I once wondered why cool branded motorhomes do not attract as much interest as homemade, sometimes unsightly campers? Self-made residential modules for pickups, liners for trailers, converted “gazelles” and “loaves” are more interesting than expensive campers and caravans from famous manufacturers for many, many millions of money. Made in garage conditions, literally on their knees, enthusiasts without special education or skills, people driven only by a dream. Self-taught people, full of romanticism about roads and distant travels, literally use scrap materials to sell inexpensive motorhomes. The answer lies on the surface. It’s just that few people in our country can imagine themselves as the owner of a huge motorhome, created for ideal roads and civilized camping. And seeing that a person has made a camper himself in the garage, he easily associates himself with it and asks the question “why shouldn’t I do something similar?”
At one time, similar articles pushed me to build my own residential module for a pickup truck.
Last time I finished with a description of making a simple one for my residential module in a pickup truck.
And then my torment began. The pangs of creativity were mainly associated with the roof. At first the roof had to be flat. But the large area of 2800*1550 mm did not want to be strong and sagged under its own weight. It was decided to strengthen it a little, but not at the expense of weight, using stiffening ribs.
This gave some results. But this was only the beginning of my torment. Initially, the roof was supposed to rise on both sides. And for this purpose one of the lifting mechanisms, consisting of aluminum profiles. 
When it was installed, I realized that the scheme was absolutely unviable. The roof was shaking. Even a light wind could easily break my structure. But it should be installed solar panels, trunk, etc. 
We had to come up with other lifts. The next option was made of plywood. Everything worked out. But only at first glance. The weight of the reinforced roof and plywood lifts became simply unacceptable. I, a grown man, could hardly lift this structure. And for all that, the strength was not the same... 
And it was decided to radically redo everything. The roof became 20 cm higher. It began to have its own frame. And most importantly, it began to rise only on one side. To simplify the ascent, I installed two Zhiguli gas lifts. 
In the rear third of the roof I left space for a small trunk. There I planned to put a black plastic water tank. Heated in the sun, it could be used for showering. But this was all in the plans. In the meantime, there was still a lot of work to be done.
I screwed two latches to secure the roof in the closed position. 
Finally, now everything has fallen into place. The height in the sleeping area was from 40 cm to 90 cm. In the kitchen area the height was 190 cm. The strength of the roof made it possible to withstand strong wind. Gas lifts supported the additional weight on the roof. This was the end of the roof.
In the next part, I will talk about which awning I chose, about ventilation and windows.
But I’ll start my story from afar.
The bulk of our road trips, like those of most friends, occur in the warm season, which, given our climate, is quite fleeting. We usually open the season for spending the night outdoors closer to mid-late April, and close it at the end of September.
As a matter of principle, we always sleep only in the car, and there are several reasons for this:
1) Security. It is always easier for a stranger to get into an open tent than into a closed car. And often it is psychologically more difficult for an unprepared person to cause damage to someone else’s car than to damage other property, because somewhere in the subconscious there is still the thought that “a car is expensive,” and perhaps you will have to pay for it in the end. Although, of course, this is by no means a panacea; if they want to get into the car, they will. But this will still be more difficult to do than with a tent.
2) Convenience and speed of preparing the camp for bed. For us, the main thing is to simply find a flat area to park the car. Sometimes we sleep with an incline toward our feet, or with a slight lateral inclination without any discomfort. Since I have a sophisticated sleeping system installed in the trunk, about a minute after I turned off the engine, I could already go to bed, regardless of what was going on outside.
3) Climate control. It just so happens that for the last few years we have been sleeping at home with air conditioning all year round. It's the same in the car. At night I spend a long time filming the starry sky, so we go to bed late. In the summer, after the sun rises, sleeping in a tent becomes problematic due to the heat. At night, especially in the mountains, you have to be fairly insulated and use warm sleeping bags. And when you sleep in a car, when it’s cold, you just turn on the heater, in the morning it gets warmer, you wake up, switch the climate to the air conditioner and continue sleeping. For some, this reason may seem insignificant, but we are used to it, and it is really convenient! The engine at idle speed consumes about 1 - 1.3 liters of diesel per hour, i.e. 10-13 liters per night, depending on how long we sleep. Comfort comes at a price, and we simply take it for granted.
Experience from the previous winter.
In September, I once again sadly realized that a cold winter is just around the corner and something needs to be done. At the same time, I recalled the experience of last winter, when we arrived late in the evening for some interesting place, then I photographed the stars for several hours, and we sat in the car in the front seats. We warmed up as best we could - at -20 the diesel cooled down quite quickly to 45-50 degrees and the stove blew a little warm. We drank hot tea, although to prepare it we had to go outside, open the back door and let the interior cool down. They ate with food laid out on the armrest between the seats. We whiled away the time by surfing the Internet, but driving in the front seats and sitting motionless in the front seats for a long time are two different things.
In the end, it turned out that, it seems, the car is big, and there is a lot of space in it, and we carry a lot of things with us - but for us, there is somehow not enough space inside. These thoughts visited me all last winter, then the warm travel season arrived, and then, in September, I had to think about it again.
Someone else's experience.
At the same time, in LiveJournal I periodically came across quite interesting projects on alterations of cars for living in the cold season, two of which I decided to mention in my story - I’m sure those who have not seen this will be interested:
1) andrew_dovgan
, for example, installed a homemade living module in the back of his pickup truck, and his autumn trip to Kola confirmed the effectiveness of this solution. 
The module is fixed in the car body; if necessary, it can be removed and left in the garage. The roof folds down, inside there is a kitchen, a dry closet, a shower and, of course, a bed. The most important thing is that, according to the owner, there were no problems at all on the off-road when passing through difficult sections, the car did not lose any of its cross-country ability. 
Another very interesting point is that, before making the “house,” the owner took the dimensions of the bodies of the most popular pickup trucks from different manufacturers presented on our market, so that, if it is necessary to change cars, the module will most likely successfully take root in the body of another car.
Among the disadvantages of this solution for us personally, I see two points:
1) Safety - while inside, you cannot quickly get behind the wheel and go to another place, you will have to first go outside.
2) Climate control. If heating can be easily solved by installing an autonomous heater, then I personally don’t see any simple ways to cool the module. This is either installing a mobile air conditioner on the roof, such as, for example, on passenger cars transporting dairy products. Having searched for the sake of interest, suitable options I didn't find those options car air conditioners, what is on the market, are cooled to 0...+5 degrees, which is very cold, or are designed for a large interior volume (like a bus). Perhaps I didn't search well. Well, they consume quite a lot, i.e. you still have to start the engine. Another option is to make a second circuit for the existing air conditioner with an evaporator in the residential module, but this is also very technical difficult decision, and I think quite expensive.
Nevertheless, I really liked the resulting result; its author’s hands definitely grow from right place, and most importantly, he is personally very pleased with the product, since it is for him to travel in this car.
Well, one more small nuance" within the framework of this story - we still don’t have a pickup truck, hehe! :) So this option is not suitable, let’s move on.
1) An extremely handy man bought himself a new Land Cruiser 78. 
2) Cut off the rear half of the body (Lord Almighty!!!). 
3) Made it myself power frame, simultaneously improving the off-road capabilities of the car. 
4) The result was this interesting car with a residential module 
Well what can I say. It's practically a dream car! An SUV with axles and a lowering wheel, huge 36" wheels are also designed to compensate for the greatly increased weight of the vehicle. A fairly large module allows you to spend time comfortably in all weather conditions, including frost down to -30. The ability to get from the module into the cabin and get behind the wheel, without going outside Cooling the module with air conditioning in the warm season.
In general, really perfect option, but requiring a lot of time for modification, significant financial investments (the cost of a new “Cruiser” is about 2 million rubles, a used one in good condition is not so easy to find, plus the cost of modifying the car itself and building the module), as well as registration changes in the traffic police (which, in fact, is not so difficult - I went through this myself when replacing the engine and installing all-wheel drive in LeoCar "e). Although what happened in the end is definitely worth all this.
To be honest, the idea of repeating something like this with Def occasionally came to me, but somehow it didn’t take root, as they say.
In general, we are getting closer and closer to the most interesting thing.
Just at the beginning of September, on the website http://www.expeditionportal.com I accidentally came across a topic where a man was preparing his 110th Defender for a trip to South America. And there this picture caught my eye, after which the scrolling of the page suddenly stopped. 
The Defender on it was converted into a two-seater. In the back there are seats for two people, a table, a refrigerator, a lot of cabinets for things... “Oh, well, unrealistic,” the first thing I thought was and began to turn the page further. But somehow the text was already hard to read, but the picture still couldn’t get out of my head and I had to go back to it.
I kept looking at it in detail and couldn’t figure out where to place a bed for two with this arrangement. I read a little further and saw that the author initially wanted to make a folding roof to increase the height of the cabin in parking lots. Along the way, I decided that it would not be possible to sit in the back of the car precisely because of the height of the ceiling. I tried to find a 3D model of the Defender to find out this very height. During the search, another thought came to mind - “why am I doing this if there is a tape measure in the closet and there is a car under the windows?” I got dressed and went to measure the dimensions of the interior.
The matter was complicated by the fact that in the cabin there was a stationary sleeping system and a bunch of things that I decided to lay out next to it on the asphalt. A police officer passing by at two o'clock in the morning found this suspicious; they asked for documents and asked what I was doing. When I answered “I’m measuring the interior,” they looked at me strangely, but wished me luck and left.
After taking the dimensions of the rear row seats (I decided to take their dimensions as a basis) and the rest of the interior, possible layout options began to take shape in my head, but everything came down to the bed.
According to my plan, it should be from wall to wall, 185 cm long, consist of several parts in width, quickly fold and unfold, and most importantly, support the weight of two people without any supports in the center. And I didn’t know how to do this, because I mentally imagined it either made from a single piece of plywood, which would be quite rigid, but did not fit into the interior in terms of dimensions, or from several pieces with supports at the point of their connection, which I I didn’t like it fundamentally, since this option would block the passage between the seats, and removing and installing these supports every time is not the most interesting thing.
Along the way, I outlined the requirements for the future living compartment in a separate list:
1) Bed - quickly and easily folds and unfolds. Power structure. Possibility to fold out the bed without leaving the car.
2) Bedding. Since the bed can be folded out without going outside, then they should be stored in the cabin somewhere at hand.
3) The entire structure must consist of two parts, which will be securely screwed to the body (the previous option was simply standing between the walls). There must be a passage between them. Entrance to the living area is through both the rear and left rear doors. The right rear door will not be used at all. Large flat floor in the living area.
4) Def will become a two-seater. No other way.
5) Wide seats for two to make it comfortable to spend time in the cabin. Under the seats there are compartments for food and small items.
6) Autonomous air heater for operation in the cold season.
7) Place for tiles. Compartment for kitchen utensils. Everything should be at hand.
8) Sink for water. Main water tank. Intermediate tank for heating water. Hot shower. Water disposal (sewage).
9) Stationary refrigerator with autonomous operation from the second battery.
10) A large bedside table for my photographic equipment with a separate compartment for small things like walkie-talkies, flashlights, chargers. Everything is in one place and at your fingertips.
11) A long compartment for the slider (video rails), into which it must be placed when assembled (along with the motor, screwed on tripod head and remote control, since it is stressful to assemble and disassemble it every time).
12) Compartment for tripods, I have a lot of them.
13) Subwoofer.
14) Power supply from the battery to the rear of the cabin. Inverter. Sockets for 12v and 220v in the rear and middle parts of the cabin.
15) Compartment for off-road gear and tools.
16) Interior lighting, doorways when opening the doors, as well as weak illumination of the space near the car on the street, the light of which should not interfere with night shooting.
It seems that everything basic has been taken into account. We'll decide on the rest of the little things as we use them.
1. Def surprised me once again. In what other car can you check the oil level in the gearbox and transfer case without leaving the cabin? :)
2. Autonomous air heater. It would be possible to thoroughly insulate the interior, which would lead to a reduction in its volume, and use a 2KW heater. But in this case, I would have to seal or get rid of the rear windows, and I really like them in Def. I decided to go the other way and install the Eberspacher Airtronic D4 heater, fortunately I bought it at the end of August on a promotion at a very “tasty” price. Just out of curiosity, I searched Yandex now - before winter, prices for them rose noticeably.
Its power, as the name suggests, is 4KW, which in theory should be enough to heat the interior. I decided to install it in the only suitable place - under the box, which is located between the seats. I installed it myself, they asked for a third of the cost of the “hair dryer” for installation. 
3. The air intake was secured under the body, the exhaust gas outlet and muffler were mounted on the frame. 
4. Since, when installing an additional fuel tank in the wing, I initially provided a tee in the line, connecting the fuel pump to the tank took about twenty minutes. In general, as a rule, this is a very long procedure involving draining the fuel and removing the tank from the car.
A broken spring is the result of concentration of the main heavies (fuel and water) in one corner of the cabin.
Looking ahead, at night this thing clicks quite loudly, despite the rubber damper. It's as if someone is quietly tapping on the car outside. What would you do with him? 
5. The control panel was placed between the cup holders. It took me a while to figure out the German color symbols on the connection diagram. There are about 15 wires, of which only five are involved in this case. But, to my surprise, everything worked the first time, and when after a couple of minutes heat began to flow into the cabin, joy knew no bounds! :) 
6. One last look at how it was... 
7. And we sort it out. I once made this design for more than a month, I disassembled everything with a screwdriver in an hour. We also had to get rid of the large water tank. 
8. I remove the trim. In the holes where the trim pistons were inserted, I cut threads - attachment points for the future “furniture”. 
9. I make holes for two hoses for filling and draining an additional tank, as well as for wiring the tank pump (12V) and the water heater (220V). The wiring is all corrugated. Due to the fact that this part will be movable, the hoses had to be used exactly like this - they do not lose flexibility in the cold. 
10. Next, I lay plastic hoses purchased at the construction market, along with wiring around the perimeter of the door. At the same time, I find out that Def’s roof, it turns out, is simply bolted on around the perimeter! Those. It really can be made reclining in the future! :) 
11. I put the covering in place, simultaneously making a “pocket” for sleeping bags, blankets and pillows. This window can only be opened when the bed is unfolded. 
12. That evening I only managed to make the base for the seat frame. The part of the structure that will rigidly hold the seat block in place is attached to the gray lining under the “pocket.” At the lower points I used standard rings designed to hold the load. In total, each part of the module is securely attached to the body in four places. 
13. Only after removing the rear seats, which we didn’t use at all, did I realize how huge the Defender’s interior is! 
14. The seat frame is almost ready. I take into account that there will still be pillows on top, and at the same time I must fit without resting my head on the ceiling. 
15. Since we had to get rid of the main tank, a Front Runner plastic tank was purchased for 40 liters of water in the rear left fender. And the weights in the cabin will now be distributed more evenly (remember the burst spring?), since on the other side it is balanced by the same tank with 45 liters of fuel. 
16. Inside each Defender there is a certain field that distorts reality and the accuracy of measurements. In particular, the same tape measure will show completely different data if you measure any identical parts of two different Defenders with it, and it’s generally scary to say what happens to the compass. Fortunately, Def knows how to independently find directions to the right direction of the world.
But now you buy a tank, complete with an iron template, and the instructions say: attach this template to the wall of the body, mark its position and the central hole with a marker, carefully drill through the metal and you will get exactly into the neck of the tank.
I apply it, mark it, drill a hole - I miss by two centimeters! And this, damn it, is based on a ready-made factory template!!! The energy field of Def multiplied by a manual English assembly is indeed an extremely strong phenomenon, otherwise how can this be explained? A hammer traditionally corrected the situation.
Then, when I was making the kitchen part of the module, remembering this incident, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to make the unfolded bed evenly. But, looking ahead, the deviation from the straight line was only three millimeters per two meters of length, which on the scale of Def is simply an insignificant amount. I suspect that this is because I used a tape measure that has been sitting in the salon for a year. During this time, it managed to charge the car with energy and now shows reference data specifically for my Defender. But in any other place this tape measure will lie shamelessly, so once again I try not to take it out of the salon. :) 
17. My old compressor for inflating tires was too large, and its dimensions no longer fit into the concept of the new interior. So the toad was once again strangled, and an ARB compressor was ordered for Def with the long-term prospect of installing cross-wheel differential locks. Surprisingly, with such a miniature size, it pumps air quite quickly. A small receiver with a pressure sensor is installed in the upper part. 
18. An original hose was purchased along with the compressor... 
19. ...And a tire inflation gun. Compared to my previous compressor, this system turned out to be extremely convenient, although it would seem - how can a wheel inflation system differ in convenience? But no, good things are definitely worth the money. 
20. To pump water from the main 40-liter tank into a canister, a yacht pump was installed on the rear door. Its main difference from the submersible one is that it is self-priming (with a rubber impeller inside), and can operate “dry” for quite a long time. Since there is no water level in the tank, I decided that the risk of burning a regular miniature submersible pump if it was mistakenly turned on without water (in an empty tank) would be very high. This one does not have such a drawback, and at the same time it has very high productivity. 
21. A 1000-watt inverter is located slightly to the side of the pump and compressor. Since water will still pass nearby, I installed it vertically against the wall and raised it above the floor a few centimeters, i.e. Water can only get inside if it is poured there purposefully. 
22. The original inverter wiring had a cross-sectional area of 10mm^2. When the boiler operated for a long time, it began to heat up noticeably. I took the new wires at 16mm, so as to have some extra, and pulled them directly from the second battery, placing only the power switch in the positive gap under the seat. 
23. My favorite thing is to deal with wiring and connecting hoses. 
24. Since access to the body wall will be difficult in the future, it was necessary to lay the wires with a small margin so that in case of emergency it would be possible to get to the wiring. 
25. What I was most afraid to do (since there was only one attempt to do it normally) I managed to do the first time. The hole for the sink drain coincided millimetre-by-millimeter with numerous curves of the body. 
26. This is what it looks like a drain pipe on a jacked up car. I simply stretched it along the body/frame and secured it with a clamp at the lowest point. The drain holes and tank necks were generously filled with sealant. When the wheel is in place, it completely hides the pipe. 
27. "Photo stand" in the process of manufacturing. At the top there are two compartments for small items, separated by a partition, at the bottom there are two large compartments for photo bags. 
28. Sockets for 12v and 220v. 
29. Finally, I bought a Waeco Mobicool W40 refrigerator with the ability to work both from the cigarette lighter and from a 220V network. The volume, as the name suggests, is 40 liters (this is a lot compared to our previous bag). It cools excellently, the power is 48 watts (condensation is already draining from the evaporator inside), and there is an 8-watt economy mode, so the additional Defa battery in offline mode should last for a long time. 
30. Well, then, when almost everything was ready, I pulled out a lot of boxes from the garage with things that we carry with us, and began to think about what should go where. The photo shows the contents of just one drawer with kitchen utensils... 
31. Actually, my beloved wife caught me doing this, who became curious about what I was doing in the garage on long autumn evenings (and I didn’t show her the intermediate result), and she really felt that it was that evening that I should come visit me! :) 
In general, now I’ll show you what happened in the end.
To test the car, we decided to take pictures of everything as it should be.
32. Let's start with the back door. The tank for heating water is still attached to it; in the photo its temperature is 38 degrees. Using the tap on the side, you can wash your hands and dishes outside. 
33. There is also a folding table on the back door for a quick snack while stopping. 
34. Actually, the living part of the cabin. Def turned out to be bigger inside than outside! 
35. In the large compartments under the seats there is a supply of food and all sorts of small things. The rear compartment opens both from the top and from the side - you can get something out of it when the bed is unfolded. 
36. Behind the back of the seats there is a large compartment for an off-road vehicle, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, boots and other useful things. Directly behind the green seats at the bottom you can see another small empty compartment where tools like screwdrivers, a tester, electrical tape, clamps, a knife, and so on will be stored - what is needed most often. 
37. The long slider now fits under the kitchen compartment when assembled. It's very convenient - you quickly take it out, put it on a tripod and you can shoot. 
38. At the back there is a 220V socket and three switches that control the pumps in the tanks and the inverter. On the left you can see a blue set of screwdrivers with a bunch of small bits - it’s also always at hand. 
39. There is a fitting hidden behind a small door air compressor, as well as a main tank line tee, plugged at one end. Remove the plug and connect the hose submersible pump- this way the tank in the wing of the car will be filled with water. 
40. The right rear door is no longer used for its intended purpose, but with the bed unfolded you can get inside through it. Below, between the door and the refrigerator, there is a fairly large compartment for backpacks with warm clothes and other “small things” like Yulina’s cosmetic bag the size of a suitcase. Under the floor made of black chipboard, a flat active subwoofer is mounted upside down, and underneath there are magnetic curtains for the front windows of the car. 
41. Left rear door. On the side is my photo stand, in the middle of which there are two bags. One of them contains video light spotlights, the other contains a battery and small things for the slider. Below is a 20-meter extension cord for powering the same slider from the machine’s on-board network, next to it are five small tripods for video light. 
42. On top are two compartments with small things like walkie-talkies, chargers, interval remote controls and other things that I use all the time. 
43. Under the chipboard floor is a set of tripods. Above it is the body of the autonomous heater with a ventilation hole that rotates in any direction, on top is the original Defov armrest-glove compartment, which has become higher and more convenient for me. 
44. There are four switches on the door post. Upper includes LED backlight salon 
45. Two more control the light, which turns on when the door is opened.
There is a diode strip installed above the opening of the left rear door, which illuminates the threshold of the car, the floor, my photo backpack lying on this floor, as well as the contents of the photo stand.
On the trunk above the rear door there is a more powerful LED spotlight that exclusively illuminates the area behind the car. It rotates to the sides and changes its angle so it can highlight something else, such as the subject.
There is another diode strip above the left rear window, the light of which is sufficient to illuminate a table outside in the dark, and at the same time it does not interfere with night photography, since it is quite weak. 
46. Next. The refrigerator lid consists of two parts. This is convenient because when opened, less heat gets inside. The refrigerator is also placed so that I can reach it with my hand from the driver’s seat and can independently get food or drinks from there along the way. 
47. Between the refrigerator and the seats there is a wide armrest. For now, a kettle and a five-liter bottle are stored there drinking water and something else, but I think over time, use will show where it will be more convenient to place which things. The main thing is that after all the changes, everything that we carried with us before fit in the car quite easily, moreover, the roof rack became half empty, since before that a significant part of it was occupied by sleeping things. 
48. In this case, entry and exit into the car is possible both through the rear and through the left door. If desired, you can quickly crawl from the passenger compartment behind the steering wheel without going outside, and also place additional things between the seats and the kitchen. 
49. Well, now - the most interesting part. Kitchen block. Closer to the back door is our gas stove. At first I planned to place it near the side window so that open state it also served as a hood, but in this case there would have been a sink, the drain of which would have rested on the water tank in the wing, so they had to be swapped - there were no options. 
50. Under the tile is a small technical compartment with access to the compressor, pump, inverter and wiring. There are also gas cylinders for stoves, garbage bags, napkins and other small things that tend to run out periodically. 
51. Well, the most important thing is the sink. At the same time, it also serves as a compartment for storing “flowing” products, for example, strawberries, which tend to leak into the cabin at the wrong time, or open salads. The sealed plug prevents dust from entering from the outside. Since the water tank is located higher, water flows from there by gravity, you just need to open the tap. And most importantly, the water is hot, i.e. the temperature to which we heated it. Well, a mirror to the delight of my wife! :) 
52. We connect the hose, press the pump button - and now we have a shower in the car or next to it. Possibility to wash hot water and wash your hair without leaving the car - it’s really great! 
In winter, the main tank will not be used due to freezing of water. As for an additional tank with a heater, I’m still thinking about it, it seems like there are thoughts, it remains to be implemented in practice.
53. On the side of the sink is another compartment with kitchen utensils, tea cups, napkins, dishwashing liquid and more. In general, my wife's territory! :) All lids are made with furniture shock absorbers and are easy to open and close. 
54. There are also rats in our house! :) 
55. They also really liked it here, just like us! :) 
56. Now it’s the turn of the bed. To do this, we fold back two power brackets in front and behind the kitchen unit. 
57. We lower the bed itself, which is supported in an upright position by five powerful shock absorbers. There is also a folded self-inflating mat on it. 
58. Lay out the additional section. If the ceiling had been higher, the bed could have been made into one whole, but the sections had to be strengthened at the junction. 
59. The front of the bed on my side is also foldable. Previously, with the old sleeping system, I had to take off my shoes either in front of the car or sitting on the very edge of the bed between it and the driver's seat.
Now everything is much more convenient - you go inside the car with the front section of the bed folded down, take off your shoes and undress inside, sitting on the “photo stand.” Then with your hand you slightly pull the hinged lid towards you, which is immediately straightened by four shock absorbers. Their effort is more than enough to prevent this part from bending under the weight of my legs.
When you need to go back out, you just rest your feet on it, it folds up, you put on your shoes and go outside.
And, by the way, thanks to this retractable design element, the bed can be unfolded without going outside at all! 
60. Next, we straighten the self-inflating mat, take out sleeping bags, pillows and blankets from the pocket on the wall. As a result, in 10-15 seconds we have a bed measuring 140 by 185 cm. Everything goes back together just as quickly and easily. At the same time, I repeat, it is generally not necessary to get out of the car. 
There is a lot of free space under the unfolded bed, and tables/chairs/backpacks, which usually “spend the night” in the roof rack, can now be placed in the cabin.
61. Well, another “idiot’s dream” came true - on the wall of our wardroom (sounds like it!) a map of Russia took its rightful place! :) 
62. Well, in the end we got exactly three square meters of all-wheel drive living space with axles, blocking and lowering. :) 
63. Well, the view from the windows of our house can sometimes be worth a lot!
A trip to Vorgol showed both minor shortcomings (most of which I have already eliminated) and the enormous advantages of an “all-terrain camper”.
While I was running around the rocks looking for angles, my wife was warming up in a warm car and playing with the rats. At night the bed was laid out and Yulia was reading magazines while waiting for me to finish photographing the starry sky. For the first time, we slept with the engine turned off and the windows slightly open, since the heater works very powerfully even in low mode.
We slept until two in the afternoon (the previous week had been quite stressful, and fresh air always sleeps great). We heated some water, washed up, cooked breakfast and ate while enjoying the view. On the one hand, it seems that everything is the same as always, but on the other, comfort has become noticeably greater.
Well, only further operation of the machine will finally put everything in its place!
I hope that my story was interesting; it took me quite a long time to write it. :) Do you have any more videos to post?
So, today we have under our gaze ready-made solution from GeoCamper for installation in the back of a pickup truck. In order to turn a utilitarian truck into a motor home, you simply need to dismantle the tailgate, load the module and securely fix it. The module can be supplied in various configurations: from completely empty to fully equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable life away from home.
As can be clearly seen from this angle, the decision to leave the standard “trough” of the cargo compartment in place is very limiting usable area and the volume of the residential module. But, nevertheless, this solution is the most popular, since it allows, if necessary, to dismantle the module and operate the vehicle directly for its cargo purpose.
The weight of the structure is quite impressive. Unfortunately, no special measurements were made, but the data in the papers of the transport company that delivered the module from Kaliningrad, the figures seriously differed from those declared by the manufacturer weighing 160 kg. The car, whose carrying capacity is already an impressive 1175 kg, received reinforced springs, increasing the permissible weight for transportation by 300 kg, and is also additionally equipped with air bags. But even after such modifications, the pickup still has a slight trim on the rear axle.
Let's take a look inside the living compartment. Below there are places for rest in a “sitting position” and immediately after dismantling the central table (not shown in the photo), you can additionally organize a small sleeping place, suitable for a child or a person of very compact dimensions. A full-fledged sleeping place is implemented on the “second floor”, in part of the module, which is located directly above the roof of the car. 
Its dimensions are only a little more than a meter and in order to get a full two-meter bed for relaxation, you will need to “increase” it in length using folding shelf. Thus, if someone wants to sleep, then it will no longer be possible to rest and eat on the “first” floor. This is a serious disadvantage of the layout, but you can’t think of anything else here. The dimensions of the luggage compartment of this car are only 1.5x1.5 meters, and the double cabin ate up the useful space that is so necessary for a full-fledged residential module.
Although for the owner of this particular car this is perhaps the only possible variant, since he travels with his wife and two children and thus the options with SingleCab or RapCab are unacceptable for him.
Let's take a look at the inside of the module. On the left side there are service hatches with access to wiring, as well as water supply hoses and fittings. 
The fuel filler necks look like this from the outside
Just above the 220 volt socket, controls the on-board network and external light. 
Under the ceiling there is a window with a mosquito net and curtain, heater control and a screen with information about temperature conditions inside and outside. Also, the upper ventilation hatch was partially included in the frame, without which in summer, in hot weather, it would be quite problematic to be inside. 
Right there, on the left side, under the seat there is a dry “hair dryer” for heating the living space. The power of this device alone is quite enough for this volume.
WITH right side compartments for things and various small things. “Velcro” fixes the pillow in a vertical position to make sitting comfortable and comfortable. 
Also, on the starboard side there is a washing unit combined with a gas stove. Below is a compartment for dishes and a 10-liter water tank.
Hatches, like most things used in the construction of residential modules, are taken from the yacht assortment. 
To close the compartment, we turn the handle, which, so as not to interfere, is then recessed flush with the plane of the door. 
Hooks for clothes have a safety tongue that will not allow them to come off while the car is moving. 
The folding step can serve as a chair while cooking. It may not be as convenient, but it's better than nothing. 
This is what the module looks like from the outside. In general, it is quite tall and a person of average height can stand almost at full height in it. 
As a summary phrase, we can say that the inside of the module is still larger than it initially seems from the outside, however, a long stay in it in case of bad weather or cold season is still not so convenient, due to the limited internal volume and the inability to simultaneously use the dining area and bedroom
Also, due to the fact that the main weight of the structure falls on almost only one fourth of the car, the module greatly overloads the rear and puts a serious load on the frame. There are many known cases of frame failure when driving on graders and roads. Bad quality modules of a similar layout.
In my opinion, it would be much more correct to build a “living module” based on a pickup truck with a one-and-a-half or single cab. This will allow the heavy module to be moved inside the base and significantly increase its living space.
Gradually, the right accessories for them began to appear.
Hitherto outlandish residential modules that are installed in the body of a car began not only to be imported from abroad, but also to be manufactured here.
This is understandable; from a bureaucratic point of view, the module is a load in the back of a pickup truck and no additional documents are required for it. This means there is no need to undergo maintenance, receive certificates or register in any way. Accordingly, you don’t need a license in the cargo category, the usual category “B” is enough.
The pickup truck remains unchanged; there is no need to make any changes to the design. You can carry cargo as usual, go to work, and before vacation, screw the residential module into the body (installing the module takes 15 minutes) and go on a trip.
Of course, these same advantages are also disadvantages - limited space The body of a pickup truck does not allow for the installation of all the equipment that can be seen in full-size campers. But here it’s “either go or checkers.”
But compared to an ordinary autotourist, there are undeniable advantages:
Those who have pitched a tent in rain, slush, or cold probably remember how you don’t want to get out of a warm car and lay things out on wet ground. Or another option - you are driving, traveling, looking for a beautiful place on the river bank to park... but night has come, there are no normal approaches to the river, but you just want to sleep. You have to set up a tent God knows where under the joyful howl of a mosquito, which tells all the inhabitants of the swamp that she has arrived new food!
But with the module it’s a different matter. Everything is ready here. (like that snail that carries a house on itself)
We crawled into the module, boiled some tea, ate dinner, not forgetting a toast to those at sea to those who don’t have a camper and a bid for a dry bed.
This is the kind of wealth that can be acquired right now with just money.
If earlier we only knew about the CONGO residential module from Chelyabinsk, now there is a camper manufactured by TS Atelier, which is a subsidiary of official dealer Volkswagen concern in St. Petersburg "Neva-Avtokom"
What is the new module, how is it different from others, and what are its features?
Description of the residential module for the UAZ Pickup. Exterior.
And so in order:
In this position, on four jack supports, the residential module on the UAZ Pickup is waiting... when will we go on vacation:
In order to install the module in the body, you need to park carefully and lower your house into the body of the car with jacks.
This is what it looks like when installed
On the outside of the structure there is an Alcove that hangs over the cabin. Its impressive size determines a comfortable double bed measuring 1790x1930mm. There is a 60mm gap between the cabin and the Alcove, which, according to the manufacturer, is enough to prevent them from touching when moving.
On the outside you can see holes for installing side jacks and connectors for connecting electricity and water.
Connectors are standard for campers
Closer to the stern there is a niche for a gas cylinder, and at the same time all small things are stored there: an adapter for an electrical outlet, additional mirrors, tools, a stash :)
All this is on the left side in the direction of travel. On the right side, except for the holes for the jacks, no input/output devices were found.
If you look down under the module, you can see the legs on which the module is installed in a stationary position and a block of additional rear lights.
Although the door is not very high, it is difficult to get in and out if you are not used to it. It would be nice to provide a mechanism with folding steps. ( and a luminous inscription to Outsiders B)
The door itself open position It is fixed by a painfully familiar mechanism - one to one, like the rear doors on a UAZ Bukhanka. Only pin ( hussars - be silent) is not on the door, but on the wall.
The layout of the module is classic: on the far side there is an alcove with a double bed, in front of it is a transforming table. On the sides there are seats that, through simple manipulations, turn into a sleeping place.
On the right side there is a wardrobe, on the left there is a bedside table that hides a niche with a gas cylinder and a heater.
Description of the residential module for the UAZ Pickup. Interior.
And so, let's go:
You can immediately see the predominance of wood in the interior, which immediately puts you in a “country” mood. Naturally, no one will build a module from the “array”; then it would turn out to be too heavy. The finishing is made with plywood. The seams are carefully treated with sealant.
The sleeping place is equipped with a window, and in the evening you can turn on LED lamp and try to drain the battery and read books.
In general, the windows are standard for campers (by the way, you can order them from the bourgeoisie). So all the goodies are present here: the ability to open/close, mosquito net, sun and protective curtain.
For greater comfort, the windows can be closed with curtains.
The sockets are made in a splash-proof design - with a lid.
And the handles are anti-vandal and have a safety design - when pressed, they are recessed inwards.
Shelves are mounted on top, around the perimeter. The doors on them are hinged, on gas stops
To add rigidity, bulkheads are installed that are fixed with furniture corners.
The shelves are adjacent to the wardrobe.
Inside the closet there is a hanging rod. There is a "secret" compartment at the bottom. Due to its small height, it is most likely suitable only for slippers.
On external wall The cabinet contains a control panel, which, theoretically, can show all the information in the house:
voltage of two batteries 12 V, level indicators: in the tank for fresh water, in the waste tank, electrical load indicator, battery charging, pump switch.
Just below is an organizer for small items.
Additional lamps are installed under the shelves, and an autonomous heater control panel is mounted on the wall.
For natural lighting, a sunroof is very well provided.
An anti-mosquito net is integrated into the hatch
The same grid is also available on front door, which allows you to turn the module into a life capsule separated from the outside, mosquito world.
To the left of the entrance is a bedside table, inside of which...
Autonomous heater Trumatic E2400. It provides thermal power at 2400 W. Gas consumption from 100 g/h at economical and up to 200 g/h at full load.
A valve that shuts off the gas supply and a control unit are also installed.
The central place in the living module is occupied by the table.
It is mounted on a guide and by pressing the lock the table can be moved left and right.
The table has a small “add-on” that can be unfolded and locked in the open position.
Table leg can be folded in half
This is necessary so that it does not interfere with the organization of the second bed. To do this, the table is completely removed, placed down, flush with the side benches, and a flat platform is obtained. It is laid with side pillows that previously serve as the back of the sofa.
Multifunctional pillows are made collapsible. By unzipping the zipper, you can remove the foam filling and wash the upholstery.
By the way, under the cushions of the side sofas there are small pockets for small items
And if you lift the hatches, edged with black rubber, you will find a system for attaching the module to the body of a pickup truck
The last secret place remains under the feet, namely under the table there are also niches for luggage.
The end of this secret drawer rests on energy system module ship. If you open the lid slightly, you can see the installed “bags”, wiring for electricity consumers and fuses. ( It would be nice to have a functional diagram right there)
Notes.
What was noticed was that the cleanliness of the processing of plywood coverings did not always correspond to the ideas about the house. There were splinters somewhere, and somewhere it wouldn’t have hurt to put a couple more layers of varnish. In one place the plywood shrank and a small gap appeared.
About the steps to enter and electrical diagram- already noted.
The attachment of the airbags to the sides of the body is made with Velcro, but the Velcro is not held on by brackets. The parentheses fly out.
Of course, the comments are not significant, but you always want everything to be at the highest level.
Specification of the residential module for UAZ Pickup:
Sleeping places - 4 pcs.
Opening windows - 3 pcs.
Ventilation hatches - 1 pc.
Heater Truma
LED flashlight - 4 pcs.
Add. Battery - Gel.65 aH
Dining table, folding
Wall cabinets - 6 pcs. (made of natural wood)
Bed size:
In the alcove - 1710x1930 mm.
In the dining area - 1100x1900 mm.
The maximum height in the alcove is 720 mm.
Internal dimensions:
Length without alcove – 1970 mm.
Width - 1950 mm.
Height - 2000 mm.
External dimensions:
The length of the car with a residential module is 5650 mm.
The length of the residential module is 3850 mm.
The width of the residential module is 2050 mm.
Height - 2400 mm.
Weight:
Module weight 551 kg
Price:
Basic equipment 300,000 rub.
The presented equipment is 670,000 rubles.
To operate such a booth on the road (on the highway and off-road), you only need common sense. First of all, in the choice of speed. The booth represents a load close to the maximum and slightly increases the center of gravity of the vehicle, and aerodynamic losses also increase.
On the road, the car behaves based on all of the above. On a normal highway, it is advisable to drive no more than 90 km/hour. Off-road - depending on the situation. Swinging is of course possible. To compensate for this, you can order the installation of air cylinders.
The cost of the module in the basic configuration: a box made of a full-fledged warm and durable sandwich (aluminum sheet, 45 mm polystyrene foam, 6 mm plywood), jacks (to lift the module and move in/out without problems) and a door) - 300,000 rubles (including preparation a\m for securing the module).The rest is according to the customer's needs.
The cost of the module in the presented configuration is 670,000 rubles
Alternatives
Unfortunately, the UAZ Pickup does not have as large a cargo compartment as a full-size pickup.
Because of this, it is practically only a rest room. But, for example, the VW Amarok, due to the greater length of the body and, accordingly, the living module, already accommodates a shower and toilet.
The full specification looks like this: 4 beds, folding dining table, gas heater salon\water heater, gas cylinder, refrigerator 60l, cassette dry toilet, additional gel battery, gas stove for 2 burners, sink (stainless steel), shower, wardrobe (wood), cabinets 5 pcs. (wood), electrical equipment 12\220 volts, electric entrance staircase. The cost of the module is 1"150"000 rub.
It is worth noting that a similar module from Bimobil (Germany) in Russia will cost from 2,500,000 rubles.
But UAZ is cheaper. Yes, and in the “outback” it’s more familiar with him.
It’s just a pity that we haven’t yet had the opportunity to test such an interesting application for Pickup under “combat” conditions :(
Additionally, you can look towards trailers:
On the forum
Today I have the final part of a series of stories about the motorhome and camper exhibition that took place two months ago in Dusseldorf. In this post I will talk about the most interesting camper solutions for me - off-road ones. My numerous road trips have confirmed the truth that the most interesting things begin where the roads end. And the romance of motorhomes, in my opinion, lies in the opportunity to get away from civilization and closer to nature. Accordingly, most of the motorhomes and campers I showed in previous parts are not interesting to me, since they are rigidly tied to the asphalt and are designed primarily for traveling from one camper parking lot to another. Of course, there is no romance in this, and without romance, car travel becomes insipid and does not differ much from ordinary car travel with stops at hotels.
Unfortunately, the off-road segment was very poorly represented at this exhibition. Of the total number of campers, perhaps only five percent could be called off-road in one way or another. I have already shown some of them in previous posts; I will show the second part, presented by pickup trucks and removable residential modules for them, today.
01. One of the cheapest options to turn your pickup truck into a comfortable off-road camper is detachable living cabins. At the exhibition, the segment of residential cabins for pickup trucks was represented by only two companies. I'll start the review with the products of the German company Tischer GmbH.
02. Tisher specializes in the manufacture of removable residential modules installed directly in the back of a pickup truck. This solution has a lot of advantages since it allows the pickup to be used as a regular city car, and if necessary, a living module is installed in the body, turning the pickup into a comfortable camper in which the whole family or a group of up to four people can travel. At the same time, installation/removal of the cabin can be easily done manually without any special tools or equipment.
03. And the pickup truck with a residential module looks stylish and appetizing.
04. I will show in detail several residential cabins, although they differ from each other only in details and dimensions. I'll start with the TRAIL 220 model installed on the VW Amarok with a four-seater cabin. Four people can travel comfortably in this car. The cost of the cabin in the basic version is 29,000 €, the cabin presented at the exhibition will cost 35,000 € and differs from the standard one additional options- metallic silver paint, built-in awning, additional alcove skylight and a few extra little things. The cabin weighs 623 kilograms when loaded.
05. Entrance to the living module is through the doors in the stern.
06. The layout of all cabins of this manufacturer is the same. The alcove contains a double berth. In the center of the cabin there is a soft corner, which, if necessary, can be transformed into two additional berths. On the left in the frame is a refrigerator with a freezer compartment with a capacity of 90 liters.
07. The table can accommodate up to five people, if you make room.
08. There is a small kitchenette at the entrance.
09. And opposite it is a compact bathroom. Despite its compact size, it has everything you need: a dry closet, a sink with a washbasin and a shower. Boiler for heating hot water has a volume of 10 liters, and the water tank itself is 96 liters. In addition, there is a 45 liter waste water tank.
10. Another model of the TRAIL 230 S cabin is distinguished by the location of the entrance door on the side.
11. Thanks to this location of the door, on back wall Bicycle rack can be installed.
12. The interior differs little from the previous model, the price is also 29,000 € for the basic version, 35,000 € for a cabin with an additional skylight, an awning and a number of options, including a bicycle rack and a ladder to the roof.
13. When you climb into the residential module, you are first of all amazed at how much space there is inside. It’s really very spacious here; in such a cabin you can safely go on a long trip. There will be no shortage of comfort.
14. The equipment of the cabin is similar - a 90-liter refrigerator, in the center of the frame, under it there are several drawers for storing food and other things, on the left there is a shower stall behind a curved door.
15. The sink is folding to save space; the sink tap can be removed and also serves as a shower head. Everything is implemented very compactly, but at the same time the residential module provides comfort at the level of conventional motorhomes.
16. The kitchen unit consists of a three-burner stove and a sink.
17. Well, what’s doubly nice is that any pickup truck with such a residential module looks very decent.
18. The perfect combination- a pickup truck with a one-and-a-half cab and a living module in the back.
19. The Ford pickup has interesting doors and an excellent interior layout.
20. This year, the Ford Ranger will be restyled both externally and internally, but the updated pickup truck will begin arriving on European markets only by the end of the year, so the old version was presented at the exhibition.
21. Inside the residential module everything is the same as we have already seen.
22.
23. In this version, small wardrobes for clothes are built on both sides of the bathroom.
24. In addition to its Trail line of pickup cabs, Tischer offers lower-priced versions of Box cabs that are less streamlined, rougher in shape, and appear bulkier. The picture shows an example of a Box 240 cab mounted on a Nissan Navara pickup.
25. The cost of this cabin is 31,174 €, and the basic version will cost 27,495 €. Among the options are, again, a built-in awning, bicycle racks, additional window in the roof and so on.
26. It is noteworthy that they implemented bicycle racks here, despite the entrance from the stern, and made them liftable.
27. At this exhibition, for the first time, the option of decorating furniture inside the cabin with an oak finish, which you see in the pictures, was presented.
28. Apart from the oak finish, the cabin is no different from the samples we have already seen.
29.
30. Bathroom.
31. This is what the sink looks like in its standard position.
32. Kitchen block.
33. Refrigerator.
34. Of course, there are cab versions for American pickup trucks.
35. The Box 275S cabin, created specifically for American models, was presented at the exhibition. This cabin is slightly more spacious than its European counterparts and costs €29,000 basic version or 34,858 € for the sample shown on the stand. The streamlined version of the Trail will cost 2,000 € more.
36. Despite the slightly increased volume, the internal equipment and set of options for this cabin are no different from other series.
37. Extra bed allowed us to expand the seating area and build in a couple of additional cabinets. A family of travelers with two children can comfortably accommodate here.
38. Otherwise, this cabin has no other differences.
39. Well, the largest cabin in the Tischer product line is the TRAIL/BOX 280 model, created for pickups based on the VW T5, one of the versions of which was presented at the exhibition.
40. Despite the increased volume, the price remains the same - in the basic version you will have to pay about 30,000 € for the Trail version, with options it will be 35,000 €.
41. The internal layout does not differ from the already seen options, but at the same time, the ceiling height in this cabin has been increased - here it is 2.03 meters, versus 1.95 for other models.
42. The cabin is so spacious that even tall people will not feel cramped.
This is where I will finish my review of Tisher products. With all the advantages of these cabins, they have one drawback - they are placed inside a standard pickup truck body. Thus, when traveling you have to carry with you 300 - 400 kilograms of additional body weight, which is completely useless. This loads the chassis and increases fuel consumption. And besides, it steals space inside the booth itself.
43. A solution without such disadvantages is offered by Bimobil. The picture shows camper B imobil husky 220, based on the VW Amarok double cab pickup truck.
44. The living module here is also removable, but it is placed not in the back of a pickup truck, but directly on the frame, due to which such a system has a number of advantages compared to cabins installed in the body.
45. Due to the absence of a body, the buyer receives more living space in the module, less weight, as well as a lower center of gravity, which has a positive effect on the dynamics and stability of the car both on and off the road.
46. The name of the manufacturer’s company reflects the concept embedded in their products - bimobile, which means a double car.
47. A special feature of this concept is that, depending on the needs, you can install a stationary body on the frame and use the car as a regular pickup truck, or mount a residential module, turning the car into a spacious and comfortable camper.
The transformation process takes place within 20 minutes and is clearly shown in this short video:
48. Interior of the residential module.
49. The price of the car in the basic configuration is 76,760€. The exhibited example with options including all-wheel drive, differential lock, 220 V power supply, autonomous cabin heater, off-road wheels and a couple of other little things costs €90,967, but was sold during the exhibition for €86,400.
50. Another bimobile based on the Nissan Navara with a one-and-a-half cab. Husky 240 model.
51. A luxurious living module with plenty of space and a passage from the module to the driver's cabin, this option costs 2,570 €. I think this option is vital, because if monsters attack while spending the night in the forest, you can quickly jump behind the wheel without going into a hostile environment and give the gas.
52. Another cool option is the huge folding panoramic glass in the stern. This option costs 1215 € and allows you to eat as close to nature as possible, enjoying gorgeous views and without leaving the living area.
53. Beauty!
54. And at the end of the post, a dream car. A cool expedition vehicle based on the legendary Toyota Landcruiser HZJ 79. This car is also a traditional bimobile with a replaceable system that allows you to remove the living module and attach the body, or leave the living module in the camp and go for a drive on hardcore off-road. This car was created for expeditions to those countries and places where there are no roads, but only directions.
55. Toyota Landcruiser 70 series is a legendary car in itself. It is considered the most reliable and maintainable SUV in the world. The mileage of Toyotas of this series without major repairs reaches up to a million kilometers. At the same time, due to the simplicity of the design, most potential breakdowns can be repaired using wrench and a hammer, which is especially important for an expedition vehicle designed for use in difficult conditions far from civilization.
56. The car has been produced since 1984 practically unchanged and is currently supplied only to third world markets. Upon purchase and customs clearance, the car will cost the German 50,000 €. They are purchased in Europe for only one purpose - to build an expeditionary aircraft on its base.
57. The driver's cabin has a simple, but at the same time attractive design from the 1990s. From the cabin there is a passage to the living module (remember about the monsters in the forest).
58. The cost of this car with a number of options is 123,903 €, but during the exhibition it was sold for 96,000 €. If I had that kind of money, I would take it without a doubt. This is truly the car in which you can travel around the globe.
59. The living module is spacious and very comfortable, like for an expedition vehicle.
60. There is everything you need that should be in a full-fledged camper, including a toilet with shower, a kitchen, a sitting area and two sleeping places.
This concludes my report from the Caravan Salon Düsseldorf 2015 exhibition. But I do not close the topic of campers. There's still some in the bins interesting material on this topic, which will definitely be converted into posts in the future.
Previous posts about the exhibition.
