dustboy
Explorer
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...
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...