Folding eBike Camper Build Part 1 - Design & Main Build - Off Grid Foamie Camper

[@daveyJ213]

I like the folding idea. I have a camper on the drawing board currently. Might have to rethink my idea.

[@shirleybender]

I’ve watched probably close to 50, and hands down this is the BEST and will be they see my build after this one! ( with a few artisan changes, of course 😂) PS I love the humor !

[@DaddyChronic]

Very entertaining video. Folding is great. Nice concept with the kitchen accessible from inside and outside. During breaks no need to unfold. Maybe call it comfyfold? I built a bike camper called "Cup of coffee" from foam and bamboo. It has a cellar that can contain two boxes of beer. It weighs 42.6 kg. The drawbar is made of bamboo and is therefore very light. I am very proud .

[@makestuffwithjohn]

The emu is fine, for anyone who is concerned. It was returned to the farm home from which it escaped, thanks to help from the local environmental conservation officer. In the interest of clarity, I am far from the first person to construct a camper from foam. Foamies have been around for some time. There is also a commercially available folding camper. It's nearly six feet high (folded), and weighs over 200 pounds. I am only attempting to create a more practical design, for real world off grid use. If I thought that I had invented it, I would be more inclined to contact the patent office, rather than share it with the entire Internet. The video is about better design and conservation of weight, and makes no claim to the contrary. Thanks to everyone who understands where I am trying to go with this. It's a major project, and your encouraging words will help me find the motivation I need to continue.

[@user-McGiver]

hi there!... foam is cheap, lightweight, and versatile... great building material, maybe you should give a thought to an external LINE-X coating... it will give the strength (and maybe a level of ''bear protection?''... this thing is strong!...) the foam needs without extra weight... maybe a strip of some kind of fabric/tape to the joint with the frame so LINE-X bond everything together too...? Just a thought... I know I would do it if I would make the build...

[@makestuffwithjohn]

Generally, folks cover their foamie campers with poor man's fiberglass, but it's a giant ordeal, and I don't want the extra weight. Bed liner is a really interesting option I may need to reconsider. My concern there is that a lot of materials don't play well with the foam, and cause it to melt. Maybe a coat of Kilz sealer, and then a coat of bed liner would do the trick. I will definitely test that idea, and probably some others, on some scrap pieces of foam before I make any final decision. I will add those tests to the next video. Mythbusters showed just how tough bed liner can be, and it would make the camper a lot more durable without adding too much weight. Thank you for that suggestion. I had previously scrapped that idea, but I will definitely reconsider and do some tests.

[@makestuffwithjohn]

Maybe I saw it on Tori Belleci's "The Explosion Show". Anyway, if you use enough bed liner, you can make stuff bomb proof.

[@pattikelly8921]

Yes, I've seen the commercially (and overpriced!) made version of this layout. And have been wondering about foamy construction for a bike camper for awhile. Yours is unique. The materials, what it uses for a base, and that kitchen.....all your own individual creation. I'm very interested. I'm subscribed and will be following.

[@makestuffwithjohn]

Thank you so much! I'm testing some different materials for body filling and paint as we speak, so I might do a quick update on that before the final reveal.

[@davidclark3147]

That's the best I've seen and I've looked at a lot of them I think you're a genius myself

[@makestuffwithjohn]

That's very kind, but I'm really just too lazy to set up a tent.

[@ericgather2435]

Such quality content, glad you shared the design and everything excited for updates !

[@michaelhart5087]

This is pretty good. I was gonna make a Paul Elkins plastic camper but maybe ill try foam next.

[@MannyPerez-b9y]

Great project can't wait to see when is finished

[@Joseph-b2m8k]

Nice, very nice. I'm 6'2" I would add a few inches.

[@Xayify]

awesome build! that fold is a game changer

[@ridermacleod423]

This is genius! Love it. Although I’m going to have to completely redraw my plans now after seeing this!

[@makestuffwithjohn]

I finally have the two sections painted and married together. It's been a long slog, but everything seems to work as planned. I still need to construct the sofa/bed and a few other details. I'll be test driving it in a couple of days, and hope to take it camping in mid May. Stay tuned, and best of luck to everyone with your projects!

[@408SPLKINGS]

Subscribed for the sarcasm alone Very entertaining & good tutorial

[@garyseckel295]

Beautiful design!!!

[@Flexx007]

I need to see the rest great build !!

[@gregwilliams7210]

a winner!!

[@br4690]

You are my new hero ! Great stuff, gonna watch more =D Thanks for sharing !

[@XYZ-0815]

Very nice. Good idea

[@XYZ-0815]

Very much work.

[@gregroth4696]

This was excellent! Thank you!

[@GEAUXFRUGAL]

One I want is collapsible hotel. But I want it to be more aerodynamic.

[@michaelsaxton9085]

Nice build!

[@brandibrown7198]

This is awsome do you have full printable instructions on how to make one of these?

[@donkuykendoll5237]

Hello sir. Very interested in seeing it finished I am going to try and make a build for myself and have checked online and seen all kinds of stuff and I think you're build is one of the best thank you and take care

[@todallard8791]

I like this build simple and possible to build without special tools. Almost all these builds I come across need welding.

[@RetroLooter]

I don’t play with dolls! I play with artist models. Got my sub love the video style

[@sskbenny]

was just thinking of something like this, love it

[@ziegenort]

Hallo sehr gute Konstruktion...Ich habe großes Interesse mehr von diesem Projekt zu Sehen...

[@keithjohnson3550]

Very interesting project. I suppose it could be towed by a small motorcycle or scooter if you're not keen on riding bicycles. May have to tweak the geometry of the wheels a bit to cope with the extra speed. Perhaps a bit of toe in on the wheels would make it more stable at speed. Will watch out for your next video

[@makestuffwithjohn]

A beefier trailer and some poor man's fiberglass would do the trick. Probably round off the edges a bit for better aerodynamics. I don't imagine this version will ever see north of 25 mph.

[@enibeni2071]

Interesting idea!

[@donnamount151]

Ur best yet and I have watched u a long time 😊

[@thecalmcharismatic]

Great video big bro! Very informative and funny as hell as well! I'm looking to build and e bike camper and have been thinking foamie as well. I subscribed, you rock!

[@briangingras5886]

I would like to make a bicycle camp for myself using the foam board like you did but and I also like how it folds. That's nice for length, but i'd like for riding on the city. Roads for width that's up to be 20 inches wide and fold-out to 39 extending out when. Not on the road but interesting nice job

[@kurtbaier6122]

Great build waiting for more vids. Liked, shared and Subd

[@MannyPerez-j9d]

Camper looks great, one question what size foam board did you used for the body thank you

[@makestuffwithjohn]

I used 4 foot by 8 foot sheets of 2 inch thick foam because I wanted the rigidity it provides. 1.5 inches thick would probably do the trick, but I don't think it's available in that thickness. You would have to laminate 1 inch and 1/2 inch sheets together for that to work.

[@user-McGiver]

like sub and comm, just for the narrative... the build looks great too... I would never go for an e-bike camper 'cause they look so bulky, but your build is too smart, so I'm thinking about... vid ''saved'' too

[@chrish6373]

Housing crisis up here in Canada. People are living in tents below freezing. Would love to see a foam shelter that was compact and fold-flat, and could be heated safely with a candle (or something) without setting the foam ablaze.

[@makestuffwithjohn]

I can't help but think about that as I am working on the camper. I discovered a shelter called "iglou" that's similar to what you're talking about. There are videos about it here on KZbin. My understanding is that Montreal is offering them to their homeless population. It's a really clever design, but I can see a likely problem with condensation. A terra cotta or hobo heater would alleviate that and provide plenty of heat. But I would think that the liability would be too great for any public entity to hand out something like that.

[@crowturtle]

Fun video! Subbed 👍

[@cindyhenderson8390]

Good for beginners

[@marksteps1712]

i like the idea, at least you can sit at a table in your design, i don't understand why people make them all look like mobile coffins, if i ever get round to this i'll be making one a 6ft tall person can stand up in. how people get changed or do anything in those coffin boxes is beyond me

[@makestuffwithjohn]

Every creature comfort is a trade off in size and weight. Having the table and seat meant the camper would be slightly larger and heavier, but I don't regret that decision at all. The ability to sit up like a human to get dressed, and not having to crawl inside like a tent were important to me. I had to crouch a bit entering and exiting, but sitting upright was very comfortable. I didn't really miss being able to stand, since the bulk of my time would be spent outdoors anyway.

[@Juniziu]

😮 genial 👏👏👏

[@josephmahoney726]

How did you hinge the camper to fold?

[@makestuffwithjohn]

I'm using a 30 inch piano hinge sandwiched between the two halves. Two of the legs will fold down along the seam so the hinge isn't tasked with supporting my full weight. I tested it at one point, but took it back apart for body work and paint. I'll make sure to get a shot of it in the next video.

[@geraldmeyer8296]

Lol. Go home Emu. Cool video John

[@makestuffwithjohn]

Proof of concept campout the 18th, hopefully. At that place with the pond.

[@ghn-gf2yg]

I have a question. I saw a lot of the bicycle caravans on youtube Most of them are vulnerable to the attack of strong animals such as dogs, wolves and bears, and most of them are not even effective against the penetration of snakes. And even against the cold, they are not much different from a travel tent So why not replace these noisy and relatively heavy and restrictive caravans with travel tents?

[@makestuffwithjohn]

The short answer is old age, but also laziness. I've spent a lot of time ultralight camping and bikepacking. Under 20 pounds of gear, hundreds of miles, lots of great memories and mountains climbed. It can be incredibly exhausting. I would spend an hour or so making camp. There's a lot of crawling around on the ground and bending and kneeling that I find I don't enjoy as much as I get older. Cooking and cleaning up becomes a chore with having to unpack and repack gear. Wet gear is not much fun either. I should be able to set up the camper in a couple of minutes. Everything I need will be ready to go with a minimum of packing and unpacking. I'm not going to abandon my tent just yet. The camper is more of a glamping solution for an old guy with a bad back and knees. That's why retirees haul campers around. They want to enjoy the outdoors without the fuss of tent camping.

[@andrewmiller4035]

Do u got blue prints for the camper?

[@makestuffwithjohn]

Sorry, I don't. The basic dimensions are included in the video.

[@leniagriffin1165]

Hi, do you have any build plans that I can purchase. I really want to build this for a homeless man who keeps getting bullied. So please let me know as soon as you can.

[@makestuffwithjohn]

The only plans I made were the drawings I included in the video. Most of the basic dimensions are there. I would suggest pausing the video and building your own cardboard or digital model before cutting any foam. My dimensions were determined by the size of the bicycle trailer, how much room I wanted inside and how the rain would run off. A larger person might require a slightly larger camper. If I had any actual plans I would be happy to share them, but what you see in the video is what I worked from. Please consider anything you see on this channel as open source. I will get into what gear I chose and weatherproofing in the next video. The topic of homeless shelters has come up a lot. There are a few foam designs out there, but I can see an advantage to having it on wheels. I may make that my next project. My understanding is that a recent survey showed the homeless have very basic needs. To be up off the ground, and have a light and a place to charge their phone. Foam is a really easy material to work with, but it's pretty labor intensive. I would probably simplify the design a bit. It would be a great project, and I can't think of many better uses of your time. The hardest part is making the commitment to start the project. I hope that helps. If you have any other questions that I fail to cover in the videos, please feel free to reach out.

[@ciliciaann3504]

😎👍

[@clarkleakins879]

Hmmm......if over 6 feet tall.... Have the seat end fold down, with tent trailer type cover? The table needs to fold open larger while sleeping, for the cat/dog. HAHAHA!

[@andrzej-bike_camper]

I'm interested in your project. I subscribed to your channel to follow the progress of building this trailer. However, I have many criticisms. The first is folding the trailer - a foldable trailer is always heavier than a non-folding one. It's simple: the two parts must overlap to ensure a tight seal, so there is a double skin strip. The second issue is the underestimation of other constructors. Do you really think that others purposely build heavy trailers to make it harder for them to pull them? Your idea with Styrodur walls has been used dozens of times. You can make a very light trailer from Styrodur (40-50 kg), but you have to use carbon fiber to cover it (expensive). I estimate the weight of your trailer (completely finished) at 60-80 kg, which is not that light. Why? Simple calculation: 1 square meter of wall made of 20mm Styrodur, covered with 0.8mm plywood on both sides, and reinforced with wooden strips (6 meters of 20x20mm strips), weighs 3 kg. As I see, your wall is made of 40 mm of Styrodur, which is 1.2 kg per square meter. But there is also an epoxy laminate covering. A square meter of such a laminate weighs 2 kg and is 1 mm thick. This means your structure is heavier than one using plywood. The trailer requires approximately 10 square meters of sheathing. This gives 32 kg of sheathing alone. The floor and wheel mounting must be reinforced, 5-6 kg. The wheels themselves weigh a minimum of 4 kg. There must also be a drawbar for pulling the trailer and its mounting should be reinforced - 2-3 kg. You say you want large windows - unfortunately they are heavy, so they will add a few kilos. Now the equipment. Stove, sink, table, TV set and ventilation. Another few kilos. And the electrical installation: photovoltaic panel and battery - 4-5 kg. In addition to all this, there is the weight of all the small elements (screws, hinges, cables, fans, adhesives, paints, etc.). Contrary to appearances, this results in quite a lot of weight. I wouldn't want you to think that I think your project is bad. On the contrary, I think it is very interesting. The above comments refer to your initial statements that trailers built by others are heavy, and you will build a light one. You must remember that the weight of the trailer depends mainly on its equipment. If you want a comfortable trailer, you have to accept its heavy weight. If you want a light trailer, forget about comfort. Folding trailers of this type have already been built, and even one of them is mass-produced in Denmark (Widepath Camper - weight about 50 kg, no thermal insulation, no any equipment). Yours is a bit different, so I'm curious how it will turn out. I wish you good luck and perseverance.

[@makestuffwithjohn]

Thanks for your essay, but I covered the Widepath camper at the top of the comments. It definitely had a hand in inspiring this design, but at nearly six feet tall folded and over 200 pounds without gear (I had a tough time finding those measurements, apparently Widepath is not proud of them), I felt like there was a lot of room for improvement. Likewise, my hope is that someone will be inspired by my design and improve upon it. Give it a go, but I would warn you that it's about ten times harder than you think. I have been ultralight camping and backpacking for many years, and ultralight gear will be a major part of the equation. Plexiglass windows will certainly add to the weight, but I'm willing to make that trade. It's a personal preference, and as I stated at the outset of the video, I want light as possible without sacrificing comfort. We will get into the windows and my gear in the next video, as well as final weight and measures. The tale of the tape, and my level of comfort will be the true test.

[@georgyj111111]

The foam is way to thick.