My homegrown pop top camper

[rdraider]

Here's the first pic of my home grown pickup camper. It'll have a pop top. That's my truck in the back ground.

More to come

 

[rdraider]

Ok, a little further on. It's starting to look a little more like a camper.

 

[Ford Prefect]

Cool.

Where do you plan to source the material for the pop up top? Do you have any concept of how large it will be? How about what it will cost? (ball park)

I am interested in possibly doing a similar job, so I am very curious.

Cheers

 

[rdraider]

Ford Perfect,

First, I found something called silnylon, on ebay, its silicone impregnated rip stop nylon. I think that will work fine. As far as cost, I've got $200.00 into it right now and expect to spend about $300.00 more at most. On the size issue, i'm not sure what you're referring to, but to give you an idea: The top will hinge at the top front edge, across the width of the truck. It will rise up about 2-3 feet at back. Its just enough to give me head room to change clothes, etc. My truck is a short bed so the overall camper is pretty square. 77" long by 78" wide. I could have made it 78x78 but would have had clearance issues with the tail gate.

 

[Ford Prefect]

Sorry, I was specifically speaking to the fabric, size and cost wise. I am thinking about taking an existing box that is only 5'5" and putting a liftable roof on it. So the fabric portion is what gets my attention most.

I love your willingness to go for it on this project though! Very cool and certainly far above my head in the fabrication department!


I did a search on the silnylon... Interesting stuff. I found this link, also, that you may want if you have not read it yet. It is all about how to work with sewing the stuff...

Do you have any concerns about the insulative properties of this stuff? It looks super, but it does not look like it would hold the heat in at all.


Cheers
Brian

 

[rdraider]

I live in texas, so i'm not to worried about letting the heat out, more worried about getting the heat out! But i figure i could mock up some panels that could be put in place pretty cheaply.

Thanks for the link!

 

[rdraider]

Update

Got a bit more done on my camper today. I have the top done just didn't get a photo of it. The door is awfully short, may have to do some re-eingineering on it.

 

[rdraider]

update

A took a week off from work to get a liitle more done to the camper.

Here it is with the top up. Still got work to do.

Rear view of camper by rdraider72, on Flickr

Front view of camper by rdraider72, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!

 

[Hill Bill E.]

That looks nice. great work!

 

[AmericaOverland]

I'm waiting to see this finished! For some reason, your first few pics gave me a VERY different idea for a rear slide-out for an SUV (open the lift gate and the tail gate, and slide out the extension to extend the length of the bed, to the edge of the laid-down tailgate).

 

[rdraider]

Thanks for your comments. All are welcome. I have been thinking about this project for over a year now, and really couldn't begin to figure out the small details without starting it. As i have gone along, i have had to change some ideas, and add others. The air conditioner was a late addition. The fabric sides i have been considering may go by the wayside, as i am thinking i can get some hard sided panels fab'd up pretty cheaply. I'll just wait and see. Right now, the priority is just to get the overall structure finished and painted. This is where i am at now. Just some skinning left, and then seal and paint.

Getting closer by rdraider72, on Flickr

 

[trailrunner]

Cool man, any estimate on weight?

 

[rdraider]

Not yet, when I get closer to the final product I'll let you know. The goal is 300 pounds, give or take a few dozen. ;-)

 

[kjp1969]

Very cool. How do you plan on sealing the top to the body- auto bulb weatherstrip?

 

[rdraider]

Thanks for the idea!:sombrero:

Still looking at options. Any ideas will help!