PacificNorthWestJeeper
Blissfully Lost
I have been surfing the internet looking at the M1078 LMTV's for a while now and within the last 30 days have gotten a lot more serious about purchasing one.
I just finished my Jeep and M416 trailer builds which are linked below on my signature line....
I have been looking at all the upgrades for the LMTV's drivetrain, interior, electrical, etc. and I think I have that mostly figured out on the direction I will go with it.
Now I am mentally building out the camper I want to build on the back of it and I have the majority of that all figured out.
Questions - I want to build the camper light, strong, and have the exterior rust/maintenance free.
1) I am considering framing out the camper in 2x2 quarter wall aluminum and gusseting each joint. Is this a good choice for strength and weight?
2) I am considering skinning the outside with 14 or 16 gauge aluminum and I do not want to use rivets. I was thinking some type of epoxy/glue/etc? Or do I drill holes in the sheetmetal every 12 inches and weld through the hole to the studs then grind it smooth? Suggestions on Gauge and Epoxy to use? I am going to paint the camper.
3) When mounting the camper (aluminum) onto the steel frame should I use urethane/rubber spacers so the metals do not contact each other from an aluminum corrosion standpoint? Is there a better mounting option so I don't have to worry about the LMTV frame flexing and jacking up the camper?
4) Or screw it, use steel studs, sheetmetal and call if good.?
Either way when I stud it out, skin the outside with aluminum or sheet metal I plan on shooting the spray foam insulation on the walls in the inside once wiring and plumbing is done.....
I hope to pick up an LMTV in the next few months and then use this thread and steel soldiers to record the build and get help...
Any thought would be appreciated. Thank you
I just finished my Jeep and M416 trailer builds which are linked below on my signature line....
I have been looking at all the upgrades for the LMTV's drivetrain, interior, electrical, etc. and I think I have that mostly figured out on the direction I will go with it.
Now I am mentally building out the camper I want to build on the back of it and I have the majority of that all figured out.
Questions - I want to build the camper light, strong, and have the exterior rust/maintenance free.
1) I am considering framing out the camper in 2x2 quarter wall aluminum and gusseting each joint. Is this a good choice for strength and weight?
2) I am considering skinning the outside with 14 or 16 gauge aluminum and I do not want to use rivets. I was thinking some type of epoxy/glue/etc? Or do I drill holes in the sheetmetal every 12 inches and weld through the hole to the studs then grind it smooth? Suggestions on Gauge and Epoxy to use? I am going to paint the camper.
3) When mounting the camper (aluminum) onto the steel frame should I use urethane/rubber spacers so the metals do not contact each other from an aluminum corrosion standpoint? Is there a better mounting option so I don't have to worry about the LMTV frame flexing and jacking up the camper?
4) Or screw it, use steel studs, sheetmetal and call if good.?
Either way when I stud it out, skin the outside with aluminum or sheet metal I plan on shooting the spray foam insulation on the walls in the inside once wiring and plumbing is done.....
I hope to pick up an LMTV in the next few months and then use this thread and steel soldiers to record the build and get help...
Any thought would be appreciated. Thank you
