Pop-Up Camper - Custom Build (scratch built) Oasis-Si
- Thread starter VanIsle_Greg
- Start date
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
New job is good. Way smaller shop, with a lot more friendly environment. Last place was pretty toxic...
Camper has ultimately completely stalled at the 95% complete phase. It seems that every time I take 2 steps FWD I go 3 steps back. I spent a summer rebuilding the roof and completely re-doing the stuff that had failed. Once I was complete that piece, I noticed a bubble in the fiberglass.... It was delaminating in one spot. No rot (shouldn't be since it has spent almost 100% of its life under cover. Killed the majority of my momentum and mojo.
I ordered some roofing sealer stuff for RV's and fixed the bubble with epoxy. The sad reality of it is I should have cut the roof up into chunks and taken it to the dump and started fresh... I still might actually. heh
Might be done by the time I retire.
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
Thinking more about scrapping the roof and starting over. A lot lately. Sadly it is like tossing away $1500 worth of materials and like 50 hours of my time but... meh.
Might just get it done as is and hit a couple Overland events and sell it.
Looking at a Total Composites truck camper. I know the owner well and they are local... good fit on many levels.
Might just get it done as is and hit a couple Overland events and sell it.
Looking at a Total Composites truck camper. I know the owner well and they are local... good fit on many levels.
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
Good question? I do not think I took a pic of the bubble... too late now, as I fixed it already. Picture a pretty standard (although gut wrenching) fiberglass bubble. heh I checked, no damage to the wood substrate, so that is good. The rest of the roof looks fine, its just a nut-punch to see that when you are putting the final touches on a 4 month repair that included a complete restructure of the entire roof. I was applying the sealant to the corners and saw it... ugh.
I will install the roof coating as soon as it is warm enough, maybe in the next week or so as it seems to be nice sand warm lately. This will mean ripping off all the solar system from the roof, but that is a simple job. I am feeling more motivated now... I hear those Overland events and camping weekends calling me! heh
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
None lately... its been another weird year, family stuff. My Dad passed away just this past month after being sick on and off for 2 months. Cancer battle, then right into lockdown shortly thereafter. Unfortunately passed in May from of all things, Covid complications. So... pretty much the past 7 or 8 months has been me looking after dad and my family (active kids).
I have literally been at the 90% completed stage for 2.5 years, and have no motivation to complete it. Every free moment I get is doing something else for someone else (or work).
Anyhow, I am planning on finishing it ASAP, so should have it out, cleaned, fully repaired and GTG in a matter of a month ish. Was planning on attending NWOR and BCOR this year, but this stuff killed that progress.
Dad at the 2017 BCOR where my son, he and I went with some friends and had a great time.
Also Dad and I at the 2015 NWOR at the BC Ferries terminal starting the trip.
Onwards and upwards, and new pics soon!
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Mules
Well-known member
Sorry about your father. I'm glad you got to share your passion with him.
I lost my father and brother to cancer and I just spent the last 1 1/2 years taking care of my wife as she battled cancer. We couldn't go anywhere, so I built the camper on the weekends in my basement. She's fully recovered now, thank God.
Life is sweet and always too short. Live, love, and enjoy what time we have on this earth.
Victorian
Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Sorry to hear about your Dad.
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
Thanks a lot Andreas.
I am sorry for your losses as well, cancer is one heck of a thing. I am glad your Wife is doing better, scary stuff indeed.
Thanks for your thoughts too, I have been pretty quiet about it so far, only a couple of friends and my team at work are aware. Tough times.
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
After many months off again... again... I started working on the camper again a couple of weeks ago. The frustration with the roof, losing my Dad, life... all needed time to deal with. Now, new energy and motivation to get this thing going.
I took apart the roof, meaning I ground down the bubble, I removed all the solar panels and the cables etc and inspected the rest for failures. Nothing. Interestingly it seems that the luan came apart, no water damage so it looks like the glue failed in between the layers. Ooof.
Roof stripped (again)... dirty from dust and birds getting in the shed (I keep it open for airflow).
Here you can see the seam where the luan lifted the top layer. Might be from water, but if it was it sure didn't look like it.
Cut a couple of layers of glass (cloth) and mixed up some polyester resin. Loaded up the cloth to fill all the fibers and it turned out great.
Glassed.
I sanded the entire roof and washed it 2 x to get it super clean. I then primed it with 2 coats of primer, 2 more over the glass... and then 3 coats of rubber roof coating for RV's. It is highly recommended and is flexible so with the right primer you can even put it over EPDM roofs. The edge of the roof is Eternabond, which I must say is an amazing product. That stuff sticks to everything and is nearly impossible to get off. Ask me how I know. lol
Roof now has all the solar re-mounted and the cables re-attached to the controller. Going to ditch the Renogy MPPT for a Victron unit. Picked one up NIB from FB Marketplace... I like the Renogy stuff, but the Victron is 1/4 the size and the BT is much better with a much better interface. Pics pending...
Fabric might go on tomorrow.
I took apart the roof, meaning I ground down the bubble, I removed all the solar panels and the cables etc and inspected the rest for failures. Nothing. Interestingly it seems that the luan came apart, no water damage so it looks like the glue failed in between the layers. Ooof.
Roof stripped (again)... dirty from dust and birds getting in the shed (I keep it open for airflow).
Here you can see the seam where the luan lifted the top layer. Might be from water, but if it was it sure didn't look like it.
Cut a couple of layers of glass (cloth) and mixed up some polyester resin. Loaded up the cloth to fill all the fibers and it turned out great.
Glassed.
I sanded the entire roof and washed it 2 x to get it super clean. I then primed it with 2 coats of primer, 2 more over the glass... and then 3 coats of rubber roof coating for RV's. It is highly recommended and is flexible so with the right primer you can even put it over EPDM roofs. The edge of the roof is Eternabond, which I must say is an amazing product. That stuff sticks to everything and is nearly impossible to get off. Ask me how I know. lol
Roof now has all the solar re-mounted and the cables re-attached to the controller. Going to ditch the Renogy MPPT for a Victron unit. Picked one up NIB from FB Marketplace... I like the Renogy stuff, but the Victron is 1/4 the size and the BT is much better with a much better interface. Pics pending...
Fabric might go on tomorrow.
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VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
Forum seems to be having a moment. Pics are not working properly...so should you be interested, click on the links I guess?
I also re-painted all the underside of the sides of the camper and 3rd coated the trim around the top of the tub to get as much protection on there as I can before I put the fabric on.
Tub repainted with 1 component water based epoxy.
Fresh...
Under the bed too.
I took off the jacks and re-painted the steel brackets and cleaned them up. They were looking a bit worse for wear and needed a refresh. I also cleaned up the jacks too. They were used, and although they were fully re-built, they were not re-painted.
A while back I re-did the plumbing a bit and cleaned it up a tad. That wiring is for the backup camera I installed above the rear door.
More to come.
I also re-painted all the underside of the sides of the camper and 3rd coated the trim around the top of the tub to get as much protection on there as I can before I put the fabric on.
Tub repainted with 1 component water based epoxy.
Fresh...
Under the bed too.
I took off the jacks and re-painted the steel brackets and cleaned them up. They were looking a bit worse for wear and needed a refresh. I also cleaned up the jacks too. They were used, and although they were fully re-built, they were not re-painted.
A while back I re-did the plumbing a bit and cleaned it up a tad. That wiring is for the backup camera I installed above the rear door.
More to come.
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VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
More weekend fun with the camper. I finally (yes finally) got started on the fabric install, and it went pretty well considering I did it solo. Clamped it in place where the join is... just over the rear door, and stretched it all the way around the tub. I lined it up and used 3/4" stainless staples from my air nailer to get it fitted. Once that was done and I confirmed it was in the right spots and lined up properly, I set about installing the aluminum trim I had pre-fabbed for the bottom. This will not only hold it in place, but protect the fabric. That took a bit to do. Looks pretty good I think.
Trim turned out great, exactly like I wanted it to. This long edge however is a bit wonky. I hit a few screws when installing the pre-drilled trim, so had to wiggle it around a bit. Also still need to trim some excess fabric off the bottom in a few places.
Oh and here is a finished shot of the roof with the panels installed and the wiring all in place held down by Eternabond.
Tomorrow I finish attaching the top and then test it in the truck with the whole thing ready to go. Maybe a test camp next weekend?
Trim turned out great, exactly like I wanted it to. This long edge however is a bit wonky. I hit a few screws when installing the pre-drilled trim, so had to wiggle it around a bit. Also still need to trim some excess fabric off the bottom in a few places.
Oh and here is a finished shot of the roof with the panels installed and the wiring all in place held down by Eternabond.
Tomorrow I finish attaching the top and then test it in the truck with the whole thing ready to go. Maybe a test camp next weekend?
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