Anybody here ever build a camper? I’m getting closer to starting one.
I aim to build a unit to sit on my 20′ trailer + 5′ tail, maybe take 8′ of length, and the full 7.5′ width. This is so I can still have room to load equipment, such as tractor, when on remote jobs. My new service truck has a utilty body, so a bed camper is now out of the question.
What I’m thinking in that 60 sqft is a basic setup as a combined shower/toilet area, and a dinette/eat area. I’ll rig the dinette to drop the table to a bed unit, as on many campers. I can cook good enough outsite with raintarp and current field kitchen. This all comes about because Wifey wants to tag along on the 3-5 day trips, and doesn’t want to rough it too bad.
I have mucho 1.25×2″x9′ .120 aluminum box tube that I got surplus, that I plan to use as frame, wire welded (aluminum push-pull welder). Maybe sheath with alum sheeting as on the cargo trailers. Built so can load/unload with gantry crane at the shop, and put on a push-around wheeled frame to store.
Any of you seen online resources that would lead me in the right direction? I’ve found some, but not much, info.
Replies
Instead of a makeshift (POS)<G> homebuilt camper to drop onto your trailer you might consider buying a pop-up camper body - no wheels. They come complete with all the stuff you'd have to buy separately to oufit your homebuilt, including combo toilet/shower stall, kitchen and slide out sleeping wings, one or both sides. And AIR CONDITIONING, if you want. They are completely wired and plumbed and with the sleeping wings retracted they are about the same length as you propose to build so there should be plenty of room left over on the trailer bed for whatever you need to carry. Your wife will thank you and you will be a much happier camper.
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Ive done pretty good buying campers that need work for a song and fixing them up. Popups resell really well after remodeling. I cant imagine tying up labor to build a camper as working for tricks would buy a nicer camper .
Is pulling two rigs out of the question ?
Tim Mooney
"Is pulling two rigs out of the question ?"
Do you mean 2 separate vehicles pulling trailers? Or pulling 2 trailers behind one vehicle?
I've seen a couple of people pulling 2 trailers, and wondered if that was legal. Seems like it could be pretty dangerous.Love is the delusion that one woman differs from another.
I think if the towing vehicle is rated at 5 tons gross, it's legal to pull two trailers. So a full-size dually is ok, but a 3/4 ton is too light. Make sense?
Do it right, or do it twice.
Edited 5/29/2003 8:26:24 AM ET by ELCID72
as far as i know in ontario canada its legal, transports do it here with 2 short trailers and sometimes i see US visiters towing a large camper trailer and a boat trailer behind that
only problem is its imposible to back up and i really mean imposible
"Is pulling two rigs out of the question ?"
Now that you mention it , either one . I have seen many camper trailers pulling aluminum boats.
What I really meant is that how expensive could it be to drive two vehicles to a close destination as a state away? I dont really know how far he goes , but I work in the state as an extreme. Im also thinking of pulling more to father job sites. I will make two trips if I decide to do it , or take the wife to pull my camper trailer while I pull the job site trailer , and she goes back in her own vehicle she towed the camper.
Now just for the fun of thinking about it; What if the DW stayed with me ? She would have no means of transportation while I was working. She would not be happy. Nuff said .
Tim Mooney
Good point about her being able to go her own way during the day, although she usually works with me on these trips. She also has no problem pulling the trailer -- either a travel trailer or my work truck with the big trailer behind it. (don't tell her, but she can back a trailer as good as I can -- and I am pretty good at it.)
Another hundred bucks in gas for the other truck and trailer isn't all that bad in the greater scheme of things.
Yes, I'm afraid to say….I have. And very recently, too. We did this last winter because my partner committed us to the job as the owner is a friend of his.
The living quarters/camper was built just back of the cab on a 40' straight truck that had been stripped to the frame and custom reconstructed (aluminum z-bar for walls and ceiling) for a fella that's big in the stock car racing circuit. It came out really nice with the sleeping area above the cab, and all the amenities you can imagine, but it was truly a pain in the whazoo to construct. And expensive……..VERY EXPENSIVE.
In order to get everything in there with an access door directly to the rear where the vehicle is and a separate entrance on the side of the truck directly into the living quarters, we had to make use of literally every available square inch. Custom shaped cabinets galore including a tear-drop shaped vanity and medicine cab in the bathroom area - $$$$. Nearly every piece of ceiling and wall material required first making a template so as to insure that the real stuff would fit right; around the curved edge windows, for instance - $$$$ In essence, all of that is done twice. Had to make up our own custom ball-bearing tracking system for the siding door on the bathroom -$$$$
If you've never done this before, I think it's going to take you about 4 times longer than you anticipate, no matter the level of finish you're going for. By the time we had this one done, he had $18,000 wrapped up in there for all wiring, insulation, plumbing runs, wall and ceiling skins, bathroom fixtures, cabs and labor.
I'm inclined to agree with the guys that are encouraging you to buy something....if you can satisfy DW with that.
The reason these stock car guys here in Ilinois are going this route is that they're over the legal tow length when they have the car on a trailer behind a motor home. My understanding is that these limits vary from one state to another.
Well, here's a pretty nice home built camper.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
love the wheelchair parking sign!!!!
must have a big ramp!