$499.00 DIY Harbor Freight Utility Trailer Custom Camping Tear Drop Build Out Tour
In this video Craig features his diy camper teardrop trailer he created starting with a Harbor Freight kit trailer frame. He then planned and built out a full camper trailer from the ground up. This RV has a full rear tailgate kitchen, sofa/full size bed, solar panels, air conditioning and much more.
#harborfreight
#camperbuild
#teardrop
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This is what teardrop campers are about. The crazyness going on with dealers is insane. Most new ones cost more then $20,000 which blows my mind. He did a beautiful job.
Thank you very much
@@baileyanderson2166 sounds like you suck then...... LMAOOOOOO
@@baileyanderson2166 Beleive that is just cost of trailer
@@baileyanderson2166 the trailer was $500 not the whole build
@@baileyanderson2166 i can't believe the interviewer didn't ask how much it cost to build!
This is EXACTLY what I want when I retire from the military. A camper like this and a dog visiting all 50 states would be my dream ❤
Retired Navy Chief Here Brother!!!
Sounds like a great retirement good luck with your travels. As I get older I have come to believe that it's how you finish is what's really important.
This guy has my respect. Great job on the camper.
Thank you 🙏🏼
I built mine so I can slide the camper off the trailer. I reg it as a trailer not a camper. Plus when I need a trailer I still have it. Works for us anyway. He built a beauty!
Since he said it's addictive and sad that he finished. He should start his own custom camper business.
It's a pretty tall order to start a business. You need to have a lot of money up front to cover the start up costs. You need to sell a lot in order to be able to make enough money to live. It would be a fun job though.
@@wiscowoody2716 not to mention liability for things that go wrong, customer complaints, etc
I'd buy one, know dought
@@reythomas3922 no what?
Best way to ruin your hobby is to make it a business.
It’s pretty awesome that you got Ray Romano to film your KZhead videos and ask you questions.
😂😂😂 LMBO yes he does sound exactly like him !!!! 😆
Or was it "Manny the Mammoth"???🤔🤔🤔😃😃😃
😆
It's probably not easy staying in character for the whole video.
He should definitely consider making these for other people. I love how much thought and functionality he put into such a small place!
Insurance would destroy that dream real quick. These days people will sue you in a minute. The government has there nose in everything. Just picture a fire? Or a wheel falls off. Insurance will double the price if he wants to sell them. Said but true. Great job though.
@@peternorthrup6274 right on. Esp.the "foamies" major fire hazard to build for someone else.
I am not sure how much functionality it actually has.Most of that stuff is only going to be available from shore power, and thats fine, don't get me wrong, but you are not running a cooler, microwave, A/C, TV, ETC on a 12V battery for very long. His solar panels will simply not keep up with the demand. I built one of these too, and he's right, you spend as much time thinking about what you'd do differently on your next build as you did building the current one. Son the question that was unasked, or at least cut from the video is, what would you do differently? Does he have a DC to DC charger? would he get one next time? kind of silly not to.
he is so nonchalant, almost like he is unimpressed in how incredible this came out. is it modesty? does he feel like what he did here doesn't compare to the $20,000 store bought POS? Craig, we ARE impressed, and to be honest, jealous. this is awesome, congratulations on your outstanding work and the many MANY well earned praises
He has one for sale now, Facebook marketplace Keyport NJ
2000 years ago, this man would have been the town blacksmith who had special skills.
How about 170 years ago?
@Disguised Dv8ant a lot of people are confused by what modern trades do, let alone ones that are relatively rare in modern times.
Ya...... ya........ ya....
2000yrs HELL!!! HE'S Invaluable NOW Brother!!! Just LOOK 'round......... Pretty DAMN GRIM 4Prospex 4ANYTHING THESE Dayz IMFHO. Yup, THIS Fella IS Pure Gold in Human Form. I Hope HE Makes Something Happen 4HIMSELF & HIS With HIS Obvious Multiple TALENTS With ALL The BEAUROCRAT BS He'll Have 2BATTLE/CONTEND WITH/PAYOFF......err.....APPLY 4 etc and ETC.........!!!!!💯🤪 I WANT ONE!!!💯❤️🤙😶✌️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
hahah too true.
All he needs is his cup of coffee in the morning and a hot shower. Love this dude
And a TV with 100 channels available! lol
This is phenomenal! Please let this guy know how impressed everyone is with his work.
Craig is seeing all the positive comments
Where's his @ so people can support him and not just you
I been watching a lot of these Tear Drop builds, honestly this is one of my favorite builds I've seen yet. You really did a nice job on it. I agree, building around your appliances was a smart choice. I really like the finish on your cabinets in the back. Again super nice job! Excellent work!
Thank you very much
Completely agree. After watching tons of videos, this is one of the best by far. Well done in every aspect but the best part is the joy he got out of building it. Super job!!
@@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures totally Agree I could go on and on. 73
@@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures I was just thinking it'd look cool with 2 metal ammo storage boxes mounted on top of each metal tire fender for a little extra storage.
Repent to Jesus Christ “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2 NIV h
Soon as he opened up the kitchen area I was impressed! Props to this man
Absolute genius! And he’s still got tons of room in his towing vehicle for things like camp chairs & other equipment. Wonderful!
Thank you very much.
Right? Plenty of room for extras. Incidentals. Comforts of home.
This is excellent. I never considered a tear drop but this guy did an amazing job keeping it light but having so many nice features. I see the appeal now.
mobile motel room at your bumper
really all ya need is cover to sleep in comfortably for night time.. and rainy days.. the rest of the time u should be set up outside enjoying the sun or getting out on some trails with your partner. wouldnt want to live like this but if u had to in a pinch it should beats sleepin in the backseat of a SUV or car. least this way u can stretch out .. watch some tv and get some rest while u get your life back in order.. also with the low weight its not much different than having a car with 3 other adults so u wont be busted as far as gas mileage goes. Great build and very smart to take the appliances u have and build around it.
Nice job, Craig. I have a 2009 Little Guy teardrop and can appreciate everything you've put into your camper. The kitchen is really nice. Love the marble-look counter and the dark wood cabinets above. The TV, AC and hot shower put it over the top. I'm speechless.
Thank you very much Judy. Your Little guy is pretty cool too
The only thing that could make this better is a Pop-up Roof so you can stand up. He did an AWESOME job!
Goals
Or windows you can actually see out of
Ah, you can stand up outside!
Nope. Then it would just be a regular camper. Teardrops encourage you to be outside in nature. Love it.
That would add a lot of weight.
I live in NJ. This guy should host a weekend event and teach other camping enthusiasts how to build their own teardrop. I would pay him!
Yeah, I want one of his.
@@jrm2716 so you want two of his.
This guy killed it! Looks amazing
Thank you for the support
Wow! Craig is the Einstein Rembrandt of camper builders.
Thank you very much
What a wonderful build. He could have his own business making campers. His layout and convenience items are perfect. Excellent job and excellent video. Thanks to you both!
Great build, you could see that this guy thought things through and put a lot of love and passion into the build.
That hatch kitchen idea is brilliant.
I love it!
@9:05 , you may want to strongly consider applying a spray on bed liner or rino liner type of protection to the underside of your trailer, or your floors may only make it a couple of winters before suffering moisturerotting.
Great suggestions
You don't want to do that because you will get a vapor barrier and this will destroy the trailer. Instead use an thick oil on a clean chassis. lithium grease works well you just have to reapply it every 5 to 6 months depending on what seasons you are traveling. Rocks and stones on the road will chip off any liners you put on.
@@radicalgreek99 Exactly, never coat the underside of wood. Any water that gets in from the top or side, will never escape, and you will also get dry rot. You could get a sheet of aluminum and attach it an inch or more below the wood, to act as a splash shield/skid plate. This would allow the wood to breathe, and would stop all moisture and damage from the road.
@@klubstompers That does seem the best way. Thanks for the info.
So nice to see how he thought it through. Building around all the needed systems. We also laughed when he said he was sad he was finished the build. Now ready for the next. It sure is addictive! 🙂⛺ Thank you we love these custom build videos. Mark & Teresa
It’s lots of fun 🤩
You got my "like" for your commitment to research. No other video has someone even touched on how committed they are to the process. You rock!
Sometimes the research part of it is longer than the actual build
This is really incredible! This guy did a great job! And honestly, nothing beats buildin it yourself
This is a really smart build, he’s thought of everything. So many smart ideas; hot water shower, a/c, & even the ability to sit in the teardrop. The takeaway for me is to do a lot of research of other RVs first, & use the best ideas from your research.
Gotta start by getting educated... I did what he did on a cargo trailer conversion. And, it IS addictive!
100's of pictures for inspiration to build it his way, sound very familiar. AWESOME built. Thanks for sharing.
You bet
Craig is the man. Wanted something, built it. Wish he was my neighbor.
Thank you very much
Outstanding and him walking around the back, opening up the hatch and revealing the little kitchen set up was truly a delight :-)
This guy is cool, I totally get what he means about being sad when the job was done.
This is dope. I was literally on my way to Home Depot for supplies on my own similar build when this came up on my feed!! I love it!!
Oh wow, cool 😎
I’ve gotten most my inspiration from your channel,dude keep up the great content!!
Love this guy's outlook--the bit about always looking at what he's got and thinking how to improve on that. That's a big part of camping for me--and life, too.
Glad you enjoyed it
I am very impressed with this build! I know that this is going to bring alot of happiness to him and his family.
WoW! I am so impressed with this man's awesome design and build skills! I absolutely adore the outside kitchen!! !love it! So cool! Cheers!
I would absolutely pay this man to make me one of these! He is so very talented.
Really impressive build. Well thought through. Thanks for the detailed tour!
This is perfect. A gigantic RV is just not necessary. I want one!
I love this too
UPDATE: Craig can be contacted through Instagram @craigruge
Good job Craig 👏👍👌I hope to see more videos of your handy work blessing to you in Jesus name!! Thank you for sharing.
Lol can* not came. Love the camper Craig, looking forward to building one similar to this
What did he use to coat the exterior in white? It looks like a spay on plastic coating of some sort.
@@robertfrost8452 it’s just a plastic wall paneling. You can buy it in sheets at like Home Depot. It’s used a lot in like showers. Very smart use here though.
Anyone know the name of the smaller solar panels he mounted??
I'm crazy impressed. There are plenty of companies missing an amazing craftsman. He knows how to get it all done
it really isnt that difficult buy yes he did a great job with it
This is why I never underestimate anyone. This relatively unassuming gentleman is a genius builder of the highest degree!
I love seeing creative people that are passionate about what they build and have a genuine happy outlook.
Glad you enjoyed it
I'm so impressed by this build! Can't wait to follow along to see the second one! Thanks for sharing
Thank you very much Jessie
Awesome job! Great review and excellent build. Nothing wrong with adopting concepts from other types of campers. Thank you.
I really like this camper. This guy did a great job. I would never be able to build this, even with step by step instructions. Props to this guy for having such amazing building skills
Did you ever find out what kind of spider bit you on your cheek??
Being an artist is always having a lot of inspiration, So i can tell that he is one of the great artists when ot comes to teardrop ❤️
I was not expecting such a well equipped kitchen! This is awesome! (and affordable 👍)
Glad you like it!
Me to I thought this trailer is not big enough but saw he has everything a man would need!!!
What a great build! He thought of everything! He is a master builder! Hope you reconnect with him after his next build so we can get a video tour.
Hi how are you doing?
Craig did a great build here, he really used the space in the best ways. I want to do something like this too, but I don´t need so much comfort stuff like tv, shower and AC. I think it is possible to build really cheap if leaving a lot of things out. But Craig showed that everything is possible if you got some skills and iq :)
This man’s visions & building skill is in a whole other realm. Imagine if he was your dad or uncle or brother or son… the skills he could teach…. Sheeeesh🤯 What about the solar panels… holy crap!!! This man is nothing short of amazing. Thank you for sharing this video🏆
Thank you for the support
Great job Craig - well done. Lots of smart thinking put in to this build. Clever using the Harbor Freight base trailer.
WOW!!!! Loooooooooove this!!!! Here you go again with another great video Patrick. Thank you!!! I think he should consider doing this for a living or a part time job. Super smart built. Loved how the electrical is hidden behind the fridge.
I love this hobby
This video started me on my journey to build my own camper. I am about 80% of the way there and thankful for the inspiration.
Glad it was helpful
Love this build! Super compact and versatile!
Thank you Chris and Emilie
Very impressed with construction I see a few changes for efficiency and safety but for a guy who just decided to build one on a whim pretty dang impressive
What an amazing build . Sick kitchen n I like the roof so u can still cook when it’s raining . Wow well done!
Well executed camper sir! A superior product comes not from a factory, but from an informed and crafty person whose motivation is to use it themselves.
Well said!
This is very inspirational, iv been researching converting a sprinter van, diy with a harbor freight trailer is genius
I don't know if I could live in this camper, but it would be the ultimate bug-out camper when everything hits the fan. A few fold up chairs for outdoor use, a larger kitchen area for a proper mini fridge, maybe a foldup tarp for water collection... I love the small ac pointing right at you, this is great! Don't feel bad the works done, because the work is never really done.
This might be my favorite video yet. Craig is brilliant.
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I love the idea of building around every thing . Awesome
Some brilliant ideas. Will keep them in mind for our 'square drop mini camper build' we are currently undertaking.
Craig, you did an awesome build here. I'd be a proud owner of this. I can't wait to see how you improve on this simple yet feature packed design yet still keep it inexpensive. Congratulations! I think you've earned a new title of Master of Tiny Teardrop Trailers or MoTTT.
Top notch job, would love to see a follow up for this down the road to see how it is holding up. He did a really good job the fit and finish of his work is really nice! Very inspired looking at this. Nice work sir!
Yes HE Did. I Was Thinkin' The SAME Thing.......'bout The Hold Up/Endurance of NOT Only His Craftsmanship But The Actual TRAILER Itself as IT'S Pretty Damn Cheap in $$$ Amount. It Weigh'd in @ 600lbs, Truthfully.....I'd Be a lil Worried 'bout The Axle/Spindles & Just BEEF'M UP a lil Bit, Other Than THAT...... Hats Off to HIM!!!🤙😶✌️🇺🇸
I would love to have a camper like this one. My wife and I would definitely enjoy having it. You done a great job .
Go for it
I have one of these Harbor Freight trailers and I never saw it in this light. Very ingenious and well thought out.
Fantastic little trailer, Craig turn your gas struts around they will last longer, the small amount of oil in them acts like a spring but only if installed the other way around. That's worth 4 to 6x what it cost to build.its super cool.
Another home run, self build! Thank you.
Thank you 🙏🏼
I’m a mama on a small budget and was just given a free small teardrop trailer. I was doubtful I could do much w it until now. Thanks so much for this. I’m now on a mission! 🙏🏽
You got this
This is so cool, it's got everything you need to go camping and it's probably a thousand times more comfortable than a tent!
Glad you enjoyed it
What an awesome build. It has everything you need to live, and comfortably. If he keeps cranking these out he'll be a millionaire haha
I like what he did
That's exactly what I've done with my design. I built it around the biggest items that I knew would be in my rig.
Oh wow, awesome.
This is an EXCEPTIONAL build. Very impressive. I'm looking to build one soon, this is the second video I've seen on it.
Go for it!
This guy is having fun. Good job, sir.
Live and enjoy life
Another creative build! Keep them coming Patrick, great channel. 👍👍
Many more to come
Looks great. You should be proud of being so innovative with your build!
Thank you very much!
when he want to go, he go! i like the way he think. nice!
Thank you Tom
Wow, NICE build! Excellent finish work everywhere you look. I have a HF trailer I use for hauling, it's 15 years old and has taken tons of use and abuse. I've been dreaming of a teardrop build ground up like this one. I've refurbished a few trailers but not this. I think I'd try for a 5 foot wide model. Haul-Master is another cheap trailer kit maker, in fact I think HF has sold their branded trailers at some point. Oops, he got the wiring caught in the hitch! Never rush and double check everything when hitching up. Once I left the hitch unlatched on my 8X16 flatbed. It came unhitched on a minor bump at the top of a freeway onramp at 50mph. Those chains yanked and jerked, and my rear bumper got stabbed up a bit, felt lucky to keep control and get safely to the shoulder to get hitched back up correctly.
Great build. Love his enthusiasm and drive. Obviously very skilled. Always thinking and improving. He could make a living doing this, or at least a side job if he has a full time job already. After seeing this video, I'm sure lots of people would be interested.
Thank you very much John
Some of us are retired and just puttering around, building stuff
That's so awesome. Totally understand the "sad when finished"
Yes I have been there too
Yes I understand the end if project can be difficult blessing to thus man I was amazed how much he did as I can not build anything. Good job!! 👍I want to see what he dies next!!
Beautiful design and workmanship
Thank you 😊
Camping is as big as it was back in the 50’s and 60’s now. And I love it!
Yes, good times
Well done bro, I’m amazed how clean and factory this camper looks. 😲
Thank you very much
This is fantastic 👏
Thank you Wally
Well done, creativity is how you get what you want.
Thank you very much
This guy is a national treasure . Thanks for sharing your genius
So nice of you
That’s awesome. I love how he uses the FRP panels for the outside walls, just like what I have used on my build.
Yes a great choice
@@NewJerseyOutdoorAdventures Concerning using FRP panels, I thought about using them but the ones I found (Lowes, Home Depot) say that they are not for outdoor use. I would hate to take the time to build something and then skin it in a product that will deteriorate. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks in advance for your response.
Wow fantastic build, this guy is a very capable genius, thank you patric, ps you look nice in your intro... ty sir
Thank you so much ☺️
A craftsman and an artist
Thank you very much
Talent, desire, and means, this guy has it all!!
Thank you very much Joey
This is awesome. Kinda wish you guys would’ve linked his marketplace for people looking at buying it from him.
Hello 👋how are you doing?
This is super neat. Is there like a step-by-step video anywhere out there to do a DIY teardrop camper? (parts, how to, etc?)
You are super intelligent that is the coolest ground up design and manufacture I have ever seen
Thank you Scott
this was awesome! kudos to that man and his handy work! looks great!
Thank you 😊
I really like the effort and thoughts put into this. If I were to change the most rink-e-dink parts. They would be the tiny gel lead acid battery and the horrendously low efficiency pelteir Junction Refrigerator. Between the two you’ll only get a couple of hours of cooling time. I would have used at least a 100-280Ah LifePo4 battery, a pure sine wave inverter and a small Freon Fridge to get 20-50 times the run time.
Yeah I'm thinking I'm going to do this but my electric system will be way more beefy and way more efficient appliances as well. That AC probably drains the whole battery in 30 minutes lol
@@GlorifiedGremlin it was his first build and like he said he will continue to make improvements. I feel like he does have a great layout I think he has one of the best kitchens I’ve seen so far
@@GlorifiedGremlin Bet the A/C is only used with shore power.
Guys, YaH The Heavenly FATHER HIMSELF was Who they Crucified for our sins, NOT jesus, and “HERE IS THE PROOF” From the Ancient Semitic Scroll: "Yad He Vav He" is what Moses wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3) Ancient Semitic Direct Translation Yad - "Behold The Hand" He - "Behold the Breath" Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
Very nice. If I had the abilities and resources, I would definitely love to build something like that.
You can do it!
Best quote that probably went over everyone's head..." I just need a hot coffee a warm shower and I'm good... ITS JUST THE LITTLE THINGS." Good for you man! Enjoy
Glad you enjoyed the tour Jevon
This is one of my favorite build. Great share and thank you sir.
Thank you very much
Thanks
Welcome