How to Build a Camper a Pop Up on the Back of a Truck Living in a Camper and DIY Camper Ideas
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- How to build a pop up camper on the back of a truck Living in a camper and DIY camper Ideas
Building a pop up camper living in a pop camper and the diy story of my pop up camper
This is the winch I use for the pop up mechanism amzn.to/2EtZUyP
For the cable system I used these as pulleys they have a 1/4 inch hole and are machined steel as cast or brass pulleys where out. amzn.to/34BbkeM
This is the door latch I use amzn.to/3hvVpCj
Here is the link to the Kraig Pocket joint tool a must for building cabinets and walls in a camper! amzn.to/2EBFNP0
These are the sliders I used for the cabinet to slide back and forth, this is not a place to cheep out amzn.to/34AqLUP
This is the most current version of the weboost cell phone signal booster I use this one has and upgraded antenna it is worth the extra few dollars for the extra for the upgraded antenna TThis is a great product that I use all the time, sometimes being in your campers walls hurt your signal and this helps with that amzn.to/2QnH0vY
Oh Boy where to start with this one??
Well to start with this is a video I threw together on building my pop up camper. I lived out of it for the better part of a year altho I resorted to company housing in the winter. for many reasons some of which I touch on in the latter part of the video.
I built this pop up camper to live in on the road and during seasonal summer work in south east Alaska. Altho I did stay in it for some time when the weather did get cold and the snow fell, it was not Ideal long term winter housing.
My needed attributes for the camper at the time where
1. Ease of transport and Mobility
2. A place to sleep eat and darn my darned socks....
3. Something cool to build and satisfy the monkeys in my brain.
4. Low key, I dont like to draw attention to my self on the road, I was looking for something that did not stand out in public or a parking lot. (this was fine until it was poped up, whups )
After building the top 4 problems I had with the camper where.
1. To small, bad foot print
Had I built it wider so the bed was at the front 90 degrees to its current orientation, A better footprint could be had. something you see in my newest camper I live in.
2. Not enuf room, I Have a lot of stuff I suppose....
Most people doing this dont. that stuff is Tools..lots of tools. hunting gear, fishing gear, Forestry gear and cold weather gear... cold weather gear is BULKY as frig. (and necessary in the north if you have not been up here..)
3. No room for drying, mud and water...
South east Alaska is wet... wet and muddy.. having an area to dry stuff out is needed.. and the humid climate leads to a moist interior, a wood stove sure helps with this, however the area is just to small and compact.. maybe it was doable. watch the video and give me your impute.
4. Mobile but a pain in the ass... to pop up.
Usually I would park pop and drive around on my old honda motorcycle. but then I needed my tools for a few weeks so id pack up and de pop every morning drive to the job site then drive back to the spot I had, re pop up and repeat. then there was a time when the bike was down for a few weeks.. it was not ergonomicall. plus working 14 to 15 hour days sometimes you dont want to pop anything up!. haha. but it was a great time.
Hey thank you for taking the time for reading this and watching the video and I am very interested in your impute!! Please comment and follow if you like!
And check out the Podcast ''Life the last Frontier'' Where My friend josh talk about this camper his campers and living on the road as well as many other fascinating topics!
Have fun!
(Disclosure, there are eBay affiliate links in this description and I do get paid a small commission if you purchase using them) 
Хобби
I am the guy from NM who bought this camper and use it to go skiing!! So cool that I found this video. It really is a great design and everything still works well. I have dreams of adding onto it to make a cab over bed space… maybe someday.
Hey that is awesome to read this, he build it in our driveway. It was amazing to watch! Glad you are enjoying the camper still.
Super Cool! Pretty crazy for you to run up on the video, Did you ever decide to put it on that flatbed dodge?
Great work done here. I had this idea rambling on my mind for a year now. Thanks for sharing. I still have doubts about the sliders that were built to get the pop up effect.
Pulleys, cables and a 12v (winch) motor ... A man after my own heart. The simplicity and sheer ease of use/repair makes actuators an unnecessary risk. Awesome job, mate. Well done.
This is an absolute masterpiece of inspired imagination, superb craftsmanship and an eye for detail.
To have it look exactly like a truck top is true 'stealth' as nobody would ever imagine that it would expand into a full standing height travel cabin, and a beautiful one at that.
Thank you for your wonderful video, I can say with absolute certainty that it will inspire many people, including me!
Hey thanks for the great comment! Yes stelth is the word! I rathered blend in than stand out to much with the camper.
Smart design and build for long distance travel and sleep overs. Most impressed with your writing and true to yourself reporting threw your experience. A camper trailer always wait for you piece fully, truck builds has this restless cramped feeling that you have to be on the road. Depend what some want. It is about where you stay(camp) and enjoying the trip to get there and from. Best to you SA.
Yeah the answer is Im thinking of trying to do a home conversion from a helicopter...
Best video i have found on this kind of set up! well done. i have been toying with the idea for a few years now this is TOPS! never thought about the cable thing. Thank you. David Melbourne Australia!!
I'm with you on the cable-pull idea. A hand-crank-winch is easy to get at Harbor Freight. The only thing I'm wondering is, if I made it a little taller, with an overhang over the cab (For the bed), would I be able to get away with the 4 lift-points, or would I need 6 lift-points, and more fancy cablework...
That’s living. Thanks for sharing. God bless you and yours.
You’ve got a voice for narration. Tom Bodet style. That’s a great little camper. I’m glad you got it sold.
I get that a lot..haha that and arlo guthrie thanks for the kind comment!
That's terrific....Think you are underselling your ingenuity and skills
Hey apriciate the comment! That could be entirely possible I suppose, never contomplated it.
The Perfect Truck for this project!
Awesome video, love the way it came out as a camper. The narration sounds amazingly like 'Alice's restaurant', kept waiting for you to break into the refrain ;)
Brilliant DIY build man.
1000 thumbs up!!! I know how much work you put in there!!
One of the best videos I have seen on this subject. You are very talented in both building and presenting your journey. Thank you for a job well done!
Hey thanks! I had no clue it was something of this much interest...
What a great build! Excellent ingenuity and craftsmanship 👏💕👍
If you seen the red Chevy at pioneer park . That was me . I was good to down to 30 below. I had a small generator so I could run the block heaters to start the truck . Anyway nice build . I have a ideal that adds cabinets . On pop ups .
Wow! Great job! Watching all different ideas leads me more and more to a cargo trailer. Wood stove fits in it.....etc.
yeah Id go that rout now... well and did. I cant believe how popular cargo trailer conversions have become
That’s ingenious
You are a GDamn genius. Truly impressed. Wow.
I like your idea, it is unique and ingenious! Great job!
Man I've been looking up diy pop up campers for years and this is the best one I've ever seen! You did an outstanding job on the design and the build. I like that you used a good camper shell for the top so it has a way better roof on it than a standard Alaskan, also I like the cable system which won't leak hydraulic fluid inside.
Hey thanks for such a great comment!! yes not only is the camper shell a great base for the roof but also using it cut down on the build time! this was a time dependent project.. I explored Hydraulic pneumatic and electric options but found manual to be the most bullet proof way to go.
How did you figure out the Matt on the cable so it pulled up even
using what's called a triple tree, it allows for self alignment though you do need to be cautions about un even weight corner to corner. having a rack and pinion on each corner could avoid issues or using roller chain instead of cable but again time and cost factors in.
VIDEO BACANA DE VCS, DEUS ABENÇOE SEMPRE
Most understated but high quality build.
That's awesome
Badass build - wish you would've gotten into the wench setup a little more. Had this idea but you're the only one I've seen execute it.
So...... in essence.... an Alaskan Camper built in Alaska? Ba ha ha ha ha! Very innovative! I've been wondering how to do this very thing. Thx!
You know the funny thing is before building this I knew nothing of campers and actually didn't know about the Alaskan camper until after building it sounds crazy but that's probably something to do with not being on social media or even knowing much about RUclips until the recent couple years having built this in 2015 16?
This is so amazing and I’ve wanted to make a home made hi lo camper but really don’t know how. I would love for something like this but smaller for the Ford maverick under 800 pounds.
Love the whole idea on the liftig system. Would like to see how the lifting sides work, is there or can you draw a diagram of lifting cables and pullys, and how they work. thanks bob.
I like the idea of putting it on a trailer.
WoW smart design.
Hey thanks!
this is amazing great work! im about to do this to my 2nd gen ram i got a leer camper shell thats raised up a bit brilliant idea man! you deserve more subs! this is great work
Hey thanks for the complement! I dont deserve anything but like to share such projects! Good luck on your build! Second gens are great I had a 97 I converted to vegi oil and drove from ak to ca.. Compfy riding trucks!
That’s a really nice build
Awesome 👏
Thanks
I lived in the back of my truck. You may have seen it at Walmart or Pioneer Park. It was the big red 4by4 .
Brilliant work!!! Nice work man 👌👌👌
Thank you!!
You have the voice to narrate videos fo sho dude! Thanks for sharing, nice hand cranked pop up!
I appreciate that!
Impressive build
Thank you!
I liked your content and your easy to listen to voice. Great build, I'm sure you'll end up doing another one with improvements that you came across. Subbed!
Hey thanks for the compliments!! Might do a nothere truck camper in the future! Just compleated a trailer conversion and will have some vids on that after fireseason! Glad you stopped by to watch!
Interesting build...I love seeing how creative people get! Playing volume was very low.
thanks! yeah... the volume thing is a son of a gun..
nice first gen dodge, and good job
yeah thanks, apparently they are popular now. I got it back when they where regarded as ugly trucks with a tractor motor that people only purchased tp use the engine for an irrigation pump
Hi there , could you explain a little more about the sliders you've built here to pop up the camper..? The plastic groves you cut on a table saw have a square tubing that slides inside them which give the effect of raising the other 3 components of the camper ? Your response is greatly appreciated.
Genio. Genio
Pretty cool build. It reminds me of my old Alaskan popup. I am hard of hearing on a good day, so didnt get to hear much of what your said.
I had my TV cranked up, but still needed to read your comments on CC.
Way cool ! When are you going to build one for me? Smile, I am in AZ. On 40 ac.
This like a system that they use on popups
I originally ran across the genius of the idea with light plants. they use a very similar Idea... as do many forklifts.
I love your popup idea! Do you sell the plans?
Nice work. I would have brought that camper too bad I missed it! You mentioned building another camper did you build another one? Much like you I too split Alaska! I am in Ketchikan as I write this. I live in Palmer Alaska. Nice first Gen 12 valve
Hey thanks! I was looking into Ketchikan for this next year. I did build another one might do a video on it if I get a wild hair to this winter.
The cable pulley system is genius.... but I can hardly hear you speak with the volume all the way up. Anyway, thanks for sharing.
This is exactly what i want to build! Could you elaborate a little more on how you made the lifting wall system and how did you seal it from the elements (bugs, etc) getting in between the wall segments. Any info is greatly appreciated
there is a right up an gonorthoffgrid.com
@@gonorthoffgrid1786the link won’t open, doesn’t exist or is broken 😩 Do you have this write up anywhere else?
That is such an amazing project. Pls let me know how to get in touch with u . Thanks in advance
Would you sell the specifications and step by step diagram on how to build the lift to be put on a trailer bed? Do you think it would be more better to have gone with an actuator with a control of cost wasn’t a concern? I think how you thought it through, how you worked with metal and wood together was fabulous and I really enjoyed watching this video. Thank you and hoping you could respond. I am thinking of building a lift fir my trailer build but I could not grasp the how to.
one of the biggest reasons for not going with electric actuators was reliability of power. no power I could still pop the top. I suppose I could sell it never figured on it tho.
👏🏻👏🏻
Brilliant pop up design! How do you lock/ secure the camper onto the truck bed?
Thanks! I ended up just using 4 bolts to fasten the pop up to the flat bed frame.. Easy peasy simple
Hi, thanks for sharing. Look like moulded. What is the weight of the camper. I am seeking for a good idea to put on an Hilux.
Kind regards from France.
Im wanting to say 1200 ish.. Its a guess. It could be built lighter
You do realize that you started off saying you didnt want to tow a trailer around and ended with, this thing would do best on a trailer and thats where it ended up. Just when you plan something, life happens. Interesting project.
Now it took quite a bit a doin with a chain and a cable........ If Arlo Guthrie built a truck camper..... in the back of Alice’s Restaurant.....
👍👍👍👍👍👍
What did you use around the perimeter of each panel to seal against the underneath panel?
I want to know this too!
Neopreem Rubber 1/8 inch thick
Great craftsmanship! At around 5:23, what did you use to as a frame to mount the door to the camper?
thank you! the frame was built in to the structure, a sort of 1 by 2 z perlon with 1 inch buttress for door sealing surface
Is that hank hill?
That is Awsome!
I am in the midst of building something similar. I am not any good with metal work.
So I am building with wood. The camper is useable but not finished. The wife and I used it last spring and summer every chance we could. And with use we were able to refine the floorplan. It holds 30 gals fresh water, has a fridge, and a toilet, plus an outside shower. A diesel heater and an 3000 btu A/C.
7'10" long 6'3" wide. 3'10" tall when top is down, and 6'6" when raised (All outside measurments)
Very ugly at the moment due to the upper half being put together quickly as a "proof of concept"
I will be tearing the top apart and redoing it shortly.
Nice! Sounds wicked awsome! Im huge on those desil heaters.. You know for the people that build there own campers the things are constantly evolving... I think I'm going to do a living trailer next starting with the tool bed off a utility truck.
@@gonorthoffgrid1786
I really needed a heater in this camper, I usually get the last 2 weeks in Dec. And the first week in Jan. Off.
In Virginia winters are mild but still cold. So I took a chance on the Diesel heater. It is perfect! Easy to install and use. I use the exhaust pipe extension with it so I have not had any issues with fumes even in heavy wind.
Definately would reccomend one to anyone wanting a decent heater.
Not sure about longevity yet, but Even with the camper sitting in the driveway I have been using the heater all last winter, no problems.
👍
@@gonorthoffgrid1786
Sorry for the multiple replies but I was finally able to get some quiet time and was able to hear this vid.
Again, awsome build, love to see you do the trailer camper build.
Love the old Dodge! I have a 92 Ram 250 4x4, I just put a 318 in it for now, the 360 is in my garage for a rebuild. If the block checks out ok I am going to do a small stroker, (402-408 depending on how much I have to bore the cylinders.)
235k on the engine now.
Take care.
Man that sounds like a great truck! I cant complain with this old girl.. Served me well for 11 years now
Nice vlog, is it expensive living up in Alaska? Where in Alaska are you located?
Hey thanks! Curently Two Rivers Alaska. In some ways it is cheeper to live in alaska in some ways it is not.
would be a good video if you can hear it
Where did you find the poly block? To make the glide rails?
I picked it up from a local industrial plastics supplier, you can also find polyurethane, hdpt, nylon ect chunks on ebay for a decent price. Or check out mcmastercarr they are an online company.
Beautiful job! I'm currently looking for an "outside the box" way to extend / raise the roof on a camper I'm planning to build. Are the plans /schematics you used for your pulley lift system available online by any chance? Would love to get more details. Thanks!
No schematics or plans with this one, kinda throw it togather as we go kinda deal. Theres been a mess of qestions about it tho. Might do some sort of a folow up video with regaurds to that, mater of fact Ill do a blog post on it at gonorthoffgrid.com
Ill get some drawings thrown togather
@@gonorthoffgrid1786 That's awesome! Thanks so much for the reply and willingness to share your knowledge with the rest of us. Look forward to checking out your blog!
There is a ruff draft up on there now, let me know where I can furth delv into.
Hey is that draft still available? Many thanks!
i really like your design do you have any blue prints?
hey thanks! Negative... this was an "I have an Idea of what I want it to look like but not going to draw it out" Project.. so no plans
Found this video gas to hear the podcast
Ha I am amazed any ones ever listened to it.
I am trying to design a lightweight pop up camper and had the thought of doing one in 3 pieces. With a lot of searching, here I am. I am a total newbie at mechanisms and need to be pointed in the direction of how the lift mechanism is set up please. I plan on towing it on a trailer behind my 2005 Grand Prix. The camper will be poor mans fiberglass over foam with a wood skeleton. Any skematics for the lift?
Contact me thrue my Instagram at @RanchWestCompany
Ill see what I can do for ya!
@@gonorthoffgrid1786 I need to get on instagram, then will do. Thanks!
@@LifePrepared you can also contact me thrue ranchwestco.com
@@gonorthoffgrid1786 great thanks
How much to build one for F-150 2018 5'5" ft bed? Also if on a trailer?
At this time I am not in a position to build campers or large projects... However, with the building amount of requests for a custom build, I may be working towards that ability in the latter part of the year. Cost wise It really depends on how trick you might want to get on a camper. We can really get crazy honestly... like wicked crazy. From basic to trick I would ballpark 5,000 to 20,000
Bear proof door?
Very cool, do you have any more to sale?
no might sell the cargo trailer conversion tho
Great idea, I'm surprised at how much stuff you managed to fit into such a small box. How did you manage the insulation bwtween the different walls? I suppose there must be a small gap between them.
I kinda spaced on this in the video.. There was a neopreen rubber "wiper" style seal at the bace and top of each wall for sealing out the weather.. This gap was about 3/8 to 1/2 inch and but for the gasket seal ni insulating was pursued or deemed necessary.
In the below freezing weather about 20 or lower I found it necessary to go around and "break" the lip free from the wall before cranking the walls back down.
Can’t believe you sold it 😳
great fabrication & design, your long term plan is well orchestrated, ever thought about starting your own business? tc
I actualy do have a small buisness right now and did have a design and fabrication shop a number of years back. Its been on my mind to start a new buisness building campers. Still stiring that pot tho.
GoNorth Would be a smart idea
How can I get the cables and pulleys diagrams ?
gonorthoffgrid.com
It's nice. Only complaint is I can nearly hear you.
Thanks! Slight misshap with my 11 year old computers video editer... Hopfully get that fixed soon.
It's a learning process. Just offering constructive criticism. Great build, good job with details and explanations of decisions.
@@elsandypants84 for sure a learning process, currently not being pursued do to the computer crashing Haha.. Apriciate the constructive criticism.
Better volume on audio would help me. I've boosted everything g and still it hard to follow. Phone works great on other sites....????
yeah not the best audio, had no clue what I was doing at the time. (still dont)
Nice presentation. Question: Did you say it weighed 14,000 pounds? Did I hear that right? Did you mean 1400 pounds?
Hey thanks!! Yes, a touch over 14000 with the motorcycle on the back.. Theres a lot of stuff in there and none of these pictures showed all the stuff rat packed in.
There no way it weighs 1400 pounds it weighs a heck of alot more than that truck should carry i bet for sure
@@rickeydenler4272 haha "should carry" yes... About that..
How much was the build and how much did you sell it for? Do you regret selling it?
If I recall right (which means I can't remember but will give it my best guess) around 1300 to 1600 cost to build and somewhere around 3000 sold.. I had a week to sell it so let it go quick.
I dont regret it at all, it was a fun build but not practical for me after all.
Install a 5000w diesel heater from eBay.
at the time they where not on the market. nor in the budget. the heater is cheep the battery's and inverter and solar are not. at the time just having a dry place I could stand up in was a blessing and made the cold bearable
Wondering why you don’t get better mileage?
I average 25mpg with my common rail.....
Well.. As the weight and power went up the mileage whent down..
I need pop up mechanism .. is that on amazon kindly share link .. i ssearched alot
well the mechanism as you might say was not an off the shelf system, tho the basis for it is a simple automatic holding hand winch like you may find here at northern tool the rest of the system are various parts and pieces from all walks of life.
www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200395592_200395592
The audio in this video was poor
Volume was all up on my cellphone but it sound,ed like it was far away 😒
How much doesit weigh
I want to say around 1200-1500lbs
Total cost?
Around 1500
Thanks for sharing your ideas and congratulations on the awesome build. I also built a lifting roof and lightweight trailer. Check out a short video on my channel.
What? I can't hear a thing you're saying.
Fix your audio…it sucks
yes I have been informed!