Kimbo Camper BS and Mods

Love the stickers!!

I just picked up this one in AZ dusk to dawn race in early December:

 

Question for you Kimbo folks. I'm looking at hardside camper options and thinking about the Kimbo vs other composite camper options. Realistically how many people do you think you could fit inside a Kimbo? It's only me, my gf, and our two dogs for now but if we decide to have a child at some point down the road do you think it could fit 3 human beings and 2 dogs? I'd have to take a few options off such as the storage cubby and the wire baskets that sit on the side wall in the seating area to create a little more sitting space. I think anymore than that it might be a little tight in there and would look at other options. As far as sleeping I'd have to get their bed platform to make another sleeping space. Have any of you Kimbo folks with kids made the camper work for them?

 

Hey @Gazziza, I've only had my Kimbo for a couple of weeks (stayed in it the past two weekends with my Girlfriend and 45 LB dog), but I'd personally recommend getting something a little bigger if you don't plan on building out the Kimbo yourself. The Kimbo accommodates us three perfectly but if there was another person in the mix, even with the additional folding bed, it would be a little tight when cooking, changing, and lounging. I'd look into getting a longer bed truck paired with the Scout Olympic or Kenia.

I think three humans could hang out in the Kimbo comfortably (like for drinking a beer inside to warm up at ski resort), but four would be a doable but a little tight. This is just my opinion.

 

Thanks @Profloundering! Yea I need to do a. better job of keeping the window cracked and moving air around. I have a little 12V fan that I can connect to my goal zero 500X that lives on my bedside table (got it used at REI or only $300 during summer!). I ran the dehumidifier that Kimbo gave me and it killed the 500X in one night so probably will never use that again unfortunately. I need that battery for my laptop + ipad.

 

Yeah, 12v and low draw is key with just the little 500X. Using the inverter or anything with 110v or a high 12v draw is saved for shore power. Got most everything we regularly use down to the minimum draw (Frige/roof fan/furnace fan/aux fan) except for the LED lighting - for some reason that strip lighting takes a ton of power IMHO...currently searching for a low draw solution for that.

 

Good question. I’m currently fitting my girlfriend and two dogs in it as well. We are getting along very nicely, but no plans for kids though. Short answer, you can make it work. Will you be happier in something bigger with a kid/newborn, most likely yes.

The seasons or weather you camp in will have the biggest impact. In the spring, summer, and fall, we are outside most of the time and only need the camper for sleeping and sheltering during a little bad weather. Winter on the other hand you'll be spending more time inside with the shorter days and wanting to stay warm. How you camp and how active you are can have an impact on the amount of comfortable space you need. I would try and imagine some of the scenarios mentioned above such as changing, eating, cooking, feeding dogs,etc. Will you do these things inside or outside. Then see if you or more importantly your GF would be happy in a Kimbo or something larger. With a newborn, that brings in a lot of other scenarios but don't know what that timeline is like. Those things can fit just about anywhere right? Storage unit could be a playpen...

For reference, below is the space with 2 medium-ish dogs, around 60-70lbs each, on the floor with cooler and duffel on the other side. No issues when eating or relaxing inside during the mild months. I have yet to winter camp with them all longer than a couple of nights. That went well too but longer would be interesting. Hope this helps think it through.

 

For the winter campers out there - working on a warm door cover (basically a warm window cover for the door - using the special quilted and foil lined fabric) solution to keep the thermal bridging at bay on the door. We noticed that when we direct the fan towards the door to keep it from freezing up, the door cools the air significantly and then the furnace has to be turned up to compensate. We're hoping that a warm door cover that snaps on to the inside of the door (with a cut out for the handle and a flap for the window) will help mitigate a healthy portion of the heat loss. The plan is to install two snaps at the top of the door and a couple going down the door to hold the cover in place so it won't catch in the door seal or flap around when going in/out of the Kimbo. Should have a version 1.0 in the next week or so, looking for a decent outer pattern at the moment.

 

Super rad. I really need to get on that second platform too. Yours looks great for lounging. That porch is solid too. Nice work.

 

Thanks, I stressed quite a bit about how to build the platform and ended up throwing something together due to a trip to Idaho next week...it's built with 1x2 and 2x2's with 3/4" scrap plywood top and some piano hinges to allow fridge access. My mother-in-law is a seamstress so she's working on the warm door cover and the mattress cover for the bench (right now there's just a sheet over it). The span across the top of the fridge is pretty far and I wanted to get fancy with a seat/back that slid down to expand for a sleeping area and compress for a sitting area but I was over complicating what we needed, so keeping it simple until we figure out what needs to change (if anything).

With that solar cubby you have, there is a much shorter span to deal with - should allow for quite a bit more options...I have the cover and cubby from ours that is just taking up space in the garage if that's something you can use to integrate there.

Hopefully the additional parts for the porch will be found soon - ideally it will only stick out a couple inches and pull out to be twice as long when finished. Want to be able to put a bike rack and bikes in the hitch while still being able to enter the Kimbo on the porch with the stairs attached on the side...we'll see how that ends up.

 

I think you went the right route with your setup and can make finishing touches to the platform it if needed. The width looks good. Maybe add a pop up back rest for the laying length wise. It could hinge and just rest on the left wall, like a little ramp.

I think I'm going to go for something I can store under the bed and pull out when I want the lounge/sleep platform. I may have to use that second table mount for when the platform is down. I appreciate the cubby offer but I don't believe it would fit opposite, but that would be nice.

I need to finish a little project that will give me some mini storage and USB charging options for the far side of the bed. Trying to make use of this winter a little better on my boards since last winter I basically took off and worked on the Kimbo for the majority of it.

 

For those of you who have the latest LED light bars, I was always worried if I lost the remote or the battery died, I would be out of a way to turn the lights on. It would be nice if they were hard wired. Here is a link -> https://www.armacostlighting.com/shop/slimline-white-or-single-color-led-controller/ to purchase an extra remote that can be "paired" to the existing module in the Kimbo....good insurance for $14 (although they nick you $10 for shipping)

 

Thanks for the link. I would like to get it hard wired to a dimmer knob. I tried it once and accidentally fried the switch, blaming it on the directions. This could be another option I may go with.

Zecurate RGB/RGBW LED Strip Light Bluetooth Controller Phone APP Control for 5050 3528 RGB LED Strip Lights (Suitable for iOS & Android System)

https://www.amazon.com/EPBOWPT-Blue...s=hi&sprefix=led+strip+cont,tools,101&sr=1-68

 

Forgot to mention that when I was in Gunnison, CO I pulled up next to the owner of this custom "Kimbo." We gave a little wave and I pulled in to get some coffee. Was hoping he would circle back. Maybe next time.

 

Anyone have a unit in Bozeman to Billings MT you'd be willing to show? We are putting our deposit down asap. It'd fun to see one in person though! Thanks

 

We'll be in Kellogg, ID this weekend but that's as far east as we'll get for a while...sorry

 

Hi all,
I found this thread a few days ago and have been reading it ever since... lots of good info here!

 

Looks like you have one on order. What's your pick up date?

 

Early May completion - not sure if that is the same as pick up date?

 

Usually pretty close. Just in time for summer.

 

exactly! - looking forward to some fishing trips.