I Bought This 8' Pop-up Yesterday - Hopefully a Diamond in the Rough

[Flysar]

Manufactured by Yucca Valley in CA in the 70's, there's a sticker from 76 but all I got was a bill of sale. Needs some TLC and some sizing mods to fit my truck a little better but for $150 I couldn't pass it up. I'll finish my 91 Cuchara but this may be my go to rig... Sink, stove, and sleeping area, and don't have to worry about leveling the fridge when parked to fish and hunt.

The lift is CO2 but I'd prefer to use my portable compressor that I always have with me, will a compressor work?

Near term items on the list;
- new canvas
- relocate front lifts to inside so I can move the camper fwd and use tailgate
- install a door header because the top of the door opening has widened about 1"
- install camper jacks, I have tripod screw type and hydraulic, either way they'll have to have extensions to get them away from the truck
- seat cushions & bed cushion


A few pictures.

 

[Sock Puppet]

Molded fiberglass interior? Cool. Looks like a solid little project, especially for $150!

 

[RHINO]

nice score!

 

[tanglefoot]

Looks great. Boat construction! That ought to be a tough camper that isn't like anyone else's. Enjoy!

 

[Flysar]

Yesterday I removed the canvas, vacuumed and scrubbed.

Tripod jacks won't work because the underwing depth is not deep enough for the mounting base and I don't know enough about the corner construction and if it will hold a lag bolt (thick and has radius inside) for the corner jack bracket. Thinking about buying a couple wire lift jacks since the camper will stay on while camping but I heard they can be an accident waiting to happen.

May just pull this thing off my rig with a couple straps and a come-along onto my heavy duty saw horses so I can remove the front lift mechanisms and move them inside.

Thanks for the comments

 

[brian90744]

jack lift help??

( Tripod jacks won't work because the underwing depth is not deep enough for the mounting base) So why not make some Temp extension under the camper side so you can use the tripod jack??
nice buy, does the rear door opens into the camper?? nice and narrow unit.
brian

 

[Flysar]

( Tripod jacks won't work because the underwing depth is not deep enough for the mounting base) So why not make some Temp extension under the camper side so you can use the tripod jack??
nice buy, does the rear door opens into the camper?? nice and narrow unit.
brian

I'll have to look at that, thanks for the tip.

The door does open in. Thought it was odd at first but it's just like a house and maybe less chance of stepping off the tailgate.

 

[escadventure]

Looks like a great rig. Glad to see another fiberglass camper

 

[Ozarker]

WOW! Did you leave off a zero on that price????

Fiberglass manufactures in the 60's and 70's will be tougher (and heavier) than stuff from the late 80's and later as they were laid up differently. They were experimenting still into the 70's with cloth and resigns making things stronger than they really needed to be. That shell will last you a lifetime!

Never heard of a deal like that except from relatives!

And, it looks great on your truck, white, man I'll never find one in Ford "warm desert sand" gold for my truck. I'd say you lucked out big time! Good luck with your mods.....

 

[subterran]

^what he said x2
That's a sharp looking camper. You'll have a nice looking rig. Well played, sir!

 

[java]

Very cool camper. Sub'ed

 

[Flysar]

I moved the front lifts from outside the camper to inside, lag bolted on a 1/8"x1"x4' aluminum strap as a header to draw the sides in, and installed a tire valve to lift the top with my portable Air-lift compressor (can use the CO2 or air now). Loaded it up and was able to close my tailgate with a little room to spare. I used my Tripod jacks to lift and lower the camper a few inches without bolting them under the wings.

Drove 5 hrs to my folks cabin on a lake where over a couple days my mom helped me sew up my new canvas. I decided to use 10.10oz Waterproof Cotton Duck that an outfit in Idaho uses for their elk tents for a couple reasons; more pliable therefore easier to work with in my Moms 1955 Singer and it will tuck in between the lifting posts and the top/sides easier when closing. I measured and cut while she did a great job sewing in 7 windows that have bug netting and velcro'd clear vinyl and privacy covers; looks professional.

Next up is to cover some holes and hit it with some primer and white paint for a clean look, bolt in the canvas, install a freshwater filler port, and foam seats/bed cushion.

I'll get some pictures up of the details when I have it done.

 

[Sock Puppet]

Sounds great; looking forward to seeing the pics!

 

[Raul B]

Looks great....

 

[craig333]

I'm curious to see how the canvas holds up in the long run.