7K of USA

Colorado_Outback

Adventurer
Couple exterior shots from when I first got it loaded up.
20141016_165528 by colorado_baja, on Flickr

20141017_161914 by colorado_baja, on Flickr

20141017_153946 by colorado_baja, on Flickr


Some mods I have done to the camper so far.

Got the new inverter installed.
10341944_1494756850756158_9134681543805271675_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr

10420016_1508937566004753_4395689516152964262_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr

I made this little panel for the charge controller pendant and a 12v display so I can check the charge on the battery. I also added another 12v port for charging phones and what not.
20140721_195552 by colorado_baja, on Flickr


Next I back tracked every wire that i could find in the camper to try to figure out the exterior lighting.
The fixtures are daisy chained together and the old fixtures were crappy push connector style that were super corroded.
10513320_1508937499338093_347032511092006485_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr

They shorted me one light in the original shipment, ive since replaced that one as well.
10556266_1509252495973260_5339734493298660766_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr

The previous owner had installed a deck and some 6x9's in the cabinet above the dinette. Much to my amusement he had a separate car battery in the cabinet up there and some alligator clamps wired up to the stereo. Sketchy to say the least..

I ran the wires around to the fuse box and did a better job of securing the deck. I added a switch to switch the stereo on and off since there is no 12v switched on the camper. I also added another 12v outlet for charging and running my Sat radio receiver.

10460784_1509550192610157_4765722273679797848_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr

Some interior pics.
10268621_1477290125836164_191967630075292142_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr

10290620_1477290112502832_8091467088416516791_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr

1512348_1477290149169495_2898752131448093776_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr

10007004_1477290099169500_2441768381928041093_n by colorado_baja, on Flickr
 
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Colorado_Outback

Adventurer
Figured out a shade structure today out of a bunch of stuff I had laying around.
10517950_1512190509012792_7033943700605665352_n.jpg


Also got the new 12v outlet, voltage gauge and charge controller pendent installed above the power compartment.
10553313_1512296505668859_251391356162347748_n.jpg
 

haven

Expedition Leader
Nice camper. There's a lot of value in an older camper that has been well looked after. Water leaks leading to dry rot of the wooden frame is the biggest issue. Looks like you have a winner.
 

superbuickguy

Explorer
nice truck, cool camper.

unless someone changed it (and it'd be a heap of work to do so) your transfer case is a NP241, not the venerated 205

I like how you're restoring you camper, me, I'm blowing mine apart to build a RTT trailer
 

Colorado_Outback

Adventurer
Coming along nicely - let us know how it fits in the new prime mover!

First step is to repair the torn up bed, this truck saw a lot of camper duty. It has a set of bolt on camper tie downs on the front of the bed and the weight shifting over time has cracked the bed on both sides. Ill post some pics tomorrow.

nice truck, cool camper.

unless someone changed it (and it'd be a heap of work to do so) your transfer case is a NP241, not the venerated 205

I like how you're restoring you camper, me, I'm blowing mine apart to build a RTT trailer

Thanks for the info on the T-case. Still learning about this Chevy, its my first full size truck.

Very nice work. Any major leaking?

The camper is in really good shape for its age. Its all original inside, its missing the two cabinet doors in the top bunk and the pull cover for the top bunk. The exterior was "resealed" and painted by the previous owner, he also added the gold pin stripes.

I have yet to see any signs of water penetration inside, Ive had the fridge and heater out and been inside every space in the camper tracing and running wires for the stereo and exterior lighting.

Speaking of the stereo, the previous owner put it in and didn't finish wiring it up. I ran the wires into the stock fuse box. Also installed a 2nd 12v outlet by the stereo for charging and running the sat radio.
10460784_1509550192610157_4765722273679797848_n.jpg


Both antennas are ran out the back of the cabinet.
10460205_1509550222610154_3438736467380298027_n.jpg


Thinking of getting a couple of speaker wire things like this wiring them to the rear outputs and mounting them by the thermostat.
klipsch-hd-theater-600-speaker-wire-ports-macro.jpg


Then I could get a couple more 6x9's and mount them in boxes like this to set out side the camper for full on party mode.
6192239.01.prod.jpg


Other mods the previous owner installed include the digital thermostat and a 12v/hand pump faucet on the sink.

Over all this camper has exceeded all my expectations, cant wait to get it into the truck. It will really up my ability to explore.
 
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Colorado_Outback

Adventurer
It looks like it was used to haul a big camper most of its life. The front of the bed where the camper tie downs are completely cracked apart. Going to weld them up and lay down a roll on liner before I put the camper in there.
And switch to frame mounts up front so it doesn't happen again.

10378253_1519345018297341_7805492666674118875_n.jpg


So far I've found that it needs an idler pulley on the belt system. All of the steering looks pretty crusty and the idler arm is popping and has some play so I think I'm going to replace everything between the tie rod ends. Needs some poopy fluid flushed out of the brakes, they feel good otherwise.

Its in good shape for a 20 year old truck with 224K on the clock. It puffs a little white smoke now and then, but nothing major.

I really wanted a newer turbo diesel but with my sub 10K budget all the trucks were pretty clapped out.

Future plans include 03 Escalade heated buckets. LQ9 6.0 swap when this motor is done and some other camper related mods.
 

redthies

Renaissance Redneck
Don't forget the Dana 60 up front! Is the camper for a full size truck, or are you going to have to stack bricks or something under it to clear the cab of the truck? (Just kidding on the bricks, I know you'd end up with a drawer system etc underneath). The camper itself looks to be in great shape. Nice score!
 

Colorado_Outback

Adventurer
Don't forget the Dana 60 up front! Is the camper for a full size truck, or are you going to have to stack bricks or something under it to clear the cab of the truck? (Just kidding on the bricks, I know you'd end up with a drawer system etc underneath). The camper itself looks to be in great shape. Nice score!

I need 42" to clear the cab and only have 40" under the cab over. Since I have so little distance to cover I'll probably build a tray to set the camper on and secure it to the bed. I want to keep the camper tight to the cab to reduce wind resistance as much as possible.

Not sure what truck this camper was designed for, it was built in 88 and that was the first year of this body style. By the late 80's Mitchell was almost completely out of the camper business and shifting their production to modular homes.

Not sure about the 60 up front. I'm all ready going to have to restrain myself from wheeling this thing too hard, for my campers sake.
 

Colorado_Outback

Adventurer
Repairing bed damage..
10613148_1520524184846091_6862995435322615155_n.jpg


10423868_1520524194846090_6727825087723789680_n.jpg


In pretty good shape for a 20 year old 1ton aside from the stake pocket damage..
10253921_1520524208179422_2927695377435802396_n.jpg


The majority of the paint damage on the truck was on the top rail of the bed and in the bed.
10592974_1520524224846087_76933909174662358_n.jpg


Still needs some work but at least its not flapping in the wind anymore.
10603508_1520552964843213_8721251775765209729_n.jpg


Not bad for 120 bucks at Ace and a days work.
10606533_1520552954843214_7817046495088127878_n.jpg
 

superbuickguy

Explorer
Don't forget the Dana 60 up front! Is the camper for a full size truck, or are you going to have to stack bricks or something under it to clear the cab of the truck? (Just kidding on the bricks, I know you'd end up with a drawer system etc underneath). The camper itself looks to be in great shape. Nice score!

60s are nice, but unless you've got a snowplow, or wheel pretty hard - a 44 with a truss works just fine.
Repairing bed damage..
10613148_1520524184846091_6862995435322615155_n.jpg


10423868_1520524194846090_6727825087723789680_n.jpg


In pretty good shape for a 20 year old 1ton aside from the stake pocket damage..
10253921_1520524208179422_2927695377435802396_n.jpg


The majority of the paint damage on the truck was on the top rail of the bed and in the bed.
10592974_1520524224846087_76933909174662358_n.jpg


Still needs some work but at least its not flapping in the wind anymore.
10603508_1520552964843213_8721251775765209729_n.jpg


Not bad for 120 bucks at Ace and a days work.
10606533_1520552954843214_7817046495088127878_n.jpg

That bedliner seems to have come out pretty well - what brand did you use?

how long is your camper from the portion that goes against the headboard to the tail?
 

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