Offroad popup camper build

[Atoyot1031]

Finally an update...

I finished my spare tire carrier, and I'll have pictures coming soon.

On the interior, I replaced my 30yo plastic cabinet latches with new ones from Lowes. I also replace the pull handle on the furnace door with one that matches my cabinet as you can see here.



I also completed the water portion of the plumbing for my instant water heater.

Here's the plumbing on the heater itself. The cold supply connects to the water source on the camper via a quick disconnect w/ auto shutoff. I split the hot water coming out of the heater. One line connects back to the camper for hot water at the sink, the other line is for the outside shower with shutoff on the showerhead. Both of these lines can be isolated or run simultaneously. Lastly, I have a quick disconnect with auto shutoff for the propane supply from the camper as well.



I utilized two shore power hatches for the supply and return lines on the camper. They can be seen here with the supply and return lines with the auto shutoff disconnects here.



This weekend I will finish up the propane plumbing, the shots of the fold down spare tire carrier as well as a new thermostat for the furnace, and a few shots of the completed shower arrangement with shelter.


Nick

 

[ethernectar]

Outstanding build.

 

[Assassin]

this is s awesome build............nice job

 

[Atoyot1031]

I finished the fold down spare tire carrier. When it is down, it clears the rear bunkend by ~2".

I used some 2x3 steel to raise the carrier as it would have sat to low with the bottom of the spare below the bumper. This would leave room for damage offroad.

I also reinforced the tire carrier portion with plate steel to help support the heavy 33"x12.5" tire wheel combo. Lastly I threw out the original piece of strap metal that was supposed to secure the middle of the tire and replace it with a 6" piece of 1"x1" square tubing.

It's solid now.






Headed out for the weekend...

 

[Atoyot1031]

Here's the shower shelter next to the camper with the shower/heater all hooked up.

 

[Atoyot1031]

We were camping this weekend and got to enjoy the new addition of the water heater/shower as well as the spare tire carrier (no more putting a 33" tire on my roof rack and taking it down befroe I forget and destroy the garage and the roof rack).

Here's a shot of the setup "in action":

 

[Assassin]

looks like a great place to camp===camper looks awesome....

 

[Atoyot1031]

Thanks! It has turned out great so far.

The area we were camping at is near the Continental Divide. On Saturday we wheeled up to a great view of the Divide and had lunch. Here's a couple pics.




I have just a couple things to work on before I take it WY for antelope hunting in a few weeks.

 

[titanpat57]

Lookin' good Nick...a hot shower can change your whole perspective.. and keep the smiling...which is all we really want...

 

[nat]

That really came out sweet! Great pics

 

[Atoyot1031]

Lookin' good Nick...a hot shower can change your whole perspective.. and keep the smiling...which is all we really want...

That really came out sweet! Great pics

Thanks guys! Pat, it keeps the wife smiling, the wife and kids (and myself) not smelling too bad, and it preheats the water for the all-important french press coffee in the morning.

 

[fulljam]

Man...it's awesome what you did!

I'm starting about the same project as yours...here the link...

Lionel L400 for my offroad trailer - Expedition Portal Forum

the result if perfectly done! Sorry, but you will be my inspiration!!!

I have a question for you...what was the weight at the begining and now what is the final weight? Do you run hard trail with it, and how it goes?

Thanks and B R A V O !!!!!!!! for your project, I give you a A++


Alain

 

[NorCal Cruiser]

I had purchased two twin and one fullsize 3" memory foam mattresses from ebay. After receiving them, I realized that the dinette/lower bed is nearly as wide as a fullsize. So I decided to cut up the full size memory foam mattress for the dinette/lower bed and cut down one of the twins to use in conjunction with the other twin as my wife and I's fullsize front bunk end. My 4yo son will have to do with a Thermarest for this trip until I can get another twin for the rear bunkend.

My mom is making the matresses and cushion covers for me. When I told her my plan with the memory foam she asked how I was planning on cutting it noting that she had had difficulties in the past cutting foam. I told ehr that I read that an electric knife was the way to go, and that I'd probably order one through Cabelas or something. She called me a couple days later and told me that my grandma had an electric knife that she was gonna give to the thrift shop, but that if I wanted it she would ship it to me. I did want it, so she shipped it out. It showed up in it's original box. The "Lady Vanity" is straight out of the 60s. It smells like an electric train motor when it runs. Anyways, to make a long story short, it cut through the memory foam like a knife through hot butter!

How do you like your mattresses? Are they just toppers or are they intended to be used on their own as mattresses? I'm looking for something more comfortable to replace the mattresses on my new to me Eezi Awn RTT and I was thinking foam will probably be the way to go.

 

[Atoyot1031]

Man...it's awesome what you did!

I'm starting about the same project as yours...here the link...

Lionel L400 for my offroad trailer - Expedition Portal Forum

the result if perfectly done! Sorry, but you will be my inspiration!!!

I have a question for you...what was the weight at the begining and now what is the final weight? Do you run hard trail with it, and how it goes?

Thanks and B R A V O !!!!!!!! for your project, I give you a A++


Alain

You've got a lot of work cut out for you, but if you di it right, it's worth the work!

My beginning weight was 600lbs dry. I haven't had a chance to put it on the scales yet, but my guess is ~2,000 lbs wet and loaded.

Feel free to contact me with questions.

How do you like your mattresses? Are they just toppers or are they intended to be used on their own as mattresses? I'm looking for something more comfortable to replace the mattresses on my new to me Eezi Awn RTT and I was thinking foam will probably be the way to go.

They are toppers, but I ended up afixing 1/2" foam camping mattresses to the underside of the memory foam as I could bottom out on the memory foam. These mattresses are AWESOME to sleep on! Definitely the most comfortable nights sleeping I've ever had camping including large air mattresses.

 

[Vitesse_6]

Lastly, here's a pic of both rear stabilizer jacks with the extensions and sand feet.
View attachment 396697

Until, I get the tongue stabilizer jack taken care of, I won't know if the three jacks will suffice, but if need be I can add two more of the stabilizer jacks that I put in the rear on the front of the box.

I need to finish up the water tank, tongue stabilizer jack, then onto the box itself...


Nick

I had to revisit this to see how you made the stabilizers, Nice work, I am going to have to copy you, Much like my trailer build, Its plagiarized

EDIT...
I for got to ask, Did you get new canvas or was yours in great shape to start with, Out canvas on the Rockwood is questionable at best, I can get a new canvas but at almost $1,000.00 that's a tad steep.

 

[Atoyot1031]

I for got to ask, Did you get new canvas or was yours in great shape to start with, Out canvas on the Rockwood is questionable at best, I can get a new canvas but at almost $1,000.00 that's a tad steep.

Brian, my canvas was one of the three things that was useable from the original camper. I had to repair/reinforce all four bunkend corners, and a couple of the vinyl windows needed patching, but overall the canvas itself was/is in decent shape.

 

[on the rocks]

Nice work Nick. Where are the pics of you dragging it up Pearl??? Figured with it in your back yard you would have tested it there at least a few times.

 

[Jeeper92]

Awesome

Now sell it to me!! jhhahhaha
How does the raising mechanism work?
I have a trailer and Im thinking of doing something similar to this

 

[Bogo]

Now sell it to me!! jhhahhaha
How does the raising mechanism work?
I have a trailer and Im thinking of doing something similar to this

If you look on the first page of the writeup you will see a photo with the folding arms on the sides in the down position.

 

[Atoyot1031]

Exactly. This camper is literally a "pop up". I remove all pins from the arms as well as the front pivot slots and the rear latches. Next I raise the back until the rear spring loaded lift arms are straight, then I pin them to secure them. Move to the front and raise it and pin those arms. Lastly I pin all of the arms into the retaining pieces that keep the arms from shifting fore/aft.

As winter approaches, I'm checking to see what the viability of winter useage is. I'm replacing my furnace ignitor board with a board that also controls the fan. In the stock configuration, the fan is controlled by the thermostat. If the furnace fails to fire, the board has three attempts to fire before lockout. However, if the board locks out, the fan will still run indefinitely until the thermostat is satisfied. End result, if the furnace doesn't fire, the battery will be dead from running the fan all night, and the fan will be blowing freezing cold air.