OVRLND CAMPERS ONLY : Post your OVRLND Camper build here or a link to your build thread to inspire others!

[lacofdfireman]

Awesome. Congrats. I’m hoping mine is February sometime.

It's gonna be a VERY Happy New Year! Just got my install date of January 8th.

Now I just need someone to buy my old rooftop

 

[lacofdfireman]

I know I am in the minority here, but I have a hatch and have no desire to switch to barn doors. Several people commented on the lack of barn doors in my build, but my wife and I really like the flip up hatch. I can easily stick long items out the back and even bungy the hatch tight against the items is necessary. We do not feel having a flip up hatch impedes our use the tailgate or makes it more difficult to get into the camper. I also like the great visibility I have through the rearview mirror because of the large Tern window we put in the hatch.

We have stronger gas struts than what came with the camper, so our hatch goes to up to about 150 degrees (less so in cold temperatures or if we have the 270 awning deployed). I'm 6'2" and I step up on the back of the tailgate and then duck under the opening to get inside. It is only one step for me, I don't think I start the ducking process much earlier than I would with barn doors. If I need to reach anything on the roof (I too have Maxtrax on the roof), I just close the hatch and stand on the tailgate. One big advantage for barn doors, however, is the ability to mount a propane tank on the door. I had to mount mine on the side of the camper. But since you are getting a Chubby, you should have the ability to put a corner-mount propane tank bracket on one of the back corners.

It is obviously a personal choice, but for us a flip up hatch was and is the best choice.

Congrats on getting the new camper. Sounds like it will be an awesome setup with the AT4! Post up some photos once you get it.

I will post pics for sure once I get it. Ya, the barn door vs. Flip up hatch was my hardest choice but after talking to them I think I made the right choice with the flip up door. The flip up door is no extra charge where barn doors are $500 extra. They told me if I don’t end up liking the flip up hatch I can always come back and have them install the barn doors after for a price. Or they could even send them to me and I can install myself. I personally think I’ll like the hatch though.

Did you put on the extra strong shocks yourself? If so what pound and length did you go with? Sounds like I may go that route. Also if you have a pic of your hatch up with your 270 awning deployed I’d love to see it if you don’t mind posting it. Thanks.

 

[2Toyotas]

I looked at their website but didn't see full barn doors. Are full barn doors available?

They no longer sell the full barn doors upfront. They fabricate the lower half and send it as a kit now. These are priced on an individual basis from what I understand.

The other day they said they need 3 weeks to put the kit together.

 

[Double Down]

Regarding the lower barn door extensions, they are an off-menu option. Just have to call/email and give them the dimensions they need to fabricate them. I think they ran ~$400 a year ago for ones that fit my Tacoma - could be more for full-size trucks.

Install is super easy - I did it in their parking lot in an hour and a half after they removed the flip-up hatch and installed the upper barn doors.

 

[Phessor]

I have never had an issue with my flip up rear door. The ONLY inconvenience is when I want to stand on the tailgate for what ever reason. I am already crouched down to enter the back, never thought that I had to make this transition sooner then a barn door style. Do I regret my choice, absolutly not!

 

[2Toyotas]

They have an instruction video LINK in the instructions for the extension.
Ask them to send you the instructions.

 

[dstefan]

I had a past flip up high-topper I slept in and I liked the flip-up. Can serve as an awning for shade or light rain. I like the hatch back in my 4runner too.

I got the barn doors on my Ovrlnd and I’m really happy with them. Standing on the TG sometimes is mildly useful. It does make exiting/entering the camper through one side without letting out heat a bit easier.

But the big advantages to me are the ability to use the barn doors as swing out carriers. I don’t want the weight or reduction of departure angle from a swing out bumper. I got an extra hinge (3 total) on D side door. I have had nearly 50lbs on that door of Trasharoo/garbage extra gas and a hanging kitchen bag on the inside. I have a mount for a 10 lb propane tank on my other door.

I have also found that the doors serve well as side shields for wind and some sun, especially with a small tarp draped on them (I have made some small hold-fasts that can keep the doors fixed straight out). They also similarly provide much better privacy when forced to be in an organized campground.

Like everything else it’s horses for courses and YMMV, but hadn’t seen these uses mentioned so far in the discussion.

 

[chet6.7]

I have also found that the doors serve well as side shields for wind and some sun, especially with a small tarp draped on them (I have made some small hold-fasts that can keep the doors fixed straight out). They also similarly provide much better privacy when forced to be in an organized campground.

I would like more information on this, thanks.

 

[KellyM]

I will post pics for sure once I get it. Ya, the barn door vs. Flip up hatch was my hardest choice but after talking to them I think I made the right choice with the flip up door. The flip up door is no extra charge where barn doors are $500 extra. They told me if I don’t end up liking the flip up hatch I can always come back and have them install the barn doors after for a price. Or they could even send them to me and I can install myself. I personally think I’ll like the hatch though.

Did you put on the extra strong shocks yourself? If so what pound and length did you go with? Sounds like I may go that route. Also if you have a pic of your hatch up with your 270 awning deployed I’d love to see it if you don’t mind posting it. Thanks.

I did put the stronger gas struts on the hatch myself. I'll look and see if I can find the size and strength. However, since you are ordering new, I would just ask Jay to put stronger than normal struts on. It is the cold weather here in Idaho coupled with the large Tern Overland window that prompted me to go for stronger struts. Jay might have even shipped me the new struts. I just can't remember.

Here are the best photos I could find of the hatch with and without the awning deployed. It is supposed to clear up here in the next couple of days, so if you want a different view I can take a new photo.

 

[crismateski]

I get the "more eye appealing" comment for the outside. But you can certainly make the interior more comfortable and eye appealing in my opinion. Here is what we did for the interior. Now when we see big name slide-in campers, they don't seem as comfortable to us for how we use our rig. Good luck with the build and post about what you do.

View attachment 901214

View attachment 901215

View attachment 901216

That interior is exactly what I need

 

[crismateski]

I did not think of upgrading the lift struts. That is a great idea! When I get done I'll take some pics and report how it is working. Thanks.

What are the specs on the struts you went to, mine are starting to show their age and would mind replacing them with something a bit stronger

 

[dstefan]

I would like more information on this, thanks.

Here you go:

Besides making me want better cell signal to check weather, the other thing the crazy spring winds in UT made me want was a way to hold my barn doors open straight out for some wind blockage. After wracking what’s left of my brain, and searching for the right hold-fast hinge, I couldn’t find anything else that would work with those big barn door hinges so, I did this (P-side closed):
View attachment 731660
D-side open:
View attachment 731661

They worked great on our most recent trip in N. AZ to get out of the heat. Held the doors great, and often didn’t need the knob that screws into the door frame (not shown). The side benefit was a place to hang stuff like a trash bag when tailgating, or a towel, etc.

The base is one-channel, 1/2” 10 series 8020 VHB’d and screwed (self tapping) into the corner frame member. Well sealed w/3M 4200. Then a 10 series, 180°, 8020 pivot hinge mounted to the base, with left over 10 series 4 channel to connect to the door frame. I drilled in a 1/4 -20 alu Rivnut into the door frame. Using a 1/4-20 knob end bolt to lock it down when needed.

The hinge is adjusted medium tight so its easily moveable, but stays in position and doesn’t need constant tightening. When bolted to the door frame its quite rigid and holds securely in the wind.

The one thing I’d do different is use a steel rivnut in the door since I’ll be bolting and un-bolting a fair amount over time, but I think the alu rivnuts will be fine.

What is everyone else doing with your campers? It's been pretty quiet here lately…

Unless the winds are really strong I mostly use a bungee hooked to the door and the door opening perimeter to hold the door tensioned against the hold fasts rather than bothering to bolt them as described. It’s just quicker.

We use these every trip nearly every day. One of the best small mods we've done.

 

[RealRigsRattle]

Finally got the RTT and rack sold! Now I can really focus on sealing up the bed.

 

[FJWillis]

What are the specs on the struts you went to, mine are starting to show their age and would mind replacing them with something a bit stronger

I have not done this yet. I figure I would pull off the old ones first and see what they are first. I'm thinking about 50% more lift force then the old ones. Who knows.

 

[KellyM]

I have not done this yet. I figure I would pull off the old ones first and see what they are first. I'm thinking about 50% more lift force then the old ones. Who knows.

I started with 35 lb struts (the strongest OVRLND had at the time I bought the camper), then I switched to 45 lb struts when I added solar and a couple of Maxtrax to the roof. I recently put 65lb struts on the back when I added two more Maxtrax. I kept 45 lb struts on the front. It works perfectly for me.