My latest project...

[Prybry]

I picked up a very interesting camper to put into my '05 Dodge PW
It's called a "pickupper" built by Bethany campers in the 70's...
Mine is a '78 and is great shape since it's been stored inside it's whole life.
I'm rebuilding the entire galley area... rebuilding the two burner stove and tore out the ice box for a place to stroe my 12v cooler. Also updating the 30 year old electrical and updating the converter. Planning to add a microwave and new porta potty (for my wife;)

I haven't taken any pictures yet but I did find an old brochure on the web...

I've updated the 2" foam mattresses with 6" futons... much more comfortable!

I'll keep you updated with my progress, an post some pictures next time.
Enjoy...

[kcowyo]

Welcome to ExPo - :beer:

A very nice find you have there. Thanks for attaching the brochures. I have seen one of these in person before, way up in Montana, but it wasn't deployed so I didn't get a peak at the interior. Those brochures fill in the gaps, thanks.

The one I saw had been customized a little. I'm actually not even sure if he still pops the top anymore but it's been there the last two summers I was around. I hope yours works out for you & the Mrs. And yes, pics are highly encouraged. ;)


Up near Glacier National Park -
http://s170537965.onlinehome.us/KcoWyo/gallery2/d/3381-1/Montana+116.jpg

[adrenaline503]

Cool, I can't wait to see it.

[Ridgewalker]

Pictures....pictures! I want to see it!
Nice find.

[Prybry]

I have to laugh everytime I look at the pictures in the brochure... The hip dude in the wide white belt and bell bottoms... yeah baby!

Right now I've got the entire galley ripped apart.... I'll take some pictures this weekend.

I like the canoe rack idea that guy came up with... You have to remove the cross brace in the back when you put the top up (full height door)

The full height door was one of the major attractions to buying this camper...
I'm to tall (6'4") to be squating through most the short popup doors today.

I also noted the turn buckle hold downs the guy has rigged up... not a bad idea. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to use. I came up with a set of barn door latches to tie into the tailgate pins, but that just holds it in the truck. I'm not sure if I need to hold it down vertically. It fits so tight between my tool boxes, I doubt it would ever come out in anything short of a roll over:eek:

Thanks,
Prybry

[Prybry]

Playing around with a name and graphic for my project... "Rock Roamer"
Looks pretty cool... I'll add it to the side of the camper when I paint it.
Prybry

[fisher205]

Pryby, If your going to do much off roading you will want to get some camper tiedowns with some "give" such as Torklifts or Happijacs. I've ripped the corner out of camper by using turnbuckles. - Brad

[Prybry]

Pryby, If your going to do much off roading you will want to get some camper tiedowns with some "give" such as Torklifts or Happijacs. I've ripped the corner out of camper by using turnbuckles. - Brad


There is the question... the latches I came up with to hold the camper in the bed only keep the camper from sliding backwards (out of the bed) they allow the camper to move up and down within the bed, the sides of the camper fit tightly between my bed side tool box system. So tight in fact that I'm thinking I can get by without any vertical hold downs at all. If I let the camper float within the bed is it easier on the truck and camper than bolting it through the bed floor? The camper has no provisions for a typical slide in camper hold down system. For example, it does not over hang the sides of the bed at all. One idea I had was to use some thing dropped into the stake pockets from the inside of the camper?

The picture above has a plate coming out from the bed pocket, that might also allow the camper to move up and down within the bed.

Thoughts?

[wesel123]

I had a Bethany a few years go on the back of a Nissan Frontier. It wroked great until I kept breaking the side glass panels when I slept in the bed!!! Even though it covered by wood be careful not to put too much pressure on one point.

It s pretty sturdy unit other than that. The wife just hated how "70's" it looked on the back of a modern truck so I lost out.

[MuddyMudskipper]

Great find and welcome to ExPo. I can't wait to see pics. So is a handlebar mustache, mutton chops, and white short sleeved turtle neck shirts going to be part of the project? Pics of that would be boss.

[Lynn]

That's a great find.

For those of you who want a Bethany but can't find one, here's (http://www.vintageprojects.com/misc/PopUpCamper.pdf) a site with downloadable plans to build a similar-style camper from scratch.

[Prybry]

I had a Bethany a few years go on the back of a Nissan Frontier. It wroked great until I kept breaking the side glass panels when I slept in the bed!!! Even though it covered by wood be careful not to put too much pressure on one point.

It s pretty sturdy unit other than that. The wife just hated how "70's" it looked on the back of a modern truck so I lost out.

I wondered about the windows... Maybe I should make some new support panels and scrap the old ones.

Yeah, My wife isn't crazy for the looks either... planning a new paint job to match the truck, hope it helps.

How did you hold yours to the truck? I'm still trying to figure out if I need hold downs... I have come up with what I call "hold in's" to keep it from sliding out the back. But since it fits so snuggly between my bedside tool boxes I'm half tempted to not tie it down... It doesn't seem to move at all, it really can't go anywhere but up and even then only straight up! Hate to think about bolting through the floor:mad: I also might try to tie into the stake pockets through the side sills.

Since I have a short box truck and it's designed to fit a long box, I'm leaving the tailgate on the truck... I put a 4X8 sheet of plywood down before loading the camper so it is supported evenly the entire way.

[wesel123]

I wondered about the windows... Maybe I should make some new support panels and scrap the old ones.

Yeah, My wife isn't crazy for the looks either... planning a new paint job to match the truck, hope it helps.

How did you hold yours to the truck? I'm still trying to figure out if I need hold downs... I have come up with what I call "hold in's" to keep it from sliding out the back. But since it fits so snuggly between my bedside tool boxes I'm half tempted to not tie it down... It doesn't seem to move at all, it really can't go anywhere but up and even then only straight up! Hate to think about bolting through the floor:mad: I also might try to tie into the stake pockets through the side sills.

Since I have a short box truck and it's designed to fit a long box, I'm leaving the tailgate on the truck... I put a 4X8 sheet of plywood down before loading the camper so it is supported evenly the entire way.

If I remember the only way was to bolt it. For the life of me I cant remember????? I had a skamper pop up and I can remember how I did that but cant think??? Man it sucks gettign old.

I'll try to find some pics in the next day or so and see if I have any of how it was attached. I'm pretty sure id had 4 bolts thru the floor.......I'll ge back to you.. Sorry

[Prybry]

If I remember the only way was to bolt it. For the life of me I cant remember????? I had a skamper pop up and I can remember how I did that but cant think??? Man it sucks gettign old.

I'll try to find some pics in the next day or so and see if I have any of how it was attached. I'm pretty sure id had 4 bolts thru the floor.......I'll ge back to you.. Sorry

I would love to see some pictures! Say,you don't happen to have the manual yet? Or know if the person you sold it to might have it... I'd love to have a copy of the original documentation.

Thanks,

[Prybry]

Here is the current state of the new (old) camper...
included some pictures from the maiden voyage to UP/Mi

Here is a link,
http://s535.photobucket.com/albums/ee357/prybry

Enjoy!

[Photog]

What about using a set of the rubber hood catches, that hold commercial truck hoods down. They are strong and flexable. Attach them at an angle, to hold the camper forward and down.
http://www.truckandtrailerpartsonline.com/images/large/WJ208RO.gif

http://www.truckandtrailerpartsonline.com/WJ208RO.asp

[RocKrawler]

I'm diggin it, but agree that paint would help a lot.

[Stan@FourWheel]

does your camper have access ports into the truck bed ?

doors that allow you to reach into the area in front of and behind the wheel well humps ?

you might be able to install eye bolts like they do on the four wheel pop-up campers.

see sample link here ...


http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/eyebolts.htm


just a thought

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How did you hold yours to the truck? I'm still trying to figure out if I need hold downs... I have come up with what I call "hold in's" to keep it from sliding out the back. But since it fits so snuggly between my bedside tool boxes I'm half tempted to not tie it down... It doesn't seem to move at all, it really can't go anywhere but up and even then only straight up! Hate to think about bolting through the floor:mad: I also might try to tie into the stake pockets through the side sills.




.

[Ridgewalker]

Thanks for all the pictures. Nice/neat looking little rig!

[Prybry]

I got the tie downs figured out before the UP-MI trip...
Ended up making a set of simple "L" brackets to fit into the front bed pockets and bolted them in... then ran a set of turn buckles up to the front of the camper. This controlled the front of the camper, holding down and side to side. Then I came up with a set of latches from large sliding barn doors for the rear. Customized a set of bars out of threaded rod to run from the latches to the tailgate pins. These controlled the camper from sliding backwards out of the box... but allowed the camper to move upward "bounce" if needed. Took the camper down some pretty rough trails for two days and only had one bolt work it's way loose. All in all I'm pretty happy with the way it handled the bumps and twists.

[Photog]

Very inovative attachments.

I wouldn't let the camper bounce in the bed. Make it tight with the bed, and let the truck's suspension absorb all the bouncing. Otherwise your camper, and possibly your truck, will get hammered as the camper moves up & down, with nothing to absorb the impacts. Just set the rear latches at a 45 degree angle, to pull the camper down & forward. The same 45 degree angle with the front mounts would be better too, if there is something sturdy in the camper structure, to attach to.

[Prybry]

Here are some interior pictures to show the mods to the galley...

Put in a microwave (only usable on 110v shore power), relocated the fresh water tank to the rear (only 3 gal) I carry a pair of 7 gal jugs for extra water. The sink also works on a garden hose connection if aval. Took out the ice box and use the space to store my porta potty or a 12v fridge... depends on the trip.

I also built my own power panel and put in a 20 amp 12v power supply which is better than the 30 yr old unit it had.

Yes, the side boards under the beds did lift up to allow access to the bed of the truck, but I chose to screw them down and put in additional framing to stiffen the sides up... the beds felt too bouncy and I'm a pretty big guy. I didn't want to wake up one night laying on the ground outside :) I've got tool boxes which fill the space below the camper... I take my gear out of them when the camper is on the truck. It is a loss of storage space... but I carry most of my gear in totes and put them outside when at the camp site anyway.

I also have a table which slides into the front of the galley counter top and stands on one leg... lets one person sit in each bed and eat a meal or play games and such. It breaks down and is stored out of the way when not needed.

[Prybry]

Very inovative attachments.

I wouldn't let the camper bounce in the bed. Make it tight with the bed, and let the truck's suspension absorb all the bouncing. Otherwise your camper, and possibly your truck, will get hammered as the camper moves up & down, with nothing to absorb the impacts. Just set the rear latches at a 45 degree angle, to pull the camper down & forward. The same 45 degree angle with the front mounts would be better too, if there is something sturdy in the camper structure, to attach to.

The trail ride in the UP-MI really tested the mounts out... I never once saw the camper bounce up at the rear. The ride provided by the PW is pretty supple for a truck that size. I will be removing the rear latches to cover the side corners with sheet metal before I repaint... I'll look into the angled mounting then.

Thanks,

[adrenaline503]

How is the wind noise on the highway with those square corners sticking up behind the cab?

[Prybry]

How is the wind noise on the highway with those square corners sticking up behind the cab?

Didn't notice any wind noise... only the wind whips my twin glass mount antennas around and smacks the camper... had to tip them hard against the camper body to keep them from beating them selves to pieces.

The camper has a pretty low profile as campers go... could put on a spoiler to see if mileage improves. doubt it... The PW is a gas hog no mater what you put in the back... 14mpg is best I ever saw... with the camper 13.5mpg

[runaboutram]

$500 in Reno, NV.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m312/trapcurtis/Pop-Up%20Camper/IPhonePics010.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m312/trapcurtis/Pop-Up%20Camper/IPhonePics006.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m312/trapcurtis/Pop-Up%20Camper/IPhonePics005.jpg

[Prybry]

That looks to be the same vintage as mine...
A little rougher shape perhaps, but looks to be all there...
The cabinets look factory but they have been painted white, everything from the factory was wood grain. I don't see the matresses, not that they are any prize... swapped mine out for some futons. Much nicer to sleep on.

The gas line to the heater and 2 burner stove would likely need updating... And if the water has been used at all, I'd replace the skunky tubing.

Does it have a real fridge? or the typical icebox...

By the way, there is a place in Wisconsin who still makes replacement canvas for these.

[runaboutram]

Yeah, I picked it up for $500 from a dealership that took a trade on a truck with it on it. Unfortunately the P.O. left it in his bed the whole time, so there is some dryrot in the floor. I will rebuild the floor and side wall plywood and then Ill wrap the belly in bituthene and make it water proof. The cab's have been recovered with a plastic laminate. Ill probably remove it and put some skins over it to get the wood grain back. The unit has a new sink and tank, and the original 2 burner range. Should make a fun winter project. I think Ill do a camoclad kit on it to make it look more modern. Should be a fun project.

[Prybry]

Yeah, I picked it up for $500 from a dealership that took a trade on a truck with it on it. Unfortunately the P.O. left it in his bed the whole time, so there is some dryrot in the floor. I will rebuild the floor and side wall plywood and then Ill wrap the belly in bituthene and make it water proof. The cab's have been recovered with a plastic laminate. Ill probably remove it and put some skins over it to get the wood grain back. The unit has a new sink and tank, and the original 2 burner range. Should make a fun winter project. I think Ill do a camoclad kit on it to make it look more modern. Should be a fun project.

There are a couple areas that you might want to look at...

Heard of problems with breaking the side window glass in bed mode. No wonder since the factory panels rest nearly on the glass.

I made new panels for the windows... I took some 1/4" plywood and made oversized covers (tricky since the edge of the window is close to the camper side wall) roughly 2" larger than the factory window fillers... then took the factory fillers and screwed/glued them to the back of the new oversize panels to keep them from sliding around... I kept the width of the panels just narrow enough to lay on the side board that remains when the sides are tipped up. I didn't put them back on with the hinges... just lay them in loose.

I also ran to 2x4's down each side just under the outside edge of the flip up seat boards... this was to help with stiffness of the beds. I'm a pretty big guy and they just felt to bouncy. Then I ran some short 2x4's toward the inside wall and screwed it all together. Nice and stiff now. I also screwed the flip up covers down since I have bed length tool boxes which fill the space up anyway. I probably don't want to do that to have the storage space.

Check your inside corners where the side walls meet up with the little shelves in each corner... I noticed mine had loosened up, so I added some "L" brackets to keep things from shifting further.

One word of caution, I don't think this camper is intended to have anyone in it while the floor is unsupported. Never enter the camper when supported on jacks or blocks... I made a 4X8 platform with casters to store mine on when it's not on the truck.

Speaking of jack stands? did yours come with just 2 jack poles? Mine only had the two tripod jacks and the thing sways so bad it scared my wife half to death while loading it into the truck. Her fears let me buy a nice set of 4 corner acme jacks. Much easier to load/unload now. But I still have to use the pole jacks to take them off and let it down to my winter storage platform.

I'd love to see some pictures of the interior... where is your power panel? I noticed it must be mounted in a different location than mine, since your cabinet has a full width door below the sink.

Look forward to swapping info... speaking of info. did you happen to get a owners manual... I'm still looking for one for mine.

Have fun!

[Funrover]

That is one of the coolest pick up campers I have seen! Very Cool!