need help building home-made Camper Shell for Mazda B3000

[kklowell]

I honestly can't do any of the work myself except hold the hammer, or maybe the ladder, if someone trusts me   So I really think I'm going to get help if all works out.  If that's the case, I'll be asking them what they can, and are willing to do for me, then I'll buy the materials  

You commented on my topper in the thread I started, so I'll comment about it here on your thread. I raised it about 6 inches using plywood, which I'm also using to make the back. I can give you pictures of anything in it. I got the shell for free, so I have only about $100 in it so far. I'm building it for a road trip from Maine to Florida and back that I'm embarking on in a week, and some fishing trips I'll be enjoying this summer.

Incidentally, my truck is the same size as yours. My topper is actually not made to fit my ranger and is about an inch too long. THe risers help hide that fact.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

You might want to look at the Bel-Air camper shells, made right there in California. If you still prefer to go the DIY route, maybe the pics will give you some ideas about what you might like.

These aint cheap!

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

Thanks tx,

All I keep thinking about seems to be "not" being able to stand up, and then, Denise, you can't afford an apartment on wheels, lol  

These shells are nice, but I'd like to see more interior jobs (DIY).  I do realize I wouldn't be doing a lot inside, as long as weather is good.  I would do my cooking, and have my chairs/table outdoors. 

I don't think boondocking is going to be for me because I want a shower, and toilets, so building a shell would be fine as all I would need it for is my things, and sleeping.  I think putting the money into a DIY would be my best bet.  I just love the home-made ones I see.  

So much to think about, plan, calculate costs

 

[highdesertranger]

So showers + Toilets usually means $. Plus without a RVIA(RV sticker) many private campgrounds will not accept you or make you stay in the tent only section. What I am trying to say is you are severely limiting your choices and driving the price up. Just wanted to let you know because it didn't sound like you were taking that into consideration.

Highdesertranger

 

[Cammalu]

I am looking at coming down, even just to stay for a week or two   I can't wait to meet people in person, masks or no masks   I'll bring both my telescopes!  Hoping for some very, starry nights in other places.  We have very few in Summer-time up here ;(

Better hurry before it gets too hot. It’s creeping up a bit everyday!

Have kayaks to lend and river nearby. Hope u get someone else to come too as I’m no fun. I’m running family and myself to a jillion appts and mowing in between.

Can ask on here when you have a time frame and perhaps someone else will come too.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I've done my fair share of camper shell camping....and it's ok...efficient...cheap...but climbing in over the tailgate to get in and then falling back to the ground every morning sure gets OLD after a few days...doing it for a month is a total PITA.

Yes, you can use steps of some sort...but sometimes those things slip, or crack, or move, or get slippery....or you simply miss your footing and...you find out that gravity works. 

If you have any ability to buy some kind of small trailer to sleep in...I highly recommend that as an alternative.

One of these might be around the price you pay for a decent camper shell outfitted with all the goodies:

https://www.runawaycampers.com/

 

[G0ldengirl68]

You commented on my topper in the thread I started, so I'll comment about it here on your thread. I raised it about 6 inches using plywood, which I'm also using to make the back. I can give you pictures of anything in it. I got the shell for free, so I have only about $100 in it so far. I'm building it for a road trip from Maine to Florida and back that I'm embarking on in a week, and some fishing trips I'll be enjoying this summer.

Incidentally, my truck is the same size as yours. My topper is actually not made to fit my ranger and is about an inch too long. THe risers help hide that fact.

it sounds good, and a freebit like that is awesome! I like the shape of it and windows.  Sounds like a great time you're headed into   I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my canopy.  I see txtosturgis has a post on living out of something that small and I am afraid it's getting less attractive to me, but for short trips/campouts it will be fun, and work out ok I'm sure.  I don't know what a riser is unless you mean the wood??  It looks good to me, that's all I know about any of these builds

 

[G0ldengirl68]

So showers + Toilets usually means $.  Plus without a RVIA(RV sticker)  many private campgrounds will not accept you or make you stay in the tent only section.  What I am trying to say is you are severely limiting your choices and driving the price up.  Just wanted to let you know because it didn't sound like you were taking that into consideration.

Highdesertranger

I realize that I am limited by those things, but if I am not sure I can really enjoy the trip, I shouldn't go.  There are campground up here that have those things, not RV parks, so maybe I'll just have to settle for that in the Summer.

 

[G0ldengirl68]

I've done my fair share of camper shell camping....and it's ok...efficient...cheap...but climbing in over the tailgate to get in and then falling back to the ground every morning sure gets OLD after a few days...doing it for a month is a total PITA.

Yes, you can use steps of some sort...but sometimes those things slip, or crack, or move, or get slippery....or you simply miss your footing and...you find out that gravity works. 

If you have any ability to buy some kind of small trailer to sleep in...I highly recommend that as an alternative.

One of these might be around the price you pay for a decent camper shell outfitted with all the goodies:

https://www.runawaycampers.com/

I priced some, and even used so I'm glad I salvaged my old one.  It it worth a lot more than I realized.  I guess we'll see what to come  I can only afford so much so I have to decide what I can do, and is it enough to be able to have all I need.  I don't have a lot of wants, but a toilet and water (river, lake) doesn't seem out of my budget.  But I'll know better when I call some places and see what they charge.  I know the Park rates already.  My fave place is free, but you have to drive up there for first come first serve.  That's too iff'y for me now.  I need to know my destination.  Maybe I won't fit too good here, I don't know. What's a PITA? Something uncomfortable pretty sure

 

[G0ldengirl68]

Wow, those runnaways are neat! Out of my league but really neat

 

[tx2sturgis]

PITA is Pain In The...back side... or something like that!

 

[G0ldengirl68]

Better hurry before it gets too hot. It’s creeping up a bit everyday!

Have kayaks to lend and river nearby. Hope u get someone else to come too as I’m no fun. I’m running family and myself to a jillion appts and mowing in between.

Can ask on here when you have a time frame and perhaps someone else will come too.

I forgot about Summer being too hot down there, that's what newbie I am to all this.  Right now I feel so overwhelmed with information on how to get my truck ready to camp out of, I am doubting I'll actually get to camp this Summer at all.  I doubt I'll find anyone to go with me this Summer, anywhere.  I might get with a caravan/group for next Winter though.  I'm hoping for that, just nervous.  I absolutely love kayaking and have done some in Oregon lakes and rivers.  (just slow moving parts of rivers that is).

I'll keep researching, and I made 200 dollars more for my savings today selling a couple of things I had in the apartment I realize I don't need at all, and there's more going soon.

Nice that you are busy, being idle is one of my worst enemies so I'm busy figuring things out.  I get discouraged but I get back up and start reading, asking questions, and hoping Denise

 

[Cammalu]

Denise if u really want to come don’t let the truck build stop you. I have a “guest house”. I’m working on redoing it but the bed is fine and it does have lights

 

[kklowell]

Denise, any progress yet?
Ken​

 

[AeroNautiCal]

You Tube and Instructables have a considerable anount of information about how to build campser, truck toppers, camp trailers and teardrop trailers.

The ttnt website is a wonderful resource though there are also simple to follow plans for building a truck camper at Duckworks, (duckworks.com) which have very good reviews from people that have built them.

In the simplesr terms, a truck camper is just an inverted box which mounts to the truck bed sides, making it quite easy to construct.

Doing it yourself will give you a camper that fits your size requirements and saves money, it is also useful to know how to do these things for yourself, the biggest hurdle is a lack of confidence in oneself.

 

[GntlStone]

Denise if u really want to come don’t let the truck build stop you. I have a “guest house”. I’m working on redoing it but the bed is fine and it does have lights

Is that a Bambi? I Airstreams.

I just saw a great YouTube video of Patrick from New Jersey Outdoor Adventures where he toured his newly renovated 1961 Bambi

1961 Bambi Tour

 

[RPM]

You can do it! Think bolts, glue and hex-screws.

 

[CosmickGold]

. . . . I can only afford to do this a little at a time also as I have extra to spend on it each month. Have good credit, but it doesn't seem to matter because my income is "under" the line. . . .
Cooped up apartment dweller
dreaming of cutting loose

Since you are planning to leave your apartment behind anyway, why not say "goodbye" to it now? If your monthly income is as low as mine, that would be a huge boost to how fast you can get into the rest of what you want to do. It's what I did, and provided the cash for my van in just a few months.

First, I went to the local shelter and got set up to sleep there at night as well as stay there during cold days. But soon, I was offered a place to live free as a live-in aid for a handicapped girl in a wheelchair, and gratefully accepted it, actually a very easy job. (To avoid having taken unfair advantage of the shelter, I made donations to them later to cover my stay.)

Point is, I quickly got rid of all the headaches that went with the apartment and the stuff inside of it, had a bundle of extra cash each month to tuck away, and paid cash for my van home only six months later!

 

[CosmickGold]

I had a Mazda B3000, the 1998 model, and was considering putting a camper shell on it, but didn't. A nomad friend told me not to do it, for he had started out that way and there were too many problems. (I won't bother you with a list.) He opted for converting an empty utility trailer and was very happy with it for years. I took his advice and opted for a high-top van, which I'm extremely happy living in.

I really do suggest taking a different option than putting a camper on that little truck bed, pulled by a small engine.

If you do choose to trade for a van (like me) here is a guy showing how he converted his van in one day, without any power tools. I'm sure you can do the same. Definitely a video worth taking the time to watch.

Also, in another of his videos, he showed his damaged and callused knees from crawing around in his low-top van. So I heeded that warning and gave my van a soft floor by putting down a one-inch thick sheet of blue foam insulation, covered with a sheet of white linoleum. My floor is so soft on my knees, it actually feels good to get down on it.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you every good fortune.