Added: 2 years ago
From: alvanh
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  • What was the total cost to build

  • i envy your talent.

  • Thats a fantastic caravan . I would be very proud of it if i were you!

  • These homebuilt trailer trailers have become incredibly popular again, and I think he did a fine job with his. That trailer can easily handle the weight of this build. Tandum axles distribute weight better and aid in control in case of blowout, but not necessary. Cool setup and it looks like he enjoys it. Peace.

  • I like the pop-top feature

  • Damn fine job mate!!!

  • Great job and these people that are critical look at a factory made camper they are not made from heavy duty materials either...

  • you need to trick it out w/ solar panels too!

  • Neat, the pop top really makes it usable I'm sure.

  • Love the Alvan. Nicely done m8.

  • A cool lil Alvin, Camping what a nice way to share quality time with the family. Most Dads these days let their kids be raised by video games. Not only does your kid get to learn a little about building this but gets to camp too. Your craftsmanship looks great too. Don't worry about some losers leaving poor comments, where is their trailer they built, and if they were to have built one and was a professional then I would assume they would be encourageing and not a butt hole.

  • You did a good job and it seems it cost you well below $4K clearly you are not concerned with what people think your project is a masterpiece IMHO and if if serves you then YOU are the one to benefit. Most don't use what they have to the fullest extent anyway, they own 4x4 machines that have never been engaged pu trucks with beds on them that never got a single scratch from anything heavier than an empty can. I did the math I will save $32K just in fuel driving a prius. Car cost $19.3K new FTW !

  • When's the party?

  • great job! Hope you enjoy it.

  • Love the vid man

  • Actually, I think you did a great job here. It looks to me like a plain model that just come off the factory line. I like it. You are very creative. Total cost of this would be what?

  • Al I love it, working on my own.

  • I've been looking at home built Teardrops and such for weeks for ideas to build my own. Interesting ideas there. I was wondering what cladding you used and price etc? I have an 98 Hyundai Excel and looking to build something to tow behind that using the Easy Trailer 5x8 as a base. Btw, great job :-)

  • @sonyfier Aluminium Cladding, proper caravan cladding from "Hume Caravans in Camplfield Vic. Cost about $600. Just check your Excel has 700kg unbraked towing capactity. I've got a Getz now which has 400kg unbraked and 700max towing capacity. I can tow the alvan empty but not loaded. However most trips it goes behing the 4x4.

  • @alvanh

    Thanks for that. Excel has the same towing specs and limits as the Getz. Hyundai sure has confidence in their brakes don't they, Lol. Only recently fitted a Hayman Reece tow bar to it which I got S/H for $50 from a U-Pick type wreckers down Melbourne. It's only rated for 600kg anyway so there goes 100kg. I've also got a current shape Lancer but don't want to fit that for towing. Gotta think very light. Anyway thanks for the reply. :-)

  • great job big Al

    are the walls leaning a bit yet :) does the trailer sit straight on a level ground? hope you're not too busy fixing the structure these days. just kidding man. great job. i could never build one. cheers !

  • Man, that trailer is built to haul lawn mowers. Little scrawny tires too. I can't believe it.

  • @deeannpookie Beleive it Man! lost count how many miles the tires have travelled! load rated higher than the load they'll ever carry.

  • @deeannpookie It's an "easy trailer". they specialize in small strong trailers.Don;t be fooled by the size of the wheels, they are specialized high pressure tyres to deal with anything., I know, I have one. They are great.

  • I can't imagine building anything that heavy on such a flimsy trailer frame. It isn't going to last very long.

  • @deeannpookie, well Mr Negative, Its not that heavy, Empty is it's GVM is 390kg! I can tow it with my little hyundai. MM yeah trailer frame is light, but frame+ply floor+walls+high profile cladding+every piece is glued and screwed. It's been in service for over three years now and numerous times it's been behind the 4x4 and we've been off road down sandy tracks and over sand hills with it! only problem a few things got tossed around inside!

  • @alvanh alvan maker nice job!!  remember theres always some know it all who never built anything sitn home watchin these videos leaving negative comments on something they know nothing about, i have a similar set up and those tires haul more than we will ever need. great job! like the pop up

  • I have one of these 4x8 trailer kits never used it thought about going in the teardrop direction,that was until I saw the " Alvan" way cool what cha done! thanks for video,and the inspiration Now I Gots to Gets Poppin!

  • that is one cute camper u have a great talent do u sell these for a living you should

  • This song just kicks ass!!!!!

  • nice work! I'm starting on building one of my own ;)

  • wish i could have those skills lol

  • So cool!! Respect!!

    I own an old Mercedes Benz ambulance, am planning to build a mobile home out of it. Got some inspiration from your video!

  • Ah good man build that for me, I'd marry him and cook the best food for him and make the beer too,,,, oregon spinster

  • Looks awsome, but you put the door on the wrong side, unless you like it that way but it looks really nice

  • That's pretty cool.

  • nice job

  • Hi Al - so many folks post questions about materials, plans, how is the pop-up done, etc. that we'd all owe you tons of thanks if you could work up plans, provide a detailed set of photos on picasa, and specifically address the pop-up build. I'd pay for for drawings or anything you can do for us. Many need a small, lightweight, camper, and yours seems ideal. How about helping us out. Tnscoots - Baton Rouge 

  • Wonderful, thanks for share good ideas

  • i have an old coleman popup i wanted to tear down and rebuild as a hard wall. i have everything but the wood for this setup. thanks for the inspirational video. liked and faved.

  • Very professional! Reminds me of the teardrop trailers available here in the U.S.--but looks roomier. You obviously have some fabrication skills.

  • Love the camper! Amazing how much feedback you generated, positive and the strange negatives as well. Enjoy it!!

  • what did you use for the exterior, very cool camper !!!

  • too cool. awesome job!

  • nice 1 Al ! im gonna build 1

  • awesome! I want to make a caravan for a 2person bicycle some day, Hope it'll come out as nice as yours!

  • Big AL, can you give us some details on the pop up?

  • what size thick wood did you use for the floor??? and did you just let the plywood hang off the sides to make it wider and longer? please let me know!!!!

  • What did you use for your siding? Where did you obtain it? Beautiful job!

  • nice!

  • It is hard to tell but does that trailer have ANY suspension? Torsion axle or anything? Would you suggest a suspension axle for anyone trying to build one from scratch to keep it from bouncing down the road or stuff inside getting tossed around or does yours drive well enough without it? Great Job.

  • I LOVE your idea for the camper!!! Only have one question: How did you do the pop-top? Can I get some pics of the pop top (how the lift works and all that good stuff?)

  • Good Job!!!!

  • Very nice, well done.

  • Awesome! i wasn´t even looking at full-size caravans ( was looking for radio-controlled camper racing) but man, I enjoyed every second of your video. I´m astounded that your forward planning allowed you to design so much into such a small unit. I´d have liked to see a little more of the external cladding process, though. Thanks for posting this : )

  • OMG that is AMAZING!!

  • seriously im looking at building 1 of those this winter..looked at alot of video but always came back to this 1, pretty nice job...

  • where do you find this exterior material?

  • '

    is this trailer alvan have a conventer power from 12V DC to 120V AC

  • Brilliant build ,its just the sort of build I was talking to the wife about for years.Glad to see someone has done it and well done getting it under 400KG's

  • pretty awesome. good job

  • Oh- I was looking for that puppet dude??

  • That's awesome!!!! If you don't mind me asking, How much did it cost all up?? My cousin is a handyman who would love to make something like this!

  • Were you using pre-made blueprints if so where did you get them from.

    P.S. Looks cool

  • Hey Big Al, Awesome video, we're using it as reference for our project. How thick is the plywood on the interior? Did you simply paint the plywood for the interior finish? Cheers 'mate'

  • Plywood is 4mm structural ply, makes the body very strong, it's glued and stapled on. Yes just painted the interior. Cheers

  • its heave?

  • Reminds me of the little camper my Dad built in the 1960's. We had a lot of fun camping at the lake in it.

  • Where did you get the pop up part??????

  • Absolutely GOOD!!!!

  • Wonderful job. You are a talented craftsman. That's coming from a carpenter! (me) Enjoy it in good health for many years to come!

  • beautiful job....keep it forever.

  • I've gotta say that thing looks good! Great job Big Al!

  • Nice vid.

  • Great Build!!!! Very Nice!!!

  • Very nice job there Al!

  • Excellent craftsman.. Nice work!

  • I have an old boat trailer I am thinking about building a small camper out of. About how much did it cost to build this?

  • I've been thinking of building one myself after I finish the sailboat I am building. Great video and nice to see a creative and practical design. Brilliant!!!!!

    Keith from Florida

  • very well planed out........was you able to build it on a slim budget?.......

  • lovin it .

  • At first I thought it was going to be too low to stand up in till I saw the popup roof. Pretty snazzy there :)

  • wow - great vid - great idea - thanks for sharing -

  • awesome

  • This is inspiring! Thanks so much for sharing this. I've been wanting to build one of these forever. I had a few more questions for you. Would you be so kind as to email me? I have some experience with building...Thanks again.

  • Excellent!

  • I love that awning

    I really need to get one

  • 1) Impressive work! Looks amazing!

    2) Did u build the trailer chasis yourself or is it from a used utility trailer?

    Thanks!

  • So Cool !

  • Nice job. I think I need one!

  • Dude ill pay you 50 bucks a month to live in that

    Very AWESOME!!!!!!!

  • a motorcycle can pull it

  • very nice, how long did it take you to built the "Alvan"?

  • Couldn't tell the exact time, project was built over a 3-4 month time span in my spare time.

    Cheers

  • do you remmember how much the basics cost? also did you create the trailor base? sorry for all the questions its just really fasinating...

  • I've got a set of foldup 100watt solar panels I take camping, can't be bothered with generators! Or I can just plug into 240v power if it's available have the camper wired to plug into mains to. Good luck with your project. Cheers

  • nice, i tried building one for about two years....started with the side walls and about to go do the interior and i was never satisfied..i ripped it apart twice then i sold the chassis, do you have any plans you could send me i really like your design!! about how much to build in US dollars?

  • Sorry no plans, had a couple of scetches and a good idea of what i wanted to do then built the camper as i went. Cost in US dollars I'd say about $5000, could be cheaper or more expensive just depends what you want in it. Cheers

  • Terrific job! I almost got involved with transforming a nice Cargo trailer which already had the metal exterior going for it, but I opted for a truck camper. Some people have creative minds and hands YOU ARE ONE OF THEM! Happy camping, from California.

  • Thanx Mate. Cheers

  • Awesome camper unique design. Did you think of it? Where did you get the door?

  • Just drew a couple of scetches and planned it as i went!! I had an aluminium windows and doors manufacturer make the windows and door for me.

  • Great build mate, and Ya mum's curtains look tops!!

  • ok thankyou i will check and from what i know first hand it will be ok, ill run it past all police and stuff.(still coo job)

  • do o just stick a numberplat on and go because i make one about that size for fun but if i can take it for real..

  • You will have to check your Local and State laws. The trailer already was registered before I started, There is no issues here as long as the what goes on the trailer does not exceed trailer weights, size limits and is safe.

  • good work to the trailer ! Very nice !

  • inspiring.

  • I built my own teardrop but like your build better,awsome job. Do you have any plans or more pics. like to see them.

  • Will have some more pics soon, just waiting for a nice weekend. I have a few little finish off jobs to do inside. Sorry no plans, just had the idea in my head, made some scetches on scrap paper as i went, but really just planned while building!!

  • like to see more about the pop top how it works ect. really great job!!!

  • That's a dream come true..., Awesome!

  • That's real nice. I see a little bit of my future in this video.

  • All respect to you, a job well done.

    cost is not the issue when you want to achieve, nice one Al.

  • I really like your camper. I just joined T&TTT, which is site for teardrop and small travel trailers. Most everyone on the site builds their own camper. You may like to check them out. Anyways, i would like to see more detail on your camper. Thanks for posting. Steve

  • That's a really nice build, good job and I love it.

  • pretty cool.... what did it cost to do? do you gotta register that? I want to make one

  • Cost about $6500AU, and cost lots of hours !! yes it has to be registered.

  • Thats too much money for something you have to build yourself.I can get a good factory model for that(used).

  • Don't know what camper prices are like in the US, but $6500au you'd be looking at older second hand campers here is Aust. But wasn't about the money, it was the challenge, I wanted to build it! and I built it how I wanted it. Cheers

  • nice

  • first to start off you did a great job i like it alot. also my personal favorite of that camper is the pop top. it adds 2 extra people to sleep in there. maybe 3 if small.

  • EvaKool is a compressor fridge freezer. You can keep Icecream in it. Once everthing is down to the right temp I put it in economy mode so it draws 2amps when running. Depending on how much you open the fridge i guess it's safe to say average power consumption is 1amp/hour. could be a bit more on hot days.

  • Grr-eat Job! How has the eva cool 12 volt fridge worked for you. Does it cool things down to 35 degrees?

  • Very nice, Great job

  • thanx everyone for the positive feedback and comments, sorry i don't have plans for this camper. just had the idea in my head for a while and planned it as i built the camper!

    i have some more bits i want to add to the interior, i am going to post a video of the interior when a have that done.

    i am still workin on my idea for a shower inside the camper, so stay tuned!!

    cheers

  • Great Video.

  • sofa king fantastic, i want one!!

  • how much invested man? great job, I have envy now!

  • no sorry, blue brint is in my head! if i made another i'd most probably make plans and drawings for it as i go, but that won't be happening for a while.

  • do u have a blue print?

  • Hey Al, nice alVan! I have an easy-trailer too, same frame, and I'm really amazed at what you have been able to do. Well done and congrats.

  • nice work how many people does it hold

  • it's a 2 person camper, although the bed is wider than a queen size double so you could sleep 2 adults and a small child. i have a dome tent packed in the front for the kids! cheers

  • nice

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