New Old Perfect Expedition Camper (NOPEC) - Transitioning a 1995 Kodiak Truck Camper Into A Newer Version

[How]

I think there was a huge shift in truck bed dimensions around 07/08. (I know from experience that 07 and 1/2 was the big change in GMC/Chevs) I had a 2005 GM 2500 short box which my small Bigfoot fit perfectly into, especially as you refer to, in the critical area of narrowing of the box at the tail gate. I next bought a 2014 GM short box and the same Bigfoot barely fit through tailgate opening and only after an inch and a half of bed mat. My Kodiak (probably the same floor profile as yours) would not fit the 2014. I also tried to help a friend move an older 8'4 NL and it also would not fit my newer GM.

Some genius at GM decided that the area at the tail gate should be narrower at the bottom than at the top. I had to grind a triangular chunk out of both sides and then welded in some light sheet metal to square off the edge and fill the hole. It is still tight with the Kodiak but at least the sides are vertical. I sold the first 8'3'' Kodiak that I worked on to my broinlaw who has a late model F350 and it fit like a glove. Any Ford I have looked at seems to have a much more practical vertical (and wider) entrance to the box bed. I Don't know about Dodges though.

I just made the guards out of 2mm hard flexible sheet plastic I scrounged from an abandoned municipal surface water storage reservoir.[/QUOTE]

Thanks the reply. You’re right, tailgates have become narrower The guy I bought it from in the Kootenys had it in a newer ford. He had a bit more room than me, but not much.

I’ll see what I can fabricate up for those spots.


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[NOPEC]

I think there was a huge shift in truck bed dimensions around 07/08. (I know from experience that 07 and 1/2 was the big change in GMC/Chevs) I had a 2005 GM 2500 short box which my small Bigfoot fit perfectly into, especially as you refer to, in the critical area of narrowing of the box at the tail gate. I next bought a 2014 GM short box and the same Bigfoot barely fit through tailgate opening and only after an inch and a half of bed mat. My Kodiak (probably the same floor profile as yours) would not fit the 2014. I also tried to help a friend move an older 8'4 NL and it also would not fit my newer GM.

Some genius at GM decided that the area at the tail gate should be narrower at the bottom than at the top. I had to grind a triangular chunk out of both sides and then welded in some light sheet metal to square off the edge and fill the hole. It is still tight with the Kodiak but at least the sides are vertical. I sold the first 8'3'' Kodiak that I worked on to my broinlaw who has a late model F350 and it fit like a glove. Any Ford I have looked at seems to have a much more practical vertical (and wider) entrance to the box bed. I Don't know about Dodges though.

I just made the guards out of 2mm hard flexible sheet plastic I scrounged from an abandoned municipal surface water storage reservoir.

Thanks the reply. You’re right, tailgates have become narrower The guy I bought it from in the Kootenys had it in a newer ford. He had a bit more room than me, but not much.

I’ll see what I can fabricate up for those spots.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
[/QUOTE]
where did you buy your camper?

 

[How]

Thanks the reply. You’re right, tailgates have become narrower The guy I bought it from in the Kootenys had it in a newer ford. He had a bit more room than me, but not much.

I’ll see what I can fabricate up for those spots.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

where did you buy your camper?
[/QUOTE]
Oops, 10 months later i was re-reading this thread and see i missed the question. I bought it from a guy in Cranbrook in july 2021.

I was inspired by the way yours looks and this fall i removed all the decals, except for a bear and the word kodiak on each side, sanded it with 800-3000 sandpaper,and then polished. Probably took 30 hours. Yours must have been a massive committment.

 

[NOPEC]

where did you buy your camper?

Oops, 10 months later i was re-reading this thread and see i missed the question. I bought it from a guy in Cranbrook in july 2021.

I was inspired by the way yours looks and this fall i removed all the decals, except for a bear and the word kodiak on each side, sanded it with 800-3000 sandpaper,and then polished. Probably took 30 hours. Yours must have been a massive committment.
(quote)


It was indeed a massive commitment but it was great fun and I learned a huge amount about a lot of stuff, not the least of which was fiberglass which I am no longer intimidated by!! If you look closely at my avatar, you will recognize the bear which is just a very low light photo of the decal on my camper before I stripped the outside. The under exposure even took care of the colour, which I really like..... Good luck with your project!

 

[Trail Talk]

Re-reading this great thread and noticed your comment about the Nova Kool fridge sans freezer. We’d definitely go that way when it comes time to replace ours, for the same reasons.

 

[NOPEC]

Re-reading this great thread and noticed your comment about the Nova Kool fridge sans freezer. We’d definitely go that way when it comes time to replace ours, for the same reasons.

I accidently read this thread as well last night after a "Canadian Thanksgiving turkey outing" and was exhausted after finishing it (the thread that is, not the turkey...)

The Nova Kool brand checked all the boxes and the 100 ltr model 3800 was perfect for us. It was the largest size before there was an increase in compressor size and it was one of the few models that offered the freezer delete option. Previously, we had the model 3800 with the freezer compartment and we felt the freezerless model was an improvement on all fronts, considering our fridge use. Both worked flawlessly. Had we not opted for a Snomaster chest unit for this most recent build, we would have had another Nova Kool in a flash.