bahndo
Supporting Sponsor: Bahn Camper Works
I have been lurking for a a while and watching most if not all of the builds over the last couple of years. Now it's time to get serious about my own build. I would like to try to treat this as an open source design/layout and see how it goes. The idea is if you have an idea for a system/part of a camper you can submit it on this thread and I will use it/modify it to fit my goal of the ideal camper for my family and our activities. I will build the camper and document it here and everyone can see what works and what doesn't.
Let's get started with my base vehicle and what I have in mind:
The base vehicle is a 2007 Dodge 2500 mega cab, 4x4 diesel with a soon to be picked up UTE flat bed. I am building this camper with the 3-5 day camping trip mainly with some longer (2-3 week) trips in mind. I have a family of 3, but soon to be 4. We surf, ski, mtn bike, kayak (ww), hike, camp. The idea that I have been wrestling with is a pop up camper that sleeps the 4 of us has a cook top, sink, fridge, heat, and battery power to run some lights, computer, dvd player. Other ideas that have surfaced over the years are: outdoor shower, awning, and a clothes/boots drying closet. I would like the kids bunks to stowable, either fold up to the wall or be suspended from the ceiling and stowed against the ceiling. The main thing is to have enough space to get in out of the cold and get changed for whatever activity we doing. We don't have a microwave at home so I def. don't want one in the camper, we will use this thing for weekend warrior type trips so ease of packing/unpacking is important. We have tons of recreation gear that we take with us (kayaks/bikes/surfboards/kites) so a rack will be important (maybe roof, maybe on the back). We are not super clean so ease of cleaning will also be important (ie: hose down ready).
So at this point I am obviously in the design stage and I am planning to start the build at the end of the summer. I am a mech. engineer with CAD/CAM experience, I own a CNC router with a 6'x12' work envelope, I have a fair bit of experience with composites and mold making and I am learning about woodworking. There are lots of decisions to be made and this is where I think getting tons of input will result in a good build that others can use as well.
Thanks and let the ideas flow....
Let's get started with my base vehicle and what I have in mind:
The base vehicle is a 2007 Dodge 2500 mega cab, 4x4 diesel with a soon to be picked up UTE flat bed. I am building this camper with the 3-5 day camping trip mainly with some longer (2-3 week) trips in mind. I have a family of 3, but soon to be 4. We surf, ski, mtn bike, kayak (ww), hike, camp. The idea that I have been wrestling with is a pop up camper that sleeps the 4 of us has a cook top, sink, fridge, heat, and battery power to run some lights, computer, dvd player. Other ideas that have surfaced over the years are: outdoor shower, awning, and a clothes/boots drying closet. I would like the kids bunks to stowable, either fold up to the wall or be suspended from the ceiling and stowed against the ceiling. The main thing is to have enough space to get in out of the cold and get changed for whatever activity we doing. We don't have a microwave at home so I def. don't want one in the camper, we will use this thing for weekend warrior type trips so ease of packing/unpacking is important. We have tons of recreation gear that we take with us (kayaks/bikes/surfboards/kites) so a rack will be important (maybe roof, maybe on the back). We are not super clean so ease of cleaning will also be important (ie: hose down ready).
So at this point I am obviously in the design stage and I am planning to start the build at the end of the summer. I am a mech. engineer with CAD/CAM experience, I own a CNC router with a 6'x12' work envelope, I have a fair bit of experience with composites and mold making and I am learning about woodworking. There are lots of decisions to be made and this is where I think getting tons of input will result in a good build that others can use as well.
Thanks and let the ideas flow....