Build Your Own Camper or Trailer! Glen-L RV Plans

Here's a new factory built camper similar to my home built, but made for full size trucks. Wonder if they'll build one for mid-size.

http://www.travellitecampers.com/truckcampermodels.htm

 

Excellent build thread. Enjoyed reading through and watching the construction. I'm in the very beginning stages of a 5th wheel camper build myself using Glen-L "modified" Rainier plans.

 

That's great, good luck on your build. Looking forward to seeing it.

 

Subbed... hard

 

Thanks for all the great info! We're about to begin our own build, partly in thanks to inspiration from your work.

A couple questions (I apologize if this info included in the thread and I missed it):

1. What type of plywood did you use (marine?) and what thickness?
2. Did you seal the plywood or 1x2s with anything?

 

Nice to see this thread bumped. Welcome to TW. Please share some info when you start building yours.

 

I just found is thread, and boy am I glad I did. I've been doing a lot of research and reading about building a teardrop trailer, and seeing the process of yours answered a lot of questions for me. I'm going to be retiring in a year and a half, and I need a project to look forward to. Great job and thanks for the inspiration.

 

This isn't my thing at all, but I sub'd because it looks great!

How much space is between the camper and the sides of the bed? Could you install a Rotopax (or multiple) in there for your water?

 

I used marine grade plywood and the bottom is 1/2" (15/32"), the lower box and wings 3/8" (11/32"), and the upper sides 1/4". Only the exposed exterior wood was painted with marine paint, 3 coats. See post #209 for paint. The interior was painted with exterior water base latex.

 

I think you could install one Rotopax on each side, you would want to make the lower back narrower, just the width of the box to be able to slide those in. The camper box is 35-36" wide, so all the space behind the wheel well is available.

 

Recently added an AC power inlet for a trip to Cannonville, UT. Temps were in the low 40's in the morning so it was nice to have an electric heater. Rained a lot on that trip but everything stayed dry.

Marinco 150BBI Marine On-Board Charger Inlet





GFCI Outlet

 

Great build, Goober! I'm about to start my slide in project and am most concerned about mounting the camper. At first, I was just going to bolt it down to the four frame mounts for the bed but then I started thinking about flex more. I like to go off road a lot. Not Rubicon level stuff with this truck but close. My camper will be plywood, foam and fiberglass. Built like a boat and will likely be pretty stiff. Any feedback on your mounting system? You bolted through the floor on the back mounts and used some sort of slightly flexible 'turnbuckle' on the front? Any more detail on what you used and how it's holding up (camper and mounts) would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

 

My front tie downs are Happijac spring loaded turnbuckles on the front hooked to brackets mounted with the front bed bolts. http://happijac.com/turnbuckles.html . I haven't had any problems with my mounts although haven't been on too many rough roads, washboard dirt roads mostly. I mounted some simpson brackets to the camper, 8 bolts.

From the Palomino Truck Camper Manual:
Secure the camper to the truck with turnbuckles. The front turnbuckles must be spring or shock loaded, while the rear should use solid turnbuckles. Install both the front and rear turnbuckles per manufacturer’s
instructions.

 

love it thank you for such a great post

 

I've decided to sell this camper if anyone is interest send me message. SOLD!

 

Great thread! How much do you end up selling it for?

 

I think it was $2500. I've built another camper for a full size truck out of foam panels and it only weighs 200 lbs. It's not a slide in but a cap with a full rear panel. It's finished with poor mans fiberglass (canvas glued and painted) The only wood is the bottom base and real wall. I've got 2000 miles including some off-roading and it's held up very well. 80 mph tested.

 

"Foam panels" as in the foam board insulation they use under house siding?

 

Man that thing is sweet and a cool DIY project. How was the overall durability of the camper in offroad applications?

 

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