4runner camper

[slosurfer]

This thread is about custom campers, not factory tops.

What a better way to have a custom camper made than to start with a factory top.

Even if a flippac or any of the others that fit a regular truck bed will fit the 4runner, you still have to worry about sealing the cabin or connecting the two to make a pass through.
:shakin:

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Good idea's TTJ...

Could it hinge to the rear with proper support and offer a built in patio cover!??

You have no idea how many sleepless nights have been filled with dreams like such as these!:elkgrin:

.

Hey Slo....

It's OK! Your idea is Kewl...You are Kewl...and flip top 4Runners would be Super Kewl!:sombrero:

(I agree!)

.

 

[toyotatruckjunkie]

Gotta tell everyone; it is so nice to hear from so many others that are kept up at night by the same ideas. It is really nice to have 'friends' that are as sick as you are.

The problem with using the stock 4runner cap as the starting point is the lack of width, if you really start taking a tape measure to it, it just isn't very wide. Especially at the gutter height. Most of the fatory made campers are wide body in the rear. For a reason.

I like the flip-top to the rear for a canopy idea, as long as the rig is lifted enough to stand under it. Mine is; 9.5" lift, 36's... but not all of them would be. Flipping forward solves that issue. And then you would also have the issue of the doorway. I was planning to the door in the rear wall; in place of the tailgate.

I was watching the Barrett-Jackson auction this morning when an original woodie wagon gave me the idea of building the whole camper section out of wood. W/ the right design and copious amounts of varnish, could look really cool and retro surf wagon. Anyone else see my vision on that one? Made with the right wood, could this be lighter than aluminum? I found this site;

http://dougsvintagetrailers.com/campotel

that gave me lots of ideas. Also made me realize that I am far the first guy to have the desire to build campers from out of the ordinary vehicles. What's old is new again. We need not reinvent the wheel.

 

[sami]

It'd be nice to fit a Westfalia to the factory top, but like mentioned, i bet the factory top is too narrow at the top. I cut up a factory top last year to make a hard bikini top of sorts.. talk about nasty! First time messing with fiberglass, what a mess.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I have been mulling this over for years. Even bought a spare top to start hacking on. The biggest thing that I hate about both my 4Runner and my Suburban is the tailgate. It is my bane and I hate them.

Nothing sucks like standing in the rain waiting for the damn window to go do so you can throw something in the back. That or trying to load something heavy over the gate. In the case of the suburban my wife cannot handle the gate without both hands. She has so much trouble with the gate that she loads groceries in the side door on the floor. I am actually on the hunt for a suburban to scavenge barn doors off and convert it.

So priority one is loose the gate and go to a door. Problem two is I do have kids. They like their windows. That limits side access doors. I could possibly get just a driver side door and lose the window. My youngest rides passenger side and the oldest (16 and living with her dad) hardly rides with me anymore.

These two complaints have me thinking that the factory top is not a good starting point except to get the factory mounting rails to start a build off of.

Now I am eyeing utility shells that I could put a RV windows in the side door for the kids. I may have one lined up. I need to measure it but a buisness next to one of our facility's has one that just might work sitting behind their building and has been there over a year. I have somebody checking with them. It is small enough to fit in my work van on its side. LOL I'm actually surprised it hasn't been stolen for the aluminum. One single large back door with a window and it should be easy to modify the top to fit the toy. Its aluminum the skin is pop riveted on and it would be easy to narrow it. Since the door is a little narrower then the the gate it will make mounting a swing out carrier for the spare easier.

 

[Corey]

Modding a Flip Pack to a 4Runner shell would be cool.

http://www.bajataco.com/vikingvince/Vince_FlipPac/index.htm

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

Very cool thread guys. Not a 4runner owner, but I defintely appreciate the passion for "working with what you have" and making your vehicle as "All purpose as possible".

I'll be watching this thread :costumed-smiley-007

 

[toyotatruckjunkie]

Thanks for the kind words, but I've gotten nowhere. Just a bunch of pipe dreams right now. Not that I've given up on this idea, but I'm actually leaning towards making a new frame/suspension for a cheap used pop-up trailer now.

Flip-Pac on a Runner would be cool. Could be modified to fit/seal up tight. They replied to my inquiry, but are NOT interested in modifying their unit to fit a 1st gen Runner. Seems like a market opportunity to me. If I wasn't consumed with my existing business, I'd build something to fill this void, but I just don't have the time.

 

[toyotatruckjunkie]

Yeah, someone should pick that up. I've got some ideas on how to adapt it to a Runner. I've seen them for $1000. I don't really know, but $2500 may be a little high to start cutting it up (to me anyways).

I agree, let's not let the thread die.

 

[Clutch]

Don't forget about a Wildernest too. I picked mine up for $400. It wouldn't take too much effort to cut the front out of it, and devise a rubber boot between the camper and body interface. You might loose some structural integerity, but I am sure something can be done to reinforce it.

The lines are a little cleaner looking on the 'Nest too.

I have been thinking of removing the rear window and tail gate, and building a single door entry, like the one found on a Four Wheel Camper, to ease getting in an out of it.

 

[Corey]

Looks great!
Surely someone could adapt one of these to a 1st gen 4Runner.
I would if I had one.

 

[toyotatruckjunkie]

Interesting site for used Wildernests.

http://www.wildernestcamper.com/

One for $500. That I could justify cutting up to make work. Anyone local to that one?

 

[Pest]

Probably a shot in the dark, but any progress made on the 4runner flippac idea? I also have an 85 4runner and have been thinking about something like that...

 

[toyotatruckjunkie]

No progress on my side. I got distracted from this idea with the idea of converting a Ford Camper Van I bought to 4wd. It was a great plan, except for the lack of time, lack of fab space (and skills), and the ability to justify the additional investment of money into that thing.

I've since sold that project, and am now back to my idea of buying a cheap pop-up and building an off-road worthy frame for it.

I still like the idea, but I got off the Runner Flip-pac project based on concerns about space. I love my Runner, and it is already built for off-road, but the platform is just too small to make a useful camper IMO. The Earthroamer Jeep platform is what I had in mind to emulate, but it is really small. Too small for 2 adults and 2 dogs, and God willing, kids in the future.

I'm now thinking a trailer better fits my needs/wants. Could change tomorrow.

Good luck to you. And by ALL means, post pics if you make any progress.

 

[Pest]

IMO. [...] The Earthroamer Jeep platform is what I had in mind to emulate, [...]

My thoughts precisely. True it is small, but extremely functional!