This thing looks gorgeous and super practical! I see you went with a totally different approach than the common fibreglass design. You've summarized a whole build into a short video where others would have made a whole series out of. Having said that, if there was a detailed series on how to build this, I probably would have watched it! Great job and hope you have many great adventures with the trailer!
Mate, brilliant build and turned out awesome. A few questions and thoughts: 1. Why did you choose a wooden frame for the cabin vs say using RHS or square steel tube? I am debating this point right now and interested in your views and experience. 2. Double ply walls - understand you needed the structural integrity, but did you consider a laminated or hollow core approach using thinner ply on the outer (8-12mm), then borders/bracing for the insulation layer, then another thinner play or faced laminate on the inner layer? Not saying you did it wrong, but I saw a lot of wastage and effort in cutting out your inner ply. 3. Did you consider the aluminium composite sheeting rather than plywood for the walls? 4. I love the shelfing layout - I will likely steal your ideas :) 5. How did you get front - rear balance? This has to be one of the best camper build videos out there, really good you focussed on how you built it and not showing off what you built.
Good day to you! I am a grandpa rider on HONDA motorcycle from Japan. Enjoying camping ,touring and upload video. Your mini camper video is so nice! Awesome! Full supported ! Have a nice day my friend!
Grandeeee!!!!! Bravissimo Plus, the total cost is 5k AUD which is less than 3k EUR for a caravan that worths at least 10k EUR! Great, congrats for the design and mostly for the very accurate handacrafting! Ciao
Hi Elvis, Great Job, I am about to head in the same direction with a square drop build and found great information about products and build ideas, Many Thanks
Very practical, relatively light build. You give up some weight with a good, steel chassis. They make lighter, aluminum chassis. For me, that little extra weight was not significant, because it's still very small and light behind my pickup. I know it's back there. It definitely affects my gas mileage and acceleration, but it's still small enough that I can keep up with traffic and not be resigned to the slow lane and/or be a traffic hazard on mountain highways. If I were building my own, it'd be a square-drop where the back door is the entire back wall, and it's hinged at the top AND the bottom, so it can work as a ramp or weather protection, as needed. Just have it latch good and tight with side latches, and use a hinge pin (or pins) to decide which way it'll open. Run the pin through the top hinge, it's a back porch. Pull the pin and run it through the bottom hinge, and it's a ramp. Make it the absolute smallest toy hauler that's practical. I don't have any toys, but I would like that option. But all the toy-haulers out there are man-height. But I really like the highway and off-road performance of a good teardrop or square-drop mini-camper, and I think there's middle ground, there, for somebody with smaller toys, like 80-cc dirt bikes or snowdog snow machines. Nothing high-powered, but still mechanized, to extend your range from base camp. Toys you can take with, without making a production out of it.
great job Elvis, I plan on building a slide on camper for my 6 X 4 trailer, wanting to go prospecting 2 or 3 days at a time. I am in Melbourne, Happy travel's. Shayne.
Amazing build and info. I'd like to do something similar and live in Vic , this is so relevant to me. I have an old 1970 coleman poptop I'm thinking of converting as it's not enjoyable setting up and packing down. You've given me a lot of inspiration. Thank you!
Only just found your videos. Looking to build something very similar. Is great seeing your learning from your build and the details you go into. Thanks heaps
This is one of the best looking and practical home built campers I have seen yet. I would definitely use this video as something to design a light weight camper. The outside looks so professionally built, you would never know it was not store bought. Great job!
What an amazing build!! The details and finish work really made the square drop. Simplicity was also a major feature that so many other manufacturers fail to accomplish or see as a necessity. Again, I’m really impressed, thanks for taking the time to show the building ideas. This is Alan, greetings from Riverside in Southern California.
This is really good self build explanation. So helpful and informative without waffling on to much. All the key points I've wanted to know about a self build. Even down to a little mini model example😆😆 The Man!! Thankyou, Thankyou
This is a great build, it would be nice if someone could build a tent room that could attach to the side, so that you could stand up to change. It would make it easier for us older guys.
Wow Elvis, I have seen heaps of these DIY Squaredrop, / Teardrop campers, and I have to say this is one the BEST I've seen, - great job mate, I am slowly in the process of making mine, but I don't think I will have the patience or knowhow, to do anything like yours, it is a very nice rig indeed, and your commentry and explanation of the build was very informative, and quite helpful, - I am also from Melbourne Victoria, so this fact gives me great inspiration to get mine finished. Thank you
Sweet build man you really thought of everything. Always love learning simple stuff I should know but wouldn't think of like overlapping the top metal with the bottom to obviously keep water out. A lot of attention to detail and great use of the space you got, I like the hand made paper towel holder.
Very nice. Good job. It would be nice if you could put the links in the description of the parts and where did you purchase it, or the specks so we can find them in the US. Thanks for sharing
Much appreciated. I think I should put up an updated short video with additional practicality improvements. For example we learned that you want to have as much working space on the kitchen bench, so I've ended up installing powered fridge inside the toolbox. Things like portable table and chairs, we now just keep inside the sleeping compartment, because these you always take out and setup when you get to a spot, so better to leave toolbox for the fridge which you then don't have to pull out for the entire camping trip. I've also installed the stove under the bench where you can just open the lid if you need to use the stove, or close if you want more working space. So far we have been really happy with practicality side of things.
This video is an amazingly inspiring gift to many people. Congratulations and thank you, Elvis! 👏 Sorry to ask, but could you summarize the approximate quantities/lengths for materials in a list? If not, maybe somebody else that is just building it? 😅 If there is some European builder here, which replacement material (brands, names, measurements) did you use?
Fantastic. Stay tuned, I'm just in the process of making a video listing all my mistakes and how I'd do things differently. I'm hoping it will help people not make the same mistakes I did.
Fantastic build, great explanation, and the video editing was perfect! The build is $3400 USD, which is 1/4 of what a similar trailer costs in the US, and built to a much higher quality. I think that trailer could probably easily go through some serious mountain trails with how well you built it. I hope ya'll have some great times ahead!
After I included all the extras (stabiliser legs, roof racks, solar panel, brake system, toolbox etc... (and mind you I haven't used the lightest materials either), it's around 900kg. It's on a little heavier side, but it's rock solid... very strong. If I build one in the future, I' probably try use composite panels or something like that.
Hello! Could you make a video explaining the support systems (water and power). how many batteries did you use? Can you share the blueprints that you did? Thanks!
That's a great idea. I'm currently in the process of upgrading some of the electric systems... for example installing solar panel, water pump etc. I also want to re-build the toolbox and install a draw fridge there. So once I complete that I can do a video explaining full electrics. I only use one battery for now. I have installed 160W solar panel kit, and in the full sun, it charges my battery very quickly. Having a water pressure pump is a must, as I didn't like using the manual pump tap... it was annoying and not enough water flow. A cheap ebay pump (8l per minute flow rate) was under $50 AUD, and it was very simple to install, and works really well.
Tare weight is around 920kg. Fully loaded really depends on how much gear you put in. But for me it usually consists of food, fridge, few camping chairs and water tank filled up. I don't know exact but it would be no more than 1100 kg.
I'm hearing you. I'm not sure what the building material prices are like in states, but here everything went up in the last year or so. I think i spent around 5k on mine, but now the same think would be around 8k probably. But it's still much cheaper than buying new one.
2. 1.1k, wood 🪵 expensive to, frame materials. But I am building xl version:) with heater, refrigerator. Price build up quick I still need to buy aluminum for skin and trim 8k so far.
@@MrMycalifornia Yes, I'm hearing you. My base build was 5k, but then I spent more money to rebuild axle and add disc brakes, and I added solar, and also wired in a fridge... so you are right, that would have pushed it up to around 7k. But if you do it in stages, you don't have to have everything in the first release. We used ice box first few camping trips without solar. And for my next trailer, i'd also invest in a bigger suspenssion and tires. It's great that you did it right away so you have the right setup from the start.
Couple of questions , what is your balls weight , do you find it light as having warer tank and kitchen at back or evenly balanced , also how did you go getting ur spare out when u had the flat , just seems like it could be tight to get under . Once again brilliant build .
I can't remember exact tow ball weight, but when the trailer is all loaded (water, kitchen etc), there is still more weight on the front (as it's supposed to be). I can just lift it a little if I pull hard with my arms. I reckon maybe 80kg. Yes I had to pull out spare when i had the incident with original bad axle and hubs... one wheel was all the day down (rubber gone). ANd i had no problem reaching for spare. Remember you also have the stabiliser legs so you can always lift the trailer more if you need more room. So no issues at all.
Thanks... Stabiliser legs come handy when the camping site surface is uneven sideways too - which I often encountered... Also it prevents trailer jiggling when you are tossing in bed at night... or doing anything else ;)
You are not a DIY builder. You are a professional builder without a company. Fantastic.
Thank you so much.
Man if you weren't showing build footage, I would have never believed it wasn't a factory camper. Amazing work!
Thank you kindly
You did a phenomenal job on this build!! Never would have guessed it was DIY from looking at it.
Thank you kindly
Thank you for sharing us your DIY Squaredrop Camper FULL BUILD Walkthrough ! From Washington DC.
Good job and this is the best video I have seen in UA-cam about all details many tanks from Algeria 🇩🇿
Wow, thank you so much my friend. I really appreciate your comments.
This thing looks gorgeous and super practical! I see you went with a totally different approach than the common fibreglass design. You've summarized a whole build into a short video where others would have made a whole series out of. Having said that, if there was a detailed series on how to build this, I probably would have watched it! Great job and hope you have many great adventures with the trailer!
Mate, brilliant build and turned out awesome. A few questions and thoughts:
1. Why did you choose a wooden frame for the cabin vs say using RHS or square steel tube? I am debating this point right now and interested in your views and experience.
2. Double ply walls - understand you needed the structural integrity, but did you consider a laminated or hollow core approach using thinner ply on the outer (8-12mm), then borders/bracing for the insulation layer, then another thinner play or faced laminate on the inner layer? Not saying you did it wrong, but I saw a lot of wastage and effort in cutting out your inner ply.
3. Did you consider the aluminium composite sheeting rather than plywood for the walls?
4. I love the shelfing layout - I will likely steal your ideas :)
5. How did you get front - rear balance?
This has to be one of the best camper build videos out there, really good you focussed on how you built it and not showing off what you built.
That woodwork looks really very good. Better than a commercial trailer. Adds weight of course but it must make using it very enjoyable.
Seriously well done! Easily one of the best I've ever seen.
Thanks so much
Good day to you!
I am a grandpa rider on HONDA motorcycle from Japan.
Enjoying camping ,touring and upload video.
Your mini camper video is so nice!
Awesome!
Full supported !
Have a nice day my friend!
Thank you very much for your kind message. Greetings from Melbourne.
you just cant beat the outdoors can you , I just love watching this type of video to inspire me . by the way I love your name Elvis
Thank you.
Grandeeee!!!!!
Bravissimo
Plus, the total cost is 5k AUD which is less than 3k EUR for a caravan that worths at least 10k EUR!
Great, congrats for the design and mostly for the very accurate handacrafting!
Ciao
Vicrtoria "the education state" well that explains it that you did such a great job in telling how you built your teardrop. Nice!
Exactly what I was looking for 💯 thanks for posting!
Easily the best video I’ve seen so far 👍
Thank you so much
Great build. Looks professionally done
That was awesome. Really well done . Hope you have had many trips with it .
Your accent trips me out some sounds like Australian, Russian and West Indian. Good job on the square drop
Hahaha, It trips me out too.
Mate! You're the king. Everything about this video was incredible. Congratulations
Thank you so much. Really appreciate your comments Jim.
Mate that thing is bloody excellent. You are very highly skilled. Hi from Brisbane!
Thank you so much.
Chilled, Damn!!! That is BAD ASS!!! Well Done!!!
Thank you
Well done. Thanks for sharing
Hi Elvis,
Great Job, I am about to head in the same direction with a square drop build and found great information about products and build ideas,
Many Thanks
Thank you and good luck. Stay tuned, I'm planing to put together a video of all the mistakes (what not to do) and similar soon
Looks fantastic, thanks for the detailed explanation.
great work 👌🏼👍🏼😍
Ausgezeichnet! You could make rear door open further so you could stand while cooking. Well done.
Very nice build!
What a beautiful well thought out camper. Congrats. I hope you are enjoying it.
Just saw your collection of vids related to ur tear drop , great build mate , inspired to build similar . Thanks ,
Very practical, relatively light build. You give up some weight with a good, steel chassis. They make lighter, aluminum chassis. For me, that little extra weight was not significant, because it's still very small and light behind my pickup. I know it's back there. It definitely affects my gas mileage and acceleration, but it's still small enough that I can keep up with traffic and not be resigned to the slow lane and/or be a traffic hazard on mountain highways.
If I were building my own, it'd be a square-drop where the back door is the entire back wall, and it's hinged at the top AND the bottom, so it can work as a ramp or weather protection, as needed. Just have it latch good and tight with side latches, and use a hinge pin (or pins) to decide which way it'll open. Run the pin through the top hinge, it's a back porch. Pull the pin and run it through the bottom hinge, and it's a ramp. Make it the absolute smallest toy hauler that's practical.
I don't have any toys, but I would like that option. But all the toy-haulers out there are man-height. But I really like the highway and off-road performance of a good teardrop or square-drop mini-camper, and I think there's middle ground, there, for somebody with smaller toys, like 80-cc dirt bikes or snowdog snow machines. Nothing high-powered, but still mechanized, to extend your range from base camp. Toys you can take with, without making a production out of it.
Wow. Looks great 👍
great job Elvis, I plan on building a slide on camper for my 6 X 4 trailer, wanting to go prospecting 2 or 3 days at a time.
I am in Melbourne, Happy travel's. Shayne.
Amazing!
Beautiful job.
Beautiful construction
Amazing build and info. I'd like to do something similar and live in Vic , this is so relevant to me. I have an old 1970 coleman poptop I'm thinking of converting as it's not enjoyable setting up and packing down. You've given me a lot of inspiration. Thank you!
one of the best diy teadrop videos i have watched on yt (belive me i have watched a lots of them) 👌👌
Very nice build. Good job.
Good job. The graphics make it look very professional!
Thank you.
Only just found your videos. Looking to build something very similar. Is great seeing your learning from your build and the details you go into. Thanks heaps
Great video very informative! I'm sure it achieves all of your criteria. Cheers Steve
This is one of the best looking and practical home built campers I have seen yet. I would definitely use this video as something to design a light weight camper. The outside looks so professionally built, you would never know it was not store bought. Great job!
Much appreciated
Nice job mate.
Looks professional, Well Done. Lots of little hints. I’m in Melb also & considering such a project
Nice build, I am thinking of doing a similar project with my son. Cheers 🍻
It's a very nice video.
Now I'm making a camping trailer like you.
A transformative camping trailer
FROM JAPAN
That camper looks fantastic. Awesome job 👍
Looks very cool.
Well done. That’s a good looking build.
Much appreciated
Nice work!👏👏
One of the best teardrop builds I have seen. Great job. I wish you lived in the US, I would ask you to help me build one.
Thank you so much my friend
What an amazing build!! The details and finish work really made the square drop. Simplicity was also a major feature that so many other manufacturers fail to accomplish or see as a necessity.
Again, I’m really impressed, thanks for taking the time to show the building ideas.
This is Alan, greetings from Riverside in Southern California.
Hi Alan. Thank you so much for you awesome message.
Great video. I’m about to embark on this journey
This is really good self build explanation. So helpful and informative without waffling on to much. All the key points I've wanted to know about a self build. Even down to a little mini model example😆😆
The Man!!
Thankyou, Thankyou
Thanks for your awesome feedback.
Hi mate amazing build , attemting to build one of these . Your video is my ispiration. Good luck
Very impressive! Thanks!
Wow. Great job. The decals makes it look like you bought one that is professionally manufactured.
Thank you
This is a great build, it would be nice if someone could build a tent room that could attach to the side, so that you could stand up to change. It would make it easier for us older guys.
Great build and great video. I think you’ve inspired my next project
Best looking DIY I've seen , Awesome Job!
Thanks so much
Excellent job!!
Wow Elvis, I have seen heaps of these DIY Squaredrop, / Teardrop campers, and I have to say this is one the BEST I've seen, - great job mate, I am slowly in the process of making mine, but I don't think I will have the patience or knowhow, to do anything like yours, it is a very nice rig indeed, and your commentry and explanation of the build was very informative, and quite helpful, - I am also from Melbourne Victoria, so this fact gives me great inspiration to get mine finished.
Thank you
Brad I really appreciate your feedback. It's fantastic that you are building one too. I wish you all the best with the build.
Amazing job mate well done 🍻👍
Looks better build than anything on utube so far, iv seen cheaper and more expensive and this seems something in between.
Thank you so much.
Sweet build man you really thought of everything. Always love learning simple stuff I should know but wouldn't think of like overlapping the top metal with the bottom to obviously keep water out. A lot of attention to detail and great use of the space you got, I like the hand made paper towel holder.
Much appreciated.
It's absolutely gorgeous! Looks like it rolled out of a factory, but built better.👍😎
Very nice. Good job. It would be nice if you could put the links in the description of the parts and where did you purchase it, or the specks so we can find them in the US. Thanks for sharing
Thanks. All the product links are in the video description.
Well done!
Very very very nice my friend. Thanks
Great build and great videos. Excellent work. Well done!
Much appreciated.
Congratulations Elvis , this is the most practical camper I've looked at . Great video and awesome outcome . Thanks mate .
Much appreciated. I think I should put up an updated short video with additional practicality improvements. For example we learned that you want to have as much working space on the kitchen bench, so I've ended up installing powered fridge inside the toolbox. Things like portable table and chairs, we now just keep inside the sleeping compartment, because these you always take out and setup when you get to a spot, so better to leave toolbox for the fridge which you then don't have to pull out for the entire camping trip. I've also installed the stove under the bench where you can just open the lid if you need to use the stove, or close if you want more working space. So far we have been really happy with practicality side of things.
This video is an amazingly inspiring gift to many people. Congratulations and thank you, Elvis! 👏
Sorry to ask, but could you summarize the approximate quantities/lengths for materials in a list? If not, maybe somebody else that is just building it? 😅
If there is some European builder here, which replacement material (brands, names, measurements) did you use?
Great Build ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Well Explained Also. 🏴
Superb thanks
Im planning my own now!
Fantastic. Stay tuned, I'm just in the process of making a video listing all my mistakes and how I'd do things differently. I'm hoping it will help people not make the same mistakes I did.
very nice job bud 👍👍
Very nice work Elvis. It's a very professional looking build.
Thanks heaps for this - things to think about while we are doing our 'square drop mini camper build'
Fantastic build, great explanation, and the video editing was perfect! The build is $3400 USD, which is 1/4 of what a similar trailer costs in the US, and built to a much higher quality. I think that trailer could probably easily go through some serious mountain trails with how well you built it. I hope ya'll have some great times ahead!
Nice build man!
Great job Elvis enjoyed the video. It looks so professional , it looks like you bought.
Thank you so much.
Nice job! Great summary. How did the Tare weight turn out?
After I included all the extras (stabiliser legs, roof racks, solar panel, brake system, toolbox etc... (and mind you I haven't used the lightest materials either), it's around 900kg. It's on a little heavier side, but it's rock solid... very strong. If I build one in the future, I' probably try use composite panels or something like that.
Great video, very well explained, just one question I couldn't find the answer to - what was the final weight?
It's ~900kg,.
Very impressive work and a beautiful build.
I am finishing a van conversion and I appreciate your thoughts and labor..Definitely a thumbs up 👍🏽
Thank you so much. Yes, it was lots of work, but it's very enjoyable and rewarding. Van conversion sounds awesome too. All the best with it.
Great video!! Nice details and thanks for sharing
Brilliant video, thank you! The trailer looks awesome and not hand made. Have loads of fun with it, happy camping!
time for a proper fridge, nice build
Thanks. Couldn't agree more.
Hello! Could you make a video explaining the support systems (water and power). how many batteries did you use? Can you share the blueprints that you did?
Thanks!
That's a great idea. I'm currently in the process of upgrading some of the electric systems... for example installing solar panel, water pump etc. I also want to re-build the toolbox and install a draw fridge there. So once I complete that I can do a video explaining full electrics. I only use one battery for now. I have installed 160W solar panel kit, and in the full sun, it charges my battery very quickly. Having a water pressure pump is a must, as I didn't like using the manual pump tap... it was annoying and not enough water flow. A cheap ebay pump (8l per minute flow rate) was under $50 AUD, and it was very simple to install, and works really well.
Thank you for your response👍🏼 congrats, awesome camper
Looking very good! What is the weight fully loaded with camping equipment?
Tare weight is around 920kg.
Fully loaded really depends on how much gear you put in. But for me it usually consists of food, fridge, few camping chairs and water tank filled up. I don't know exact but it would be no more than 1100 kg.
Just came across this video. Nice build, did a great job. I'm curious what the final weight was. Do you know that?
Thanks. 920kg tare
Good job, coming through the same process, my main problem is overbudget
I'm hearing you. I'm not sure what the building material prices are like in states, but here everything went up in the last year or so. I think i spent around 5k on mine, but now the same think would be around 8k probably. But it's still much cheaper than buying new one.
2. 1.1k, wood 🪵 expensive to, frame materials. But I am building xl version:) with heater, refrigerator. Price build up quick I still need to buy aluminum for skin and trim 8k so far.
1. I think I will end close to 10k. Biggest spending was timbren suspension for wide tires 1.5 k, 2 🚪 and one window
@@MrMycalifornia Yes, I'm hearing you. My base build was 5k, but then I spent more money to rebuild axle and add disc brakes, and I added solar, and also wired in a fridge... so you are right, that would have pushed it up to around 7k. But if you do it in stages, you don't have to have everything in the first release. We used ice box first few camping trips without solar. And for my next trailer, i'd also invest in a bigger suspenssion and tires.
It's great that you did it right away so you have the right setup from the start.
Nice work!
Great report, nice work, I enjoyed watching it a lot and useful information, thank you
Fantastic, it's my pleasure.
Great build. Can you tell me how much the trailer weighs?
920kg tare weight
Nice job man. What is the weight of it? It looks sturdy and indestructible but looks heavy with all that plywood.
Yes it's a little heavy. It was 720kg but i added few accessories since then (toolbox, awning, legs) and haven't measured since
Awesome video! You went through the same thoughts that I did! Its a great inspritaion and I will start my own build this year!
What a beautiful camper you have there. Great job building and putting it together. How much does it weigh?
920kg tare weight
Couple of questions , what is your balls weight , do you find it light as having warer tank and kitchen at back or evenly balanced , also how did you go getting ur spare out when u had the flat , just seems like it could be tight to get under . Once again brilliant build .
I can't remember exact tow ball weight, but when the trailer is all loaded (water, kitchen etc), there is still more weight on the front (as it's supposed to be). I can just lift it a little if I pull hard with my arms. I reckon maybe 80kg. Yes I had to pull out spare when i had the incident with original bad axle and hubs... one wheel was all the day down (rubber gone). ANd i had no problem reaching for spare. Remember you also have the stabiliser legs so you can always lift the trailer more if you need more room. So no issues at all.
Done well . Would have had wheels set back more so you wouldn't need stabilizer and just level with just jockey wheel.
Thanks... Stabiliser legs come handy when the camping site surface is uneven sideways too - which I often encountered... Also it prevents trailer jiggling when you are tossing in bed at night... or doing anything else ;)
Fantastic build 🙌
Great job, very nice work.