Thanks for that information I ended up buying an Aussie van 100k and my wife kept saying make one. I'm a fitter and can weld but I was unsure about the chassis so I could always sell my hybrid van it's a 15' a bit big for 2 and make one.
I went a bit crazy and over spec’d mine on pretty much everything and was still half that or less. I reckon if I’d done a modest spec it could’ve come down to 30k-40k range
Awesome build! I'm in the middle of rebuilding a '96 Jayco poptop and need to get back out to do more. Problem is now I'm distracted by having to watch your build series from the start :)
It turned out to be a great job. I wonder if you had experience building a caravan like this before? Also, have you made a design on the computer before?
Thanks. I once built a camper trailer from an old army trailer, but nothing like this no. I hadn’t ever used SketchUp either, but i found it really intuitive and there’s plenty of RUclips tutorials out there. The web version is also free to use. Honestly i think it was a major part of the success being able to design to mm accuracy before starting the build.
Mate that’s unreal you’ve taken on a task that I keep saying I should’ve done instead of buying. Tell me what was the end cost approx and did you buy the suspension. Also what was the size and weight you ended up with. Geoff
Thanks mate. I’m planning to do a budget episode soon and need to add it all up. It was about half the cost of the Aussie made ones i reckon. There’s 20 episodes there covering all aspects including suspension weight etc. it’s a tuffride suspension, Melbourne company, bloody good. Airbag man airbags. The tare weight came in at 1500 and i set the atm at 2400kg. It’s equivalent to or a bit bigger than a 12ft van i think. The body is 3.6m long and overall it’s 5.4 bumper to hitch i think
Fabulous build mate. I've been watching a lot of square drop builds on RUclips with a view to building my own. You've got a tonne of skill sets, I'm signing up for a welding course cause that's my weak spot. Where did you buy the Fibre composite wall sheet if you don't mind me asking? I'm in Melbourne.
Exterior is called fibreglass composite panel and the internal is called purelite which is a pvc material. Both light but very strong. Most Aussie vans now made out of these or similar.
Congratulations, excellent work. I'm a retired builder and welder and your work is top notch! last camper caravan I built didn't have any of those modern materials, but old school aluminium frame and cladding. You deserve lots of praise and thanks for the post. I would love to know what the adhesive was you were copiously applying? Sems it must be great stuff.
You earned my subscription with this build. I'm not joking when I say this is the best home camper build that I've ever seen. I've seen a lot, by the way. Great job! Are you a pro cabinet maker by trade?
Nice bould! Once i had bould one.. in europe they didnt understand. Offroading with a camper? I loved it. Double axels! Greetimgs from the netherlands ❤
Thanks. It’s called thermolite which is a cross-linked polymer foam and fiberglass composite. It’s waterproof, light and very strong. But expensive and so goddam itchy when cutting!
What an awesome effort… it would be great if you could purchase a plans of builds like this that someone like yourself has gone through the effort of videoing the build..
Thanks. I get asked most weeks for them but they’re not engineered as i just did it all myself so can’t really sell or share widely. Don’t want to be liable for a heap of death traps driving around lol
Just started watching, so maybe my criticism is premature, but in my opinion, it’s better to describe what materials you are using and installing as you work, rather than just playing music. What was the floor material?
There’s 20 episodes, almost 10 hours of details through every step of the process, including materials. I’ve found many don’t want the detail just the visual so i created this short vid for those more than others really.
If you check the channel, episode 1 of the build series i do a walk around and design rationale. It wasn’t 100% finished at that point, but pretty close.
Do you know how much that build cost? Asking for a friend🙄😅 btw awesome job!!
I’m planning to do a full budget breakdown episode if i ever get around to it, so stay tuned!
Thanks for that information I ended up buying an Aussie van 100k and my wife kept saying make one. I'm a fitter and can weld but I was unsure about the chassis so I could always sell my hybrid van it's a 15' a bit big for 2 and make one.
I went a bit crazy and over spec’d mine on pretty much everything and was still half that or less. I reckon if I’d done a modest spec it could’ve come down to 30k-40k range
Thanks again very different in cost that’s for sure. I’d go a bit over spec too @@PerpetualTransient
Awesome build and awesome video
Thanks mate
Awesome build! I'm in the middle of rebuilding a '96 Jayco poptop and need to get back out to do more. Problem is now I'm distracted by having to watch your build series from the start :)
It’s good evening viewing, makes people dozey! Good wind down after a big day on the Jayco.
Fantastic work, you have to be impressed by your achievement. All top grade equipment and workmanship, apart from the welding maybe, lol.
Thanks mate. Surprisingly my splitter spatter has held up on some rough stuff. Keep checking the bumper bar isn’t falling off when i pull up lol
It turned out to be a great job. I wonder if you had experience building a caravan like this before? Also, have you made a design on the computer before?
Thanks. I once built a camper trailer from an old army trailer, but nothing like this no. I hadn’t ever used SketchUp either, but i found it really intuitive and there’s plenty of RUclips tutorials out there. The web version is also free to use. Honestly i think it was a major part of the success being able to design to mm accuracy before starting the build.
Mate that’s unreal you’ve taken on a task that I keep saying I should’ve done instead of buying. Tell me what was the end cost approx and did you buy the suspension. Also what was the size and weight you ended up with.
Geoff
Thanks mate. I’m planning to do a budget episode soon and need to add it all up. It was about half the cost of the Aussie made ones i reckon. There’s 20 episodes there covering all aspects including suspension weight etc. it’s a tuffride suspension, Melbourne company, bloody good. Airbag man airbags. The tare weight came in at 1500 and i set the atm at 2400kg. It’s equivalent to or a bit bigger than a 12ft van i think. The body is 3.6m long and overall it’s 5.4 bumper to hitch i think
You look like a pretty decent welder to me. Very impressive. That caravan is built much better than most of what is out there to buy. Well done.
Thanks 🙏
Well done mate. That looks bloody fantastic! Wanna build another ? Haha
One nearly killed me mate!
Fabulous build mate. I've been watching a lot of square drop builds on RUclips with a view to building my own.
You've got a tonne of skill sets, I'm signing up for a welding course cause that's my weak spot.
Where did you buy the Fibre composite wall sheet if you don't mind me asking? I'm in Melbourne.
Thanks. TransformRV in somerton are the go. Tell Vince i sent you and he’ll look after you!
what kind of panneling you used for interial and exterial walls? Looks very light weight.
Exterior is called fibreglass composite panel and the internal is called purelite which is a pvc material. Both light but very strong. Most Aussie vans now made out of these or similar.
Great build 👍 good on ya for giving it a go.
I took on a similar build a few years ago. Brings back memories✌️ very rewarding...
Thanks mate
Awesome build. Watched this one, now I have to go through the individual episodes for the details.
Thanks. There’s 10 hours to binge!
Well done, looked like you had all the gear for building, what size is the van and is there a floor plan. cheers
Thanks. If you look at episode 1 of the series there’s a bit more detail on the layout etc.
You have a particular set skills a well thought out job
Thanks! Small part skill, big part luck.
Congratulations, excellent work. I'm a retired builder and welder and your work is top notch! last camper caravan I built didn't have any of those modern materials, but old school aluminium frame and cladding. You deserve lots of praise and thanks for the post. I would love to know what the adhesive was you were copiously applying? Sems it must be great stuff.
Thanks! I mainly used terroson MS939, absolutely the best. Will delaminate the material before it lets go.
You earned my subscription with this build. I'm not joking when I say this is the best home camper build that I've ever seen. I've seen a lot, by the way. Great job! Are you a pro cabinet maker by trade?
Thanks! No im a geologist actually. Done a few home renovations but not much else. Definitely not known for my finesse
Dude... You've got some seriously good skills. I thought I was pretty good.... but fk you're REAL GOOD!!! Bravo!
Haha! Just faking until making around here
What a great accomplishment, looks awesome! Where did you get the plans? Ive been wanting to build one myself but it be so much easier if i had plans.
I just made them up. Drew it all on SketchUp. Spent maybe 3 months getting it right before starting.
Nice bould! Once i had bould one.. in europe they didnt understand. Offroading with a camper? I loved it. Double axels! Greetimgs from the netherlands ❤
Hello! I was just in Europe. Caravans are very different for sure. Towed by small city cars and very lightweight.
Looks amazing! Was wondering what you used as the base floor material? Like the part that's exposed to the underside of the chassis?
Thanks. It’s called thermolite which is a cross-linked polymer foam and fiberglass composite. It’s waterproof, light and very strong. But expensive and so goddam itchy when cutting!
What an awesome effort… it would be great if you could purchase a plans of builds like this that someone like yourself has gone through the effort of videoing the build..
Thanks. I get asked most weeks for them but they’re not engineered as i just did it all myself so can’t really sell or share widely. Don’t want to be liable for a heap of death traps driving around lol
Amazing job mate. Well
Done
Thanks 🙏
Just started watching, so maybe my criticism is premature, but in my opinion, it’s better to describe what materials you are using and installing as you work, rather than just playing music. What was the floor material?
There’s 20 episodes, almost 10 hours of details through every step of the process, including materials. I’ve found many don’t want the detail just the visual so i created this short vid for those more than others really.
@@PerpetualTransient Thanks for the clarification, I’ll look for the detailed version
What did you use to build the walls from?
It’s a fibreglass composite panel, 28mm thick with an XPS foam core
@@PerpetualTransient Is that similar to Azdel?
Hmm haven’t heard of that. Go look at transformRV or styromax website in Australia for details
Can we get a tour video
If you check the channel, episode 1 of the build series i do a walk around and design rationale. It wasn’t 100% finished at that point, but pretty close.
Looks amazing 👍
Thanks
Amazing. Well done
what type of panel do you use , can you give me the characteristic ?
Hi mate - it’s a 28mm fibreglass composite panel with an XPS foam core. I cover that stuff in detail in the build series also on the channel.
tank you, it's great@@PerpetualTransient
awesome build. Love it. Well done mate!
Cheers
Gasless Mig?
Yeh my little unit for tacking it all together was gasless. Main welding was done with stick.
Yeah, na, she be right! Good work!
Still holding strong!
What is the metal tank on front please.
Storage. Typically has my outboard motor in there. It’s aluminium.
Awesome
Great job friend!
Thank you!🙏
Good job i like It from marrocco
Greetings!. Chefchaouen one of my favourite places.
Nice build ❤❤❤
Love it
Thanks!
Wow. I love this.
Cheers
great effort that. 👍
Thanks mate
Skills mate
And a bunch of luck!
Very well Done....👍
Thank you! Cheers!
Very nice 👍
Thanks