4runner camper
- Thread starter 87 4runner
- Start date
tanglefoot
ExPoseur
*gulp* thanks, but it's not much compared to yours, Dorton.
TacomaJack09
Observer
Do you have a build thread by chance? This is exactly what I was thinking but with a walk through. IMO, this could be one of the best setups for overlanding... Do you have the 22re? If so, how's the runner handle the camper? Thanks!
Ruined Adventures
Brenton Cooper
The 1st gen. 4Runner can be pretty dang comfy for overland travel...this is still my opinion after living in ours for over 15 months. The 22re can make it happen, it will just ensure you'll go slow enough to enjoy the scenery and brake for animals.
:coffeedrink:
Here's what our mini 4Runner camper looks like.
We've eliminated the blue boxes and now we can just jump back there to sleep. We have big plans for our rig once we get it back to the US of A. I want to redo the storage cabinets using lighter materials and add cabinets that cover all of the rear windows, except for the passenger rear slider. These windows are pretty useless while driving anyways. With a small backpacking stove, we've cooked inside several times when the weather sucks.
:coffeedrink:
Here's what our mini 4Runner camper looks like.
We've eliminated the blue boxes and now we can just jump back there to sleep. We have big plans for our rig once we get it back to the US of A. I want to redo the storage cabinets using lighter materials and add cabinets that cover all of the rear windows, except for the passenger rear slider. These windows are pretty useless while driving anyways. With a small backpacking stove, we've cooked inside several times when the weather sucks.
tanglefoot
ExPoseur
Ruined--it's amazing what you did with the space under the hardtop!
TacomaJack--it does have the 22RE. It does okay--pretty leisurely but it's fine for me. I've towed a truck-bed trailer full of compost with the camper on as well--it'll still move...slowly. The amount of body roll usually limits the speed on the mountain roads. I found a stock swaybar and installed it under the front (I had removed and disposed of the original a long time ago) and there are some half-leaf helper springs in the back that help some but it still feels pretty top-heavy. I have a lot of fun with it though. A bit clumsy to drive but it's really nice once it reaches the campsite.
I have a little thread from a few years back:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/36492-Toyota-Surf-roamer
TacomaJack--it does have the 22RE. It does okay--pretty leisurely but it's fine for me. I've towed a truck-bed trailer full of compost with the camper on as well--it'll still move...slowly. The amount of body roll usually limits the speed on the mountain roads. I found a stock swaybar and installed it under the front (I had removed and disposed of the original a long time ago) and there are some half-leaf helper springs in the back that help some but it still feels pretty top-heavy. I have a lot of fun with it though. A bit clumsy to drive but it's really nice once it reaches the campsite.
I have a little thread from a few years back:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/36492-Toyota-Surf-roamer
Ruined Adventures
Brenton Cooper
Thanks Tanglefoot. Yours is still one of my favorite builds!
Tacomajack, you could probably talk Four Wheel Campers into building you a custom pop-up camper. I'm sure it would cost you, but they're the only outfit I would consider doing something like that with a pass-thru since they build using an all aluminum frame. Otherwise, if you do it yourself it could be a great build!
TacomaJack09
Observer
Tanglefoot - thank you for the replies, I checked out your threads (filet mignons :drool
, keep up the good work! I hope to find a slide in camper like the one you have and modify it.
Ruined Adventures - Where do I start!? Your blog and build thread are one of the many reasons I'm wanting a 1st gen 4runner to travel! You're adventures are truly inspiring, and I have made my GF read your blog to help her get a grip on the madness I've been obsessed with. I'm actually going to go back and re-read your build thread and knock the rust off. I read it sometime ago, but now that getting a 1st gen nears I should go back and note the details. I thank you for being thorough in your travels, it helps ease the stress of the "unknown." Talking to FWC is a good idea, but I'm on a very (very) tight budget and I'm sure they would be out of my price range. Though I am sure they would do an excellent job if I had the funds to put forth!
I won't be getting the 4runner until the beginning on the new year (waiting on that year end bonus!) so this is all homework for now. Reading Expo Portal and the various blogs users have started, have made obsessed with this stuff. Hopefully I can contribute some useful knowledge down the road. I would like to build the camper myself or modify a camper to my liking. So this morning I spent some time sourcing the material, and the aluminum for the frame alone is more than I'd like to spend (around $750)... Which has pointed me into the direction of modifying an existing camper. I have found some old classic slide in's that are crap but are structurally sound. I may pick one up such as this one (http://mansfield.craigslist.org/rvs/4184214173.html). My idea here is to gut it completely, strip it down to the frame, and salvage all the materials possible. That should be more than enough aluminum, and other material to build a camper for the 4runner. I would reduce the frame to the size of a FWC finch or ranger and chop the roof off to create a pop top. The pop top would work like the Westfalia pop tops, the roof would be hinged over the cab and the tallest portion of the roof over the back seat/cargo area. I know, I know, this is going to be a heck of a project! But once my funds are right, I am up for the project!
, keep up the good work! I hope to find a slide in camper like the one you have and modify it.Ruined Adventures - Where do I start!? Your blog and build thread are one of the many reasons I'm wanting a 1st gen 4runner to travel! You're adventures are truly inspiring, and I have made my GF read your blog to help her get a grip on the madness I've been obsessed with. I'm actually going to go back and re-read your build thread and knock the rust off. I read it sometime ago, but now that getting a 1st gen nears I should go back and note the details. I thank you for being thorough in your travels, it helps ease the stress of the "unknown." Talking to FWC is a good idea, but I'm on a very (very) tight budget and I'm sure they would be out of my price range. Though I am sure they would do an excellent job if I had the funds to put forth!
I won't be getting the 4runner until the beginning on the new year (waiting on that year end bonus!) so this is all homework for now. Reading Expo Portal and the various blogs users have started, have made obsessed with this stuff. Hopefully I can contribute some useful knowledge down the road. I would like to build the camper myself or modify a camper to my liking. So this morning I spent some time sourcing the material, and the aluminum for the frame alone is more than I'd like to spend (around $750)... Which has pointed me into the direction of modifying an existing camper. I have found some old classic slide in's that are crap but are structurally sound. I may pick one up such as this one (http://mansfield.craigslist.org/rvs/4184214173.html). My idea here is to gut it completely, strip it down to the frame, and salvage all the materials possible. That should be more than enough aluminum, and other material to build a camper for the 4runner. I would reduce the frame to the size of a FWC finch or ranger and chop the roof off to create a pop top. The pop top would work like the Westfalia pop tops, the roof would be hinged over the cab and the tallest portion of the roof over the back seat/cargo area. I know, I know, this is going to be a heck of a project! But once my funds are right, I am up for the project!
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Ruined Adventures
Brenton Cooper
You must have me confused with Home on the Highway, our blog is FAR from thorough or updated :sombrero:
Here's a thought I had recently. Have you considered making a rear slideout that stows inside of the cargo area? I saw this guy for sale a few months ago and it made me wonder. Could be a neat idea, especially using lighter materials like Rhinocore for the walls. It would be a fairly easy project in comparison to fabricating a completely new top.
For a 1st gen 4runner though, it would make sense to make the slideout as large as possible while being able to fit thru the factory rear opening with the window down and tailgate open.
One major problem we've encountered with our 4Runner is the rear opening...obviously the rear window sucks and is tempermental (luckily ours is holding on), but you're bound to have gaps and leaks in the weatherstripping over time. Fairly often now on dirt roads, we get fine dust and dirt invading the interior while driving. This is the downside of any overland vehicle with a rear opening. The dirt is like fine powder here in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Adding a rear slide-out could potentially create another barrier to protect yourself from the fine dust.
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tanglefoot
ExPoseur
Thanks Ruined, mighty flattering. That's a cool slide-out on that Delica.
Jack:
A full-size truck hard-side camper like the one you linked to may not be a very good starting point. They're likely all plywood (or wooden 2x2s). I would stay on the lookout for a compact truck pop-up. The soft-wall of the pop-up is one of the most expensive components--it's best if your donor camper includes that. If you find a Hallmark or other camper with the opposed front benches, that would probably be the best floorplan for a pass-through. Most campers that have a longitudinal bench also have a bench (and water tank) across the front. I bet a plywood camper would do pretty well with most of the front wall cut out of it. Just leave some material around the edges for load-bearing.
Phoenix campers would build you one with the pass-through. I saw the owner discuss it in their thread.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...V-Phoenix-Pop-up?highlight=what's+new+Phoenix
http://phoenixpopup.com/
Four Wheel Campers has built plenty of pass-through campers (on Scouts, Broncos, Blazers, Jeepsters, etc) in their early years but it sounds like they shy away from custom work these days. I'm not sure if any of those early pass-thru FWCs are narrow enough to fit in the Toyota bed.
Jack:
A full-size truck hard-side camper like the one you linked to may not be a very good starting point. They're likely all plywood (or wooden 2x2s). I would stay on the lookout for a compact truck pop-up. The soft-wall of the pop-up is one of the most expensive components--it's best if your donor camper includes that. If you find a Hallmark or other camper with the opposed front benches, that would probably be the best floorplan for a pass-through. Most campers that have a longitudinal bench also have a bench (and water tank) across the front. I bet a plywood camper would do pretty well with most of the front wall cut out of it. Just leave some material around the edges for load-bearing.
Phoenix campers would build you one with the pass-through. I saw the owner discuss it in their thread.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...V-Phoenix-Pop-up?highlight=what's+new+Phoenix
http://phoenixpopup.com/
Four Wheel Campers has built plenty of pass-through campers (on Scouts, Broncos, Blazers, Jeepsters, etc) in their early years but it sounds like they shy away from custom work these days. I'm not sure if any of those early pass-thru FWCs are narrow enough to fit in the Toyota bed.
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Ruined Adventures
Brenton Cooper
Great point. BTW, I talked to the owner of Phoenix Campers at Overland Expo '13 (while I was checking out their Denver Broncos Bronco build). He sounded very interested in building something for a 1st gen 4Runner. Very nice guy and his family has a lot of history in the camper business.
TacomaJack09
Observer
Tanglefoot - your probably right, I didn't even think about it being built out of wood, should've though its from the 1970's!!
Ruined Adventures - haha, I may have confused your blog with there's but yours has helped too! I haven't thought of a slide out, I'll have to ponder this!
I did just find this, if I had the $$ today, I would purchase these and meld them together!! http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4155633092.html http://columbus.craigslist.org/rvs/4166820419.html
Ruined Adventures - haha, I may have confused your blog with there's but yours has helped too! I haven't thought of a slide out, I'll have to ponder this!
I did just find this, if I had the $$ today, I would purchase these and meld them together!! http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4155633092.html http://columbus.craigslist.org/rvs/4166820419.html
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