Actually in the beginning it was inspired by the UNICAT monsters. They are amazing, but way beyond my capabilities. I had picked up a 1970 army M35A2 deuce and a half truck to use for hauling lumber/gravel, etc and my grey matter started churning out ideas.
For a long time I was stuck on the idea of the Alaskan style 4 corner solid lift system, had all my plans for a heavy duty cable based lift as I don't trust hydraulic or pneumatic seals long term. Then stumbled across the Japanese onroad camper here : http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45220
The added symplicity of a hinged lift, along with no need for a dropped door on the side, and angling the roof towards the sun for better solar, was too much to pass up. So in the end my design became a cross between a UNICAT, the japanese camper, and a few other expedition designs.
a little bit of CAD work and here is the basic representation of the design. I have not finalized locations/sizes for all the tanks, filtration, betteries etc. but there is a lot of room under the trucks stock bed and I want to keep the weight down low so most of it will go there.
The size was determines by the stock frame and bed length. The original bed on the truck is 8'wide and 12' long with a 1' gate. The departure angle is 40* and I wanted to retain that so the maximum length of the body before being angled up is 13.5' with a 2.5' overhang at the angled portion. The overhang area provides plenty of space for light weight storage as well as a lift for two spare wheels.
The current layout gives me seperate shower and lavatory, however I may combine them in order to get a little more space for food storage. The upstairs will have a queen size bed on one end and the other end seperated by a sound curtain will have two childrens beds. The porch platforms are also the door shutters; they will share the hinge with the doors but pop off and attach as the platform.
Solar system includes 4- 200 watt canadian solar panels that I already have. I actually get about 220 watts from each on an average day. Combined with a 2'x12' solar hot water heater. The hot water tank is both electric and indirect water heated. The solar heater as well as the engine both act as heat sources for the 13gallon storage tank as well as for the primary hydronic radiant heating. Backup heating will be done with a marine solid fuel stove.
Insulation is a minimum of 3 inches of solid polyurethane foam (better insulation than most houses)
Laminated safety glass based full awning windows and skylights for proper ventilation.
This is also a long term plan - probably take me the next few years to complete, but as I work a bit at a time I may as well have a thread to put it all
- it also gives me time to tweak the plans as I go based on everyone elses experience.
For a long time I was stuck on the idea of the Alaskan style 4 corner solid lift system, had all my plans for a heavy duty cable based lift as I don't trust hydraulic or pneumatic seals long term. Then stumbled across the Japanese onroad camper here : http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45220
The added symplicity of a hinged lift, along with no need for a dropped door on the side, and angling the roof towards the sun for better solar, was too much to pass up. So in the end my design became a cross between a UNICAT, the japanese camper, and a few other expedition designs.
a little bit of CAD work and here is the basic representation of the design. I have not finalized locations/sizes for all the tanks, filtration, betteries etc. but there is a lot of room under the trucks stock bed and I want to keep the weight down low so most of it will go there.
The size was determines by the stock frame and bed length. The original bed on the truck is 8'wide and 12' long with a 1' gate. The departure angle is 40* and I wanted to retain that so the maximum length of the body before being angled up is 13.5' with a 2.5' overhang at the angled portion. The overhang area provides plenty of space for light weight storage as well as a lift for two spare wheels.
The current layout gives me seperate shower and lavatory, however I may combine them in order to get a little more space for food storage. The upstairs will have a queen size bed on one end and the other end seperated by a sound curtain will have two childrens beds. The porch platforms are also the door shutters; they will share the hinge with the doors but pop off and attach as the platform.
Solar system includes 4- 200 watt canadian solar panels that I already have. I actually get about 220 watts from each on an average day. Combined with a 2'x12' solar hot water heater. The hot water tank is both electric and indirect water heated. The solar heater as well as the engine both act as heat sources for the 13gallon storage tank as well as for the primary hydronic radiant heating. Backup heating will be done with a marine solid fuel stove.
Insulation is a minimum of 3 inches of solid polyurethane foam (better insulation than most houses)
Laminated safety glass based full awning windows and skylights for proper ventilation.
This is also a long term plan - probably take me the next few years to complete, but as I work a bit at a time I may as well have a thread to put it all
- it also gives me time to tweak the plans as I go based on everyone elses experience.
