Slide in camper/tow rig build (4 Viewers)

[Gumby]

I went back and forth for a while about what to build/ buy. Mostly I knew I was done with tents and needed AC.

I also knew I had to haul a 7000# trailer. That realistically leaves out most affordable used motorhomes that I don't want ot have to pay to store any way.

Last April when I was looking to turn in my 07 Tundra on the lease a freind called and told me he found a 92 Dodge D250 Cummins for sale for a good price.

It was a good price. It was rusted to hell and the brakes were shot, but it had a good running cummins in it so I bought it.

I was looking for a cab for it and found a 92 D350 dually with no motor so I bought that and swapped motors.

 

[Gumby]

Swapped over the motor, trans, new exhaust and everything else worth anything off the red Dodge to the new white Dodge.

 

[Gumby]

With the dually I could really look at truck campers. I like the idea of being able to have a real tow rig I can sleep in. Woody has a truck camper on a gooseneck trailer and it works very well for him, but I have no place for a 32' trailer and I don't need my tow rig for anything else. I have my Tundra for dd and non-camping tows. If things change I can take the camper out of the Dodge and put it in another truck or on a trailer.

Found a 74 Sportsman slide in truck camper on CL for $100 in Elkhart, IN where my brother lives and manages a RV plant for a major manufacturer. He said it was worth the $100 for the frame and he could fix it up to be habitable. I was hesitant to let him because he had just come off a life threatening illness, but he said it would be fun and something to do since he couldn't go back to work yet.

It was pretty rough.

 

[Gumby]

I left it with my brother and would occasionally get texts about ride height of the truck because he was going to make it taller and needed to keep it under 13', or would 60" be big enough for the bed, and "the dually should be able to handle anything, right?"

I was wondering what he was up to.

Then I got this pic.

 

[Gumby]

He built new walls from scratch. He said the old walls had rot and it wasn't worth getting them to fit the new windows anyway. Besides the easiest way to install the new cabinets and appliances was to build it like they build RVs at the plant, from the inside out.

New wall and microwave cabinet

 

[Gumby]

His engineer at work redesigned the walls to create less lift on the front and to provide room for a real mattress and room to roll over. His cabinet makers have designed and build new cabinets and a new dinette. It appears at this point I spent $100 on a VIN plate and the base of the dinette table.

More pics tomorrow when I head up to check out the progress and take him the AC unit.

 

[Gumby]

Did some other stuff to the dually in the mean time.

Replaced the tailgate with the one off the red Dodge

Repaired the big ass hole in the fender

Replaced the headliner. Joanne fabrics is a scary, scary place, but they carry headliner material in 54" widths.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

 

[Gumby]

Walls on, bed built, inner panelling on, two cabinets in.

 

[fj404life]

It appears at this point I spent $100 on a VIN plate and the base of the dinette table.

Hah!!!

 

[sirenmoses]

...Joanne fabrics is a scary, scary place, but they carry headliner material in 54" widths.

so true: roflmao.

 

[Jeremy9A]

T t t t t TODAY JUNIOR!

 

[titanpat57]

Dude is flyin'!!

 

[VanGo]

Great project!

 

[Gumby]

It appears at this point I spent $100 on a VIN plate and the base of the dinette table.

Hah!!!

The funniest part is the VIN number is 4 digits in 1974.

 

[Gumby]

This weeks update.

Cabinets are in, but no doors on yet.

Bed is in.

Some problems with the dinette. The door is a lot wider than the stock one and the dinette was figured out with the old door. We discussed some options including that my equilibrium might be compromised some evenings that I will be using the camper. In fact, too-drunk-to-zip-up-a-tent-door syndrome has something to do with needing a camper.

They moved my bro to a new factory on Monday so that might slow things down a bit.

Pic one shows the bed, ladder, bed stash area for cheetos and porn and roof. The power vents aren't in the holes yet. You can see a bit of the dinette bench and the cab over the dinette for storage.

Pic two is the fridge cab. Gonna be a big fridge so I don't have to make beer and ice runs during an event.

Pic three is the microwave cab and storage for liquor, glasses and blender.

 

[4rnr]

That is so badass!

I cant wait to mooch freezer space, shade, AC, Voltage, and general awesomeness from you! Ill be your Clint, you can be my Ron!

 

[PhilC64]

Holy carp! Nice build Gum!

 

[pepsilvr]

Lookin' Great! Keep the pics coming!

 

[x factor]

Looking good, I like the layout.