Simple Camper

[Ron in BC]

I have an older friend who could afford any RV made but doesn't like "fancy". He has a 2003 F150 4x4 with less than 50k miles. Definitely not his daily driver. I finally convinced him that he should come upcountry and do a little fishing.

His first response was that he could just throw a canopy on the box and sleep in it. Well, in my early days I've been there, done that. So I convinced him to at least buy a canopy that was tall enough to stand in and that had the most minimum of comforts.

So, from the bare shell I fabricated a simple bunk and since I had 4" foam cushions from a junked couch that was better than sleeping of the box floor. I found a hutch for free on Craigslist and with a little cutting and hacking fit it to the interior contours of the shell. I wanted to retain as many drawers as possible as I find them very valuable. I raised the top so that when I put a sink in it wouldn't project down and take away one of the large drawers.

Cut down a laminate countertop to fit. Added a sink with manual hand pump. And a 6 gallon water tank with exterior fill. The "holding tank" is very basic.

Added a two burner stove and installed a quick connect on the exterior rather than mount a propane tank on the rear. This way the tank can be used for the inside stove or for an exterior camp stove.

Fabricated a strong exterior grab bar as my friend isn't all that steady on his feet. Also installed an exterior 110V receptacle so that if power is available he can plug in a heater without running the cord out a window.

Just came back from a little trip and it worked well. Reminds me of how far we are from the simple old days when we went camping with far less than we do now.

Ron

[h2owmn]

Niiiiiice work! That is a lovely thing to do for your friend. Many wonderful camping days ahead!
Can you post a picture from outside?

[Selkirk]

I recall that you had hinted at this project in an earlier thread, when you mentioned that a friend had acquired a Tufport fiberglass canopy. It looks like it has been built out into a nice, basic camping rig.

What is the total estimated weight of the set-up?

[Mike G]

Tremendous! Deluxe accommodations!

[SageRpod]

Very nice! Perfect little camper.

[MyronL]

Re: standing in the truck bed: I'm guessing your friend is about 5 feet 1 inch tall?

[Selkirk]

I'm also curious if this rig is insulated and/or heated? How is general ventilation handled?

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

What is the total estimated weight of the set-up?

The Tufport T76 is listed as weighing 750 lbs. I think that is's safe to say the all up, as is, weight is well under 1,000 lbs.

Originally Posted by MyronL

Re: standing in the truck bed: I'm guessing your friend is about 5 feet 1 inch tall?

The headroom is 6'-4" enough for most folks and you wouldn't have to duck very much.

Originally Posted by Selkirk

I'm also curious if this rig is insulated and/or heated? How is general ventilation handled?

This was a get it and make it usable for this past trip. Over the winter there will be discussions on refrigeration, solar, batteries and heating. Also installing foam backed vinyl. They may or may not happen.

There are opening windows on all 4 sides as well as a roof vent.

One surprising feature is that there is sleeping room for an adult over the cab. That's not readily apparent when viewing from the exterior. I did climb up and tried it out for size. Not for anyone that has mobility issues though.

Ron

[rubicon327]

That’s an awesome rig. Could go almost anywhere with that and with your mods it will be quite comfortable. Really nice to be able to stand up in it with 72” interior height. I see the T62 is only 65” interior height. No fun crouching down.

[brroberts]

I’ve thought about one of those for my truck, but they are really expensive to get in Kansas.

[MrLynn]

A little bigger, and you've got a Sunrader!

We did something much more basic in a truck cap when we were younger. See the blog post in my signature for a photo.

[Mike G]

Hang up a rod holder for him.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by MrLynn

We did something much more basic in a truck cap when we were younger.

I'd also done something much more basic years ago. I took an aluminum canopy for a full size truck, notched the front and added a little height to it. At first it had a square front. Took it out on the freeway and I could barely keep it in 5th. Put on the sloping front and what a difference.

Sat out some bad weather for a few days, cold weather and snow on the aluminum coupled with crouching over got old fast. Not complaining though it took us far and wide and the light weight allowed for towing my heavy bike with my little Mazda.

Originally Posted by Mike G

Hang up a rod holder for him.

Fortunately most fisherman use multi piece rods now so that's one job that I won't have to do.

Ron

[Selkirk]

Years ago, I tried camping under the canopy in the bed of a truck. I only had a thin foam pad to separate my sleeping bag from the truck bed. I quickly learned that sleeping directly on top/inside of a steel box during the early spring made for an uncomfortably cold night.....

[Ops]

Used to camp and sleep in the back of my 1990 F150 with a $200 canopy.

Threw a pricey but very comfortable air mattress in the back and slept on it throughout 1996 when I was working in Inuvik. I stopped overnight in Banff and woke up with elk surrounding the truck. Used that set up for one season.

Sadly, while helping a coworker move some stuff in Inuvik, middle of the winter and -30C, I tossed a box of his things onto the mattress and the mattress cracked and broke. It was frozen solid and was just a hard shell of frozen vinyl.

It was after that incident, that I started to look for alternative camping/sleeping arrangements.

[Bea]

What a wonderful thing to do for a friend! Bravo! Your craftsmanship is amazing. When our son comes camping with us, he has truck tent for his Ford Ranger and loves it. The 3 in foam pad keeps him warm and comfy. Works for now but he is definitely eyeing future possibilities (Roofnest? Lightweight camper?) so thanks for sharing. Hope you enjoy many trips together with your friend!

[brroberts]

Spent many years camping in shells and tents. When we moved from Brevig Mission, AK to Ketchikan, AK we lived in a shell and tent for 3 months until we found a place to live. Ketchikan gets 150” to 200” of rain a year, so it was nice to finally get a dry place. Still have that truck, shell and tent.

[iamunique127]

A lot of things can be done with just a basic truck cap.

This is what a local guy came up with.

[Mike G]

Shell in without shelling out....

[Ron in BC]

That's a very creative adaption and unlike some adaptions looks pretty good.

Ron