Instant 'Folding' Tiny Cabin with Skylight and Wood Burner
I build a tiny cabin with a skylight and woodstove and it folds down completely flat and can be pushed around on a wheelbarrow and setup where ever you want! This off grid cabin had to have three things:
1 - It needed to be completely flat-packed and be able to fold down flat
2 - It had to be light enough that it could be transported by hand on either a wheelbarrow or cart trolley
3 - It had to be made so that when you set it up in the woods, you don't need any power tools whatsoever to construct it. It could all be done by hand.
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Watch PART 2 here where I make modifications and spent the first night in it: kzhead.info/sun/ZMOemZxupn1nf58/bejne.htmlsi=ryUfweOSeKDIb-av
t a... thanks for the videos! osb is a poor choice for material due to its tendency to absorb water and destroy glue integrity with freeze thaw cycles leaving a sheathing with less strength than cardboard. sign board the plastic cardboard used in elections is the ideal material for this project as it is waterproof and much less weight. lol on the 4x2...its 2 x whatever dimension 4 6 8 10 and yes they arent that dimension there smaller ...its measured green and shrinks while drying. ps hinge the ends to the side so side folds up end folds out ...try it out of paper first it helps
@@mobiousenigmawish I had this comment before I started the build 😅 the hinging part makes sense! Gotta start somewhere but thanks for the tips 👍🏻
@@TAOutdoors that is a youtube issue you do it we watch it then you get the benefit of our experience and pitfalls... i have oftin thought a planning video first then redesign after input would be the way to go but i bet the algorithm tanks that
@mobiousenigma I agree. As for the acrylic I would have reinforced the hinges to protect against breakage. Also, two equal sheets that meet in the middle with a type of gasket to prevent leaks. This build is very doable it just needs some thought and patience.
Sheet rock/gypsm board works great as backing for a wood stove. It comes in different ratings and Type C drywall lasts upto 4 hours against fire. Fibre cement board has class A fire rating which is the highest rating for any buiding material. It's also water resistant unlike gypsm board. The downside is they're not light but they are easy to cut.
If you are planning on keeping this mini cabin, I would personally treat it with a good dollop of wood preserver and cover the roof with some roofing felt. Otherwise you will probably find over a short time, your mini cabin will turn into a giant sponge! Just a thought...
My experience agrees. OSB absorbs water. Treating this structure with something is a good idea if it’s going to get wet. Looking forward to the overnighter!
TRUE!
Thompson's water seal followed up with a urethane spar varnish.
Really love this. A couple of ideas: For the clear roof panel, use "Lexan". It is more expensive but even thin sheets are near unbreakable. Second thing, I'm sure with a little creativity, you can add handles and wheels to the base to make the base itself a transport. If you want to still make it flat when unassembled, you can make the wheels removable. Would love to see this variation.
I like your idea of wheels. They could be the sort of wheel that is used on a hay cart on a farm. They are a bit more robust than a bicycle wheel. A useful trick would be to work out a use for the wheels when you get to the destination.
Use larger pneumatic wheels 12" or larger, with Quality Bearings in the hubs, it makes a huge difference, especially in wet ground/mud, where you might want to let some air out to flatten out the tires for better traction.
@@eligriggs9221 lol, yes, on the motorized wheels this would be helpful. Non-motorized wheels, not so much.
Specifically came here to say the same thing about the wheels and handles
Roofed coffin 😂
Front door idea: Have the hinge at the top, that way it won't allow rain in when open, and it can act as a sort of porch.
He could then add an eye hook to the top of the front wall and make a simple rope with a toggle to keep it propped open
I was thinking the top 1/3 hinge up then the lower portion hinge to the side
This was my thought, too. If it swings up, you will have cover for getting in and out. I'd also think about some king of flashing at the top of the door to keep the moisture out of the cabin. Good design overall. 🙂
Excellent! I would also put another vent in the door for cross ventilation, and add a bit of screen over your vents to keep the midgies out. 😊
You should put wheels on the sides with a handle on the end. Then you wouldn't need a wheelbarrow to set it on. Great video. I can't wait to see you go camping with your new cabin.
I was thinking along the same idea
"I'm just a Husband and Dad" if both those responsibilities are taken seriously (sadly not all do these days) then you are a formidable force.
Agreed!
One of these days, I think it would be absolutely amazing if you made a treehouse cabin, like, a structure suspended between multiple trees
You can anchor this cabin with few straps to anything 😅
In the Early Years of the channel, Mike built a tree stand shelter.
u just reminded me to watch one of those days by candide thovex🤷♀
I love to see projects like this where people are thinking "outside the box" and not being limited by the usual ways of doing things. I really like the little cabin!
You need to get back on your meds.
Great design as with all modifications can be evolved as you use it!
You need a strip of rubber to cover the top ridge hinges to keep it from leaking. That way you don't need a separate ridge piece. If you really want to lower weight, use foam board for the walls and roof with 2.5cm x 2.5 cm wood for corner and edge support.
Or that Corrugated Plastic sheeting, used in temporary signs.
Maybe poor man fiberglass each sheet.
He said he's already got that but forgot it
Here in the states we have something called blueboard. It’s a product that’s used in really damp environments like a basement or cellar. It’s pressure treated and designed to resist mold growth. I found out about it during a DIY basement that had mold everywhere after hurricane Katrina. I also heard about epoxy based paints. Not only does it resist moisture but it also soaks into the material making it harder and stronger as it sets up.
Blue board is a type of drywall/ sheet rock. It's fine in interior/ protected locations, but is too delicate for this kind of transport and outdoor use
@@dfaad8450 In the DIY video I saw on KZhead years ago they were replacing the cellar lumbar with manufactured joists with what they referred to as blueboard treated lumber. It just makes no since whatever to pressure treat drywall materials. And yes all of the cellar joints were tented a blue color.
Blue treated wood is TOXIC!
This is magnificent! Also my goofy brain said "Oh! He made a treat chest for Big Foot!" And .. Did he just create a beginer level Magician's Chest? I think it would make a wonderful temporary greenhouse that can be stored away too. Chicken coop? Such a wonderful and variable use structure. Well done!!! ❤❤❤
You are my hero! I was looking for a project which can help the homeless while giving teens something meaningful to occupy their time. This is perfect!
I’m going to share this with our local community that builds little shelters for homeless. This is wayyyyyyyy better than the heavy coffin like boxes they are building. Love this and know they will too. Do able.
Worked mental health and social services. Don't be too generous. If they're homeless long enough, they tend to inflict permanent brain damage on themselves via drugs. Permanent.
Or, hire the homeless to make these so they can afford to rent an apt or house.
You remind me of dad and uncle George, you could with a "Would it be possible to?" They would go away and soon you would be called to come and see what they had built. They would have loved your videos as much as i do.
It's all fun and games until someone sticks a consignment note on the side and you wake up to find you're in transit to darkest Peru.
Half the KZhead wild-camping/bush-crafting community here would be like "challenge accepted". :D
Don't forget to bring back some marmalade! 😁
@@snowysnowyriver😂
😂
Fairly sure this was a MC 900 Ft Jesus video.
Hey Mike! The cabin is great. I'd suggest using small spacers to keep the aluminum plates off of the walls by half an inch or so - it wouldn't cost much or take up a lot of time, and would give the wood better protection from the heat of the stove. You might also want to add some eave extensions to the roof - I'm betting you'll get some rain in, one end or the other, through the gaps. You could use very light material for this, maybe even testing coverage with varnished cardboard clamped on as a test run. To keep your cabin flat packable, the eaves could be a removable item. Just a few thoughts to keep you even more safe and dry. Hope the test run goes well!
Genius initial design love it love the concept and execution
My Dad made his fishing shanty like that. He mounted skis on the side so he could transport it on the lake. When he got the hole cut in the ice he would unfold it and set it over the hole. He even had a small propane stove for heat. Two could fish and it would get warm enough inside that you could take off your coat. Those hung on folding coat hooks inside. The inside was painted flat black so you could see the fish easier through the ice hole.
Great idea and design! The only thing I would criticize is your choice for the sunroof. Acrylic sheet is more scratch resistant, but poly-carbonate sheet, think Lexan or bulletproof glass, is much more resistant to cracking. A falling "widow maker" could shower you with knife like plastic shards. It's also used for shooting glasses. Breaking before you even got into the woods could be seen as an omen. In the future, if you want to lighten this design up, I think that you'll find that Lauan (over here, it's a thin plywood used as an underlayment for flooring) will be lighter and plenty strong, as well as nicer looking, but at a greater cost. Depends on your priorities. I, for instance, have much more money than I do strength and stamina! Your final thoughts at the end of the video made me think. If you plan to prop open the wooden side of the roof, make the props such that the roof still has some pitch to let rain run off (You guys do get rain on that side of the pond, don't you?) and you could staple a sheet of screen or mosquito netting over the opening to keep biting bugs out (If you tell me you don't have biting bugs over there in the spring and summer, you're gonna have a house guest come March, Mate. LOL Great video!
Having made a tiny house for my son under a pine tree I was absolutely captured by your video. Enjoyed every minute. Thank you.
Wow, what a contrast to what we were expecting for the new upload!! Cheers 'TA Outdoors' for bringing to film a new type of camping vessel. 👍👍👍
Great idea, perhaps for a mk2 you could even make it out of aluminium section and sheets, also incorporate the wheel and some handles into the frame so you don't need a separate wheelbarrow.
hell yeah! aluminum would definitely save on weight & less worry about wood swelling/rot, and could likely have all sides folding....
Cold though
@@mikekeogh not with a log burner and sleeping bag and undermat
Yeah I know what your saying but just generally in cold weather when setting up and before the fires lit and after it's gone out in the morning it's not as nice a feel as wood@@jonathanluce9130
@@mikekeogh I agree with you but the wood is a bit heavy for transportation!
The lifting roof is a fantastic idea! I'd probably build a single flat angled roof that lifts from one side of the tiny cabin. Then make a latch system for it or a swing arm to keep it up. When it's not raining it would let you stand up and still keep some cover over your head. Add a little tarp on top so it drapes over and it's a small tent. Not to mention perfect heat management.
Just wanted to say that I literally just discovered your channel yesterday when looking for stealth camping videos and I am HOOKED 😂 You're absolutely so cool to watch. So much so that my husband had to stop me from starting mini fires in various ways in the middle of our livingroom haha Especially loving the survival tip videos 👏🏻
For the base...instead of using a wheelbarrow, what would you think about two wheelbarrow sized wheels on an axle, mounted at one end, and your folding legs at the other? With a sturdy handle at the other end, it would eliminate need for the wheelbarrow.
The pivot point would be all wrong. It would be super heavy to move. But he might be able to mount the wheels separately at the center of mass and have them held in place with lynch pins. Then just pop them off when he gets to his camp site
Waiting for the "instant" part of the cabin, but then having my mind blown by the fact that you actually did design and build it (and tbf, it's also a prototype). I find myself impressed. You're welcome at a BBQ anytime mate.
Very cool! Minor safety suggestion. A buddy and I (back in the day) built a structure out of the same material you used, with the intention of creating a low budget sauna. Cue the laughter! We used an old "Sears Parlour Stove" and it heated up quite nicely-until the off-gassing from the glue in the OSB board drove us out. Takeaway is even with a tiny stove.....just produce a little heat to stay safe.
I think its brilliant! Love these kind of things. Some people use bicycle wheels at the back and handles at front to walk their "cabin" where they want.
Or maybe mount a 2-wheel dolly under it?
I used to take a Roll of 6' wide thick black plastic and some clear thick plastic for the roof, black nylon trot-line string and duct tape to the hunting woods to make a camp cabin I used for a week sometimes 2 weeks. I used my limb saw to cut about 1/2 inch round limbs the length I needed to frame up the cabin using the nylon string to secure the framing together and make a door. Covered the frame and door in plastic using the clear for the roof for light and duct taped the plastic from the inside to secure it to the limb framing and keeping it in the dry. I used a piece of thin 3'x3' sheet metal with duct tape to make my smoke pipe hole out the roof and that plastic held the heat inside. Made a couple cabins using the same method less the duct tape using cheap tarps.
Youve thought of stuff i wouldnt have dreamed of Mike. The velcro idea by leaving the backing on so you can use again for something else at another time, buying two stove jack squares just in case of rain if not using it. Fab mate! A great idea for a video mate! The vent was an ace touch too man. Loved it and cant wait for the overnighter
That's a great start on a fun idea, Mike. Like Fowler's Ice Glamper Camper, or The Outsider's insulated, hot water heated cabin on snow skids, but simpler, and easy to transport in a variety of ways in cold or warm weather. I realize this would make the assembly a bit more complicated in the woods, but as you were putting it together, it struck me that someone could come up on you and disassemble it while you were inside. I would want to have those vertical boards on the end walls. and all the latches on the inside, with only a lockable closure on the door outside. As a side note, on this side of the pond we call them 'two by fours', not 'four by twos'.
As a prototype it's a great idea. Research, development and testing should be fun content. Any waterproofing ideas yet?
Good question. If that osb gets wet, it's done for.
Oh my that is so cool the way you assembled your tiny camper..and with no tool..that's just awesome...thanks for sharing your project ..I love it💞
Use a hot nail to make holes in the acrylic. Use washers in the fasteners to help prevent cracking the acrylic.
This looks like a fun project. I like the idea of being able to move camp and set it up anywhere you desire in the woods. Thanks for sharing!
Put it on a sled, like the Indians did 😊
Hey there! So happy to see you still creating. Hope you & your family are well!👍🏼😎
IDK why but I was transfixed watching this. Amusingly narrated, fun and useful too. 👏👏
That's a pretty sturdy base you've got there. You could just attach detachable wheels directly to it and eliminate the wheelbarrow.
This is absolutely genius. Thanks for sharing 😀
That,s pretty awesome what you came up with there. No tools needed to set up. Smart thinking bud. Loved it.
I think this was a cool idea. Especially if the weather is bad at least you will be protected by the elements.
Thank You for sharing the directions too. I love your idea😊
Nice! If I may, how about fitting a couple wheels on one end of the base and some handles on the other. Boom! No need for a wheelbarrow.
Pukka the best make it video i have seen in an age. That covers this form of camping out .
If you have a piece of rope tied to the inside top of the door and thread it through the top wall above the door you can raise ans lower the door much easier from the insie like a draw bridge
Absolutely love the idea and it looks great. Just a couple of thoughts. You could secure the cabin down with paracord, some eye bolts and tent pegs. And might want to cover the outside with something waterproof, or at least something to block the draughts. After all, Britain is a very wet and windy group of islands. :)
Brilliant. Absolutely wonderful. Thank you.
Perfect for truck camping. Great episode.
Mike, you always hit us with some really fun projects. I love creativity and hard work that goes into these builds. Can't wait to see this one put through its paces! Great upload!
You could take a look at bicycle caravans, fahrradwohnwagen in German (they are the most active builders). Transporting your cabin on a wheel barrow must be tough. It would probably be a lot nicer if it had its own wheels and you could pull it (by hand as well). Obviously this is not meant as a caravan, but if you turn the base into a bicycle trailer, it would be very similar to a bicycle caravan. Lots of good ideas on materials and construction as well. They often build with insulation foam. It's rigid and lightweight, easy to glue and from what I hear, an insulated tiny caravan/cabin easily heats with just body heat. A candle for extreme weather. I have some interest in a bicycle caravan, but wouldn't want to ride with such a big thing behind my bicycle. Making it collapsible like yours would be the way to go. Very nice!
Eagerly looking forward to seeing this first camp out in the "Mike-Motel" :)
Very cool! I love this idea! Thanks for sharing the build and the set up.
Thank you Mike for another great invention.
You are a Genius, Mike! So simple and so brilliant build. Thanks for sharing this!
Such an awesome idea. Great video!
I love this! What a great idea! Thank you for sharing!
Awesome concept! I'm sure everyone will be sharing how they'd to do it, the possibilities are endless!
I love things like this. As I was watching the build, it struck me that it's similar to the pre-fab homes that transform from a box on a trailer to a large home. To that end, maybe instead of the flat pack design, make a box. Each side could be two pieces hinged together, then made rigid unfolded with gate latches. Then slot them in place with the leg/hole system you have on your end pieces. When folded down, you'd have a box for the extra pieces. Could maybe even add wheels and handles so instead of carting it with a wheelbarrow, the cabin would BE the wheelbarrow. Would be easier to cart the woodstove this way. Plus food, bedding, lights and power.
Brilliant...love it Of course, you will add up some improvements to this nice cabin. . ..great work! Congrats from Spain!
Wow, again such a great idea and great fun to watch this project! I applaud your excellent dad/husband brain and handiwork! 👏 😊. I love that you just go for it, you can always make improvements down the road. You could easily redo the skylight half of the roof for instance. Or the door, though I think you could have chickens in your future! 🤭 Just think of this as a wonderful working prototype. I immediately thought of your kids and Jacks and how much fun they can have in this - in the woods or the home garden. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it behaves in the overnight. Have fun, Mike!
Thanks for the video Mike!
Good ideas and quite thought provoking. If I made one and wanted to transport it often, I would take two of the fencepost legs off and replace them with two wheel barrow type wheels... two handles on the other end. All the weight would be closer to the ground and a wider stance of 2 wheels for stability.
Corrugated fiberglass roofing may be a better option than the acrylic. Love the flat pack pop up cabin concept 🙂
I thought about this but the issue with corrugated material is you can’t really get a clear view looking through it. Let’s in light just as well but I wanted to see the surrounding forest.
Maybe some clear polycarbonate? PC doesn't snap easily
Maybe the double layer roofing panels?
Yes theres a wide range of colours and opacities@@TAOutdoors and their availability is very dependent on where you are. The ones that are transparent are not "like glass", clearest Ive seen was a green with a water like distortion. Maybe a skylight segment, camper van type single glass window? Thing is, as you found out, the acrylic comes with a host of its own issues too :) but that is the thrill of the building journey!
you could create french folding doors with several smaller door hinges, but like you said its work in progress.
Love to see it for winter camping.
A great idea and very well constructed. 😊
Wow!!! Amazing!!! Great job. It’s a puzzle home. Only a few pieces to make a home. Great beginning for a safe haven.
Thanks for sharing! Very creative.
This is ingenious!! Love it!!
That thing is awesome! I want to build one now. 🙂
Your kids are going to have the best childhoods.
I really enjoyed the episode. Thanks
Mike. IT'S AMAZING 👏
Excellent job Have fun using your traveling wood tent 👍❤️
Brilliant project
Absolutely brilliant!
This is a great concept! I like the way you pulled it all together, nicely done! The thing about something like this is that you add things as time goes on. I think you're off to a great start!
I love love love this. Great skills. Subscribed.
Thats a cute cabin. I like it!
that's a good job mate looking forward to seeing you doing an overnighter in it 👍🏻
This is very cool. I enjoyed the idea behind this. It's a glorified tent. I would love to see more pallet wood cabin videos. That's what made me subscribe to you back in late 2017.
Love it! I love camping but hate tents. I have some ideas to make it lighter. It may be a project for this fall.
Me and my wife really enjoy watching your videos, my wife particularly loves Jacks and wants to know when he'll next be in a video 👍
Reminds me of all those homemade bicyclecampers you can all over youtube.
Great project, very inspiring. 🙂
Super cool!! Great idea, keep it up😊
HI, GREAT JOB!!! SUGGESTION: I was thinking about the hinge issue (time stamp 26:28) when I remembered a type of offset hinge we use in the states to increase the width of door openings typically to retrofit homes for the disabled needing wheelchairs. Since the hinge is offset, usually by 3 inches, it swings the door completely out & away, making room for the wheelchair. Obviously, the size and scale of your Tiny Cabin hinges will be smaller etc but once that's been established you'll be all set. The ONLY other thought may be to mount your 'trolly' wheeĵl directly to the exterior of the flat pack and use the side roof/rafters as the handles thus no waisted weight or redundant pieces. Again FANTASTIC JOB!!! Tari
A relative of ours builds a similar type structure for use as deer hunting blinds on his hunting leases. But they are a bit bigger, sturdier and he uses screws to secure it. Since it is semi-permanent and sits up in the humid Louisiana woods for months even years at a time. It packs down on to a four wheel ATV trailer. Not as neatly as yours but pretty similar
"Glorified Doghouse." Consider adding a steel bracket and two legs longer than rest with extra bolt holes so you can adjust for sloping ground. Also, if you had a net or some way to hold roof material, you could pile moss or leaves over the glass roof, to help retain heat in coldest winters. But I digress. OSB is terrible idea as it will quickly disintegrate once wet. I like the Bushcraft Holding Pins. Nice Touch! 😅
Love it! I'd personally make one of the long sides either flip up or down for the door, also you could put handles on end of the base and wheel barrow/ kids bike wheels the other. You could even make the base insulated with foam if you wanted it a bit fancier. Very adaptable design, look forward to the sleep in
Great job always impress me !!
That is a cool mini cabin.
Dude, you are just amazing!
Looks great MIke! 😁👍🏼
Love the design, quick and simple to set up, could out that in my pick up great for travelling maybe even on a flat bar trailer for truck or side by side
Well done Mike thats a great idea and project. So it's basically a tent made out of wood. When i buy a wood I was planning on just using a tent for a while but now i might build a quick simple structure like yours instead. One thing i might add to the design is 2 barrow type wheels to one end and maybe handles to the other then you can push or pull the whole thing making the flat pack the trolley.
On the gable ends, place the two upright 3x2s on the inside through holes in the floor, with the "sockets" under the floor. Less things "sticking out." Also 3x2s for the floor would be enough. 4x2s are overkill. I agree the whole piece of acrylic is to much, to flexible, and it doesn't need to be the entire half roof. Better "portholes" than a huge skylight. Be sure to paint everything, both sides, for waterproofing the OSB. Great idea for a prototype. Thanks for the video. Jon
Very cool cabin mike!
A brilliant design.
Excellent job.