Hello everyone,
Background:
Last fall I purchased an M1102 with the intention of turning it into an off-road camper. I’ve been hunting these suckers for a while and when I saw this one with the Access MFG Inc. hard top I couldn’t resist. This was apparently a search and rescue rig at some point, and although I hate the white paint the top was worth a re-spray. I enjoy unimproved site / remote camping but I need to round off some of the rough edges for my wife and young son. I work full time in the public service sector so this is going to be a very long term project. I have some fabrication experience but I’m by no means a pro. I have zero experience with camper fab so I’ll be consulting the hive on the regular…. Please forgive me in advance for the multitude of stupid questions I’ll probably ask.
Plan:
The pie in the sky plan is to make this a “pop-up” camper with a slide out sleeping area.
-I’m 6’3” and I would like to be able to stand up (or at least crouch) inside the trailer. I would like to have the hard shell lift up appx. 5’. My original plan was to scavenge the lift post assembly from a tent camper but finding one for a decent price has been challenging to say the least. I’m now considering using 4x linear actuators.
-I’d like to have a decent sized bed so I’m planning to make a pullout sleeping area that slides out one side of the trailer. (Like a typical pop up tent trailer)
-The original plan was to have a canvas skirt made to span the gap between the top and the trailer. I’m now considering making at least one of the sides rigid with a window.
-The trailer bed would be used for storage. I’d like to put two slide out drawers coming out the back. One for dry storage and one that has the cooktop and fridge / freezer.
-I’ll be outfitting an AC/Heat setup but I have no idea what direction to go. I’ve been looking at a mini split 9k BTU setup w/ heat pump but I’m open to any suggestion.
-Eventually I’d like to make the power system off grid sustainable but for now it will be run off a generator.
-It’ll have at least one tongue mounted 20lb propane tank
-I’ll be hanging the water tanks under the trailer above the axle. I’d like an exterior shower / sink setup so it will need a water heater.
There will be so many questions to come but I’m excited for the journey.
Background:
Last fall I purchased an M1102 with the intention of turning it into an off-road camper. I’ve been hunting these suckers for a while and when I saw this one with the Access MFG Inc. hard top I couldn’t resist. This was apparently a search and rescue rig at some point, and although I hate the white paint the top was worth a re-spray. I enjoy unimproved site / remote camping but I need to round off some of the rough edges for my wife and young son. I work full time in the public service sector so this is going to be a very long term project. I have some fabrication experience but I’m by no means a pro. I have zero experience with camper fab so I’ll be consulting the hive on the regular…. Please forgive me in advance for the multitude of stupid questions I’ll probably ask.
Plan:
The pie in the sky plan is to make this a “pop-up” camper with a slide out sleeping area.
-I’m 6’3” and I would like to be able to stand up (or at least crouch) inside the trailer. I would like to have the hard shell lift up appx. 5’. My original plan was to scavenge the lift post assembly from a tent camper but finding one for a decent price has been challenging to say the least. I’m now considering using 4x linear actuators.
-I’d like to have a decent sized bed so I’m planning to make a pullout sleeping area that slides out one side of the trailer. (Like a typical pop up tent trailer)
-The original plan was to have a canvas skirt made to span the gap between the top and the trailer. I’m now considering making at least one of the sides rigid with a window.
-The trailer bed would be used for storage. I’d like to put two slide out drawers coming out the back. One for dry storage and one that has the cooktop and fridge / freezer.
-I’ll be outfitting an AC/Heat setup but I have no idea what direction to go. I’ve been looking at a mini split 9k BTU setup w/ heat pump but I’m open to any suggestion.
-Eventually I’d like to make the power system off grid sustainable but for now it will be run off a generator.
-It’ll have at least one tongue mounted 20lb propane tank
-I’ll be hanging the water tanks under the trailer above the axle. I’d like an exterior shower / sink setup so it will need a water heater.
There will be so many questions to come but I’m excited for the journey.
