00' tacoma bed camp trailer build

** Will update as i finish things or remember things**

started out as a parted out 00' tacoma bed, frame, rear/front end.



next step was chopping off the front end



and notching the frame so we could bend it in for the tongue/support



added the bed deck/drawer system and put carpet on it



built the tongue using 3" C channel off of the original frame



hooked up to the truck to check it out



added a cabover built for a 1st gen tacoma bed. started removing the old panels and insulation so i could run new wiring, replace insulation and install new wood wall panels




cut and welded a piece of sheet metal onto the tongue (leaving the gap between the frame directly below the overhang)



removed all the old sealant along the seams of the roof and resealed



new wheels and tires!



went for its maiden tow to our new house 2 hours north



Acquired a bunch of new lumber and started building the storage compartment under the overhang on the front. got most of the framing finished, used 2 2x4s underneath the base to tie the baseboards together and secured baseboards to the frame with brackets (will be putting more brackets on the other boards)






Painted the trailer. Got both sides done. Ran out of paint and sun so wasnt able to do the roof yet. The dents definitely show more with the black paint but it's a camp trailer. It will be fine lol. Rear and sides ~90% complete. Got decent coverage with the 3 cans I had. Figure about 6 more cans needed. 1 more per side and rear. And then 3 for roof





Got the front wall, shelf and door panels cut and mounted up. Still need to seal up joints and small gaps, paint interior and exterior, install door handles/locks, weather seals for doors.








And we have light! For the top storage area. Still gotta do the lower. Using some magnetic USB rechargeable LED lights I got from home depot a while back



pics arent in exact order but close enough
Few other things
-Gas tank was removed because i am planning on putting an RV/Camper fresh water tank underneath with a 12v pump. inlet/outlet ports will be in the stock fuel cap location
-Battery, inverter, etc. will be in the lower front storage area, with propane tank either in same area or out front on the tongue






Still need to:
- Finish running the wiring inside (to include switches for lights)
- Interior/Exterior lighting (along with marker lights)
- Fresh water tank from RV/Camper with 12v pump)
- Battery and inverter
- Propane tank mount
- Insulation
- Interior walls
- Rear support legs (if the camper is rockin..... its probably because i dont have any supports in the rear and i cant get comfortable)
- Buy mattress
- Build slide out drawer for center of drawer/deck system
- Remove/replace old roof vent with fan/vent combo
- Register it lol
A lot more im sure im forgetting or havent thought of yet

 

I think I remember you posting this on a FB group at some point when you first started it, either that or it was on here. I just remember blowing you some shit for cutting up a fairly rust free frame lol. Looks good man

 

hahaha yeah i think i remember that!

 

Neat. I’ve always wanted to do this.

Why did you use a seven pin wiring harness instead of four?

 

mostly because the plug for my truck is 7. figured instead of using an adapter i would just run a 7 pin

 

Cool, gives me an idea what to do with the rest of parts truck!

 

So you can run backup lights, power, and brakes.

@duncnasty, have you reinforced the inner structure of the camper?

I certainly would.

These campers barely last just driving on asphalt, and it wouldn't take much to tear it apart off-road...

 

no. i was surprised to see the structure when i took all the interior panels off. the frame is all made of 1'' square tubing. looks pretty damn strong

 

Yeah, brakes would make sense. But I don’t think you can add (at least easily) electric brakes to a standard truck axle with differential.

 

i will be running lights and power. not worried about brakes on this though. its super light

 

Interesting. I guess that's an old enough camper so it has some actual structure to it. Not the pressed fiber board crap they're all made of today...

 

I don't see why having a diff would be a problem. Trailer axles are open anyway. Hell, electric trailer brakes might even bolt right up. Probably not, but nothing a little cutting and welding can't solve.

If I were you, I'd rig up the E-brake to a handle on the trailer. I've seen a lot of Aussie trailers have hand brakes - you pull the brake and set the support legs. I don't understand why US trailers don't come with hand brakes like that. I'd still use a wheel chock or two when it's parked, though.

 

yeah, i actually removed the E-brake and everything for now. using wheel chocks but will be making a handle for the brake later on and putting it all back on

 

That’s a pretty nice set up you’ve got! I like the hand brake idea.

 

Well crap. I was going to mention that the axle-less trailer suspension isn't that expensive and is great for off road, but I like The e-brake idea. I really want to figure out how to rig that up on my trailer now. Even with chocks and stabilizers mine still shakes like it has palsy.

 

Yeah, the axle-less suspension has nice ground clearance, but assuming you set your trailer up with the same tires your truck has (really not a bad idea), it's not any worse than the truck...

Since the trails obviously doesn't "need" the pumpkin, it'd be nice to just have a straight axle (conventional trailer axle). Then it's just a matter of fabricating the mounting plates for the drums and off you go.

 

Actually you're right. They look really cool, but youre right, the major problem area of a trailer is going to be either the departure or the breakover angle, not the axle. A 3500 pound straight axle with electric brakes included runs around 400 bucks. The weight savings would be justification enough for me, but that's me.

 

Digging the front porch! Haha

 

hahaha i've had a few people say it looks like a porch! i need to put a chair and flowerpot or something on it for a pic lol