Roninjiro aluminum Nissan D40 camper

[riveroceanandmountain]

WOW!

Awesome job... I know what you mean about a build being more involved than expected..... or wanted..... way to go! keep up the great work!

 

[monkeyshowpictures]

I would love to see some detail shots of the seams you used and hear a little bit about what sewing techniques worked well and what didn't. Nice work.

Thanks,
Morgan

 

[roninjiro]

WOW!

Awesome job... I know what you mean about a build being more involved than expected..... or wanted..... way to go! keep up the great work!

Thank you. It got to the point where I began to get discouraged and I thought that just tent camping would have been so much cheaper. I then thought that (ground tenting) is not what my long term goal was as far as going down to South America with my family. So I slapped myself a few times and let my wife slap me a few times and got back to work. I still have a little ways to go.

I would love to see some detail shots of the seams you used and hear a little bit about what sewing techniques worked well and what didn't. Nice work.

Thanks,
Morgan

Morgan, Thank you also. I will post some seam pictures when I take it back down. It was nothing crazy but all simple (which lead to some ripping)

 

[TheAdventurousMind]

Love the overall design you went with. Any plans to do a support to the ground for the bed part, or does it do fine with bodyweight off to the side being cantilevered. Didn't know with two people, if you'll get the lean.

 

[roninjiro]

Love the overall design you went with. Any plans to do a support to the ground for the bed part, or does it do fine with bodyweight off to the side being cantilevered. Didn't know with two people, if you'll get the lean.

The bed originally was not going to be supported with nothing but the cantilever system, but for now we will use the cantilever system as a safety. I will be installing supports that connect from the camper body to bed platform. As far as the lean, it hardly does with my wife and I on it.

 

[TheAdventurousMind]

Good to hear! Just was curious if it did or not. Love the build. I'd be willing to try doing the same... But I wouldn't have the patience for the tent portion haha.

 

[Expedition.Report]

do you have any idea of the weight of this camper??

I find this build thread very inspiring and love that fact that you have put in a solid effort and are building what you had pictured in your mind!

I find there are many dreamers and arm chair wheelers on this sight, you sir, certainly do not fall into that category!

 

[roninjiro]

RamRod, the last time it was weighed was at <100Lbs. Now it should be at least double the weight, because it is now heavy enough to have to lift with an engine hoist.

I wanted to build something out of the norm, that could comfortably house my wife and 2 kids. I could have picked a much more simple design, but I figured if I am going to do it... make it stand out.

I was once a dreamer/arm chair wheeler, but that was only because I was afraid of unknown. I thought about what I would have done as a child... try, try, try again and don't worry about failing.


Picture update also, started on the cabinets today.

 

[jrfromafar]

Just awesome. It doesn't need support arms underneath the bed?

 

[roninjiro]

Just awesome. It doesn't need support arms underneath the bed?

Thanks, technically it doesn't and should be good for around ~600lbs, but the main support system will be considered the safety and it will get supports under the bed platform after I finish the cabinets.

 

[jrfromafar]

Like one person said, you've done well bringing this into reality! Mine is still on the drawing board - similar but on a flatbed:

 

[roninjiro]

Looks good, just make sure you find struts that will work with that. I originally planned for gas struts but they put way too much strain on my stainless steel hinge. With your design, if you haven't already, look into trayon's camper design. There are some key aspects that make those work extremely well and are easily overlooked.

I will let you know ahead of time if you plan on doing the fabric portion yourself... that will really slow, tedious, and you down and make you want to quit. I am also looking at your measurements and that is going to be a monster!! The only advice I would give you, is make sure you have depth to tuck your tent portion for when you close up the camper; I can tuck the fabric fine, but I would have wanted more space. Last pointer is ... find a huge garage or warehouse to have it staged and built up.. a one car garage makes it 10x harder to do.

 

[jrfromafar]

Yes I've checked out the Trayon - really nice.

I've still got a way to go before I really commit to the project - #1 the right truck with a flatbed. When I do the construction, I'll use a large 20' square canopy with sides on a ranch up in the foothills - so no garage (or spouse!) problems. I am also planning on using Nida-Core & carbon fiber instead of aluminum.

 

[roninjiro]

 

[roninjiro]

The camper build is officially postponed/dead for now. The tent design (or mesh/zipper) was no good and the camper is off the truck for evaluation. Needless to say we took it off bought tents and left for vacation. Now the camper sits in the garage and it is up in the air what will happen to it.