Rolling my own Hard Side Small slide In Truck Camper

[Sportsman Matt]

Well I''m back....and after buying a truck camper, selling it, then buying a travel trailer, I'm back to the concept of rolling my own hard side truck camper.

Specs are as follows....

Under 8 feet long, 7 feet wide, and under 5'6" tall (only to keep it simple and tree branch clearance issues)

Simple, bed, dry chemical toilet, heater, fridge.

So far I'm crossing the plans from 1955 Popular Mechanics Encyclopedia with Tumbleweed Houses Vardo plans to build this one of a kind rig for day and overnight spur of the moment trips.

Link to the Vardo Plans:

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/products/vardo

Link to the Popular Mechanics plans from my blog a few years ago:

http://sportsmanmattoutdoors.blogspot.com/2009/01/and-next-generation-truck-camper-goes.html

Keeping the dream alive, plus this is going to be a father/son/grand daughters project between my father, my kids, and me.

Pics to come......

 

[Wyowanderer]

Your specs are pretty close to the specs of my Sundowner. It came from the factory as a shell, I've installed the furnace, Engel fridge, and water tank setup. I'll be following your thread for ideas.

Well I''m back....and after buying a truck camper, selling it, then buying a travel trailer, I'm back to the concept of rolling my own hard side truck camper.

Specs are as follows....

Under 8 feet long, 7 feet wide, and under 5'6" tall (only to keep it simple and tree branch clearance issues)

Simple, bed, dry chemical toilet, heater, fridge.

So far I'm crossing the plans from 1955 Popular Mechanics Encyclopedia with Tumbleweed Houses Vardo plans to build this one of a kind rig for day and overnight spur of the moment trips.

Link to the Vardo Plans:

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/products/vardo

Link to the Popular Mechanics plans from my blog a few years ago:

http://sportsmanmattoutdoors.blogspot.com/2009/01/and-next-generation-truck-camper-goes.html

Keeping the dream alive, plus this is going to be a father/son/grand daughters project between my father, my kids, and me.

Pics to come......

 

[AeroNautiCal]

This looks to be an excellent family build project!

 

[Sportsman Matt]

Thanks,

Well I'm still in the planning stages, along with acquiring stuff along the way.

I've got a beautiful stainless steel SMEV Combination 2 Burner Stove and Sink, and a 20# Horizontal LP Tank Box which I haven't figured out how to get into the build yet.

I know I'm going to add a heater....Dickson P9000 is $800 and requires 12V for the blower motor but no risk of CO or CO2 issues as the exhaust fumes are vented up and out a stove pipe. The other option so far is a Sig Marine Cozy Cabin Heater, puts out 6500 BTUs and costs $460. It also requires a exhaust pipe, and both require having an open vent or window. The Sig does not require 12V though, a plus seeing that the only thing running on 12V will be the refrigerator and the LED lighting.

I'm also adding a several puck light 12V LED units. I used them before, and they draw next to nothing from a deep cycle battery.

And 12V for the refrigrator is a dilemma at the moment, Norcold, Dometic, Vitrifrigo, IsoTherm, Engel, Truck Fridge, etc.
Mainly just need something to keep a couple days worth of food cold and cabinet mounted, preferably a front opening versus a top open unit.

And for the propane, thoughts are just running 1 lb cans, they are cheap, disposable, and I figure one for the stove and one for the heater, I can make a external cabinet to hold those plus a couple spares with a regulator, this way I won't have to hunt for a propane filling station when my tanks run out, just swap and toss. and it won't take too much room from the floor plan.

So that's what I got so far, still working on it, and probably start on the construction this spring when I have everything together.

 

[Wyowanderer]

I don't know if this fits in with your plan, but it's a pretty good furnace, it will heat that space well, and draws less than 3A. No need to open the windows, but it does require a thermostat. Not as pretty as the Dickinson for ambiance and snuggling up next to someone, tho.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atwood-Hydr...Parts_Accessories&hash=item53ef3353e7&vxp=mtr
No affiliation, etc, just the first one that came up.
I purchased two 10-ish pound vertically mounted propane tanks and they fit perfect in the space between the camper and the box of the truck.
Love the idea of a kitchen too. It ought to be fairly easy to pull off.

 

[Sportsman Matt]

Thanks for the idea but the Atwood is one of the most obnoxiously loud heaters out there. I've got the 12,000 BTU in my trailer, and I need earplugs to sleep at night when it kicks on. The SIG looks like my best choice, I don't mind opening a vent or two, but I'm trying to avoid the fan motor sound running all night when it gets cold out.

Just curious how loud the compressor on a 12v refrigerator is.

 

[Wyowanderer]

I don't find the compressor on the Engel to be too loud, but I'd wager that it might disturb you if the furnace does. Mine is mounted to the camper using Engel's locking base, and gets a little noisy when it comes on. If I were to do it again, I'd mount it with a couple straps and put a piece of carpet or neoprene to insulate it from the wood of the camper. But I don't find it that hard to live with.
You might be better off with a 110V/propane fridge, especially since you want a front opening door on it. I'd avoid the 12V/110v/propane fridge because the 12V mode is useless unless you're underway-it draws a lot of power. I like the 110v/propane fridge because you can plug it in the night before a trip and the contents are ready to go in the morning. The last one I had was in my Hallmark pop up, and was made by Dometic.