Small Mini Camper Concept - Need idea/feedback

All of the surfboards I have ever used had a plywood rib down the middle to keep it from snapping in half too easy. The reason I use the plywood is because I can build the whole thing with wood. I am used to doing woodwork so it is a comfort level thing. Then if I like it I can either paint, epoxy coat, or glass. Working with foam is not the cheapest thing to do. To make clean cuts you need a hot wire, most of us do not have access to one. Then you would have to shape it. This is really messy. By building a wood structure and insulating, you don't have a lot of foam work to deal with. You cut the foam to the right shape with a saw and glue it in. Also with just foam you would be required to do several more layers of fiberglass since all the strength is in the glass work. I took some pictures of a back cover that I was working on and will try to get them uploaded today.

edit:
Another question for you. Could you switch the way the top storage opens? make it open to the inside so that it would be the camping storage. Then a regular camper top would work and you gain a lot of access to camping supplies.
 
Here is a drawing of how the top lids are on (my camera bats were dead this am.. but a little elf told me santa might be bringing me a new camera this year, if im good for another week)
The top lid goes to the edge of the box, so even if i could flip them the top would need to stick out wider to allow them to work... to much work for this 'simple' project.
I fully understand the comfort level thing with the wood, that would definitly be up my ally for a firt project..
Attached is the lid pic, and a sketch of my thoughts for the plan..
The back would have basically a short RV door (ala ebay)and I think make it look very nice.
Keep in mind, i dont care if its very big as this is simply to sleep in and sit if theres a downpour etc... Its NOT ever going to be a full on camper.. Ill go hang out with ken if i need more amenities :)

top-lid1.jpg

idea01.jpg
 
yeah

Mike,

I had the same idea somebody posted...just get a regular topper of the dimensions you need...wouldn't like a s-10 topper
fit right in there and then fill in any other opening with plywood or something.

John
 
I have attached what I am talking about. The first picture shows the top of a rear cover. 1/8 luane ply from HD for a couple of $$. The second shows the curve that I created by cutting curved ribs out of 1x10 lumber. I got all of the ribs and braces out of a single piece. The final shows the ribbing framework of one of the side panels. Everything is setup to bolt together once installed. This is extremely light and follows the principles of a foam core door. It took me about a full day to build this, but it is a little more complex than a simple camper since it is hinged to open and needs to be multiple parts to go around the cage.

I think you could make a very simple roof like this. The main thing with building this way is that you will have insulation and be light weight so it will be easier for you to get it on and off by yourself. I could help show you more of what I am talking about with the construction methods. My guess is that with just wood, foam, and paint the entire top panel would end up around 25-30 lbs and wouldn't sag like just putting a plywood panel on the top. I have a door that you can have if you want to try to use it.
 

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So you want something like this? This is designed to use 1/8 plywood. 3/4 x 3/4 ribs and leaves it open for 5 1x4 supports for a bed platform on the bottom 4 inches up off the bottom of the truck bed to leave room for storage. You could probably get away with a smaller support to gain more storage. The 3/4 ribs should fit the blue builders foam perfectly. Both sides are covered with ply so you could just paint it instead of glass and it should still be light. This will also make the inside a little more user friendly.
 

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Nah, here's what you should do:

1. Pull off the utility bed.
2. Build a new, fully-enclosed 'camper' box on the back out of FRP and steel, complete with basic kitchen and bed.
3. ????
4. Profit!
 
saf-t scissors said:
Nah, here's what you should do:
1. Pull off the utility bed.
2. Build a new, fully-enclosed 'camper' box on the back out of FRP and steel, complete with basic kitchen and bed.
3. ????
4. Profit!
Click to expand...

I second this really, you could incorperate what ever storage you needed/wanted in the process, AND still have sleeping quarters.

Building out of FRP would be lighter than the utility box currently in use and allow for better options and weight distribution. and curving the wood ain't all that tough to make it over cab height and aerodynamic ( cab over sleeper option)

I've been tossing this idea around for my GMC POS, but making it removable from the bed.
 
:)
The full bed idea is one that sounds good.. But at the same time what is a realistic weight on a larger box..
I know that a 'slide in' is a lot heavier (and taller) than what id want..
http://www.earthroamer.com/2006/index.htm
Here is an example of a nice clean design..
Would it be possible to make a smaller/shorter more simply made design, that was under 1000# Id happily make a flat bed deck setup as a way to carry a camper box..
Let me pencil out a deisgn..

crw_0174_std.jpg

crw_0137_std.jpg
 
yager said:
:)
The full bed idea is one that sounds good.. But at the same time what is a realistic weight on a larger box..
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how much it's going to matter. I have a feeling that once you get that utility bed all loaded up and hook a trailer to the ass end, you're going to be flirting with the max load rating on your rear tires, regardless.

You could always throw a DRW axle under it... or some F or G tires. ;)
 
Or some bling bling 19.5" wheels.. :D
 
Using the 1/4 plywood, fiber glass idea.. How much would a simplified verion like this weight ?
Dimensions would be say 5' tall 7' wide 8' long
It would set on top of a basic/simple steel flat deck. I'd hang a few tool boxs under the front sides for my tools/etc..

yager-roamer1.jpg
 
I know you have seen this before.. but here is my slide in.

Yes it is a big wind catcher but it is light..

Mine weights 1200lbs fully loaded with 30 gallons water, ice, clothes, bedding, food, etc.. and mine has stove, sink, cooler, heater, oven, queen bed, table that folds into bed..

yes only 1200lbs.. it is all plywood and then has aluminum siding on outside and everything inside is a laminate not wood cabinets..
 

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If you look around you can find some old camper plans from the 70's. Plywood, ribs, insulation, and aluminum. It really gets away from the simple cheap solution of tossing a cover on the back and giving you a dry place to sleep though. I would probably stick with the original plan. It is something that you could easily do in a weekend and store when not needed. There are always alternative ways to do something and typically once you start a project it will ballon into way more than you wanted. If you want more than a dry place to sleep. Sell the utility bed or trade for a normal bed. Buy a popup style slide in and spend the time and money on fixing it up. The popup style gets out of the wind and keeps the weight a little lower for better handling.
 
BRUISER said:
Mine weights 1200lbs fully loaded with 30 gallons water, ice, clothes, bedding, food, etc.. and mine has stove, sink, cooler, heater, oven, queen bed, table that folds into bed..
yes only 1200lbs..
Click to expand...

Ken, have you scaled it? Or is this just the manufacturer's claim?
 
thecarman said:
Ken, have you scaled it? Or is this just the manufacturer's claim?
Click to expand...

that is what camper shell has stamped on it.. but i think Doug wieght it when he owned it..but i can go get it weighted if you want to know for sure :)
 
Yag, consider your average pickup camper shell, the fiber glass jobs weigh between 150-250 lbs depending on design and manufacture, with the better ones having plywood laminated into the roof area and side for load handling ability.

So what you have drawn above wouldn't be too out of line weight wise. when added to the top of a flat deck.
 
After much more thought and weighing pros/cons of the various synerios, im leaning towrds a box on the trailer. Mainly becasue it allows me to upgrade my truck down the road, save on load/unloading the truck. And the trailer could stand the extra load vs the truck. As mentioned my P/U with the work body probably can't take much more load..
I'd like to keep the 'box' limited to 5'-6' deep and 7' across this is what i feel is the bare minimun 2 people would need to sleep and move around etc.. That really isnt much space.. so also tring to factor in some arodynamice i penciled out this..

It would be about 4' in the front going to about 6' in the back. Basically just below a normal truck bed and then enough to get the air up over the jeep hood..

also construction would be similer to what ken posted with some metal if/where needed.. But also possibly using the fiberglass for strength to keep it light.. ????
 

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I can tell that you aren't as tall as me. There is no way I could fit in that to sleep without going crazy. The post of how to build a camper is the same idea as wood and fiberglass, but using what was used before fiberglass got into home use. aluminum sheeting would work almost as well as glass. What size is your trailer that it can take the load while the truck can't? I would think that a simple cheap solution for sleeping is not what is there. I looked into building my own slide in and it is cheaper to buy a used one, plus the efficent use of space is already engineered in. I would be quicker to sell or trade that utility bed for a normal bed and get a slide in. let the tools ride on the trailer. In normal use I wouldn't want to drag around that much weight in a truck and I know I wouldn't unload all the tools when I got home.
 
How about finding an old sleeper cab off of a OTR truck and mounting that to a trailer?
 
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