1998 Chevy Suburban High Top Camper Conversion.

[chilliwak]

Cool looking conversion Mr Gcollin. I like how you just thought it up and then put your plan into action. Looks way cool and functional. The only question I have is if the bodywork around the second doors is firm enough now that you have removed most of the roof. Do you see any movement when you slam the doors hard? Keep us posted with updates of your good work. Cheers, Chilli... ?

 

[Gcollin]

Check out www.recordprops.com and I am sure you could come up with something similar by the looks of your talent

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I love those record mounts but I’m not sure if they’d work for my needs, I want to be able to store 20-30 records in the camper, nothing like blasting some Deep Purple while out in the boonies. I am planning on making 2 boxes that will hold 10-15 records each, and then mounting them to the rear barn door upper panels (I’ll post photos when it’s all finished).

 

[Gcollin]

Cool looking conversion Mr Gcollin. I like how you just thought it up and then put your plan into action. Looks way cool and functional. The only question I have is if the bodywork around the second doors is firm enough now that you have removed most of the roof. Do you see any movement when you slam the doors hard? Keep us posted with updates of your good work. Cheers, Chilli... ?

Y’all are making me nervous this whole removing the roof thing ?. I have taken it for some light off roading already and it seems like it did fine, I tested the body rigidity with a floor jack after I cut the roof and I didn’t notice any twist at all. I cut the opening into (kind of) a V-shape, it should add some extra strength at the front of the cut-out. I am hoping that the cargo weight should also help to prevent body twist as well. I have added around 1,800lbs to the vehicle weight (when it‘s fully loaded). But who am I kidding, I’m no engineer, just a mountain hill billy who found a Suburban on the side of the road for $1,100.
If it becomes necessary, I can actually install a frame reinforcement without removing the top, I’m just hoping that I won’t need to and really don’t want to. I am gonna be taking it for a proper weekend of four wheeling next weekend to test the build out, hopefully noting falls apart, we just had a few really bad snow storms hit my area of Colorado, good time for some fun in the snow.

 

[buellconvert]

I love those record mounts but I’m not sure if they’d work for my needs, I want to be able to store 20-30 records in the camper, nothing like blasting some Deep Purple while out in the boonies. I am planning on making 2 boxes that will hold 10-15 records each, and then mounting them to the rear barn door upper panels (I’ll post photos when it’s all finished).

Ah I misunderstood what you meant on your vinyl needs, I thought you were going for more of a decorative solution, but you're looking for more of a storage solution...I am sure it'll be ************ either way!

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[Gcollin]

Ah I misunderstood what you meant on your vinyl needs, I thought you were going for more of a decorative solution, but you're looking for more of a storage solution...I am sure it'll be ************ either way!

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Haha, thanks. I already have the record holders planned out, I just can’t decide what I want to make them out of, I have some Bocote, Cocobolo and Bald Cypress burl wood just laying around the shop.

 

[Gcollin]

Cool looking conversion Mr Gcollin. I like how you just thought it up and then put your plan into action. Looks way cool and functional. The only question I have is if the bodywork around the second doors is firm enough now that you have removed most of the roof. Do you see any movement when you slam the doors hard? Keep us posted with updates of your good work. Cheers, Chilli... ?

Update! I just got home from a long day of off roading, and aside from getting stuck for 3 hours, it was great (I’m buying a g****mn winch Tomorrow). I wanted to make sure that all of my furniture would be solid so I went HARD today, and noting fell apart AND the body is totally solid. The engine is making a funny sound all of a sudden but I’m pretty sure it’s just the steering gear box and or power steering pump about to fail, which I have been anticipating and already have the parts on hand to replace them.

 

[nitro_rat]

Is there room for an under dash record player in a GMT400?

 

[Gcollin]

Is there room for an under dash record player in a GMT400?

I did not even know that those existed, they are awesome but I can find any that were designed to play a full LP Record.

 

[Gcollin]

Update;
I got the kitchenette almost finished. I have the plumbing installed (21 gallon fresh and 3 gallon grey water).

 

[Gcollin]

These are my custom window privacy panels. I didn’t want to use curtains as I am often camping in very cold conditions (-16*F is the coldest I’ve done in the suburban thus far). I made them out of: automotive carpet, reflectix insulation, 1” XPS foam, and 5mm birch plywood. They work really well too, I cut each panel to fit over the window perfectly, they actually fit so well that just the pressure is enough to keep them in place.
I have accidentally left the front driver window half way down overnight when it was 20*F outside, I didn’t notice the window was down until I went to remove the insulation panel in the morning.
These things are amazing!!!

 

[Gcollin]

The bed has a removable panel that can free up floor space when removed. I am only 5’10” so I made the bed 6’ long by 42” wide, which is perfect, there’s enough space for me, the dog and the camping kitty to huddle up on the cold nights. I have a senior Golden Retriever that goes everywhere with me so I had to give him his own bed as well. The bed is a solid 8” thick, the dog loves it!

 

[Gcollin]

I’ve been working on the exterior this weekend. I found a roof rack that fits pretty damn good for only having cost $50, I installed a couple of lights and a cargo net, I am planning on putting some type of floor on the cargo rack so that I can throw my backpacking tent up there during the summer. Just gotta figure out a good material that is light weight and strong enough to stand on. I built a utility box for my propane tank too, I can fit 2 20lb propane tanks inside of it plus my 4x4 recovery gear and a chainsaw, it’s still not finished though.
I have a proper red neck spare tire mount as well, I just cut apart the factory spare tire mounting hardware and moved it all to the rear door, I even used a Mossberg gun lock to lock the tire to the vehicle and to give it that ”Good Ol’ Boy” touch.

 

[Gcollin]

I have 3.5” of overhang on each side of the cargo rack, I am planning on making an ultralight awning for each side, the awnings will tuck into that little gap at the edges of the roof rack and make it look a little more normal.
I have a set of 36” plastic recovery tracks that will be mounted on the side of the camper top, I just need to figure out how to mount them (probably gonna do nylon straps. There will be a 4 gallon Rotopax gas tank going on the other side of the camper top. Both are red. I have always really wanted a Hi-Lift jack and think it would look really cool mounted like the shovel is but on the other side of the rack, but I am having trouble justifying the additional weight (farm jacks are hella heavy!). Now that the build is getting close to completion, I am really starting to notice the rear suspension sagging. I don‘t know the exact numbers but I’m sure I’m pretty close to that payload limit, (which should be 4,500lbs but the suspension is also 22 years old). I impulse bought an RC 4” lift kit but was un-aware at the time that I’d also need a new exhaust and $500 driveshaft to make it work, so I am now procrastinating on installing the kit. Who knows though, maybe one of these weekends...

 

[arveetek]

I've noticed the various vans in the background of your photos. Do you work for a van conversion company, or just using their shop, or?? Just curious!

Casey

 

[Gcollin]

I've noticed the various vans in the background of your photos. Do you work for a van conversion company, or just using their shop, or?? Just curious!

Casey

Haha, Yeah, I have been working for Colorado Camper Van for about a year. It has been a godsend having access to the shop and tools for this project, not to mention all of the knowledge I have gained from working here, seriously if you want to build a camper van, go work for a van conversion company for a few months, it will make your life soo much easier!