The TARDIS - A Four Wheel Camper Build

[Carlyle]

Another thought would be to just partially router out the spot where the hinges are going. Do you plan to bolt all the way through, I would assume so for strength. Definitely keep the Lagun mount, that was one of the best finds around and I will never go back to a regular mount after getting mine.

Stay warm,

Carl

 

[Overland Hadley]

Definitely keep the Lagun mount, that was one of the best finds around and I will never go back to a regular mount after getting mine.

Stay warm,

Carl

Yeah, the Lagun is a game changer.

Trying to stay warm. The sun is getting higher in the sky, so that is promising.

Thanks Carl.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Roof Rack

Most likely we will not get anymore large amounts of snow, so the new rack went on the roof.

Best part of the rack design is, I can still attach kayak saddles and canoe blocks. :ylsmoke:

Spring is here! Well, that's not true, but it was here today. Sunny skies with a high near freezing, a nice break before we go back to more months of sub crazy cold. I was lucky and was able to spend the day working in the yard, cutting-splitting firewood and working on the basket for the roof of Tardis.

The basket/mini platform will be used to hold a couple of large, lightweight dry-bags. This will open up some space inside the camper, and more space is good.

The basket started the day as six foot sections of aluminum.


After some cutting and drilling.

All burnished and cleaned.

Mounted to the rack bars. (I mounted the platform bars under the rack bars, mostly because I like the way it looks. It also makes the platform slightly lower, which is good. And it makes a small lip that will aid in strapping down the dry bags.)

Hope to get it mounted on the roof before winter comes back. :elkgrin:

Here is the materials list for the rack basket.

- 1.5 x 3/16 aluminum bar, McMaster # 8975K55

- 1 1/8 aluminum U-bolt, McMaster # 3035T13

And the aluminum bars are ski3pin's inspired aluminum Yakima bars. Lightweight Load Bars

 

[SLO_F-250]

Overland, the camper is looking great. Glad to see progress continues. Sure makes me appreciate the weather here in CA. Helps me with my "tinkering" problem.

I installed your struts tonight and a matching pair on the rear. WOW what a difference. Too late to take picts but will get them up soon. Thanks again! :elkgrin:

 

[RickNV]

Tardis- that roof rack is camper porn- nice job- I love to view these custom creations - you have a real talent for real world solutions that are unique and functional- thanks for sharing.... if I see the Tardis on the road Im gonna have to pull you over and look at all this in person ...

 

[inu]

Great rig! Question for you on your Timbrens, I'm looking to go the same route with an '03 + OME lift and was wondering if you could let us know what model you ended up with and how you got there (ie did you use the methods as described by Timbren's literature?)

Thanks!

 

[Overland Hadley]

Overland, the camper is looking great. Glad to see progress continues. Sure makes me appreciate the weather here in CA. Helps me with my "tinkering" problem.

I installed your struts tonight and a matching pair on the rear. WOW what a difference. Too late to take picts but will get them up soon. Thanks again! :elkgrin:

Yes, progress on the camper is continuing. Without a workshop or a heated work space it can be hard to keep my tinkering addiction fed in the winter.

Glad I could lend a hand lifting your roof.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Tardis- that roof rack is camper porn- nice job- I love to view these custom creations - you have a real talent for real world solutions that are unique and functional- thanks for sharing.... if I see the Tardis on the road Im gonna have to pull you over and look at all this in person ...

Thanks for the kind words. Always fun to know that others are enjoying following along with my project.

I also really liked how the rack turned out. I had it "displayed" next to my dinner table (where I made it) for a couple months.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Great rig! Question for you on your Timbrens, I'm looking to go the same route with an '03 + OME lift and was wondering if you could let us know what model you ended up with and how you got there (ie did you use the methods as described by Timbren's literature?)

Thanks!

Hi inu,

The Timbrens for my Gen2 will be different than what you will need for your '03. What I did was call Timbren directly and gave them the measurements from the bump-stop area of my suspension. They were super helpful finding the right size for what I needed. However, you can not order directly from Timbren, and I did have a little trouble getting the right combination shipped to me.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Speaker Shelf

Finished the speaker shelf for my Aliph Jawbone Big Jambox. The location is a compromise, but it is a good compromise.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Started on some upholstery today! I am super excited to work on this as it will make the interior of the camper feel much more finished.

I had ordered the fabric and foam a year ago from a marine upholstery supplier, and it had sat unopened until today. When I opened the roll of foam I discovered I had received a thin open cell foam. I thought I had ordered closed cell foam, but a year later it is what it is. After looking it over I just was not that happy with the open cell, and thought over what my options were. Oddly, I found a near perfect solution using Ridge-Rest sleeping pad foam. Happy that I had an on hand solution, the work began.


Started with the small dinette seat on the passenger side of the camper.

The foam cut to size. I notched the foam around the brackets, but the fabric will go under them.

Here is the fabric rough cut. It is a "marine" leather, and I think it is really nice material. In fact I totally love it! My girl, on the other hand, hates it and can not believe that I am putting pleather in the camper. But she has only seen the fabric swatch and I am hoping that when I am finished she will like it. Either way I really like it and am happy to have nice leather in my camper.

It was at this point that I started getting the air compressor and staples out. Then I realized that I did not have the 1/4 crown stapler with me. Full stop. Will have to do that part on another day. Spent the rest of the time available prepping the drivers side couch for upholstery, and wiring another electrical switch.

 

[Super Doody]

I wanted to explain this a little better.

I have decided that I will be using my Therm-a-Rest Dreamtime XL as my bed mattress. I was then going to have couch cushions custom upholstered to work with my seating area. After doing some math, and adding up the amount of space dedicated couch cushions would take up when stored, I have decided that I will use the Dreamtime as the cushion for the seating area as well. Of course this is something of a major compromise, and most people probably would not want to do this. (I know a big thing in a small living space is to have as little "set up" as possible.) But the amount of space that would be used, and the need to be able to stealth camp with the top down, makes me think this is the best option for me.

So, depending on where I store my Dreamtime, I will have some available space in the cabover.

Hi Nathanael,

Where are you storing your dreamtime therm-a -est? Are you rolling it up or leaving it in the cabover area when traveling?

thanks,

Jim

 

[imcolej]

Finished the speaker shelf for my Aliph Jawbone Big Jambox. The location is a compromise, but it is a good compromise.

Love this idea! My brother in law has one of the smaller Jawbone Jamboxes and I was blown away with the sound quality in such a small wireless speaker. I have been considering buying one for my future FWC Hawk Shell. Where in the camper is the mounted? One of the many things I'm digging about your build.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Hi Nathanael,

Where are you storing your dreamtime therm-a -est? Are you rolling it up or leaving it in the cabover area when traveling?

thanks,

Jim

Hi Jim, sorry I missed your question last week.

Because I do not like to totally deflate them each morning, what I have been doing is to unfold them and let them protrude into the main cabin space from the cabover. (This also leaves some room in the cabover for sleeping bag etc.) With the layout that I have this works fine for me, but I can see that with other layouts it might be more in the way. Also, if I am planning on spending the night in stealth mode (with the top down) the pad and sleeping bag need to be down in the cabin.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Love this idea! My brother in law has one of the smaller Jawbone Jamboxes and I was blown away with the sound quality in such a small wireless speaker. I have been considering buying one for my future FWC Hawk Shell. Where in the camper is the mounted? One of the many things I'm digging about your build.

Yes, the big Jambox has plenty of range for the camper. :ylsmoke: And the wireless operation (lithium battery and bluetooth) make so much sense in a small camper.

The shelf is mounted on the passenger side of the rear wall, next to the door.