Lightweight camper build

That's pretty cool!

The bottom door, how are you gonna work that out?

I would say fabricate them so they swing out, because if it swings down you wouldn't be able to get in the bed easily. If it swings up it would be really high and heavy.

 

Still need to istall weather strip between the two halves, but will mark out and drill holes where they will be joined first.

 

I would also reccomend putting some type of seal here. Rubber of some sort, cheap door seals can be found at hardware stores. Otherwise transit is going to cause too much metal on metal flexing and it could end up squeaky or destroy all your hard work.

 

Sub'd for the build.
Check out this build in expo for some inspiration http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/137366-Tacoma-aluminum-Pop-up

 

Thats a good point and have considered it, but it would cause a lot of re work and headache. I am going to try and make it work the way it is.

 

I see now with your current photo.

Maybe a little aluminum ladder and you'd be able to climb over the bottom door.

 

I found some really neat 3/4" thick, sort of gummy weatherstrip that will go between the 2 halves

 

Nice!

 

Awesome, cheap build! Can't wait to see the final results

 

Sub'd because this is an interesting idea.

 

so the top and bottom halves are going to be fixed together?

 

You bet. 1/4" ss bolts every 6" or so.

 

I don't know why something like this isn't available commercially. I hate loading up for camping/wheeling trips. With this, you can keep all of your gear in it, and load the camper when you need it. Gives you a lot of versatility.

 

Space kaps are very similar and way nicer. i almost bought one but decided to torture myself a bit

 

Thanks! Maybe for my next truck

 

So took your advice and made the rear door one piece. I decided to have it swing up instead of out to save reworking the existing hinge.

 

Before...

 

After...

 

TRYING to keep things simple, I closed both doors and joined them using some 1/2"x1" alum flat bar. Pre drilled the flat bar and installed with a bunch of #8 x1" sheet metal screws and removed the bottom hinge. Seems pretty sturdy.