Homebuilt Camper Thread!

Couldn't find another thread like this that seemed lively, but a few users and I have been taking over the wedge build thread by @Ripcord (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-diy-wedge-camper.604686/)
with talk about homemade campers.

Aiming to have a place to share ideas, insight, build techniques, sealing and things that pertain to campers you built, not bought. @Bassshreddin @PNW_Sparks @JMcFly and @TheTacomaInn
have been talking about vertical lift mechanisms, and wanted to move that conversation here.

 

Currently, I'm struggling with making my roof feel stable and safe to be under. I've made this super technical drawing to help understand the way mine is shimmying.


Part of this has to be because I'm mounting my tent with keder rail, so the mechanism isn't butting up against the frame, but it is butting up against the keder rail slot, and I've built in some bump stops.

I've added some latches and a cross support to an arm that connects to the roof to gusset forward and backward movement, but it still isn't quite enough. While not perfectly level, the roof leans out from the bottom portion of the frame. It's those top and bottom hinges that sway. I can't figure out how FWC or OVRLND stops that swaying motion. Can it really be just the canvas portion that gives it that much support?

@Bassshreddin seems to be onto something, but to me it seems like it's still only locking down that middle hinge, not the top and bottom swaying potential.

Here are some photos of mine atm.

 

I think I may try some steel cable today, at least to give me some peace of mind while I work under it!

 

I can't be much help as I'm not doing the roof top tent. Just does not fit a 65yo man and is girl...LOL. You youngins hop you ass up there all ya want. I'll be in the ranch style quarters down below...ahahahaha.
Gas struts seem to be the easy way to raise anything. Electric actuators are too expensive.
I'll think about the design and see what I can come up with.
Zim

 

Whoa this is super neat. How much interior height do you have when fully popped up from the bedrails to the roof?

 

TOO TALL. It's like 62". Going to chop down the lift mechanism a bit in the next week or two. I can't get struts long enough to help me out, so want to cut it for 36" struts. TBD how high that vert is then.

 

Seems like a perfect height for the taller fellers in the 6'3" range haha

 

Yeah man, that was my original thought, I'm 6'5" but even getting 40" struts to help lift it aren't going to be enough if I'm doing the math correctly.

 

I noticed some OVRLND campers have a gas strut on the lifting mech it self. I wonder if you could do something like that to reduce the size of strut needed and not do any on the outside. It’s odd some of the OVRLND campers have the struts on the outside for the roof and some don’t. The 40” struts FWC uses are pricey.

 

Seen that! And definitely thinking about it. As far as I can tell, a lot of OVRLND campers have both outer and inner ones now!

 

Thanks for starting the thread!

I as well want to have a roof lift vertical. I started with the idea like @Oyster Taco. First time was with plywood and the rood moved forward and aft waaay to much for my liking. Also the roof wanted to come off the camper while opening up... not good.

Below is a photo of what I'm doing now. It is a 1.5" square tube that will bolt to the roof and stay vertical. A 2.5" square tube with delrin platic(self lubricating plastic, real slippery stuff) on the inside will be the "receiver." That will bolt to the frame and support the vertical tube. I know this plan will work for lifting the roof no problem. However, I am worried about how the fabric will lay when the roof is in the down position. Between the vertical tube and the frame there will not be a hole lot of room for the fabric to bunch up then the roof is down. Will figure out tomorrow...

 

That's my camper! and i now have both outside and inside struts. the inside ones just didnt provide enough lift once i threw just the solar panel up there. the panel is pushed as far forward as possible so it was really just the front that was super hard to lift. now, with 35 lb gas struts, i have to pull down a little bit to close it which is perfect so when i throw a kayak up there, it wont crush me.

 

Haha now I feel like a creep! I screen shotted that of their Instagram! So before the solar panel was the internal strut enough? Also how tall does yours pop and how long are the external struts?

 

haha nah, that's the whole point of posting the shit in my opinion, so it can help someone else out.

before the solar, the internals were perfect actually. and from sleeping platform to roof, its about 36 or 38". Sorry, out at work so i can't measure. i also can't remember the strut length on the outside but somewhere around 40" i think? i can measure when i get home if you still need it.

 

@Oyster Taco you try using any angle pieces and pinning them to eliminate your play at the top and bottom? Might be a simple solution since you have the extrusions and are trying to provide space for the keder rail.

 

So I tried one similar to the one pinned on OVRLND and FWC, but I did it in a way that left some play. I plan on having one in there. I did just order struts. 36”, 80lb. I’m also changing some hinge orientation AND thinking about adding some thin steel cable as support!

 

Finally got it all figured out. Only problem is the struts are overkill at 100lb each. So I have to figure the right weight for the struts. Any thoughts on weight for struts? 40lb is what I was thinking. Also, I won't be able to have any of my bedding up top, which I suppose I'm willing to sacrifice for a sturdy mechanism. Also need to add the 4 hole corner brackets on the hinge portions, as you can tell in the pics, it will move the hardware

 

Looks good! What hinges are you using?

also, where did you get your struts? I just ordered 36” ones but seems like I won’t be able to get the pop up quite as high as I’d like. I got x4 80lb

 

I just used hinges that I got on McMaster that were left over when I thought I was going to do a wedge, then I got fence hinges from home crepo and cut them down for the others. If I used 1010 extrusion it might have had more room. I'm using the suspra struts that are 100lb each and I can't close it haha. But the ones I got and ones I'm ordering are from Amazon. 35.43 in and 40lb I believe

 

Okay boys, that completes our build for this session. Please drop off your comment cards on the way out, and have a safe trip home. And remember, @Bassshreddin just kicked this shit in the ass...
Nice work.
Zim