Mini Truck Camper

[-Dan]

Seems we have the same idea. I just use an inflatable bed in the trailer for now. The tent makes more room for the kids, and ability to stand without being outside. Still building the setup but have camped in it as is.


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nice set up you've got there. I wish I had room to carry my dog.

 

[-Dan]

Are you saying that the square tube will rotate in the square U-bolts? I know on the face of it that sounds impossible, but speed and weight can exert great force. That would certainly be problematic if it occurred at highway speeds. Would 'outriggers' coming off the axel to the front and rear help to keep the axel from rotating? Sort of gussets but only attached to the axel, not the springs.

Thanks Mc Taco for your idea to control axle roll, after thinking about it yesterday the solution you came up with is both the easiest and cheapest choice. I have never made mounts like this before but I think if my axle was to roll this would stop it. I also plan to check the U bolts frequently.

I used 1.5"x1.5"x.120 square tubing that I capped for the "outriggers". I have them going opposite directions on each side. I also added small tabs to the outside of the U bolts to help keep them in place.

 

[Maria]

got some foam glued to the plywood today, using a spray adhesive meant for headliner replacement that we got at auto zone. it came out like Web and definitely made me feel like spider woman. you can kind of see in the close up shot

also cleaned out and wire wheeled the big free box we got for the front (hopefully Dan posts his pictures)

I've got a couple of friends coming to visit this weekend, so I plan on enlisting their help in painting and applying my interior "wallpaper" which is just wood grained contact paper.

 

[-Dan]

In order to mount the tool box that Maria cleaned up I had to make a frame to house it as well as a couple ammo cans. The overall width of the boxes came or perfect!

I cut up a bed frame that was made from 1.50" x .120" angle iron.

Then welded the frame to the tongue of the trailer and bolted the boxes down.

 

[-Dan]

These cool pvc inserts keep the side windows up at different heights and for convenience they store on the lip of the shell.

The camper liked them so much it tried to fly away!

 

[-Dan]

Had to notch out part of the bed platform to clear the door linkage.

 

[AeroNautiCal]

This really is great!

I like your 'Imagineering', in that you imagine it, then engineer it, and all on a strict budget and recycling what's available.

Top work on your 'Inno-Van'. (Innovative Van)

 

[Mark Harley]

Love the recycler in the build!

Nice work!

 

[Jwood70]

This is an awesome build. I am loving the resourcefulness involved.

 

[-Dan]

This really is great!

I like your 'Imagineering', in that you imagine it, then engineer it, and all on a strict budget and recycling what's available.

Top work on your 'Inno-Van'. (Innovative Van)

Love the recycler in the build!

Nice work!

This is an awesome build. I am loving the resourcefulness involved.

Thanks for the kudos everyone! It is really cool to have people interested in our project.

 

[-Dan]

I got around to making a mount for our toilet. I kept it really simple and used 1"x1"x.120 tube that I welded to the frame. It seats really nicely on the fabricated mount and butts up to the frame rail and tongue box. There is about 1/2" of space between the toilet lid and the underside of the truck bed, perfect for a ratchet strap.
We wanted the toilet in a remote location for obvious reasons. When we need it it slides out of the mount in one direction, and hardly weighs a thing.

 

[-Dan]

Here are a couple more of the toilet. one from the underside and one from the top with the box on. When we are traveling the toilet will be wrapped in a trash bag to keep road grime and debris off of it.

 

[-Dan]

This thing is just about done!

We threw a little but of paint on it. We will finish painting the lid today and probably have it installed tomorrow. There is still a little bit of work to do but it is all little stuff like applying seam sealer, spare tire, etc. All the weather stripping is done and hopefully Maria will post some shots of our wood paneling interior, which I am very impressed with!

Paint is two tone black and green to match my Jeep. Like the Jeep it is painted with rattle cans.:sombrero:

 

[Wildcat]

Lookin good. Does the toilette pull out the side?

 

[-Dan]

Lookin good. Does the toilette pull out the side?

You have to be underneath to remove/install it. It only moves in one direction; towards rear of trailer.

Here is another photo.

And thanks!