Okay this one is a multi year project, that is involving me learning new skills.
My wife and I are childless, and love camping, we are also getting older and aren't among the tiny human population. We want a comfortable couples oriented camper that will fit in, and be well within the weight carrying limits of our half ton 4x4 pickup because I sure as snot am not going to spend $50K to buy a new one every 5 years or so.... The old truck is getting repowered. New "bulletproofed" 5.4L 3v V8, freshly redone 4 speed auto, new seals on the transfer case etc...
But the camper itself. We were looking at buying a nice basic little composite over reinforced aluminum camper from a company called Eureka Campers, but before the finances could be worked out, the company folded.
Most slide in campers are honestly too heavy for 3/4 ton pickup trucks let along a half ton. I needed to design and build something myself. I am still in the design phase.
My design requirements are pretty straight forward.
#1. Room for a king size bed.
#2. Standing height room for me at 6' even. Actually somewhat shorter now that I am getting older but you know...
#3. Room to sit up in bed.
#4. Space inside the camper for a port o potty should weather be foul enough to keep us from wanting to exit the camper for a privy tent.
#5. Air conditioning.
#6. Provisioning for water supply storage.
#7. Ability to do ultra basic cooking / making coffee inside the camper.
The design so far is what I can best describe as an overgrown camper shell shape, standing height, with a slide out end where the camper can expand over the opened tailgate of the truck to gain an additional 24" of interior length, a folding king size sleeper sofa, integrated into the rear wall of the slide out will be a 5K BTU A/C unit. There will be an overcab, but that will be solely for a full width storage compartment, not a sleeper. Water storage will be via 4 Reliance AquaTainer 7 gallon water carriers. The kitchenette as it were will be simply a folding table on the wall and a little propane stove.
Construction of the unit will be an aluminum welded frame, with PMF or Poor Mans Fiberglass. Which is canvas over foam, or foamie construction. I am planning on 1.5" thick foam walls and of course the foam, and lots and lots of dilluted wood glue / canvas.
The interior will be trimmed out / cabinet doors / tables made from mostly red Cedar to keep weight down and looks up. The table will likely be Aracuo ply with a red cedar veneer and capping for strength and to keep the look consistent.
I have seen similar designed campers built for Toyota Tacomas, and weight estimates are not including the bed cushions, stove, water etc... just the bare camper, 400 - 500 lbs. That leaves me with plenty of room with my 1920lb payload rating!
I mentioned the aluminum framing. I haven't a clue how to weld aluminum, but one of the gents in my small group at church does, and he offered to teach me. So new skill hopefully on the way. I am planning on welding up the entire frame, reinforcing some key areas so I can include a DIY awning off of each side of the camper, and reinforce there the camper jacks will go.
My wife and I are childless, and love camping, we are also getting older and aren't among the tiny human population. We want a comfortable couples oriented camper that will fit in, and be well within the weight carrying limits of our half ton 4x4 pickup because I sure as snot am not going to spend $50K to buy a new one every 5 years or so.... The old truck is getting repowered. New "bulletproofed" 5.4L 3v V8, freshly redone 4 speed auto, new seals on the transfer case etc...
But the camper itself. We were looking at buying a nice basic little composite over reinforced aluminum camper from a company called Eureka Campers, but before the finances could be worked out, the company folded.
Most slide in campers are honestly too heavy for 3/4 ton pickup trucks let along a half ton. I needed to design and build something myself. I am still in the design phase.
My design requirements are pretty straight forward.
#1. Room for a king size bed.
#2. Standing height room for me at 6' even. Actually somewhat shorter now that I am getting older but you know...
#3. Room to sit up in bed.
#4. Space inside the camper for a port o potty should weather be foul enough to keep us from wanting to exit the camper for a privy tent.
#5. Air conditioning.
#6. Provisioning for water supply storage.
#7. Ability to do ultra basic cooking / making coffee inside the camper.
The design so far is what I can best describe as an overgrown camper shell shape, standing height, with a slide out end where the camper can expand over the opened tailgate of the truck to gain an additional 24" of interior length, a folding king size sleeper sofa, integrated into the rear wall of the slide out will be a 5K BTU A/C unit. There will be an overcab, but that will be solely for a full width storage compartment, not a sleeper. Water storage will be via 4 Reliance AquaTainer 7 gallon water carriers. The kitchenette as it were will be simply a folding table on the wall and a little propane stove.
Construction of the unit will be an aluminum welded frame, with PMF or Poor Mans Fiberglass. Which is canvas over foam, or foamie construction. I am planning on 1.5" thick foam walls and of course the foam, and lots and lots of dilluted wood glue / canvas.
The interior will be trimmed out / cabinet doors / tables made from mostly red Cedar to keep weight down and looks up. The table will likely be Aracuo ply with a red cedar veneer and capping for strength and to keep the look consistent.
I have seen similar designed campers built for Toyota Tacomas, and weight estimates are not including the bed cushions, stove, water etc... just the bare camper, 400 - 500 lbs. That leaves me with plenty of room with my 1920lb payload rating!
I mentioned the aluminum framing. I haven't a clue how to weld aluminum, but one of the gents in my small group at church does, and he offered to teach me. So new skill hopefully on the way. I am planning on welding up the entire frame, reinforcing some key areas so I can include a DIY awning off of each side of the camper, and reinforce there the camper jacks will go.
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