coastalcop
Active member
This whole thing got started as I bought a small boat (named the Tadpole) and my 03 Rubicon didnt like towing it at highway speeds. Ive been a lurker here for years and reg poster on adv rider (where most of my "overlanding" occurred (though i did build up a 17 f-150 crew cab for a couple of years and a few trips) . Back to the topic at hand, I started looking for a basic pickup that would tow my 16" SeaArk at highway speeds (75-85 mph) without its tongue hanging out. I preferred to stay gasoline instead of diesel as diesel engines are black magic to me. I wanted single or extended cab (no crew cab) and short bed for a smaller footprint.
I was entertaining in the back of my mind, the thought of building up a camper of sorts so i could extend the places and time I used the boat, and possibly to haul my dual sports around.
The search began and I stumbled upon the vehicle shown on a fluke. It was located only 130 miles away, was priced within my ballpark (sub 10k) and the pictures made it worth the trip to see if this would fit my needs. According to the seller (who was not the builder) and all the research I could find on the interwebz, it started life as 02 silverado 1500 work truck (GE) with a Reading Toolbed.
I will let the builder say it in their own words (or at least what they used to sell it before I found it) :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This is a highly customized short wheel base 2002 Chevy Silverado 1500. with a pop-up camper built on a service utility bed. The truck has around 126K miles on the GM 5. 3 liter V-8 with automatic transmission and manual shift transfer case.
Truck Modifications & Extras
· 6” Superlift . with Bilstein shocks
· Air Lift rear air adjustable air bags
· Exterior lined with Raptor spray-on bedliner
· 6 - 35”x 12. 5' Pro Comp All Terrain tires (75-80% tread)
· 6 - XD matte black wheels
· New marine vinyl seat covers and headliner
· Custom front Bumper w/Warn 10K lb. winch & remote
· Custom grill with 52” curved LED light bar & 4 – 4” LED cubes
· 4 Front anchor ponts. 2 with detachable D-rings
· Custom rear bumper w/ 2 anchors points and 2 D-rings
· Dual spare tires on rear “tailgate”
· 2” receiver hitch
· Prestige two-way alarm w/keyless entry and auto start
· Oversized. slotted. drilled brake rotors with new calipers
· K&N air filter
· Hi-Lift jack
Custom Camper
· Reading brand utility service bed with 6 lockable bays
· Welded aluminum superstructure for lightweight strength
· Welded aluminum ladder frame roof w/1” rigid foam sandwiched between the gel-coated fiberglass outer layer and aluminum sheet inner layer
· 4 tinted awning style RV windows with screens
· Heavy duty canvas pop-up with 4 screened “roll-up” windows
· ½” thick acrylic front window
· Sliding screened window in the back door
· 2 – 85 watt solar panels. charge controller. 2 100mAh AGM batteries
· 1750 watt power inverter w/2 - 110v outlets and 2- 12v (USB) outlets
· Separate 12v outlet (Cigarette lighter style)
· LED lighting (4 strips on 2 switches. 4 articulating lamps on 2 switches)
· 20 gallon fresh water tank
· 12v and manual water pump faucet on the 9”x11” stainless sink
· Primus portable grill/burner attached to a 30lb. propane canister
· Convertible twin size sofa/bed
· 4 lift assist struts to raise/lower the top (6'2” interior height)
· 2 tension assist struts to raise/lower the rear “tailgate”
Information about the truck/camper combination
This 2002 Chevy Silverado truck was originally a GE service truck. and the service records show it was meticulously maintained by GE's mechanics until I bought it at around 80K miles. The truck has been very well cared for during the past 2-3 years that I have owned the truck – regular maintenance. including filter and synthetic oil changes every 3K miles. belts. hoses. seals. gaskets. and replacing many parts. like water pump/thermostat. upper and lower ball joints. front wheel bearings. etc.
Further. since I did all the work on the truck/camper. all the parts used in the modifications were new - like the suspension. wheels. tires. air bags. lights. bumpers. winch. and of course. the whole camper section on the back. Grade 8 hardware was used in every structural application. while stainless hardware was used where the elements were a bigger consideration than the structural integrity.
There are really too many modifications for me to remember and list in this posting. I have tried to hit the highlights. and hopefully the many photos I have posted will fill in the blanks I have not mentioned. If you have specific questions. contact me. I have additional photos for those truly interested in purchasing this unique vehicle. It will go almost anywhere - on. or off. road.
In 2015 I drove from Dallas to the Arctic Ocean. and lived off-the-grid in this camper in Alaska and Canada for 7-8 months. many times hunting. fishing. or hiking for weeks at a time. It is a great vehicle for a person or couple who like(s) to travel light. be self-contained. and have something compact. yet capable. to get back in the wilderness to hunt. fish. hike. or just escape the insanity of civilization for some time.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I was entertaining in the back of my mind, the thought of building up a camper of sorts so i could extend the places and time I used the boat, and possibly to haul my dual sports around.
The search began and I stumbled upon the vehicle shown on a fluke. It was located only 130 miles away, was priced within my ballpark (sub 10k) and the pictures made it worth the trip to see if this would fit my needs. According to the seller (who was not the builder) and all the research I could find on the interwebz, it started life as 02 silverado 1500 work truck (GE) with a Reading Toolbed.
I will let the builder say it in their own words (or at least what they used to sell it before I found it) :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This is a highly customized short wheel base 2002 Chevy Silverado 1500. with a pop-up camper built on a service utility bed. The truck has around 126K miles on the GM 5. 3 liter V-8 with automatic transmission and manual shift transfer case.
Truck Modifications & Extras
· 6” Superlift . with Bilstein shocks
· Air Lift rear air adjustable air bags
· Exterior lined with Raptor spray-on bedliner
· 6 - 35”x 12. 5' Pro Comp All Terrain tires (75-80% tread)
· 6 - XD matte black wheels
· New marine vinyl seat covers and headliner
· Custom front Bumper w/Warn 10K lb. winch & remote
· Custom grill with 52” curved LED light bar & 4 – 4” LED cubes
· 4 Front anchor ponts. 2 with detachable D-rings
· Custom rear bumper w/ 2 anchors points and 2 D-rings
· Dual spare tires on rear “tailgate”
· 2” receiver hitch
· Prestige two-way alarm w/keyless entry and auto start
· Oversized. slotted. drilled brake rotors with new calipers
· K&N air filter
· Hi-Lift jack
Custom Camper
· Reading brand utility service bed with 6 lockable bays
· Welded aluminum superstructure for lightweight strength
· Welded aluminum ladder frame roof w/1” rigid foam sandwiched between the gel-coated fiberglass outer layer and aluminum sheet inner layer
· 4 tinted awning style RV windows with screens
· Heavy duty canvas pop-up with 4 screened “roll-up” windows
· ½” thick acrylic front window
· Sliding screened window in the back door
· 2 – 85 watt solar panels. charge controller. 2 100mAh AGM batteries
· 1750 watt power inverter w/2 - 110v outlets and 2- 12v (USB) outlets
· Separate 12v outlet (Cigarette lighter style)
· LED lighting (4 strips on 2 switches. 4 articulating lamps on 2 switches)
· 20 gallon fresh water tank
· 12v and manual water pump faucet on the 9”x11” stainless sink
· Primus portable grill/burner attached to a 30lb. propane canister
· Convertible twin size sofa/bed
· 4 lift assist struts to raise/lower the top (6'2” interior height)
· 2 tension assist struts to raise/lower the rear “tailgate”
Information about the truck/camper combination
This 2002 Chevy Silverado truck was originally a GE service truck. and the service records show it was meticulously maintained by GE's mechanics until I bought it at around 80K miles. The truck has been very well cared for during the past 2-3 years that I have owned the truck – regular maintenance. including filter and synthetic oil changes every 3K miles. belts. hoses. seals. gaskets. and replacing many parts. like water pump/thermostat. upper and lower ball joints. front wheel bearings. etc.
Further. since I did all the work on the truck/camper. all the parts used in the modifications were new - like the suspension. wheels. tires. air bags. lights. bumpers. winch. and of course. the whole camper section on the back. Grade 8 hardware was used in every structural application. while stainless hardware was used where the elements were a bigger consideration than the structural integrity.
There are really too many modifications for me to remember and list in this posting. I have tried to hit the highlights. and hopefully the many photos I have posted will fill in the blanks I have not mentioned. If you have specific questions. contact me. I have additional photos for those truly interested in purchasing this unique vehicle. It will go almost anywhere - on. or off. road.
In 2015 I drove from Dallas to the Arctic Ocean. and lived off-the-grid in this camper in Alaska and Canada for 7-8 months. many times hunting. fishing. or hiking for weeks at a time. It is a great vehicle for a person or couple who like(s) to travel light. be self-contained. and have something compact. yet capable. to get back in the wilderness to hunt. fish. hike. or just escape the insanity of civilization for some time.
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