Toyota Surf-roamer

[tanglefoot]

I hope Earthroamer doesn't feel intimidated. They really shouldn't!

I figured the name would work since the 4Runner carries the Hilux Surf badge overseas.

This is a 4 Seasons 8-foot pop-up on a 1985 4Runner. I've wanted to try this for a while....so far so good!

I tried a little bit of trail testing after the helper leaf installation...the stability is much better than I was originally dreading.



The current project is a simple solar-charging system. I'd like to keep the camper electrically seperate from the truck. I'm going to start with a 10 watt panel and $15 charge controller. With the flourescent light fixture inside (coming soon), and limited use, I hope it will be able to keep up.



I love following your trip and build reports--what a great forum!

Eric

 

[Scott Brady]

Fun truck. I love those old Toyotas! Does a camper fit the 4Runner in much the same way it would a standard PU?

 

[tanglefoot]

Thanks!

For the most part. The 4Runner has most of a tailgate seam that isn't quite as wide as the rest of the bed. I had to trim about 1/2" out of each side of the tailgate area and the tailgate strikers had to come off. I'm also still working on how to anchor it and seal it against the back of the cab better.

It certainly hasn't been the train-wreck that it could have been though!

Eric

 

[tanglefoot]

The mini-panel went on today. I didn't realize at first that it needed an extra bracket. I thought the side rails could be removed and mounted before the rest of the panel. In retrospect, that wouldn't make much sense in terms of panel integrity.

Fortunately Dad still had some brackets from a broken swingset swing from when I was little. They ended up being just the ticket!



There was already a hole in the bottom layer of the roof for the wiring to the ceiling lights. I just drilled all the way through the top layer to run the wire down from the panel.



Here are a few camper interior shots. The panel wire is now inside the conduit running to the roof near the corner.





I missed the main part of the sunset while I was cajoling the panel wire into the conduit for the existing lighting, but I caught a bit of the precurser.



Now I'm just waiting for the charge controller to show up.

Happy New Year!

 

[austintaco]

I am eagerly watching this thread as I watch craigslist for a camper like yours to try on my 4runner. Is there a pic of the gap from the cab of the 4runner to the front of the camper?

 

[tanglefoot]

Hi Austin...

I snapped a shot when I got home today. There's just some pipe insulation placed over the seam on the back of the cab to compress against the camper. It seals fairly well there but has some pretty good leaks closer to the bottom by the bed rails. I've been wearing a ski hat to keep the cold draft off. I may make some plastic panels that are closable so I can still access things in the bed sides and then close off the rampant air currents.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I picked up a top for $25, Why not find one and cut the front off and use a pinch weld gasket like you would see on a older American car to make the seal.

 

[austintaco]

Any progress on the surf roamer?

 

[tanglefoot]

Hi. I'm still working on it.

I took out the fridge this week. It was big and heavy and it would have used up too much propane since I'm using 1lb bottles. As soon as I set the fridge on the sidewalk, I was wondering how I was going to get rid of it when a scrapper pulled up and asked if he could have it. I helped him load it up and it was gone! Wow--they sure can trace old-junk vibes really well.

In the space where the fridge was, I'm going to do some finishing work to create a low counter with tie downs as a place to strap a cooler and other cargo.

As I was taking things apart to get the fridge out, I found more previous-owner engineering. There was a single-burner electric stove element wedged underneath the water tank! The wiring on it was seriously OSHA-non compliant. It looked to be a tank heater to keep it from freezing.

It seems like every time I work on this camper, I fill up another trash can with junk. It just keeps getting lighter!

There's a new floor now, consisting of 44 cent vinyl tiles.

I'm working on the water system now. There's a 12-volt mini-pump in there that I'm not sure works or not. I'll do more trouble-shooting on it. I also want to sanitize the system with a little bleach solution.

I'll take some more pics.

Eric

 

[zidaro]

Awesome rig. what a fun build.

Is your access full crawlthru or still have the camper window on it?

 

[tanglefoot]

It has been fun--especially now that things are starting to come together.

It has the window in the front of the camper, but it's a pretty big window and I can crawl through it.

The water system's sanitized and ready to go. The pump works fine. *whew*

The propane is all hooked up for the 1lb bottles...just needs to be tested.

Now I'm just going to re-load the helper springs to make them a bit more supporting and finish the area where the fridge was!

Here's the new floor:



and here's where the fridge was...

 

[Owyhee H]

Looks great. Love the truck. I find that the 4runner rides a lot better with weight in the back and that is plenty of weight. Nice work and the comfort convenience will be great.

Idaho85

 

[DangT-100]

Tangle-doin somethin sim. but with T-100. My slide in is really close to yours. Nice work!

 

[tanglefoot]

Idaho85--you're right...it does ride much better with the extra weight. I think I'm might try to find someone parting with the stock swaybar though. I took it off years ago when I was just into 4-wheeling. Now I want it back!

I really like T-100's. Do you have a thread for your build?

I had a good work day yesterday and finished some things up today. I think it's ready to camp!

Dad helped me finish the space where the fridge was. The handles are tie-downs for a cooler. I'll keep trying to get that caulk off the corner of the cabinets--it's really hanging on there!

The current kitchen. The handles on the ceiling near the paper towel holder are for holding kitchen towels. At home, the kitchen towels are threaded through the cabinet handles above the sink so the dogs don't take them.

Here are some cushion configurations. There was a table that went into a mount in the floor but with the table set up, one could barely squeeze past it. I decided taking out the table and floor mount really helped open up the space.

I had some fun with Minwax on all the wood and cabinets--it helped the scratches blend in and added some shine. (Whoa, looking at the photos reminded me that I forgot to do the area above the window.)

Hopefully the next pics will be from a campsite! :wings:

 

[DangT-100]

Lookin good-for some reason I can't upload photos accept to my profile..so you can see the rig there. Thinking of loosing the truck bed, and mounting storage boxes to the side spaces and camper sitting on flat bed. Trying to figure it out for a family trip to mine and my wifes old stomping grounds in northern N.M./ south CO.