Author Topic: Did you ever make your own camper (Read 2074 times)

ironglow · « **on:** April 07, 2014, 04:20:36 pm »

I made a teardrop camper a few years ago, gave it to my Marine grandson and then built another. My first effort was a typical teardrop. Being a hunter, I had my artistic grandson decorate it with the comic figure, Elmer Fudd. Based on a Tractor Supply trailer, this camper has a 4X8 cabin and weighs about 790 # and when my 4 cyl Ranger with manual shift was hauling it, OTR mileage only dropped from about 28 mpg to 25 mpg.
After giving this one away, I soon built another, less traditional model..and gave that to another grandson. I truly enjoyed my teardrops but my wife liked the larger camper we once had. In case you want to build..Here's a most helpful website.. http://www.tnttt.com/

Ranger99 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07, 2014, 04:29:17 pm »

helped build 2 very nearly identical
to that.
those are nice in cool or chilly weather.
if it's the least bit hot like it is most of
the time here, it's pretty stuffy.
i'll take one of these before i ever get
another big travel trailer.

ironglow · « **Reply #2 on:** April 07, 2014, 04:51:49 pm »

I carried an efficient fan in the front box (over the hitch) and the roof vent shown raised in the picture made a good exhaust. Some folks have air built in or at least set up at a campgrounds to really cool the camper. The second one I built was 4X10 and allowed considerable more room and ventilation.. It still pulled just about as efficiently however.
These are nice for a hunting camp, since you can usually take them right back to the hunting area with your Jeep or ATV.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2014, 06:24:52 pm »

a small 12v battery and a solar panel
for a small 12v fan would likely do good.
here the last few years i've been using mostly
tents or trail tarps. i've also thought about
refurbishing my old bethany chief camper,
but that's way way down the list.

ironglow · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2014, 07:28:28 pm »

If you look at that top picture, you will see a small, white PVC elbow near the bottom..that comes from the deep cycle battery stowed within the front box.
See below, the logo next to the entry door, and the interior shot of the rear hatch..

tacklebury · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2014, 06:59:35 pm »

My dad's almost done with a 6 year build. Mostly wood and used luan for the rounded roofline. Will try to get some pics when he pulls it out of the garage. Pretty impressive, but I'm afraid it may be too heavy for his axle set-up. He at least put a set of helper springs on it, but I think he really needs air coils. Will see when it comes off the stands...

ironglow · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2014, 08:16:22 am »

On mine the interior was of Luan as was the roof underlayment, outer sidewalls 3/8" exterior grade plywood...then I placed an aluminum skin on the roof. Here's a pic of the outer layer of Luan being screwed/glued into place. I used ropes to clamp it in place...wood moistened.

geezerbiker · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2014, 08:38:17 am »

Have you considered documenting the build progress in pix and putting them up somewhere? I've been thinking about building something like this on one of those cheap Harbor Freight trailers. I only need something that will give me a warm off the ground place to sleep since I'm too old and beat up to sleep on the ground any more...

Tony

ironglow · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2014, 08:14:21 pm »

Best way I can help is to tell you to go here..there is more info here that any one person can hand out;

http://www.tnttt.com/

Meanwhile a "process" pic..

Couger · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2014, 10:43:50 am »

Great thread.

Nice looking 'projects" and campers.

Can see at future date making one of those mini campers (and portable kitchens) could be a VERY DOABLE GODSEND! for many scenarios ....... (not just for camping during the traditional times or seasons, etc.)

alleyyooper · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:57:34 am »

In 1971 I bought a 11' slide in camper for the pick up. we went many a place with it including snowmobiling in Michigan's UP. I sold it in 1986 after my folks bought a 5th wheel camper.
I have been thinking about that slide in camper for several years now and how much I would like to have one again with out the cost of todays.
A fellow I worked with in the 1970s built his own from a kit. I remember it was a luger kit but I can't find information on them on the net.

I saw one of those little tear drops just yesterday, being pulled by a PT Cruiser. Looked home built to me.

Al

ironglow · « **Reply #11 on:** June 23, 2014, 07:29:27 am »

AL;
Many are home built and show the level of craftsmanship of the builder. Some very fine, others rather crude. There are also many manufacturers models. Check that website I posted above.. it is very rich in information. Being the size of teardrop is such that it nestles in tight within the tow vehicles air stream and weighs 800-900 lbs., there is no real wind resistance and one has to be careful they don't forget it is back there...I had about $800 total in my teardrop..and you can see that commercial ones run about $7K to start. For hunters and fishermen..they will go places where other campers can't go.. and light enough to move with an ATV. I am told that being as they are solid sides, national parks with bears accept them where they won't accept tents or tent campers.

Meanwhile, here are a couple "factory" models ..

http://www.tinycamper.com/

http://www.golittleguy.com/

alleyyooper · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:42:02 am »

The one I saw the other day looked to have a rear that was top hinged so they could open it up in back. I am guessing that there were props of some sort back there to hold that door part up and canvas was fastened to it and the bottom some how to make it have more head room back there.

Al

ironglow · « **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2014, 03:49:23 pm »

Some use the rear lid as a room/entrance, but most still use the rear for a kitchen/galley. Of course the main room is bedroom..

tacklebury · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2014, 06:49:27 pm »

Dad finally got his roof done and is finishing up the interior. I promised him i'd do a photo layout and will try to come back and get some pics uploaded here also.

30calflash · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2014, 05:23:32 pm »

There's some great ideas and nice work there. Looks like a good way to get a small rig without the costs in purchasing outright.

Been tenting it for some time but I think the hard shell will be a needed option sometime in the future.

mannyrock · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2014, 08:59:23 am »

Many years ago, as a break from work, I use to day dream about how I might make a folding cabin on a small trailer (6x10). I wanted it to be like one of those pop-up cardboard things that you see in childrens' books. (Or, more like a transformer, that would start out as a totally flat, stacked set of studded walls and roof sides, that you would simply start unfolding, with all of the pieces connected by hinges, and end up with a normal looking cabin, roof and all. Long bolts would be inserted in various holes and joints to fasten each piece tightly together as they unfolded, and tightened with washers and hand turned wing nuts.

In a sense, it would be like a chinese puzzle.

I even tried to calculate the total weight, using 2x3 red spruce studs, and half-inch exterior plywood for the sides and roof. The weight built up pretty fast.

Well, I've been retired for 7 years now, and never have gotten around to it. Guess it was just not that important.

Mannyrock

blind ear · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2014, 10:19:28 am »

Have a friend/family member that built one from foam insulation panels (a box of sorts). Was on a small trailer, fastened to together with duct tape. Door hinges were tape also. In the winter body heat would heat it on a mild day.
Looked decent to have no real structure at all. ear

ironglow · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2014, 10:21:09 am »

I considered a small pop-up, hard side camper such as you describe, but that takes assembly. One feature I like about the teardrops is that if a fellow is travelling-through and doesn't want to "camp" it is easy to just stop by a cooperating Walmart or other store and sleep for 2-4 or 6 hours in the teardrop.. no assembly needed.
Unlike a conventional camper, with an 8ft X 10ft frontal area..the teardrop nestles right into the airstream of the tow vehicle and changes the gas mileage very little.

alleyyooper · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2015, 06:04:46 am »

Well it has been over a year now so would lie a update on how it goes and what changes f any you would make.

Al

ironglow · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2015, 06:15:54 am »

Are you asking me? I was pleased with mine, but as I said earlier..I gave both to different grandsons. The one pictured I gave to my Grandson when he was in the Marine Corps. When he had no place to store it while deployed, he sold it. The other grandson still has his and allows family and friends to use it if they wish.

alleyyooper · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2015, 06:39:18 am »

Yup asking you.

Al

olddaddy · « **Reply #22 on:** July 05, 2015, 05:55:17 pm »

I guess I'm lazy..... made mine from an old van. I drive a 93 Dodge van, by choice, and have always loved vans in general. I picked up a dead one and cut it in half, welded a steel front onto the rear body and, there you have it, instant camper! It is currently unfinished, but headed out for paint soon. I will post some pics when I get it back. Plans are to use it as a base of operations for fishing, hunting, and general laziness as age increases and responsibilities decrease......