DIY Cabover Camper

[Blue1005]

Love the pacman idea, i do worry about a wood frame, maybe just cause i am paranoid.

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[Clifdawg]

Super cool! And not much more expensive than a simple tent, either. The DIY innovations of this community never ceases to amaze me.

 

[MaverickSVT]

Should paint it yellow, looks kinda like packman eating the truck.

I second this you should paint it to look like Pac-Man

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

To the OP, what is your height? At 6' tall, I can't imagine that I'd fit cross-wise.

HRG

 

[JimKivi]

Love it! Thanks for the great post. After much thought, I went the trailer option for our Maverick. I used quarter ply, 2x3 framing, and EVERYTHING glued for added shear strength, with FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic, 4x8 sheets from Home D.) laminated to the ply. I have a similar construction on our Silverado with a pop up roof from a solid toneu. Has held up well (after paint for UV) six years of trips to Baja. Foil backed foam inside our Maverick trailer, and made it so we can just stand, putting a (Silverado) shell on top of the 4' ply sides. I just couldn't see how to make the truck mounted unit sleepable without going cab over. Very interested to see how you handle the height in wind. Above mentioned just to give options to those considering similar. Again, great post, much appreciated.

 

[gfowkes]

To the OP, what is your height? At 6' tall, I can't imagine that I'd fit cross-wise.

HRG

The sleeping bed is 55" wide x 80" long and fits full-size mattress. Right now it has a queen-size mattress in place that is too wide (but works, and I had it laying around). Half of the bed slats can be removed, mattress rolled up into the cab-over area so I can stand up in the back. I lay with my feet toward the front of the truck so the majority of my weight is over the truck bed (and not handing over the cab). But, I'm not a big guy. 5'9" 155 pounds.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

The sleeping bed is 55" wide x 80" long and fits full-size mattress. Right now it has a queen-size mattress in place that is too wide (but works, and I had it laying around). Half of the bed slats can be removed, mattress rolled up into the cab-over area so I can stand up in the back. I lay with my feet toward the front of the truck so the majority of my weight is over the truck bed (and not handing over the cab). But, I'm not a big guy. 5'9" 155 pounds.

Thanks!

HRG

 

[gfowkes]

Love it! Thanks for the great post. After much thought, I went the trailer option for our Maverick. I used quarter ply, 2x3 framing, and EVERYTHING glued for added shear strength, with FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic, 4x8 sheets from Home D.) laminated to the ply. I have a similar construction on our Silverado with a pop up roof from a solid toneu. Has held up well (after paint for UV) six years of trips to Baja. Foil backed foam inside our Maverick trailer, and made it so we can just stand, putting a (Silverado) shell on top of the 4' ply sides. I just couldn't see how to make the truck mounted unit sleepable without going cab over. Very interested to see how you handle the height in wind. Above mentioned just to give options to those considering similar. Again, great post, much appreciated.

Sounds like a sweet build. Was curious about FRP. We have a little Boler camper for family trips. 850 pounds and pulls great!

For the next cab-over build, I'm planning on making composite panels (like
Ambition Strikes YouTube channel), with aluminum framing. Will take longer, cost more and be slightly heavier, but now that I know the concept works, it's worth the effort.

 

[JimKivi]

Gfowkes, The frp take weather well (used for bathroom walls), need paint for UV protection, and add shear strength to the plywood. On our Silverado build, one sheet did both 2' sides, cheap, and easier than fiberglass. Easy to laminate to ply with trowel on adhesive.

 

[gfowkes]

Gfowkes, The frp take weather well (used for bathroom walls), need paint for UV protection, and add shear strength to the plywood. On our Silverado build, one sheet did both 2' sides, cheap, and easier than fiberglass. Easy to laminate to ply with trowel on adhesive.

Looks great! Smart idea.

BTW - Love Baja. We go down to the Valle De Guadalupe often.

 

[RZ2O16]

Team Maverick! Wanted to share my recent DIY camper build. Its 2” rigid foam insulation, wrapped in canvas and coated with Tightbond II (sometimes called Poor Man’s Fiberglass or PMF), then painted with rubberized roofing paint.

First time building with these materials. Learned a lot and a few things will do differently next time. I consider this a prototype and will likely build something different in the future, but for now, I’m satisfied. Took about 3 weeks, weighs around 150 pounds, cost around $300, gas mileage went down to 33 mpg (Hybrid) with mixed driving.

Full size bed, room for me, my bike and a few supplies. Not really meant for long camping trips, just quick overnights, and occasional solo bike trips.

2400 mile trip coming up in two weeks.

I think it looks great. The pink part of the foam that wasn't painted over doesn't look that good but I still like the design of the camper.

 

[gfowkes]

I think it looks great. The pink part of the foam that wasn't painted over doesn't look that good but I still like the design of the camper.

I planned on covering the inside with automotive carpet, but I don't want to sink more money into it until I've tried it out a bit more. If I love it, and it works for me, I'll finish the inside.

 

[RZ2O16]

I planned on covering the inside with automotive carpet, but I don't want to sink more money into it until I've tried it out a bit more. If I love it, and it works for me, I'll finish the inside.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Timothyd]

Team Maverick! Wanted to share my recent DIY camper build. Its 2” rigid foam insulation, wrapped in canvas and coated with Tightbond II (sometimes called Poor Man’s Fiberglass or PMF), then painted with rubberized roofing paint.

First time building with these materials. Learned a lot and a few things will do differently next time. I consider this a prototype and will likely build something different in the future, but for now, I’m satisfied. Took about 3 weeks, weighs around 150 pounds, cost around $300, gas mileage went down to 33 mpg (Hybrid) with mixed driving.

Full size bed, room for me, my bike and a few supplies. Not really meant for long camping trips, just quick overnights, and occasional solo bike trips.

2400 mile trip coming up in two weeks.

NOTE: Interior is unfinished for now. If I love it, and it works for me, I'll finish the interior with an automotive carpet.

I like it. I was thinking of something like that only instead od going up I'd go back. Make it long enough to sleep in

 

[gfowkes]

I like it. I was thinking of something like that only instead od going up I'd go back. Make it long enough to sleep in

I wanted something that I can stand up in but, going long and low would certainly be better for MPG.

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