My topper-camper build

[oly884]

For those of you that have a topper, and are looking for a nice camping setup, here's what I had:

I bought 4 1"x10" 6' long boards. 3 down the center with the spacing you see, and one across the back to brace it.
I topped it off with some 3/8" plywood.

Here it is coming together:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Camper%20Setup/Img1249.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Camper%20Setup/Img1250.jpg

The mattress is from a futon, it fits perfectly on the area, doesn't stand too tall so you are not SUPER cramped back there, and is really east to pull in or out.

Here's the final setup:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Camper%20Setup/Img1251.jpg

I bought 2 storage bins that fit in-between the sections to store all my stuff but still provide easy access to them, also pictured are 2 Reliance 7 gallon water containters:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Camper%20Setup/Img1252.jpg

I had a 1000 Watt inverter and connected it up to a group 29 deep cycle battery to provide 120 VAC power for anything I wish to run:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Camper%20Setup/Img1254.jpg

And here's a picture of me when I was done:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/Camper%20Setup/Img1258.jpg

As you can see, there's plenty of room for me. With two people, it's not bad, but climbing out in the morning is a bit more difficult. Also I'm only 5'8", if you were anything over 6' you'd have to sleep diagonally back there. However, this setup is sure nice to have when you go camping and don't have to screw around with setting up tents, esp when it's raining.

I had this setup on my old 1990 toyota right when I started driving, and moved it over to my new truck. I finally ditched it last August for this: http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=195.0

[ADH8796]

Looks great!

[oly884]

It really did a great job as set up for camp. Where it lacked was room to cook and things of that nature if the weather was bad.

[Tofer]

i'm going to build this in my trailer!

[oly884]

Very nice, if I were to do it again, I'd definitely go all out.

I suggest carpet, run some wires, get some good lighting, and so on.

[Lee]

i was going to suggest you add a switch with some LED lights all around or something.

[oly884]

i was going to suggest you add a switch with some LED lights all around or something.


Good call, Lee.

I did the same with my old setup. I went to Radio Shack and got some switches, then went here (http://autolumination.com/fixtures.htm) to pick up some lights. They are plenty for a small area like the back of a canopy.

[Lee]

yeah and they dont eat too much juice either :thumbup:

[oly884]

Bingo, I had left on one of their 24 LED lights in my truck when I flew home for winter break 2 years ago. Well, I got back and noticed it was on and though, oh crap. To my delight the truck turned right over.

So, yeah, they don't eat much juice at all.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Looks good, :hillbill: Could you put another 1" X 6" on the open end, on hinges, so it could swing down, and give you a little counter space there? You could cook there, but still be up next to the truck, and theoretically, under the shelter of the camper top door when the weather is bad... :headscratch:

[oly884]

The door to the camper isn't near big enough to act as a awning. Plus the rain channels don't work worth a crap, at least on my old canopy.

However, something like this could be rigged up very easy:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/DSC_7790.jpg

[04 Rocko Taco]

...Apparently, so you got plenty of room lef tto cook, but how about some cook surface?

[oly884]

Well, once you start getting into that stuff, you just need a table. This was the biggest issue for me because the weather can be so unpredictable in montana that I figured it was time to upgrade to something a bit better. Hence, the camper.

[ChromeKiller]

www.bajataco.com
does a great write-up on a similar build

[oly884]

www.bajataco.com
does a great write-up on a similar build


I actually got a couple ideas from him when building mine. I had an old setup that was with my old truck since I was 16, but it was old, so I built a new one!

[drguitarum2005]

that awning looks pretty sweet. i see the two poles go into the hitch, so one could just get (or fab) a table that goes into the hitch with two little "pods" for the poles to hook into. not too hard. a buddy of mine has a propane grill that fits in the hitch and I think its the greatest invention ever. good work on the camper thing too oly!

[oly884]

David (nice name BTW), I was about to start going in that direction with my old setup, but after some camping trips where we got hit with some nasty rain (MT in summer, it happens all the time) and wind I decided I wanted something a bit more along the lines of an "all weather" camper.

The only downside to the setup I have now is that people don't want to bring tents. If one or maybe two others come a long, it's not a big deal, but when 3 or 4 people are talking about sleeping in there with me, um no. Unless it's all very attractive women, then I say, why not 10?

[jrallan26]

If it was that easy, I would have 2 of those camper shells...LOL! Just kidding honey(just in case my wife reads this)...



David (nice name BTW), I was about to start going in that direction with my old setup, but after some camping trips where we got hit with some nasty rain (MT in summer, it happens all the time) and wind I decided I wanted something a bit more along the lines of an "all weather" camper.

The only downside to the setup I have now is that people don't want to bring tents. If one or maybe two others come a long, it's not a big deal, but when 3 or 4 people are talking about sleeping in there with me, um no. Unless it's all very attractive women, then I say, why not 10?

[kcebes]

Makes me wish I had a tacoma! Very nice.

[turboale]

One option for adding a cooking surface... This is what I did on a similar setup I had in my Excursion.

http://homepage.mac.com/turboale/.Pictures/HomeEX/_MG_4806.jpg