dustboy wants to build a camper...

[dustboy]

Okay, so I got a pretty decent setup:





But I've started thinking about building a different camper, because of these shortfalls:

-lack of headroom (I'm 6' 3")
-bed is about 2" too short to stretch out
-poor security, esp. as used as a work truck (see my related thread)
-lack of places to mount hi-lift and other gear
-rear lift window dumps rain water inside the camper when raised!

Of course, this is my dream camper, Sönke's hard-side popup camper:



But I don't have the budget or the need for that sort of thing.

To remove the bed and do a conversion type of deal like SuperCamper crossed my mind, but I realized that I wouldn't gain much, except a tiny bit of width and storage below the top of the frame. Toyota's truck bed has already been engineered to be light and sturdy, and I'd rather not re-invent the wheel while adding possible failure points at the camper/frame interface. Also, I don't want to make the rig significantly wider.

SO, here are my realistic goals:

-more headroom
-LOW budget
-light weight
-roof and side mounting points
-add 1-2" of bed length
-improve security
-improve comfort (i.e. keep wife happy)

WHICH I think can be realized with the following ideas:

-build a contractor-style shell, using thin-wall steel square tube frame and sheetmetal skin.
-use existing windows from my old shell
-remove tailgate and add a single (double?) tall door.

QUESTIONS!
-add a cabover for storage? It wouldn't be high enough for sleeping.
-have you seen any crazy ideas that I should include?

BTW the sleeping platform could be modified too...

[dzzz]

I'm not sure what you mean by contractor style shells.

With your skills you might find an inexpensive material to build your popup.

[UHAULER]

Jimmy thinks thats a good idea. Jimmy also thinks Elaine is cute and would like to go out with her....

Sorry, couldn't help myself

Seriously, start building it. A cabover would still be a good storage area for clothes bags, midnight snacks, etc.

[rynosurf]

You should be able to sell your shell and buy some windows, it would be a shame to ruin a perfectly good shell. As for double doors, they are nice. I had some on my old camper but I always missed being able to flip down the gate for a seat or a place to set my stove. If you do go with a door or doors in the back, make it so the whole back flips up(doors and frame) so you have a built in canopy.

[dustboy]

[QUOTE=rynosurf;515911]You should be able to sell your shell and buy some windows, it would be a shame to ruin a perfectly good shell. /QUOTE]

Nah, I paid $130 for this POS shell, put a ton of holes in the fiberglass, the white spraypaint is chipping, and the liner is thrashed with crack torch burns from the previous owner...I'd easily pay twice that for new windows!

[4cruzer]

sorry, had to.
So, E, are you planning on something that is only for storage or sleeping, like your current setup, or do you want to stand up in there?
Or, are you thinking something around the same height as the one we tried (and failed) to install on yours, but with a cabover section integrated?
You could sit up straight but not stand... Have you thought about just making a rack for the cabover part for outdoor items like spares and tools?
Are you keeping your spare down below?
Will you be in the desert over X-mas?
GB

[18seeds]

flip pac?

[Sportsman Matt]

Just a thought, why not check out this thread I started?

http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ad.php?t=35582

Looking at the Slip In Unit as a base to start building from, plus it's removable so you can use the truck as a truck when needed.

[4cruzer]

I'm not sure about Dustboy, but my problem with Flippacs (and RTT's, and Wildernests, and a lot of the pop tops out there) is the fact that anything mounted in the roof, like kayaks, surfboards, or mountain bikes must be displaced when you want to go to bed. There are so many times when I don't want to take things off of the roof so I can go to bed, whether it be parking at a pemex in the rain and passing out for the night or camping at a place where my things will likely walk away in the night (or both!).
I need to leave my toys up while I sleep. I think the answer for me is either a Westy type pop up or a plain old hard top, and for reasons regarding weight, wind and discretion while 'street camping,' I'm leaning towards the latter...
like Matt I guess....
except mine will need to me tailor made as there is nothing for 1rst generation 4runners...

[dustboy]

Sportsman Matt, that looks like a good platform to build from, I'm guessing very expensive and heavy though?

4cruzer (if that's your real name) I think something similar to the tall ARE contractor shell, with something over the cab to break the wind (hee hee). My shell right now works fine for summer trips, but I'm thinking of some winter trips where I will want to sit up and play guitar or read inside.

After watching a friend with a ATC pop-up wheel some gnarly trails, I'm wary of carrying too much bulk and weight..My solution is going to have to be big enough to be comfortable, light enough to still be fun on the trail, and functional enough to haul lumber and cabinets.

I woke up Sunday morning thinking about shell materials, and had a cool idea. All of the sandwich-style sheet materials like Nida-Core are super expensive, but I could make my own using this 3/4" foam insulation sheathing from Home Depot ($14)

and laminating a sheet of thin aluminum (~$50/sheet) on either side..I have access to a vacuum veneer press, so I could make some super-lightweight panels for less than $130 each!