Project 1x1
- Thread starter toyrunner95
- Start date
toyrunner95
Explorer
nope, most of the wood work is done, and we are at about 350lbs
I wanted to stay behind the cab for a couple reasons. 1. it adds weight and height, I get kinda chlostrophopic if I sleep in a box that small. 2. i plan on having a roof basket to kinda give it the cab over look without the added weight and cost.
This camper is designed for a couple, not a family. I may use it for hunting or fishing or just going off for a weekend. Or a multi week adventure! Who knows! We are very excited with just getting this far without any major screwups and coming in only 200 bucks into our budget. I still have enough wood to do some exterior and interior work.
Check out our blog, its kinda in its beginning stages but we try to keep it updated.
I wanted to stay behind the cab for a couple reasons. 1. it adds weight and height, I get kinda chlostrophopic if I sleep in a box that small. 2. i plan on having a roof basket to kinda give it the cab over look without the added weight and cost.
This camper is designed for a couple, not a family. I may use it for hunting or fishing or just going off for a weekend. Or a multi week adventure! Who knows! We are very excited with just getting this far without any major screwups and coming in only 200 bucks into our budget. I still have enough wood to do some exterior and interior work.
Check out our blog, its kinda in its beginning stages but we try to keep it updated.
Last edited:
toyrunner95
Explorer
Without the cabover it'll help keep the weight down but I suspect the weight will creep up on you more than you think by the time its coated and interior work is done (was the 1000# goal for a finished wet weight or just the shell?).
What thickness ply are you using? I appears you likely have 7 to 8 sheets worth in your build so far. I didn't see much in terms of mid panel frame work in your pics yet but would assume you plan to do more to stiffen up the mid panels? Are you still planing to insulate and then panel the interior or just going with plywood only for the shell?
Based on being in the PNW and the appearance of those sheets (and your stated investment so far) it appears you're using a basic fir plywoood? If so you're going to really need to seal up the exterior surface if you want to have any hope of it not cracking, basic paint will not cut it (look at the plywood T1-11 sided houses around here to see what I'm talking about they get splits along the grain of the surface wood ply).
Hope you don't view the above as negative just trying to help make sure things are accounted for.
toyrunner95
Explorer
Oh no, Im going to seal the entire outside in fiberglass mat and resin to harden it. Im using 1/2" CDX for the panels and when the window locations are decided on and the door put in i will brace the sides. But i dont want to put a brace in if im just going to cut through it.
As for insulation, I haven't quite settled on that. Im leaving space for foam panels inside just in case, but I think I have an idea for easy and removable insulation.
So far I have bought 10 sheets of plywood and about 15 2x2s
The 1000lb mark is for the entire camper built but compleatly unloaded. No water, no food, no sleeping bags. Just empty. I suspect you are right about the weight goal creeping up quickly. All I really have left for wood work is two floor cabinits, and three overhead cabinits. We shall see! That goal is kinda arbitrary to the finished product. I just wanted a goal to shoot for to see if it was achievable. We can go over a bit.
Thanks for the heads up on the cracking, I forgot about that. It was the warping and rotting that I was most concerned about. I have lived up here for almost 30 years and have seen my share of water damage. This camper is a slight departure in current construction techniquies, hopefully it works out to my advantage.
As for insulation, I haven't quite settled on that. Im leaving space for foam panels inside just in case, but I think I have an idea for easy and removable insulation.
So far I have bought 10 sheets of plywood and about 15 2x2s
The 1000lb mark is for the entire camper built but compleatly unloaded. No water, no food, no sleeping bags. Just empty. I suspect you are right about the weight goal creeping up quickly. All I really have left for wood work is two floor cabinits, and three overhead cabinits. We shall see! That goal is kinda arbitrary to the finished product. I just wanted a goal to shoot for to see if it was achievable. We can go over a bit.
Thanks for the heads up on the cracking, I forgot about that. It was the warping and rotting that I was most concerned about. I have lived up here for almost 30 years and have seen my share of water damage. This camper is a slight departure in current construction techniquies, hopefully it works out to my advantage.
Sounds good.
Mat might be a little tuff to get a fair surface out of in the end, if you desire that you might consider a cloth instead. However an epoxy on its own over the plywood would likely build up a decent weather proof layer and you might be able to save glass work for stiffening up seams. Also epoxy doesn't work well with mat since there is no styrene to dissolve the binder, I'm not very familiar with the polyester resins if that is what you are thinking, but from my reading they don't bond to wood nearly as well.
Build on!
Mat might be a little tuff to get a fair surface out of in the end, if you desire that you might consider a cloth instead. However an epoxy on its own over the plywood would likely build up a decent weather proof layer and you might be able to save glass work for stiffening up seams. Also epoxy doesn't work well with mat since there is no styrene to dissolve the binder, I'm not very familiar with the polyester resins if that is what you are thinking, but from my reading they don't bond to wood nearly as well.
Build on!
toyrunner95
Explorer
True and True. I will be using 6oz cloth. Not mat. My mistake. Also I have a simple solution for a smooth surface that isnt paint. Its durable, smooth, and light weight. But you will have to wait and see!
Sounds good on the cloth. You using epoxy resin or polyester?
I've done a fair amount of looking around for decent pricing and workable material in the epoxy and 8-9oz cloth realm for my project, let me know if you want to compare notes.
Are you considering bedliner not to be a paint or do you have something else up your sleeve?
toyrunner95
Explorer
I also did alot of looking at epoxy and polyester resin. Im pretty sure i decided on the polyester... I think... Epoxy is used on like styrofoam and other things of that nature because there is nothing for the polyester to bond to.
I think thats how I understand it.
I am considering bedliner materieals.
I think thats how I understand it.
I am considering bedliner materieals.
Epoxy is used with polystyrene based foam because the styrene in polyester resin will disolve it. You can use polyester with urathane based foam.
In general epoxy is better at bonding to materials, including wood, most wood boat guys use it over polyester. You may want to look at your total usage needs and potentially upgrade (or perhaps look at vinyl ester if you want to stick with styrene based systems).
In general epoxy is better at bonding to materials, including wood, most wood boat guys use it over polyester. You may want to look at your total usage needs and potentially upgrade (or perhaps look at vinyl ester if you want to stick with styrene based systems).
toyrunner95
Explorer
well the next 5 days are going to be full of advancements on the camper. The cabinits should be framed and sheeted, the holes should be cut and the doors on. Im ordering an ARB 32 quart fridge freeze form my local off road dealer this weekend. I chose the ARB for a few reasons. 1. i like the drain plug. 2. i like the basket divider. 3. the removable lid. Hopefully this week i can get all that i want done.
check out the blog for the latest pics and updates.
check out the blog for the latest pics and updates.
toyrunner95
Explorer
toyrunner95
Explorer
toyrunner95
Explorer
i plan on using ther colman. that way i can take it outside if i want. thanks for the offer though.