Do-it-yourself sauna on wheels: how to make it, ways to implement the project and expert advice

Surely you have come across so-called mobile steam rooms, which can be easily transported from one place to another and organize bathing procedures even right on the banks of a river or lake. You will be surprised, but making such a bathhouse on wheels with your own hands is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. All you need is a strong desire to realize your dream of a perfect holiday with friends and family in the lap of nature and the appropriate materials. Oh, yes, of course, you will also need a clear algorithm of actions to follow. Read more about ways to implement a promising project with useful construction tips and visuals in this instructional article.

What about the cons?

Among the disadvantages of building such a bathhouse, perhaps, we can only remember the need to have a powerful truck capable of pulling a massive structure. But this is only if your plans are to build a large bathhouse.

If the plans have a capacity of no more than 2-3 people, then even an ordinary car with a trailer can handle the transportation of such a bathhouse.

Business

Expenses:

• purchase of KAMAZ – 2.5 million rubles;
• purchase of a mobile sauna – 1.5 million rubles.

Total: 4 million rubles.

If your budget is limited, you can purchase:

• GAZ-66 (used) – 1.7 million rubles;
• mobile sauna (used) – up to 1 million rubles.

Total: 2.7 million rubles. (prices are taken to the maximum).

Income:

• rental cost – 1000 rub./hour;
• ordering a bathhouse on weekdays (5 times for 2 hours) – 10,000 rubles;
• ordering a bathhouse on weekends (4 times for 2 hours) – 8,000 rubles;

Total: revenue for the week – 18,000 rubles.

Total: monthly revenue – 72,000 rubles.

Total: revenue for the year – 864,000 rubles.

What you will need for assembly

Of course, you can’t do without a project that you need to follow when assembling the structure. You can develop it yourself, in full accordance with your own vision of a dream mobile bathhouse. Or you can take a ready-made project and thoroughly tailor it to your needs and realities. You also cannot do without:

• finishing material;
• wooden beams for the frame;
• metal for stiffeners;
• Supplies;
• tools;
• car with trailer.

In general, no more than 1-2 people . And the project can be completed in just a few days. Unless, of course, you are lazy and distracted.

Safety precautions

“Maybe it will work out” - we have probably heard this original Russian phrase, which allows us to violate safety regulations with a clear conscience, many times already. However, the same cannot be said about the ability to steam while the autobahn is moving. This kind of “maybe it will cost” can cost you too much.

You can only take a steam bath in the bathhouse parking lot. This way, you will avoid unnecessary injuries and burns.

The movement of the autobath can only be combined with the heating of the stove under supervision. This will allow you to warm up the bathhouse to the required temperature by the time you arrive at the place of temporary deployment.

Project work

Both its safety and stability, both during movement and in static conditions, depend on how seriously you work on the plan diagram of the future mobile steam room. Therefore, include the following information in your project:

• total weight of the steam room;
• axle load;
• weight distribution to centers of gravity;
• distribution of functional zones;
• steam room parameters;
• fixed stove location;
• pipe outlet for the chimney, etc.

The easiest option is to order a project from contractors. But you set out to assemble a steam room on wheels with your own hands, right? We have prepared for you a whole selection of excellent solutions that you can use without any qualms. We present some of them below. And the rest is at the very end of the material.

Installation of stiffening ribs for a highway structure

The next stage of work is the creation of stiffening ribs for the future bathhouse. This is required so that the structure can be placed anywhere - in nature it is supported on specially made supports. There are usually four additional support points - they will prevent the structure from swaying. One of the sides of the autobath is made folding - you get a ladder for going up and down to the sauna and back. The ribs are made from a metal profile, the structure is assembled and secured. It must be remembered that the room is divided into two separate zones - the steam room itself and the dressing room.

Assembling the frame

There are two ways here. You can purchase a ready-made, assembled frame for a bathhouse on wheels. All you have to do is install it and move on to the next step. Or you can get confused and assemble it yourself.

1. order items that are ideally sized for you from any company;
2. assemble a floor from them and secure them to the trailer using fasteners;
3. fix the support beam;
4. collect all the elements that are intended for finishing wall surfaces;
5. install roof support beams and rafters.

Converting a car booth into a bathhouse

Even old cars can be used as a basis for a car bath. The most popular are Soviet army vehicles with kung - GAZ 66 or ZIL 131, they have high cross-country ability, but high fuel consumption. Mobile saunas are also made on the basis of ordinary trailers for cars.

Sauna on a trailer for a car

The kung has a large area, so its capacity can reach up to 6 people. Additional insulation will allow it to be used all year round. The photo shows examples of a mobile bathhouse with a shower, steam room, dressing room, changing room, lounger, folding table and bench.

Conversion of GAZ 66 into an autobath

To heat the bathhouse, a conventional wood-burning stove is used. If you order this option from specialists, then turnkey conversion will cost you at least 140 thousand rubles.

In terms of performance, mobile bathhouses built on the basis of the GAZ 66 will not differ much from the classic types: on average, the transported volume of water is 700 liters, and the supply of firewood is enough for a whole day of heating. This is enough for 15-20 people to relax, so many people began to open a similar business.

Furnace installation

For convenience and space saving, the firebox goes outside.

The surface around the stove inside and outside must be finished with non-flammable, heat-resistant material.

Advice! To prevent stones from accidentally falling out of the sauna stove while riding, they can be sewn into beads with wire in advance. Since their weight can reach 300 kg, to reduce the load they can be completely removed while driving into another car.

Installation of a metal stove

Exterior decoration of the bath

• To get a beautiful appearance, the outside of the wall can be finished with a house block.
• It is better not to make windows, as a lot of heat will be lost through them. If you decide to make windows, try to reduce their area and use 3-layer double-glazed windows with glass at least 6 mm thick.
• The door should open outwards.
• To save space, the woodcutter and water containers are mounted externally in boxes under the bottom of the kung.

Interior decoration

Inside, the walls are insulated exactly the same as in a regular sauna.

Insulation of bath walls

Instructions for interior wall decoration:

• A sheathing of antiseptic-impregnated bars is attached to the walls every 60 cm. In kungs they are attached directly to the walls, and in trailers a metal welded frame is first made and sheathed with wood.
• The first layer of waterproofing is attached. To do this, you can use a vapor barrier membrane, for example Izospan. On the one hand, it will not allow moisture to pass through, and on the other, it will remove steam, preventing it from accumulating inside.
• Then, mineral wool insulation is placed tightly together in the cells of the frame. Additionally, it is recommended to attach it to the walls using umbrella dowels.
• The top of the insulation is covered with the same vapor barrier. Heat-reflecting aluminum foil can also be used instead. The insulation joints must be taped with aluminum tape.
• To maintain a ventilation gap under the sheathing, an additional counter-lattice 2-3 cm thick is screwed onto the bars.
• Then the frame is covered with clapboard or block house.
• Particular attention should be paid to securing furniture and the stove so that they are securely fixed while moving.
• To save space, you can use folding shelves, folding tables and benches.
• Lighting is done from a 12-volt car battery, or a separate 220-volt generator is used.

Converted GAZ 66 kung into a sauna with a TV

Note! For lighting, you need to use moisture-proof and heat-proof lamps, and the wiring must be heat-resistant. Ordinary wires cannot withstand temperatures above 50 degrees, but in a bath it can exceed 150 degrees in some areas.

Installing the stove

Since you need to avoid excessive load on the trailer, it is best to choose a stove that is as light as possible. Any small iron stove will fit perfectly, but when placing it you need to move the firebox outside the steam room. By the way, you can make a stove for a bathhouse with your own hands. For example, from old car wheels. It will turn out quickly, cheaply and quite reliably. It is worth taking note that there are certain recommendations regarding temperature conditions: the upper threshold is no more than 60 degrees.

Installation of a trailer sauna at the location

If we are talking about the temporary installation of a trailer bathhouse, then the first step is to uncouple it from the vehicle. In order for the bathhouse to be stable, you need to strengthen it with a supporting leg. The platform will rest on it. For better stability of the structure, install 3 additional supports. Thus, to prevent the trailer sauna from swaying, you need to install it on 4 support legs.

After this, you can fold back the side of the trailer and lower the ladder. All this takes no more than a quarter of an hour.

View from the inside
This is where the actual recommendations for the construction and arrangement of the autobahn end. If you have experience in installing a mobile sauna, then share it with us and our readers. Your additional recommendations will be useful to us. Do you have any questions about building a mobile sauna? Ask them to a specialist working on the site.

Interior decoration

If you are going to use a sauna on wheels during the cold season, we recommend that you first insulate it. This can be done with mineral wool - it always helps when you need to retain warm air in any room. For reliability, you can additionally use foil. Otherwise, no surprises:

• We trim the wall and ceiling with clapboard;
• the floor is regular tiles, but you need to screed first.

In general, the layout of a bathhouse on wheels inside should be as simple and convenient as possible. You should also think about ensuring that all elements are firmly fixed in place: there are different roads, but more often they are bad, do not forget about this. If you wish, you can decorate the walls with additional decor. Wood carving always fits perfectly into any bathhouse format. You can make a simple panel with a funny thematic design in just a couple of hours.

Autobahn interior design

The final stage is the creation of a comfortable, attractive interior. The ceilings are wide, or optionally folding. You definitely need at least one bench, barrels with cold and hot water. For the convenience of vacationers, it is advisable to organize a shower and toilet. The rest of the furniture, TV, refrigerator, bar are done if there is room for them. Benches and shelves are mounted along the walls.

You don’t need a lot of decor - it will clutter up the space, especially if there is not enough of it. Carved elements and artificial plants are suitable. The lighting is adjustable - during the day, street light from the windows is enough; in the evening and at night, you will have to turn on the electric light. Here it is important to take care of sufficient moisture insulation of all electrical appliances, switches, sockets, wires, and lamps.

On a note! Decorative LED lighting on the ceiling and walls will create a romantic atmosphere.

Do you need a shower and rest room?

The answer to this question depends on how and when you plan to use the sauna. If it’s winter, then equipping a small shower would be very appropriate. However, if you plan to steam in the summer, next to a river or lake, then perhaps a shower will be unnecessary?

As for the relaxation room, it only makes sense to do it if your bathhouse is really spacious. However, a mobile steam room is mobile to be convenient for transportation and not be too expensive for the owners.

Documentation

All sorts of non-standard vehicles can arouse interest among traffic police officers, and quite justifiably so. The parameters and dimensions of any car/SUV/bus, even a converted one, must meet certain standards that ensure safe travel on the road. Therefore, before making a car bath, consider the height and side projections of the structure.

Another important point, which we already talked about a little above, is the maximum weight load of the car. If you make the bathhouse too heavy, it will immediately turn from mobile to sedentary. If you plan to use the autobath for business, then you need to register an individual enterprise (individual enterprise).

Useful materials: ready-made plan projects and video instructions

Video

Working diagrams and ready-made options

Foundation

To build a bathhouse, several types of foundations are used. Depending on the weight of the walls and soil characteristics, the following types of foundations are made:

• Slab foundation.
• Columnar foundation for light walls.
• Pile foundation.
• Concrete strip foundation.

As practice has shown, the most reliable foundation for almost all types of soil is a concrete strip foundation reinforced with reinforcement.

To make a reinforced strip foundation for a bathhouse you will need:

• Cement.
• Sand.
• Gravel.
• Fittings.
• Formwork.
• Ruberoid.
• Wire.
• Shovels.
• Concrete mixer.
• Tourniquet.
• Stakes.
• Tools (pliers, hammer, tape measure and others).

In the location chosen for building the bathhouse, mark a trench for the future foundation. To mark, use a tourniquet stretched between the pegs. The width of the trenches is based on the weight of the wall material. For a one-story bathhouse made of wood or brick, it is enough to make a trench 30-40 centimeters wide. After installing the markup, do the following:

1. Using the markings as a guide, dig a trench 50-80 centimeters deep.
2. Compact the bottom of the trench and fill it with water to shrink the soil.
3. Cover the bottom of the trenches with roofing felt for waterproofing.
4. Fill the trench with gravel to a third of its depth.
5. Install formwork along the edges of the trench.
6. Make a frame reinforcing the foundation from reinforcement bars tied together with wire.
7. Install the reinforcement cage into the formwork.
8. Using a concrete mixer, make a cement mortar in the proportion: one part cement to one part sand and two parts gravel.
9. Pour cement into the formwork, being careful not to allow any air voids.
10. After the concrete has dried, remove the formwork.

The foundation for the bathhouse is ready!

Staff

A business like this should be started as a family business. In this case, you will not have to resort to the services of strangers.

To operate a mobile bathhouse, you will need a driver and a bathhouse attendant. The role of the driver can be performed by an entrepreneur, and a steamer can be hired from outside. Such staff makes it possible to significantly reduce the costs of starting an enterprise.

You should be serious about hiring staff and eliminating people who drink. For the position of bathhouse attendant, you need to invite a person who can win over clients and cope with his duties perfectly.

As the business expands, the staff can include: a bartender, a massage therapist, and an auto mechanic.

Care

The main concerns about the autobahn come down to regular drying and ventilation of the room. Periodically, once a month, it is necessary to check the operation of the chimney, the condition of the stove parts, and check the fastening of the box to the carriage.

Before the start of the season, the autobahn is inspected, the wooden cladding parts are necessarily impregnated with fire-retardant and antiseptic compounds.