jrfromafar
Adventurer
I’ve had a few great rigs, but I’m thinking I like this the best. What I like is the simplicity of it, and the ability to stealth. In some ways a van would be better, but I want 4 wheel drive, and with my present rig I think I get the most bang for my buck.
I had a Disco Land Rover & a 14’ wide bodied burro for 5 years - LOVED it - was great to be able to unhook it, and have my vehicle free to explore- but it wasn’t conducive for back roads - or parking in metro areas. I GAVE UP trying to find parking at a BART station in the East Bay.
I also made my own platform & pitched a 2 man tent - my own rooftop tent creation - which I recommend - Yes I think sleeping up on top of my rig was great and my setup was simple & cheap.
These other rooftop tents look awesome but how practical are they? They are not easy to put on and takeoff and they're top heavy - They weigh 120 to 200 pounds.
My little home job creation was great - but moved on from there...
And got a new 2014 F250 4x4 - and found a good deal on a 1972 Alaskan Camper.
LOVED it - took it up to the Sierra Nevada where I live, and the coast... and up the ALCAN highway all the way to Homer & Fairbanks, and parts in between- Dawson City in the Yukon....
Then another trip I took it to the Southwest- Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico & Arizona -
But the Alaskan had it’s drawbacks - it was old & bulky, I didn’t need all that space. Plus it wasn’t a stealther. I want to be able to pull into a shopping center or neighborhood, crawl in the back & sleep.
This was a major effort to set up. Hand pump, plus the tailgate had to be open when set up - no bueno for stealth.
And dusty! A nightmare cleaning up after miles on a dirt road like the Campbell Highway in the Yukon! Roy Rogers ain’t got nothin on me (“Dust, Dust, Dust the sky, dust on the trail, dust in my eyes.... “)
But still I had great times. But after 5 years and many wonderful trips, I unloaded it & bought my Snugtop.
So I did my little build. What I don’t like is that I can’t stand up in the stupid thing - but then again you cannot stand up in most 2 man tents or a rooftop tent - & I cannot access the cab without getting out like you can in a van - that is a bit of a hassle. But it is what it is.
This is not a Steinway piano - it’s a quick construct to see if this configuration is even practical (at least that’s my excuse for only being proficient with a worm gear skill saw & a claw hammer.....
I first put down some insulation - & some left over to use on windows when I need to black out the windows to stealth out
Also tried some rigid insulation but that didn’t work out.
I built it in two sections - the bed/ sofa & headboard / storage unit connected to it - I did not want the bed scrunched up next to the cab - So all of that is storage and gives me elbow room (literally).
& the sink / counter unit. Underneath is a 5 gallon fresh water jug & a 5 gallon waste water jug.
Gusseted together next to the cab - so if I have to remove it, just remove the gusset, and the few bolts that attach it to the pickup bed...
I wanted a wide sofa like at home - not some ‘bench’ to sit on. 32” wide, so I can slouch in style. It’s 14” high (plus the height of the mattress) 72” length - from Walmart - about $69.00 plus tax. I trimmed the mattress so I have a bit of window to look out of.
With 43” cab headroom that gives me 28 / 29” headroom on the futon. I might take this out & shave off another 2” making it 12”, giving me a little more head room.
Storage underneath, accessible by three hinged doors that lift up
The sink / counter unit is 16” wide, 22” high - Then gusseted to the bed unit next to the cab
21” headroom livable space for the sink & stove (bungeed down)
So it took:
2 sheets of 1/2” plywood
Some 1x2 materiel
Roll of insulation
Mattress
Sink
Hand pump
Gray water tank
Fresh water tank
- less than $250.
And then the fridge.... I don’t like to mess with ice - so I sprung for a 34 quart 12v Engel Fridge - powered by an under the chassis deep cycle battery, installed with a Torklift Hidden Power battery box & bracket. Now, cold drinks & food (happy stomach!) on demand 24/7— A bit of a spurge - No more soggy food - don’t have to mess with melting ice, and storage is a full 34 quarts instead of an ice chest filled with ice instead of food (in a conventional ice chest, how much space is the ice vs actual food? Besides being much easier, I predict I can keep food cold enough to actually save money by eating more out of my rig instead of restaurants (at least that’s how i’m justifying it)
So the total cost:
Engel fridge $1,000
Deep cycle battery $100
Torklift under chassis battery box & bracket $230.00
& the cost of the 12v wiring which I’m embarrassed to admit ?
The loo I already had (ya can’t get far in any rig without a loo)
& a 2 burner Coleman stove that I’ve had for since the last two centuries... (almost!)
I’d love to have an under chassis propane tank - I HATE dealing with 16oz canisters - that’s next...
I have an Olympian Wave3 catalytic heater but going to see how it works to use a burner on the stove for heat...
I also need a 12v vent fan $65.00. Right now can open windows. The vent fan would be nice.
Inside my cab I have tools & recovery equipment, my compressor jumper unit & I don’t go anywhere without my Garmen Inreach - set it on the dash & access it with my iPhone - I can keep in touch with anyone while off the grid.
So that’s the Build, folks - OSoloMeO
I had a Disco Land Rover & a 14’ wide bodied burro for 5 years - LOVED it - was great to be able to unhook it, and have my vehicle free to explore- but it wasn’t conducive for back roads - or parking in metro areas. I GAVE UP trying to find parking at a BART station in the East Bay.
I also made my own platform & pitched a 2 man tent - my own rooftop tent creation - which I recommend - Yes I think sleeping up on top of my rig was great and my setup was simple & cheap.
These other rooftop tents look awesome but how practical are they? They are not easy to put on and takeoff and they're top heavy - They weigh 120 to 200 pounds.
My little home job creation was great - but moved on from there...
And got a new 2014 F250 4x4 - and found a good deal on a 1972 Alaskan Camper.
LOVED it - took it up to the Sierra Nevada where I live, and the coast... and up the ALCAN highway all the way to Homer & Fairbanks, and parts in between- Dawson City in the Yukon....
Then another trip I took it to the Southwest- Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico & Arizona -
But the Alaskan had it’s drawbacks - it was old & bulky, I didn’t need all that space. Plus it wasn’t a stealther. I want to be able to pull into a shopping center or neighborhood, crawl in the back & sleep.
This was a major effort to set up. Hand pump, plus the tailgate had to be open when set up - no bueno for stealth.
And dusty! A nightmare cleaning up after miles on a dirt road like the Campbell Highway in the Yukon! Roy Rogers ain’t got nothin on me (“Dust, Dust, Dust the sky, dust on the trail, dust in my eyes.... “)
But still I had great times. But after 5 years and many wonderful trips, I unloaded it & bought my Snugtop.
So I did my little build. What I don’t like is that I can’t stand up in the stupid thing - but then again you cannot stand up in most 2 man tents or a rooftop tent - & I cannot access the cab without getting out like you can in a van - that is a bit of a hassle. But it is what it is.
This is not a Steinway piano - it’s a quick construct to see if this configuration is even practical (at least that’s my excuse for only being proficient with a worm gear skill saw & a claw hammer.....
I first put down some insulation - & some left over to use on windows when I need to black out the windows to stealth out
Also tried some rigid insulation but that didn’t work out.
I built it in two sections - the bed/ sofa & headboard / storage unit connected to it - I did not want the bed scrunched up next to the cab - So all of that is storage and gives me elbow room (literally).
& the sink / counter unit. Underneath is a 5 gallon fresh water jug & a 5 gallon waste water jug.
Gusseted together next to the cab - so if I have to remove it, just remove the gusset, and the few bolts that attach it to the pickup bed...
I wanted a wide sofa like at home - not some ‘bench’ to sit on. 32” wide, so I can slouch in style. It’s 14” high (plus the height of the mattress) 72” length - from Walmart - about $69.00 plus tax. I trimmed the mattress so I have a bit of window to look out of.
With 43” cab headroom that gives me 28 / 29” headroom on the futon. I might take this out & shave off another 2” making it 12”, giving me a little more head room.
Storage underneath, accessible by three hinged doors that lift up
The sink / counter unit is 16” wide, 22” high - Then gusseted to the bed unit next to the cab
21” headroom livable space for the sink & stove (bungeed down)
So it took:
2 sheets of 1/2” plywood
Some 1x2 materiel
Roll of insulation
Mattress
Sink
Hand pump
Gray water tank
Fresh water tank
- less than $250.
And then the fridge.... I don’t like to mess with ice - so I sprung for a 34 quart 12v Engel Fridge - powered by an under the chassis deep cycle battery, installed with a Torklift Hidden Power battery box & bracket. Now, cold drinks & food (happy stomach!) on demand 24/7— A bit of a spurge - No more soggy food - don’t have to mess with melting ice, and storage is a full 34 quarts instead of an ice chest filled with ice instead of food (in a conventional ice chest, how much space is the ice vs actual food? Besides being much easier, I predict I can keep food cold enough to actually save money by eating more out of my rig instead of restaurants (at least that’s how i’m justifying it)
So the total cost:
Engel fridge $1,000
Deep cycle battery $100
Torklift under chassis battery box & bracket $230.00
& the cost of the 12v wiring which I’m embarrassed to admit ?
The loo I already had (ya can’t get far in any rig without a loo)
& a 2 burner Coleman stove that I’ve had for since the last two centuries... (almost!)
I’d love to have an under chassis propane tank - I HATE dealing with 16oz canisters - that’s next...
I have an Olympian Wave3 catalytic heater but going to see how it works to use a burner on the stove for heat...
I also need a 12v vent fan $65.00. Right now can open windows. The vent fan would be nice.
Inside my cab I have tools & recovery equipment, my compressor jumper unit & I don’t go anywhere without my Garmen Inreach - set it on the dash & access it with my iPhone - I can keep in touch with anyone while off the grid.
So that’s the Build, folks - OSoloMeO
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