Wedge Life

I need to do this. Thanks for sharing

 

Clean..Clean.Clean. Looks like you could have surgery in there. Nice work.

 

Hey guys and gals. this is probably the first big thread i read start to finish
i just posted https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/things-to-know-when-buying-pop-up-camper.791052/#post-28322097 here a question for pop up camper owners.

Wondering if anyone has any advice for me as I am hopefully about to join your ranks this weekend! I live in the PNW so all the water issues are top of my mind (sealing bed, gutters).
Any advice is appreciated! Take care

 

is that line-x'd 3/4 baltic?

 

Thank you. It’s clean for now but I don’t really expect it to stay that way…I’ve done all I can for dust and water intrusion so we’ll have to see how that turns out.
The only issue I’m having to resolve is the sealing in the corners/ends where the tailgate and cap hatch mate when closed.
I’m also considering a positive pressure vent but at this time just can’t even fathom drilling a big ass hole in the cap.

 

It’s 1/2” Baltic with LineX. I considered 3/8” but for me the 1/2” is just easier to work with.
It’s all about the weight right, and it all adds up very quickly. I even thought about no base at all but in the end decided I needed one.
The LineX was a last minute decision even knowing the weight it would add. It was just more convenient to have it done rather than me having to deal with any sealing/finishing of the ply. At one point I even considered a vinyl floor down the center but that stuff is heavy as well.

 

I made a little more progress on the interior build. The battery and wiring is complete and I got a lid on one of the storage cabinets, it’s going to make a good bench as well.
I’m still on the fence with what to do on the other side. I’m out of ply material so still deciding on how to finish it. I have more extrusion and thinking maybe a some small shelves or something. More than likely due to my OCD I will just keep it the same.

So Baltic Birch plywood…the last time I bought a 5’x5’ piece of 1/2” it was $32 this time around it was $90 from the same supplier. You can’t (at least I can’t) source it very easily. I guess I was lucky I could even get it and will be bending over to get some more.

 

Well I finally had the time to sit down a make some drip gutters for my RTT after getting ideas from you guys last fall. So far Im 0 - 1!

I used 0.024" thick stainless sheets. Seemed thick enough while I was working with it (honestly about the limit of my small vise break). Had the fit up just right and everything was cherry until I hit the road. Didnt even make it up to 60 on the highway before the wind was ripping it around. Just not enough rigidity in my design to prevent it from flexing down and back as shown.

Would love any feedback or ideas you guys might have! Keeping in mind the limits of working sheet metal by hand, nothing crazy. The only solution I've been able to come up with so far is a reinforcement strap up to the front of the RTT (red line), but that's going to look super weird IMO.

Honestly Im about to call OVS and tell them they can come get their RTT. The water seepage issue has only gotten worse over time.

 

Your hinge gets in the way a little, but you could make the front side same height as the side and then bolt the gutter to the front of your RTT like I did. Just do a cutout for the hinge. This way the front side would also overlap the fold on the side, so you could rivet those together too for even more strength. Having the front full height would mean that road wind wouldn't grab it and whip it around.

The shape of mine is a bit more complex but it was all cut and bent by hand with only a vice and some pieces of wood. It's a bit of a puzzle to do all the bends in the right order.

 

Awesome thanks for the additional pics. I remember you posted a shot of yours a few pages back which I drew some inspiration from. What did you make it out of?

 

The label says 28 guage sheet metal, came from home depot in 12 x 24" sheets. One per side. It's surprisingly stout once bent and riveted. I'm sure it moves a bit in wind, but I don't hear anything and it has held up well. The only sign of wear is some paint has flaked off from bug strikes.

 

Has anyone installed a cargo door on their VO Drifter? I'm picking up a used Drifter that isn't equipped with cargo/windoors and I'm struggling with the possibility of losing bed access from the side of the truck. I have had shells in the past with just window sliders and right now have a Leer XR with windoors and really don't want to give them up. It looks like you can buy the cargo doors directly from Tern but not sure how difficult they would be to install. Any experience with these?

 

Cut a hole, screw it in.

You doing it is different than Vagabond because they will make a 1” square tube aluminum frame around the hole for extra thickness and support.

 

We’ve been very happy with our GFC Camper V2 (#1870) wedge.

Although, we’ve had trouble with the truck bed mounting brackets. Anyone else experience bed flex that bends the brackets?

 

I just listed my 2017 Tacoma (6' bed) with Vagabond Drifter for sale if anyone is looking for a full set up.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...vagabond-drifter-camper.794175/#post-28447870

 

Sharing my Packout Camper build





The Roof on this one has been Changed to 1/8 thick aluminum. Just Happy to finally mount our bikes on both sides of the camper.

 

Added a a little more to the camper.
Small storage cabenit at the back for mugs, and toiletries.
Then rails on my passenger side for the heater and eventually some other gear that could be outside, maybe rotopax.

 

How many of you run deaver leaf springs stage 3 on your rig? Do you like them?I have ome Dakar with add a leaf and looking to upgrade. Camper never comes off and is heavy. Any other suggestions on leaf pack? I was also thinking of having Alcan out of grand junction build me a pair. Thanks tw

 

Deaver or Alcan, you cannot go wrong. I have Stage 3 Deavers and they have been great for an out of the box solution. My opinion though is if the truck is built out & you know have added the worst of the weight your going to add to the truck, then go the Alcan route & have them built specifically for your weight, driving style etc. b/c the cost is pretty much the same.