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Simple Handmade Camper Build

Speds

2.5L Hybrid
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A local brewery hosted a car camping competition so I started working on my camping set up for the Mav.
Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build PXL_20220723_213101197~3

It took a whole lot of measuring but overall is pretty simple.
I started by cutting a 1/2 inch plywood sheet into a 48"x53" section that fits very well in the main truck bed. Then a 48"x24" section that connects via a breakaway hinge to the main board and rests on the tailgate at the "carry a load of plywood" angled position.
Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build PXL_20220709_121408743

Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build PXL_20220709_124321641.MP~2

The rest of the board was cut up into 7" tall sections to go down the middle as a support and some small 7" pieces at the corners nearest the tailgate. (7" is technically a little high for where those wheel wells sit, but it worked well in the end) I coated those both in cheap-ass spray bed liner to make it black and hopefully fill in the texture of that chipped plywood. I'm happy with it 🤷
In this photo you can see how it is hinged to allow access to storage bins (even though you have to change the tailgate to actually access them.) It breaks away as in if you go past 90* you can slide it back a little and it disconnects from the whole thing, with one half the hinge on one part, the other half on the other plywood.
Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build PXL_20220723_214538015~2

I used some 3" foam strips from my old job as a bed. We sewed up two 24"x53" pads to sit side by side for the main sections (the rip stop nylon fabric was 59" wide so to make one bed pad would have created seams and was bulky, plus this way I get to store it all in the back seats stacked) then a 48"x24" section for the tailgate area.

I ultimately will weld a "roll cage" like "trapezoid" deal for the bed and have a tarp hang from underneath that fully covers the bed (privacy and bugs) so I can still use use the structure to support a kayak or my roof rack. Btw the angle for how that cab sits is 10* off 90 so a 100* angle from the roofline bar to the side bars is what I'll be doing. Roughly 18" high I think, and I wanna say the cab roofline will be 54" wide. I plan to just weld metal plates at the bottom and use some old truck bed clamps to hold it on. I really wish the bed had those stake holes but, this is my first truck so I'm learning.

As for the canopy as it is in photos it is roughly 58"x105" ish I think. And I just sewed up old malt bags with some 1" webbing on the corners with opposing buckles on a loop. That way I strap a long piece of webbing that goes through the cab and buckles onto the front corners on the tarp, and clip some tie down ropes to 50lb bags for tension. The poles are used for holding up tarps like this, but are only 4' (we had them laying around) so I had to prop them up, ideally a 6-8' pole would be used.

Also it holds three adults! I didn't get approval for posting so excuse the crappy face coverings, but I did want to show how it fit with people in it.
Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build IMG_20220724_062604~3
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Ranger5.0

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I don't want to hijack your thread, so I will ask if you mind if I post some pics to my simple "pop up" covered wagon design as a sleeping arrangement?
 
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Speds

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I don't want to hijack your thread, so I will ask if you mind if I post some pics to my simple "pop up" covered wagon design as a sleeping arrangement?
Please do! I'd love to see that
 

Ranger5.0

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Perfect. I whipped this out the other day. I usually sleep in the back of my F150 which has the 6.5 bed and a canopy. I had to come up with something for now until someone comes out with a canopy that is above the cab height for the Maverick.

With my own bed rail screwed to the bed in place of the stock tie down units this goes together in about 5 min or less and weighs maybe 5-7 pounds. No tools required. This is in no way designed for any strength. It is simply for putting a 7x9 tarp over to keep the dew off of me. I just bungee the tarp to the bed tie downs. It's not pretty, but it's effective.

Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build Screenshot_20220803-104118-024


Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build Screenshot_20220803-104134-802


Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build Screenshot_20220803-104206-723


Ford Maverick Simple Handmade Camper Build Screenshot_20220803-104226-766
 

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Timothyd

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Perfect. I whipped this out the other day. I usually sleep in the back of my F150 which has the 6.5 bed and a canopy. I had to come up with something for now until someone comes out with a canopy that is above the cab height for the Maverick.

With my own bed rail screwed to the bed in place of the stock tie down units this goes together in about 5 min or less and weighs maybe 5-7 pounds. No tools required. This is in no way designed for any strength. It is simply for putting a 7x9 tarp over to keep the dew off of me. I just bungee the tarp to the bed tie downs. It's not pretty, but it's effective.

Screenshot_20220803-104118-024.png


Screenshot_20220803-104134-802.png


Screenshot_20220803-104206-723.png


Screenshot_20220803-104226-766.png
That's a good hack for making the short bed more useable. I was thinking of attaching some channel (unistrut?) to the bed and bending some plastic hoops for cover.
 

Maverickman74

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Take some paracord and make an X underneath your tarp to keep it up out of your face. Also move the posts to the tailgate latches and tie the tarp out and down to give you a "peak". Ive been building campsites for 39 years and just turned 38 2 weeks ago.
 

Ranger5.0

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Have fun with that. This isn't on when I'm driving. It isn't meant to be water tight.
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