This is the wiring, breaker box, and loft bed. It will have three interior wall lights, an outside back door light, and five plug-ins. A box is built into the back wall to hold the extension cord that plugs into campground electricity to power the tiny camper.

This is a closer look of the loft bed that will hold more than 500-600 lbs and two grown people. The mattress will be miracle foam padding. If a third person comes along a folding cot can be put in the center of the floor.

This is the back wall with an outside light and a heavy door with window panel and deadbolt lock. I doubt a bear could get through it. It's made with two x fours and wood.

This is the interior walls made of beadboard. The flooring is laminated wood for durability and easy to keep clean. Note one of the lights on the wall. The loft bed will be polyurathaned and left natural wood. Above the bed are the open rafters. There is still the trimming to be done and then I'll post pictures of other interior items as they're built.

The exterior has been trimmed out and polyurethaned to preserve the wood.

The interior so far. Benches and table are polyurethaned. Table lowers to between the benches and creates a small bed or can be used as a sofa. Lids have piano hinges so storage can be used inside both benches. The little sign on the wall says OUR TINY CAMPER. The ceiling has yet to be polyurethaned.

This is the end of the tiny camper near the back door. On the right is an electric refrigerator. On the left is a supply cabinet with a locking door. On top is a counter holding a propane camp stove. Note the part of the counter that is lowered. It lifts for more space.

This is with the counter lifted into place. Above it is a plug in, a mirror, and towel holders.

This is the maiden voyage of the Tiny Camper at a state campground that supplies water and electric. We bring the folding table you see in the back of the truck, along with camp chairs, and other supplies. We cook outdoors most of the time.

Playing a game of Chinese Checkers at the Tiny Camper table.

The finished interior. Below the fridge is storage for pans and other things. On the left of the fridge and lower down is a power inverter. On the right is the cabinet and counter. On the windows are shades and curtains. Next to the storage/fridge is a Portapotty that can be emptied at campground dump stations.

The maiden voyage. Note how the wheel cover doubles for a shelf. In front of the Tiny Camper on the tongue are two batteries that will be charged by the 100watt solar panel that will soon be attached to the roof.

On the first use of the camper we discovered we must bunji-cord the fridge door. Yes, food ended up on the floor. That's how you learn. We also learned we need a chain attached to the back door to the inside of the door so it won't swing open too far and bust the outside light. The outside light cover has to be removed and stored until you stop to camp. We took along both a small heater and a small fan. We used the fan at night when it was warm. We used the heater the next morning when it was cold outside. We'll take a small window unit air conditioner in warmer weather.

The loft bed did indeed hold both of us for the night, but it isn't easy getting up the ladder to it and it's cramped. The Miracle Foam mattress was fine so that was comfortable enough. I'd say it's fine for one adult or two small children. We intend to amend the table and benches below to make it a larger area for a bed. Right now with the table down in place it can be a bed for a small person or child or a sofa during the day. To be super comfortable, we'll enlarge it for us to sleep on. These are amendments you can only decide upon when you take the camper out for a try at a campground. When we finish, it will be perfect.

This is not necessarily a cheap built as it uses two x fours and good wood, but we figure if we're going to build a camper, we're going to do it right. We hope to camp in state and national parks and some wildlife areas could possibly have a bear population. I don't know about  you, but when I'm sleeping I don't want to have to worry about bears coming inside (like into a tent) and devouring me. The total cost, not including the utility trailer that we already had, was around $2000. I do not believe you can find a better Tiny Camper anywhere for that investment. Go thou and build one! People who see it call it a "Tiny House." Okay, but it's a camper. I have a house, thank you. :)

I hope you enjoyed seeing the Tiny Camper come to life from nothing more than a utility trailer. It pulls easy and tracks right behind the truck. The only thing we'd change is to use a trailer that has leaf springs. Still, with everything battened down, who cares that the camper feels the bumps? You don't ride in it! You GO CAMPING.