The TARDIS - A Four Wheel Camper Build

[Overland Hadley]

Check Craigslist. Heck, it's all I can do to keep myself from snatching up dual sports and scooters that are being sold for dirt cheap!

I watched Bike Finds (craigslist search), ebay, and Cycle Trader every day for three months. No good deals I could get my hands on, and I was looking in a 500+ mile radius.


You know Pat, one of the reasons I really want a bike, is from hearing you warming up your bike on those cold mornings in Yellowstone. Damn that makes me want one.


Okay, NO MORE talk of motos! I need to let my wounds heal. ;-]

 

[Overland Hadley]

Most likely we will not get anymore large amounts of snow, so the new rack went on the roof.

Well, that was not the case....

We got another 24" last night. Looks like more is on its way. At this point I am pretty sure spring and summer are a long ways off.

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

You know Pat, one of the reasons I really want a bike, is from hearing you warming up your bike on those cold mornings in Yellowstone. Damn that makes me want one.


Okay, NO MORE talk of motos! I need to let my wounds heal. ;-]

HAHA!! Think about looking in a different city or a town that has a big college in it. The reason I see so many good deals is we have University of Florida in Gainesville only 55 miles away from us.

It's right near the end of their spring season, so many kids are leaving to go back home for the summer or graduate. We buy TV's, furniture, bikes and all sorts of other items at next to nothing prices just cause they're leaving and cant take it with them.

If you found something in another city or state, find someone on the forum to go get it for you, then it'll give yourself a reason to take a short vacation and go pick it up!

 

[chvy39z]

Any ideas on how to carry a small "moto" on your Toyota? I was thinking about something on the front but haven't come to any good solutions.

 

[MakersTeleMark]

Mototote on the receiver.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Any ideas on how to carry a small "moto" on your Toyota? I was thinking about something on the front but haven't come to any good solutions.

Given the capacity of the Tacoma with a camper, it would have to be a trailer. (Although I guess I could carry a moto on the hitch and still be lighter than some of the heavily loaded FWC that are out there.)

I would highly advise against a front mount of a moto on a Tacoma. The main reason being the front of the frame is made to crush in an accident, and I personally feel it is not a good idea to carry a lot of weight off the front. Just my opinion.

 

[chvy39z]

I have a Tundra. It looks like it would be a major pain to unload and load a bike(moto) every time you want to open the door of your camper. Would really cramp my style of stealth camping. I built one of your roof racks similar to yours. Thanks again for the ideas and I believe I will stick with a bicycle either inside or on that roof rack.

 

[Overland Hadley]

I built one of your roof racks similar to yours.

Nice. Can we see a photo of what you made?

 

[chvy39z]

My truck, with extra 26 gallon tank on passenger side for a total of 52 gallons of fuel on board. I already had 19 inch cross flat bars so the roof rack is a bit narrow, but I can add wider bars as needed

 

[RickNV]

well done on that home built roof rack- i really like the extra 26 gallon tank !!!! nice rig

 

[chvy39z]

Thanks Rick I have gained many ideas from Nathans build here.

 

[ETAV8R]

Well I spent most of my evening going through your build thread again...

Interesting. I just naturally climbed in and put my head towards the forward end of the camper. Sleeping with your head towards the door of the camper would mean swinging your legs around once up in the bed, must be why I just kept crawling.

Sleeping the other way also would mean easy access to the vent, and better access to the windows. I might have to rotate!

I wonder what is ''normal''? How many people sleep S-N (head south and feet north) compared to N-S (head north and feet south)?

With my flippac we find ourselves sleeping which ever way we like at the time. Sometimes we want to see out the front window depending on the view. With a FWC this is not the case. I would probably be head towards the inside of the camper in a FWC.

I use this for a lantern in my camper: http://www.rei.com/product/818880/snow-peak-hozuki-led-lantern-with-candle-mode

It's wicked expensive but it works really well. It takes AAA batteries, or you can run it off of a usb cable (it has a mini usb port in the hook). I power it with usb and it works great.

I think I remember that you installed usb outlets in your rig, so it might not be a bad idea.

I recently got one of these too. Great light! Different modes and when dim you can pretty much leave it on all night especially with those eneloops you bought.

I think this is going to work! It is lightweight, does not take up much space, and it will fill my needs.

Here it is.

Yup, it is a bucket with a toilet seat, (and Wagg bags). Let me explain.

I wanted something that required little setup, so it could easily be used inside the camper with the top down. Something for those mid day camp food induced emergencies.

I do not mind using the Wag bags, and using them means no need for a wet toilet, and the associated weight of the water. I also find the bags easier to dispose of than black water.
...

Time for some links.

Bucket - Link
Seat - Link

A note on the Wag bags: I have found that kitty litter powder works as good if not better than the "poo powder" included in the bags. At one point I was going to try and save money by making my own bags. But then I found that you can buy Wag bags on ebay for super cheap. Cheaper than I could buy plain zip bags for.

Well you beat me to it. I think this is the way to go. I have a three legged folding pett copy and I think the bucket with seat is better. You've noted most of the reasons so no need to cover them again.

As much as I liked the Luna light, I found and though I would also try the Firefly. Not sure if the Firefly is new, but I do not think it was listed when I ordered the Luna.

The Firefly is another great USB powered light, and it is a little more suited to use as a chart light. Between the Luna, the Firefly and the Estrella I am now a firm believer in Goal Zeros LED lights. It is good stuff.

I haven't seen this one from Goal0. We have two of their small speakers which work pretty good and a small solar panel to recharge them. I think I'm gonna have to check this light out too.

 

[Overland Hadley]

My truck, with extra 26 gallon tank on passenger side for a total of 52 gallons of fuel on board. I already had 19 inch cross flat bars so the roof rack is a bit narrow, but I can add wider bars as needed

Rack looks good! I am super jealous of your extended fuel capacity.

Thanks Rick I have gained many ideas from Nathans build here.

Thank you.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Well I spent most of my evening going through your build thread again...

Thanks for the post. I feel it is only a matter of time before Gini has a FWC.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Made some nice progress on the interior of the Tardis. Hopefully the internet will stay strong and I can load up some photos. More to come....