I decided to build my own Pop Top camper

[97heavyweight]

It is finally...I won't say done because there are still many things to do, but it is usable! I sewed up the final seam with a Speedy Stitcher. If you've never used one they are anything but speedy. It took my buddy and I 3 hours to sew 32". The trim was installed and the door glued and screwed. This project has been a long and fun one so far. I am just glad i can get some time and brain space back. For now.

 

[97heavyweight]

With all the work done to make this thing usable I headed out to the mountains to give her a good shake down and I mean that. This road is about as bumpy as they come for the full 35 miles I was on the trail. The camper worked out great though and i'm excited to get to use it.

 

[highwest]

Yes! So awesome!

 

[97heavyweight]

Yes! So awesome!

thank you

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Looking good!

 

[97heavyweight]

While building this I had a lot of trepidations about whether this would work out or not. I was worried if it would leak (even though I basically went overkill on waterproofing) and I was especially afraid of what would happen once the final seem of the canvas was sew up. Well I am happy to report that these past two weekends that it has been done it has worked flawlessly!! I am very happy with the outcome. I haven't had a single fastener loosen yet (knock on wood) and i've been down some very rough roads. I will be starting the interior build out sooner than I thought. I am going to start with fans and solar and the other electrical bits then build my bench and counter.

 

[97heavyweight]

One issue I am having which kind of sucks is that my roof is completely flat and then it has a 1/8" trim piece around all edges. I didn't even think of this being an issue until someone mentioned it. So for now while my truck is parked i have put it up on some RV levelers. Not sure I can really do anything about it without completely rebuilding the roof. So for now this is what i'll do and i'll figure something out while camping.

 

[ITTOG]

One issue I am having which kind of sucks is that my roof is completely flat and then it has a 1/8" trim piece around all edges. I didn't even think of this being an issue until someone mentioned it. So for now while my truck is parked i have put it up on some RV levelers. Not sure I can really do anything about it without completely rebuilding the roof. So for now this is what i'll do and i'll figure something out while camping.

Based on what I have read and seen for campers and cargo trailers not even all the "pros" have that one resolved.

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[joshuag23]

Such a great build!

I'm wondering if you could use a bigger bulb seal on one end of the frame so when the roof is lowered, it's closed but still with an angle.

Thanks for posting this

 

[97heavyweight]

Such a great build!

I'm wondering if you could use a bigger bulb seal on one end of the frame so when the roof is lowered, it's closed but still with an angle.

Thanks for posting this

That's not a bad idea. Right now i have 3/8" seal on top and 1/8" seal on bottom. I could change out the lower one to the 3/8".

 

[97heavyweight]

Based on what I have read and seen for campers and cargo trailers not even all the "pros" have that one resolved.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I think FWC has a slightly bowed in the middle roof, but i'm not entirely sure.

 

[joshuag23]

The build I'm planning is similar to yours. It would be interesting to know how well the taped ACM panels help with condensation as a thermal break in the PNW. There are so many different versions of VHB tape. Which one did you end up using? Did you go to Laird for your ACM panels? They sent me dibond samples, but didn't follow up after that. Sorry for all the questions! I'm excited to start my build

I think FWC has a slightly bowed in the middle roof, but i'm not entirely sure.

 

[97heavyweight]

The build I'm planning is similar to yours. It would be interesting to know how well the taped ACM panels help with condensation as a thermal break in the PNW. There are so many different versions of VHB tape. Which one did you end up using? Did you go to Laird for your ACM panels? They sent me dibond samples, but didn't follow up after that. Sorry for all the questions! I'm excited to start my build

This is the tape i used. I used 1" to attach the panels and 2" for the corners.
As for the ACM panels i don't remember where i got them exactly. It was somewhere in Kent. The first night out there was a huge amount of condensation on the roof, but no where else. The next time i took it out i brought a fan and cracked the door and i had no condensation. All of the nights so far have gotten into the 40s.

 

[joshuag23]

Sounds like they are definitely helping then! I can't see the tape link you posted for some reason. Glad it's working out!

This is the tape i used. I used 1" to attach the panels and 2" for the corners.
As for the ACM panels i don't remember where i got them exactly. It was somewhere in Kent. The first night out there was a huge amount of condensation on the roof, but no where else. The next time i took it out i brought a fan and cracked the door and i had no condensation. All of the nights so far have gotten into the 40s.

 

[97heavyweight]

Sounds like they are definitely helping then! I can't see the tape link you posted for some reason. Glad it's working out!

It's LLPT double sided acrylic tape. Should be able to google that or go straight to amazon. I think i went through 250' of 1" and 100' of 2"

Also it was either Coast Aluminum or Cascadia Metals in Kent that i got my panels from. I had to call them to verify their website wasn't great.