Homemade truck camper ideas...

[myke]

I am pondering ideas for a homemade camper shell for a Tacoma. At first I was thinking it's probably not worth it, but then I came across a couple of examples that made me think otherwise. At it's base level it could be just a simple box. Obviously weight needs to be kept at a minimum, but with wood, while challenging, I think it could be possible.

Standing room would be cool, as would maybe an overhang above the cab for a sleeping area.

Besides all wood, maybe some sort of wood, or aluminum frame with a heavy duty tarp wrapped around it, with some sort of rigid insulation on the inside for more stability... but the whole could flex somewhat. Just trying to think ways to make it super light.

Couple of cool examples I came across:

 

[Milk Hauler]

Bob posted this a while ago.

http://belairshells.com/wood-n-alum

I love this one. Would make a killer deer hunting rig.

This one I could almost live in.

 

[Patrick46]

I've thought about something like this too, as I've got a S-10 pick-up I could use

...but I'd hafta build one with a bit more 'artistic charm' to it
like this...

or this...

[img=854x816]http://www.miamilakesautomall.com/ram-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/85/2015/05/tiny-house.jpg[/img]


So this is a definite do-able idea! There's lots of examples on these interwebs to use for ideas.

 

[myke]

Bob posted this a while ago.

http://belairshells.com/wood-n-alum

I love this one. Would make a killer deer hunting rig.

I've seen those before and really like them. The 48" one would be nice!

I've thought about something like this too, as I've got a S-10 pick-up I could use

...but I'd hafta build one with a bit more 'artistic charm' to it
like this...

or this...

[img=854x816]http://www.miamilakesautomall.com/ram-blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/85/2015/05/tiny-house.jpg[/img]


So this is a definite do-able idea! There's lots of examples on these interwebs to use for ideas.

Those are great! They do look heavy though...

 

[MikeRuth]

Even a commercial manufactured slide in can be quite heavy, not to mention what you put in afterwards.

One thing though, if the axle is rated for it, a stronger spring is a cheap fix to ride height and stability.

 

[offroad]

How about a long bed example? Cant believe that folks would try it all on a short bed. More space is better I hope.

 

[ZoNiE]

Try it on a 4.5 foot bed of a Sport Trac. Tried to design one years ago. Easy for one person, not so much for two...

 

[highdesertranger]

well it's certainly doable. it would be very easy to make it way to heavy for a Tacoma. for heavens sake please don't build it like the last of your pics with 2x4's and osb. do a search for IGBT's thread on his home built camper. if I was to do it, that's the I would do it. highdsertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

Frankly a used enclosed 5x8/10 cargo trailer will be cheaper, 2X more sq ft and have 100% more salvage value.

 

[myke]

do a search for IGBT's thread on his home built camper.  if I was to do it,  that's the I would do it.  highdsertranger

Can't find it, nothing turns up for 'IGBT'? Can you supply a link? thanks!

 

[offroad]

https://vanlivingforum.com/search/?action=results&sid=705c1a2c816080267c83065eda0bdbd3

Can't find it, nothing turns up for 'IGBT'? Can you supply a link? thanks!

 

[myke]

^^ Cool, thanks!

 

[myke]

Oh yeah, I have seen that one before, that thing is so sick...

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks off road. highdesertranger

 

[DannyB1954]

Web search Vardo, or gypsy wagon. Lots of info on how to build them.

You can also get a lot of building ideas from looking at ultra light boat building. Boats keep the water out from the bottom up, Campers from the top down.

 

[masterplumber]

If I were to build from scratch I think I'd go this route.
http://thesupercamper.blogspot.com/

 

[Canine]

If I were to build from scratch I think I'd go this route.
http://thesupercamper.blogspot.com/

I checked into that. Expensive and labor intensive. Just for the panels, you are looking at $3500 to $4000. Then add in epoxy and other materials. I really, really like the stuff, but a bit too much for me. Not outrageous, though; you can easily triple that.

 

[DannyB1954]

I watched several videos on something called Structural Insulated Panels - SIPs

They are supposed to be stronger than a wood stud framed wall and also insulated.

I was wondering if I could make my own using thinner foam. Some say Tightbond rubber contact cement would work.
http://www.titebond.com/product.aspx?id=1d1abbd4-a6ac-4f63-996c-e94f18f3704a 
http://www.titebond.com/product.aspx?id=d20b39a8-adca-4ba0-86ee-0bd6cf34af3e or
http://www.titebond.com/product.aspx?id=10b9804a-3e78-4172-b34f-766071a96f7b

 

[sushidog]

My Aliner is made of SIP construction. A 1" Styrofoam core is vacuum glued between a sheet of thin aluminum sheet on the outside and a thin Filon inner sheet. It is strong and light but expensive material.

If I were going to build an ultralight design I'd build a foamie. I would use 2+ inches of overlapping foam and then cover it with canvas and coat it with an epoxy coating

Here's some good construction tips on foamie teardrop campers. http://www.tnttt.com/viewforum.php?f=55&sid=d29a86bb42a88c0871487de0f4a8b4fb

Chip

 

[DannyB1954]

Thanks for the link. I have been to that forum before, but did not find the area for foamies. I will start exploring there today.

I have in the past made a camper shell out of foam covered fiberglass, but have not considered canvas. It was a ton of work as the shell had the same contours as the cab of the truck, (no square sheets). About halfway through, I figured out that it would have been cheaper to just buy a camper shell. Making the sheets flat would be a lot easier. I bet the epoxy would also work well for bonding the foam to 1/4" plywood for sips.