This Remarkable Hand-Built Micro Camper Can Rival Any Comparably-Sized Off-the-Shelf Model

At least, that is what a Holland-based man by the name of Jurgen Jas has done a few years back. Without using too many machines, he single-handedly built his own micro caravan from scratch. It's not clear what the caravans offered by established manufacturers lacked, but the man's overall aim was to build a lightweight rig that would allow him to camp in comfort throughout the Netherlands.

This is certainly not the first camper trailer built from scratch by a single individual, but it's yet another example of the amazing things people can create with the right tools, skills, and a little bit of imagination.

Jurgen Jas designed and built an expandable lightweight micro caravan using recycled bits and pieces of earlier designs from others. It took him two years to complete the project, and the result is a self-contained, weather-proof micro-camper that is easy to tow and maneuver. Moreover, it's a nice tiny living space where he can cool, sleep, and cook while on the go.

Although it is not professionally built, the finished caravan rivals any off-the-shelf micro camper. It measures just 9.2 feet (2.8 meters) long and 5.2 feet (1.6 meters) wide and comes complete with a pop-up tent top and an expandable side that pops out to make room for a single bed, a fully functional kitchen, and a drop-down dining table.

The total cost of the build amounted to about 8,500 Euros back in 2016 when it was finished, including all the appliances. At today's exchange rates, this would translate to $9,380. However, Jas says he didn't choose to embark on this DIY project to save money. Instead, it was a labor of love.

"It’s nice to make your own environment. People have lost a bit of the feeling of making things for yourself," he explains. "A lot of things are made in a factory just for somebody else. So perhaps people go to the factory doing their job without them really wanting to do their job. They make things for somebody they don't know. And it's nice to make things for yourself, you enjoy it more, it's more fun actually."

It all started with an old and rusted chassis he picked up at a rummage sale for just $54, on top of which he built all the components of the mobile habitat. Jas used to work as a carpenter for a company that builds exhibition stands, so he had the expertise and craftsmanship necessary to work with plywood, the main material he used in his build.

Over the trailer base, the man laid a thick plywood floor with insulation. This step was followed by the installation of wooden ribs for the framing, with insulated plywood for the walls and aluminum sheets for the exterior cladding to create a durable, weather-resistant structure.

A surprising design element included in this DIY project is represented by the pop-out sections. There is a pop-up tent top that increases the head height and allows you to stand up properly inside and a pop-out section on the side that expand the camper's overall footprint.

The micro-caravan's interior looks impressively well-made. The compact space integrates a U-shaped kitchen in the front, a dining area, and a living/sleeping area at the back. Jas even installed a speaker system inside his caravan.

The kitchen area has plenty of cabinets and additional storage units mounted on the walls, a small three-burner gas stove, a sink, a toaster oven, and a Dometic refrigerator. It's plenty enough to put together healthy meals on the way.

A drop-leaf table that slides and retracts into several positions and sizes serves as a dining area or a working space. When not in use, it can be folded down and free up room to move around.

Opposite the kitchen, you will find the living room, which is fitted with a couch that transforms into a king-sized bed. A custom-made cabinet next to the couch serves as storage space for clothes. Plenty of windows all around allow for natural light and cross ventilation.

The only thing that's missing from this build is a bathroom, but not many travel trailers of this size have one. Fitting a toilet, let alone a shower, into such tiny campers is not that easy. However, the man can always take a portable toilet with him and store it somewhere inside the camper.

This mostly hand-built micro caravan is also incredibly lightweight, tipping the scales at less than 1,100 pounds (500 kg). This makes it cheaper to tow and easier to handle. Jas uses a Suzuki Alto to tow his mobile home and says he manages to get about 37.16 miles to the gallon (15.8 km per liter) while towing.

This remarkable do-it-yourself micro-camper is obviously a labor of love and a testament to Jas's skill and talent. The lightweight design, the clever incorporation of pop-out sections that allow you to fully stand up throughout the space, and the overall functionality make it a great rig comparable with off-the-shelf travel trailers of the same size.