My latest project...

[Prybry]

I picked up a very interesting camper to put into my '05 Dodge PW
It's called a "pickupper" built by Bethany campers in the 70's...
Mine is a '78 and is great shape since it's been stored inside it's whole life.
I'm rebuilding the entire galley area... rebuilding the two burner stove and tore out the ice box for a place to stroe my 12v cooler. Also updating the 30 year old electrical and updating the converter. Planning to add a microwave and new porta potty (for my wife

I haven't taken any pictures yet but I did find an old brochure on the web...

I've updated the 2" foam mattresses with 6" futons... much more comfortable!

I'll keep you updated with my progress, an post some pictures next time.
Enjoy...

 

[kcowyo]

Welcome to ExPo - :beer:

A very nice find you have there. Thanks for attaching the brochures. I have seen one of these in person before, way up in Montana, but it wasn't deployed so I didn't get a peak at the interior. Those brochures fill in the gaps, thanks.

The one I saw had been customized a little. I'm actually not even sure if he still pops the top anymore but it's been there the last two summers I was around. I hope yours works out for you & the Mrs. And yes, pics are highly encouraged.


Up near Glacier National Park -

 

[adrenaline503]

Cool, I can't wait to see it.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Pictures....pictures! I want to see it!
Nice find.

 

[Prybry]

Hip dude!

I have to laugh everytime I look at the pictures in the brochure... The hip dude in the wide white belt and bell bottoms... yeah baby!

Right now I've got the entire galley ripped apart.... I'll take some pictures this weekend.

I like the canoe rack idea that guy came up with... You have to remove the cross brace in the back when you put the top up (full height door)

The full height door was one of the major attractions to buying this camper...
I'm to tall (6'4") to be squating through most the short popup doors today.

I also noted the turn buckle hold downs the guy has rigged up... not a bad idea. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to use. I came up with a set of barn door latches to tie into the tailgate pins, but that just holds it in the truck. I'm not sure if I need to hold it down vertically. It fits so tight between my tool boxes, I doubt it would ever come out in anything short of a roll over

Thanks,
Prybry

 

[Prybry]

Picked a name for my project...

Playing around with a name and graphic for my project... "Rock Roamer"
Looks pretty cool... I'll add it to the side of the camper when I paint it.
Prybry

 

[fisher205]

Pryby, If your going to do much off roading you will want to get some camper tiedowns with some "give" such as Torklifts or Happijacs. I've ripped the corner out of camper by using turnbuckles. - Brad

 

[Prybry]

Pryby, If your going to do much off roading you will want to get some camper tiedowns with some "give" such as Torklifts or Happijacs. I've ripped the corner out of camper by using turnbuckles. - Brad

There is the question... the latches I came up with to hold the camper in the bed only keep the camper from sliding backwards (out of the bed) they allow the camper to move up and down within the bed, the sides of the camper fit tightly between my bed side tool box system. So tight in fact that I'm thinking I can get by without any vertical hold downs at all. If I let the camper float within the bed is it easier on the truck and camper than bolting it through the bed floor? The camper has no provisions for a typical slide in camper hold down system. For example, it does not over hang the sides of the bed at all. One idea I had was to use some thing dropped into the stake pockets from the inside of the camper?

The picture above has a plate coming out from the bed pocket, that might also allow the camper to move up and down within the bed.

Thoughts?

 

[wesel123]

I had a Bethany a few years go on the back of a Nissan Frontier. It wroked great until I kept breaking the side glass panels when I slept in the bed!!! Even though it covered by wood be careful not to put too much pressure on one point.

It s pretty sturdy unit other than that. The wife just hated how "70's" it looked on the back of a modern truck so I lost out.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

Great find and welcome to ExPo. I can't wait to see pics. So is a handlebar mustache, mutton chops, and white short sleeved turtle neck shirts going to be part of the project? Pics of that would be boss.

 

[Lynn]

That's a great find.

For those of you who want a Bethany but can't find one, here's a site with downloadable plans to build a similar-style camper from scratch.

 

[Prybry]

I had a Bethany a few years go on the back of a Nissan Frontier. It wroked great until I kept breaking the side glass panels when I slept in the bed!!! Even though it covered by wood be careful not to put too much pressure on one point.

It s pretty sturdy unit other than that. The wife just hated how "70's" it looked on the back of a modern truck so I lost out.

I wondered about the windows... Maybe I should make some new support panels and scrap the old ones.

Yeah, My wife isn't crazy for the looks either... planning a new paint job to match the truck, hope it helps.

How did you hold yours to the truck? I'm still trying to figure out if I need hold downs... I have come up with what I call "hold in's" to keep it from sliding out the back. But since it fits so snuggly between my bedside tool boxes I'm half tempted to not tie it down... It doesn't seem to move at all, it really can't go anywhere but up and even then only straight up! Hate to think about bolting through the floor I also might try to tie into the stake pockets through the side sills.

Since I have a short box truck and it's designed to fit a long box, I'm leaving the tailgate on the truck... I put a 4X8 sheet of plywood down before loading the camper so it is supported evenly the entire way.

 

[wesel123]

I wondered about the windows... Maybe I should make some new support panels and scrap the old ones.

Yeah, My wife isn't crazy for the looks either... planning a new paint job to match the truck, hope it helps.

How did you hold yours to the truck? I'm still trying to figure out if I need hold downs... I have come up with what I call "hold in's" to keep it from sliding out the back. But since it fits so snuggly between my bedside tool boxes I'm half tempted to not tie it down... It doesn't seem to move at all, it really can't go anywhere but up and even then only straight up! Hate to think about bolting through the floor I also might try to tie into the stake pockets through the side sills.

Since I have a short box truck and it's designed to fit a long box, I'm leaving the tailgate on the truck... I put a 4X8 sheet of plywood down before loading the camper so it is supported evenly the entire way.

If I remember the only way was to bolt it. For the life of me I cant remember????? I had a skamper pop up and I can remember how I did that but cant think??? Man it sucks gettign old.

I'll try to find some pics in the next day or so and see if I have any of how it was attached. I'm pretty sure id had 4 bolts thru the floor.......I'll ge back to you.. Sorry

 

[Prybry]

If I remember the only way was to bolt it. For the life of me I cant remember????? I had a skamper pop up and I can remember how I did that but cant think??? Man it sucks gettign old.

I'll try to find some pics in the next day or so and see if I have any of how it was attached. I'm pretty sure id had 4 bolts thru the floor.......I'll ge back to you.. Sorry

I would love to see some pictures! Say,you don't happen to have the manual yet? Or know if the person you sold it to might have it... I'd love to have a copy of the original documentation.

Thanks,

 

[Prybry]

finally got some pictures taken...

Here is the current state of the new (old) camper...
included some pictures from the maiden voyage to UP/Mi

Here is a link,
http://s535.photobucket.com/albums/ee357/prybry

Enjoy!