I built the WORLDS SMALLEST CAMPER (that you can drive)

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🙌 How to pronounce my name: Chay ➡ Ch(aye)

[probookswindows]

As a Japanese, it's quite intriguing to see how American guys can leverage their creativity and turn a tiny little kei truck into this beautiful camper. Building a camper with a Kei truck is also a thing here in Japan but it looks very different I'd say.

[LoreTunderin]

Great build. I love the way it turned out, but there are some great disclaimers being posted in the comments. For anyone else considering such a project I'll compile the warnings here:
Spray foam is bad for wires and can cause a fire
Unlocked water access can be tampered with from outside
Lead Acid batteries will be damaged if you discharge them past 50%
Lead Acid batteries need outside ventilation as they give off dangerous gases while charging
Inverters use a lot of power, 12 volt appliances that can run directly off your battery are more efficient
Long wooden boards and plywood sheets running front to rear are hazards in an accident as they won't crumple like the rest of the vehicle and could skewer you
The lack of toilet, laundry and cooking facilities limit its use to short camping trips
The bed has a huge gap in the mattress halves and is barely wide enough for one person, let alone two. I'm guessing one of you slept in a tent?

All in all with a couple tweaks it makes a great camper for a weekend getaway. It's just missing a few key features that are pretty important if you want to live in it long term.

[gabrielalmeida]

I like seeing these types of people who learn more and more with each build they make, and it gets cooler looking every time.

[RandomPerson-uixv]

noticed how they didn't film themselves sleeping? It's because they couldn't fit on the bed and decided to cut the video and go home.

[thatcarguyUZ]

I love the build, but I would just like to caution you that lead acid batteries generate hydrogen gas, so to reduce the risk of a fire or an explosion you should install some ventilation for the battery compartment. It doesn't need to be much, but when the inverter is running or when the batteries are charging, a small 12-volt laptop fan blowing out and exhausting to the vehicle exterior and a small soffit vent for fresh air intake also from the vehicle exterior would drastically reduce the risk, and a fan that small really wouldn't make a significant impact on your energy storage capacity.

[LSR]

that will 100% need a bigger alternator, that tiny thing was meant for a small led acid battery now there is two even bigger led acid batteries for it to charge, so it may burn out if it is under heavy load / charging the batteries, just use the solar panels to preserve the alternator instead.

[tacka]

5:29 with lead acid batteries you can only use 50% of stored power before they start to degrade they also need a vent to atmosphere. Where as you can now get good quality Lithium batteries for $300 with more storage and way more useable power, they also weigh a lot less.

[Killerthemerc]

Hey guys I'm a former mechanic you should be checking your engine oil every month or two to make sure everything is running smoothly so my advice would be set up a acess door to access the engine as needed

[GregInTokyo]

There are lots and lots of videos in Japan of people making Kei van campers. My personal favorite is Minivanlife. A young couple who built theirs over three months and have been driving all over Japan for the past 4 years. They’re currently in Hokkaido and having to deal with cold and tons of snow.

[jakeking]

Mud is actually worse than ice because ice is fairly sheer and frictionless, but largely leaves traction alone once you're off the ice. Mud will gather up in your treads and legit steal traction from your tires even after you've left the mud. And that's not even going into how ice is primarily just a layer, while mud goes DEEP and will just sink you more and more.

[yannick]

Removing the original starter battery is not a good idea. If you drain the camper batteries you have no way to start it now. You should have left the starter battery and have a relay that only connects the camper batteries once the engine is running to charge them.

[powerswearingfluids]

This is the best platform for a ridiculously light weight compact camper. I mean sure it is very tight but technically this amazing 4wd compact van with shower, sink, cooker, fridge, storage compartment, batteries charged with solar batteries and generator, inverter and a bed + 4wd, would work well for a couple of summer nights for a couple with backpacks. And with all the equipment this weighs exactly as much as my 2011 hyundai i30 hatchback with 75 kg driver included which is already considered to be a lightweight car in its class. And despite the 4wd layout all the technical heft + water tank is under the floor which means it is the lightest most compact practical 4wd camper with the best weight distribution in the world. I am very rarely shocked by how good one car can be. A packaging marvel guys. Well donegg

[KK-jbfy]

chay did one of the craziest rebrands ever. started out doing all the crazy 24hr challenges (treadmill, guitar, etc) and ended up building funky camper vans.

[spacecaptain]

I love this! That said, you're somewhat limited to warm weather locations, since you didn't insulate the whole van. Your water tank, for example, will start to freeze down there. Also trying to blow air out of a sealed space doesn't work very well. (You'd be effectively trying to build a vacuum chamber with an inadequately powered fan) You need a hole to suck air in and another hole to blow air out. And again, you really don't want to use this in cold weather, but NOT ventilating can cause some serious issues, both in the van and in YOU.

[theriders]

You shouldn't put lead acid batteries in a sealed area (especially in the living area) as they vent poisonous gasses.

[johngleich]

I'm not sure what I'm more impressed by.... The idea, carried out; the unique solutions; the craftsmanship; the finishes. All are great!

[ramblerandy]

I once owned a Suzuki Super Carry 1000cc 5 Speed van with windows all round, when I lived in Southland, NZ. That thing went everywhere. We took it through the Southern Alps, through mountain passes on rutted gravel highways with fuel trucks coming in the opposite direction with sheer drops off the mountain sides, through Fjordland, up the West Coast and all over the North Island too. When it wasn't taking me to and from work to the next township it carried 2 Chevy V8 engines or picked up hitch-hikers glad of a lift going north from Invercargill. Such a brilliant vehicle. We'd clean it out, put our camping cooking gear in it, and prep/eating table, with gallons of water, food and wine, an inflatable mattress and bedding and call that it. How about having breakfast sat on the tail, with the gate up so that the morning mountain rain bucketed down but the view was fabulous and we still stayed dry? Like that? These little baby vans will go anywhere.

[XyronM]

Im studying architecture right now and this is the type of stuff i want to do when I grow up. Earn enough money to be able to do projects like this and have an amazing hobby that I can enjoy. You guys are awesome and I love your videos. Hope you and your family have blessed lives man.

[pete-manley]

Great job guys however, a couple of tips: Spray foam should not be used on cables as it breaks down the insulation and can cause a fire. Batteries must be vented to outside when charging as they give off dangerous gasses. Inverters drain batteries too fast, so in future get everything 12 volt (pumps, lights, chargers etc) and save loads of power.

[Val_Fufu]

13:27 “look at that! It’s completely professional ” as the broom falls in disbelief