Jay Shafer from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is offering their Vardo Construction plans for sale for 10 days only. Starting today, the plans for the Vardo are $15.95. Normally, $29.95 so almost half off. The Sale ends July 8, 2011.
Tumbleweed Vardo Plans – $15.95
The Vardo is not officially a tiny house but more of a sleeping camper, great for getaways to the mountains or the beach or as a guest room for your tiny home. There is no bathroom or kitchen, just a sleeping area and storage.
If you are unsure of your building skills this little project would be a great way to learn the basic carpentry skills and come out with a wonderful little project you could show off to your friends and family. Tumbleweed estimates the cost to build the Vardo to be around $2,500 (minus the optional heater).
The vardo can be placed on a small trailer and towed or put on the back of a pickup such as the Ford F-150.
The plans include 14 pages:
- Elevation Drawings: The exterior view from all 4 sides is included showing you heights relative to the truck bed, window and door openings, and finish materials.
- Floor Plans: Floor plans are included for both the storage area, and the sleeping area.
- Roof Plan: Shown from above, you see the overhang of the roof compared to the truck and structure.
- Wall Framing: Two pages of wall framing show you how to frame each wall, front, back and sides so that you have the rounded roof and slight angle of side walls. Additionally, floor framing is included.
- Door Detail: The Vardo requires a custom made door, and the door detail gives you the dimensions, and types of wood to use.
- Section Drawings: These drawings cut the Vardo in half both the long way and the short way. They show you where to insulate, what types of wood studs to use, how to properly insulate, which materials to use, how to secure the structure to the truck, and much more.
- Basic Components: Suggestions on specific windows for the structure and the door including the manufacturer and glass type. Also included is a heater suggestion.
Get the details about the Tumbleweed Vardo Plans – $15.95
Hmm… I love the exterior… at first I was disappointed there was “only” a bed inside, but the longer I look at it the more I’m really starting to like the idea. It could also double as a children’s playhouse when not in use as a camper.
Do you have more info on the trailer that’s shown in the first couple of pictures – what’s the weight of the vardo, and what types of vehicles can be used to tow it? (I live in Europe and we’ve got smaller cars… none of those big pickup trucks around here!)
Thanks!
Kate
Kate – In the first picture, the vehicle is an old Toyota 2-wheel-drive pickup that had a small 4-cylinder engine (22re). Most European cars bigger than a Polo should have similar towing capacities.
That said, I don’t have the weight of the trailer set up, just a hunch based on the picture.
Personally, I want one of these for when I move across country in a couple of years…no hotel bills or tent camping on that trip!
I really want to order one of these – immediately – but I’ve gone to the link provided here and the page expects me to put my credit card info – including ccv, on a straight HTTP page.
I won’t purchase anything on a non-secure page.
Not that he’ll miss my 16 bucks, but you might want to let Jay know, Kent.
Hopefully they’ll provide a secure page that we can order from before 7/8
I forwarded your question on to Jay, no problems yet to my knowledge but not sure why it is not secure. -Kent
Thanks Kent,
I hope Jay replies.
Such a warm looking cozy interior and organic rustic exterior whats not to like.
Also worried about the non-secure site, will keep trying.
just by chance, saw this on Boing-Boing this morning –
http://www.boingboing.net/2011/06/30/mobile-home-with-a-m.html
That is so cool, thanks for sharing that! I wonder if there is any more information about Mr. Charles Miller of Portland and better quality pics.
I left a comment on the Tumbleweed site about the non-secure order form and they have yet to approve my comment or respond.
Seems they don’t really want to sell plans, just advertise that they have a sale. I hope nobody has filled out that INsecure form. I noticed that ALL of their other plans can be ordered from a secure form.
Oh, well. Free internet Vardo plans, here I come!
They seem to be on vacation as I have tried contacting them to and no response.
Can someone tell me what size trailer can be used to build the tumbleweed vardo on?
I would check with Tumbleweed on that, I know Jay had it on a trailer and I saw it at one time but I don’t know the specs. Tumbleweed also has a page on trailers that is hidden on their site but it does not cover the vardo. You can view the page here: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/materials/trailers/
Do yall ever sell these trailers already made? If so, where can they be purchased from?
This is so cool! Great use of a tiny space!
Brianna Olds
CoolProducts Social Media Marketing Manager