Sauna on wheels: photo examples, types and features of the autobahn

Features, structure, components of autobahns
Advantages and disadvantages of a sauna on wheels
Types of bathhouses on wheels
Steam rooms made from converted buses and trucks
Steam rooms on platforms with wheels
Stages of self-construction of a steam room on wheels
Autobahn design and layout
Installation of stiffening ribs for a highway structure
Installation of furnace and chimney
Exterior decoration of a bathhouse on wheels
Interior decoration of a bathhouse on wheels
Autobahn interior design

Water treatments are an important part of human life. After using the bath, the skin becomes smooth, silky, and your mood improves. In Russian villages, it is often the only “washing” place. Usually this is a stationary building made of wood or brick, located near a reservoir, but in modern times many people organize an outdoor bathhouse on wheels - it can be moved anywhere, taken with you on vacation, attached to a car.

Bathhouse on wheels: photo examples, types and features of an autobahn.

You can buy a bathhouse on wheels ready-made or build it yourself, and use it both for personal recreation and for commercial purposes. It’s easy to “take with you” on winter fishing or summer vacations. A “Banemobile” for personal use is registered with the State Traffic Inspectorate; for commercial use, it is registered as an individual entrepreneur or LLC.

Features, structure, components of autobahns

A “camping” car bath is made from a car trailer, an “army” car, almost any car, even a relatively old one, preferably a large one. Even in a relatively small “Gazelle” they set up a comfortable road bathhouse, and in a spacious “Gaz” bus, in a “Kamaz”, a whole company can take a steam bath. It is best to use a car that has good cross-country ability - one that can drive on any off-road terrain.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels (click on photo to enlarge).

The room is divided into two parts - in one of them there will be a steam room, a stove, and a boiler with water. Shelves are installed here, the walls are lined with wood, and the stove is usually installed separately from the main space. The second part is the waiting room. It will house a place for changing clothes, a shower stall, a table with chairs or benches, a refrigerator with drinks and food. The windows are made small - one in each room; roller blinds and ordinary curtains are mounted on them.

If you are planning a bathhouse for three to five people, then an ordinary truck is quite enough; a more spacious one is made from an entire bus. In the latter case, the bathhouse is additionally equipped with:

separate shower;
bar;
dry closet;
wash basin;
sitting area with sofa, TV, table;
storage room for equipment and consumables;
massage room;
hookah bar, etc.

The “commercial” bathhouse provides the services of a massage therapist, a bathhouse attendant, a place for grilling kebabs, a corner for board games, sports games, etc.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels.

Finishing materials for exterior decoration include cedar, larch, and aspen timber. Birch, linden and many other hardwoods are suitable for interior decoration. Mineral wool is suitable as insulation; the flooring is made of wood. The room is heated using electricity, gas or regular wood. For a small room, a compact metal stove with a power of 4.5 kW is suitable, in a larger room - at least 13 kW. The chimney is equipped with a valve; ventilation in the lower part of the stove is also necessary.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels (click on photo to enlarge).

The water heating tank is selected depending on the expected number of bathhouse users present in it at the same time. Its capacity ranges from 50 to 110 liters. Water is heated in one of two ways: by installing a tank on a pipe or in the form of a tank register. In the first option, the water boils, increasing the humidity in the room. The second is more expensive and complex, but the tank can be mounted anywhere, including outside the steam room. The container for cold water is quite large – from 100 to 500 liters.

On a note! To prevent the stove from cooling down for a long time, more stones are placed in the heater.

Making a sauna on wheels with your own hands

When deciding to independently manufacture a mobile bathhouse, all work can be divided into several stages: preparation, installation and testing of the functionality of the assembled structure.

Preparatory stage

During this period, the layout of the construction site is determined, which is tied to the base used (trailer, truck, platform, etc.). After that, the materials that need to be used when performing the work are determined, based on what is available and the financial capabilities of the user. The necessary tools and equipment are being prepared.

Sketch of the frame of a mobile bathhouse placed on a car trailer

Installation of a mobile sauna

In this section of the article we will consider the option of manufacturing a mobile bathhouse of a frame structure, placed on a car trailer. To make the frame, lumber (wooden block) or metal profile (angle, square pipe) can be used, and mineral wool or polystyrene foam can be used as insulation. For interior decoration, natural wood is used, and for exterior decoration, edged boards, corrugated sheets or slab materials made from wood processing waste are used.

Illustration	Description of actions
	Using wooden blocks, the frame of the structure being manufactured is assembled on the trailer platform. The connection of frame elements is carried out using the tongue-and-groove type and using fastening plates and self-tapping screws.
	The internal lining of the assembled frame is carried out, for which plywood 10-12 mm thick can be used, after which insulation is laid into the frame.
	The frame is covered from the outside; for this purpose, in this case, natural wood (edged board) is used, secured with self-tapping screws and mounting angles installed in the corners of the structure and the locations of structural elements (windows, doors, etc.).
	A stove is installed, and fire-fighting measures are taken (sheets of asbestos and metal and other fire-resistant materials), and enclosing structures are installed to prevent users from getting thermal burns.
	Interior finishing and furniture manufacturing (benches, canopies, etc.) are carried out.

Important! When covering the frame, you must not forget to install vapor and waterproofing, in accordance with the requirements for frame structures made of wood, when using mineral insulation in wet rooms.

Functionality check

At this stage, the operation of the installed stove is checked, which is expressed in the removal of waste combustion products and the rate of heating of the room, as well as heating of water in the storage tank.

In addition, it is necessary to check the driving performance of the assembled structure and its ability to stand firmly on the surface of the earth.

Advantages and disadvantages of a sauna on wheels

Like any design, an autobath has its pros and cons.

The main advantages of a sauna on wheels:

relatively easy to build;
almost all materials used are natural (the main one is wood);
convenient to use;
small sizes;
practically no different from a stationary one;
universal heating;
can be mounted on almost any vehicle;
can be used for profit.

In addition to all of the above, to create a highway, you do not need to approve the project, look for a plot of land, obtain a construction permit, or hire a team of workers.

Disadvantages of a bathhouse on wheels:

water will have to be transported separately;
an unreliably installed structure is unsafe;
for commercial use, you will need to obtain a number of hygiene certificates to confirm that the building is fireproof.

On a note! A ready-made trailer sauna is purchased from manufacturers of such structures. It is equipped with everything minimally necessary and has the necessary documentation.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels.

Where to start a bathhouse business on wheels

First, you need to register a business, register an individual entrepreneur, obtain permission from the SES and fire safety service, and also resolve the issue with the traffic police. After this you will need to get transport. The main criteria for choosing it are the volume of the body and the cross-country ability of the vehicle. Any cargo transport is suitable for this - a car, van or large bus, which needs to be converted to your needs. Equip with a stove, cover the interior with linden boards or beams. It is also worth equipping a steam room (putting barrels with cold and hot water), you can add several small windows (for forced ventilation). Make an opening in the roof for installing a chimney. Settle such nuances as renting a garage (or parking), purchasing coal and firewood (for kindling). The setting of a bathhouse on wheels is not much different from a stationary one. A sofa, a stereo system and a TV - for the comfort of clients’ stay and the opportunity to raise fees for additional services.

Types of bathhouses on wheels

A Russian bathhouse or a Finnish sauna on a wheeled vehicle is made from all kinds of cars, vans, and boat trailers. A towing vehicle is additionally purchased for the trailed structure. The shape of the bathhouse is ordinary, rectangular, the barrel bathhouse is in the form of a cylinder, the design with one beveled edge, in the shape of a hut.

On a note! The weight of the finished steam room, depending on the size, ranges from 250 kg to several tons - this should be taken into account when choosing a tractor.

Steam rooms made from converted buses and trucks

A spacious bathhouse is placed in a bus, which must first be remodeled - insulated, covered with foil, wooden panels, and it already has a staircase. The room is divided into a dressing room, a steam room, and other utility rooms - the amount of space allows. A ready-made purchased barrel is installed in the back of a truck or a trailer is built - the structure must be carefully secured using special fastening slings. For climbing, a folding ladder is made, usually wooden.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels.

On a note! When creating any structure made of wood, all parts that a person touches in one way or another must be carefully sanded to avoid splinters.

Advantages of a self-made sauna on wheels

A good autobahn cannot be compared with its camp-field imitation, which is offered by cunning businessmen. A steam generator in a tent is not a sauna at all. Place for washing and inhaling wet steam. For this, in production they add payment for harmfulness, what kind of health can we talk about here?

A real bathhouse on wheels, smelling of natural wood, with a heater and a separate washing room or shower - this is what you can do with your own hands and without much expense.

There are many photographs of such baths on the Internet, in the most unusual versions: in an old Pazik bus, Gazelle or truck. It is noteworthy that all these designs are not inferior to traditional, stationary baths. You will have to work with your head and hands, but all the labor will pay off handsomely.

Steam rooms on platforms with wheels

A full-fledged wooden trailer or barrel is built on a platform frame or in a trailer. A boat trailer has a special trailer - if, according to documents, it can transport other cargo, such as a barrel bath, then a special permit from the traffic police is not required. To build such a steam room, the barrel is made independently of any desired size or to order. It is mounted on embedded beams, then walls are made - at least three (of which two are external), the building is sheathed with boards, tightened with hoops, and insulated. The timber frame must be impregnated with protective compounds.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels.

On a note! There are always two or more holes made in the floor for water drainage - at least one for each room.

How much money do you need to start a bathhouse business on wheels?

Starting this type of business does not require huge investments. The purchase of transport and its re-equipment are the most expensive items. For registration and obtaining all kinds of certificates and permits, you need to shell out 10–15 thousand rubles. Purchase of transport 200 – 500 thousand rubles (depending on condition). Remaking a car to suit your needs costs about 250 thousand rubles. Internal lining and purchase of necessary equipment - about 300 thousand rubles. It is also worth taking into account transport costs and taxes of 15 - 20 thousand rubles. Conclusion: To start such a business you will need from 1 to 4 million rubles. This difference is characterized by the fact that you can open just a bathhouse on wheels or an elite one with additional services and high quality equipment.

Stages of self-construction of a steam room on wheels

An autobath is ordered ready-made from specialists, but it is much cheaper to build it yourself or with hired help. To begin with, a project is always drawn up, with all dimensions, a detailed floor plan, and furniture arrangement. Next, materials and necessary equipment are selected and purchased, manufacturing begins with the implementation of stiffening ribs so that the structure does not warp and maintains its integrity during long-distance transportation.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels.

On a note! For convenience, the height of the structure is at least one and a half meters.

Business registration

To register a bathhouse on wheels as a business, it is enough to register an individual entrepreneur. The OKVED code should be 96.04 - Sports and recreational activities.

You will need to obtain permission from the traffic police, SES, and State Fire Supervision. The list of required documents may vary depending on the region, so check everything locally.

You should also have:

technical passport and other documents related to the operation of the vehicle; equipment certificates;
contracts with services that carry out disinfection and waste removal.

In general, obtaining permits for a bathhouse on wheels is not difficult.

Autobahn design and layout

In order for a truck, bus, trailer for a car or other type of transport to become a real bathhouse, you will have to make some efforts using various knowledge and skills. Design begins with a rough sketch of the general appearance of the building - for this, the appearance, size of the vehicle, and what maximum weight it can carry are assessed. Afterwards, a full-fledged, most detailed drawing is created indicating all dimensions. The weight of the structure depends on the materials chosen and the internal arrangement. The required power of a sauna stove depends on the area of the room.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels.

It is important to take into account the centers of gravity - the stove, the ceiling, otherwise, when rocking, the bathhouse can tip over, and the people in it can get injured. As counterweights, a staircase and a grate are installed from the floor.

Drafting

The first step is to make a bathhouse design on paper or electronically. This will allow you to assess the proportionality of the future steam room and select building materials. Here it is important to take into account everything, down to the smallest detail - the total weight of the structure, the load on the wheel axle, as well as the power of the furnace.

The bathhouse sways when moving along Russian roads, so it is important to correctly design the centers of gravity - the stove and the ceiling. A step and a grate from the floor will be used as a counterweight.

If you have enough space in a mobile bathhouse design, then its design should include the following mandatory zones:

Steam room
As an addition, the steam room can be equipped with a dry closet, as well as tanks for cold/hot water. In this case, the mobile bathhouse can be used regardless of whether there is a body of water near the recreation area or not.

When planning a bathhouse on wheels, you should think about the presence/absence of window openings. They are sources of heat loss, so in any case, windows should have minimal dimensions. In principle, you can completely abandon windows in a mobile bathhouse. This is a fairly secluded place for relaxation and prying eyes will be unnecessary here.

According to safety regulations, doors in mobile bathhouses must open outward. This point is important to consider during the design process.

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.

Installation of a bathhouse at a temporary location

Having reached the place, the trailer with the bathhouse is uncoupled from the car. To strengthen the bathhouse, you need to have a leg at hand - a support. The platform immediately rests on it, then additional supports should be added. To prevent the trailer from swaying, you will need four such supports. After which, the side of the trailer folds back, and a manufactured ladder is lowered down, acting as a ladder. The whole procedure takes no more than a quarter of an hour. Assembling the sauna tent can take an hour.

For reliability, the bathhouse should be reinforced with additional stiffeners. They are made from a metal profile.

The layout inside the bathhouse is at the discretion of the owner. If there is sufficient space, it is possible to divide the room into two sections: the steam room itself and the relaxation area.

Installation of furnace and chimney

When the “tent” of the mobile bathhouse is installed, you should take care of the exterior design, installation of the stove, and interior finishing work. Installing a stove yourself is quite difficult. The firebox is located outside the trailer. The bathhouse is heated to an average of sixty degrees to make it comfortable to use. The stove stones are sewn into special beads - otherwise they may fly out. Holes are made in the stones where stainless steel wire is placed. To facilitate construction, they are moved to other places during transportation. It is important to make the pipe correctly - it is led out strictly upward or sideways from the middle of the wall. The stove itself is placed in the corner.

Photo examples of bathhouses on wheels.

On a note! In Rus', when leaving the bathhouse, people jumped into a snowdrift or the nearest body of water. The modern “gentle” option involves installing a special font with an acceptable water temperature setting.

How to open a sauna on wheels from scratch?

This steam room is a metal truck, the van of which is upholstered in wood inside. You need to heat the bathhouse with wood; the boiler door goes outside; this bathhouse also has a relaxation room and a steam room. The relaxation room can even have a TV, a sofa and a table. A business on wheels will be successfully implemented if you take a truck such as GAZ 66, ZIL 131, GAZ 3308, PAZ, IKARUS, which is lined with linden lining on the inside, or a van bus.

A used car sales agency will always help if difficulties arise while searching for a suitable car. Its price may vary, most often it is 60,000-300,000 rubles. It is important to have good cross-country ability and a large van. After purchasing it, you need to plan in advance the locations of additional equipment.

Exterior decoration of a bathhouse on wheels

Next, the exterior finishing is done. To make the bathhouse beautiful, similar to a real, rustic one, use wood siding. The structure is decorated with kerosene lamps or their imitation, wooden steps, shutters with house carvings, and overhead elements made using a jigsaw. Metal profile parts are usually masked. All wooden parts must be impregnated with special compounds that prevent rotting, damage by mold and mildew.

Exterior decoration of a bathhouse on wheels.

On a note! In accordance with safety rules, the doors are located on the front side. You can make a canopy over the entrance in case of bad weather.

Design and arrangement of a bathhouse

In parallel with searching and buying a car, you can design a mobile bathhouse. This point is very important, so don’t skimp on it. It is better to order the project from professionals who will take into account all the necessary requirements and characteristics: the weight of the structure, the load on the wheels and centers of gravity, the required power of the boiler or furnace.

A mobile bathhouse should have two rooms - a steam room and a dressing room.

The walls are lined with good wood. Experienced entrepreneurs advise choosing linden or fir. A linden sauna always heats up in just half an hour. This material does not emit resin and does not flow. The windows are double glazed to retain heat. A chimney is installed on the roof. The bath door should open outwards.

The bathhouse is constructed in several stages:

design and layout of the structure;
installation of stiffeners and frame assembly;
thermal insulation;
interior decoration;
bathhouse equipment;
outer skin.

You can do this kind of construction yourself.
But it is better to entrust this matter to professionals. Please note that a sauna on wheels must be developed in accordance with sanitary rules and fire safety standards. You can seek such services from large auto repair shops.

When the construction work is completed, you can proceed to equipping the bathhouse. To do this you will need to purchase:

water heater;
water container;
generator;
shower cabin;
furniture for the recreation area.
bath paraphernalia: birch and oak brooms, wooden buckets, ladles, individual accessories (hats, slippers, etc.).

Construction and installation work and equipping the bathhouse with everything necessary will cost approximately 250 thousand rubles. If you do not plan to spend time and effort preparing a mobile sauna, then you can buy ready-made equipment. Its cost will be about 300-400 thousand rubles, depending on the specific project.

Interior decoration of a bathhouse on wheels

The interior design of a mobile bathhouse is practically no different from the usual one in a stationary one. It must be well insulated, upholstered, and decorated. Fragile glass decor is not used, as it can break - the structure will often be subject to shaking during transportation. Everything in the room is well secured - any object falling while driving can cause injury. Benches, tables, sofas should not move - special attention is paid to this.

Interior decoration of a bathhouse on wheels.

The walls are sheathed first with foil, then with clapboard. The most suitable types of wood are linden, aspen, oak, and other hardwoods. Cedar is also suitable - it smells nice, but can cause allergic reactions, especially in children. The bathhouse should be convenient for carrying out procedures such as salt and herbal peeling - it should be easy to clean after that.

On a note! To dry a freshly washed structure as quickly as possible, open doors and windows without turning off the stove.

Interior decoration

The interior lining of a bathhouse on wheels is no worse than its stationary counterpart. After thermal insulation, finishing and decorating the interior of the bathhouse should be carried out. For these purposes, it is best to use lining made of linden, alder, aspen, etc. A block house and planed boards are also suitable. For lining the dressing room - coniferous wood, for the shower - tiles, preferably non-slip, for floors - tongue and groove boards.

In the interior you should place:

Folding/pull-out shelves.
Tanks with hot/cold water (if space allows).
A bench for rest.
Shower stall/combi toilet.
Folding table.
TV/cassette player.
A small chest of drawers with plastic dishes, cosmetics and towels.
Additional accessories upon request (brooms, hourglasses, etc.).

To prevent fixed products from falling during movement, they must be properly secured.

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.

What equipment is needed for a sauna on wheels?

It costs a lot of money to equip a bathhouse, but by renting it out, you will quickly recoup your losses. To save a little at the first stage, it is best to use an army body for this; it will require less money than others. After you have purchased the car, you need to buy a stove and install it outside so that all fire safety requirements are met. A bench will be convenient, and you can’t do without a large water tank. Whether all these things are bought or made with your own hands, there will not be much difference. It will cost the same amount of money, but in addition, the work will take a lot of time. It is necessary to build a chimney to the firebox and supply water, it should be cold and hot for bathing procedures and washing. Cladding with clapboard is done after installing the stove.

Now you need to think about the interior design. This includes rugs, flooring, to provide steam, you need basins, brooms made of various materials, towels and a dousing tub. More interesting business ideas for bathhouses can be found online. You need to understand that when renting out, you can also charge a good surcharge for the interior.

Preference should be given to linden during cladding. Why to her? Because this is the most suitable material for this, unpleasant odors are not absorbed into it and are not released; another advantage is that it does not leak. Customers will love this design and will feel as if they smell fresh air. You need to try to make a choice in favor of one style, so that everything is natural, from natural materials, and when renting, remind about this.