Jump to content
Posted

I have put my foot down and finally got approval to buy a camper.  I am tired of packing for camping.  I am tired of loading random bins into the truck to go camping, but mostly I am sick of tents, I am sick of sticky small tents haha. 

 

I have been looking into used Truck bed campers of the Popup variety.   We do a lot of off the beaten road camping so a large camper isn't going to happen.  We also have goals of getting a horse trailer at some point and going places to ride for a weekend. 

 

So that leaves me with the popup slide in style.  Am I off base here?   We have ~$2000-$3000 budget for this.  I have been looking on Craigslist for a few weeks now and spotted a few that would work, anywhere from $700-$5000.   Most have good roofs and canvas, but beyond that I am not sure what I am looking for.  Anything I should be looking for?  Any brands that I should be avoiding?

  • Replies 248
  • Views 32.4k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • Well I am happy to report that I have successfully converted the old 6 AMP 120v-->12v dc to a 26 amp 120v-->12v dc using a server power supply that I had at the office. ( images are of th

  • Head off to catch some big northern pike at Williams fork res.      

  • Pictures of the campsite     3 days of power use, lights, radio, water pump, and charge cell phones.   left the site with 12.4v on the group 31 that runs the camper.  I filled the propa

Posted Images

Featured Replies

  • Author

I got none.  I will take some later, I was more worried about getting the old canvas down before dark.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

camper canvas is at Bear Creek canvas now getting a new one made.

Since no pictures, ms paint!  Close enough.  :thumb1:

  • Author

Since you are moving soon you can help me take the roof off of the camper, 

 

Convert able camper...the new fad.

It's like equal opportunity for mosquitoes.

  • Owner
42 minutes ago, Me78569 said:

Since you are moving soon you can help me take the roof off of the camper, 

 

Convert able camper...the new fad.

 

37 minutes ago, CSM said:

It's like equal opportunity for mosquitoes.

:think::doh:

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

New canvas got here today

 

Gonna get it installed this weekend and repair the roof.

IMG_20160427_190746.jpg

  • Author

Well not lookinglike I will get to put the canvas on this weekend.

IMG_20160429_182547.jpg

  • Author

I don't mind the snow, but there is currently a roof on my camper....IE the camper roof.  I am gonna pull that off and fix the bad wood.

Thought there was something wrong with the photo and then I realized the 2nd gen is on jack stands.:doh:

 

 

  • Author

hahaha...the natural state of a 2nd gen Dodge.... :shifty:

 

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

Spent some time yesterday working on the camper.  got the skin pulled and the new wood cut.  I will have to get some pictures of the damage as it is pretty impressive.  

 

Still needing to get some hardware, but I should be able to finish up this week or weekend in order to go camping the weekend after next.

  • Author

Ordered a new 9" x 9" roof vent. 

 

Hopefully it is nice this weekend so I can get this thing buttoned back up.

  • Author

Spent all day working on the camper and it is buttoned up with new roof wood and a new canvas.

 

Started with

IMG_20160521_101445.jpg

IMG_20160521_101452.jpg

IMG_20160521_101502.jpg

IMG_20160521_101509.jpg

IMG_20160521_131741.jpg

IMG_20160521_131743.jpg

IMG_20160521_131802.jpg

IMG_20160521_131756.jpg

IMG_20160521_200223.jpg

IMG_20160521_180204.jpg

 

If anyone needs a canvas for a pop-up camper give bear Creek canvas a call.  Very happy with the quality and fit of the canvas.

 

IMG_20160521_131748.jpg

Edited by Me78569

I really like that.  I want one. 

  • Owner

Nicely done. From what I can see you reconstructed the entire roof. Basically just only had the interior panel right? Fresh aluminum skin too. I see the OE was a 2 piece roof and your now is a one piece roof.

 

  • Author

I replaced the outer wood pieces the roof itself was good enough to leave.  

 

Reused the metal for the roof since it was in good shape. Still 2 piece. Roof.

  • Author

Alright solar panel nerds.....Cough Mike or anyone else that knows.......  I am an "expert" in far to many things in my life and I don't care to be one for solar panels.

 

 

I have a big group 31 deep cycle battery, 100 ish amp hours, I want to add a solar panel to assist / prolong the amount of power I can use.  It does not need to be able to recharge the battery in 1 day, but I would like to be able to add %25 / %50 time untilt he battery is dead. 

 

IE, if it is sunny I want to be able to have power in the camper for 4 days instead of 2 or 3 days.

 

So,

bat: 100 amp hours

2 - 2w leds inside 3 or 4 hours a night

1 - 10w led for light maybe 1 hours a night ( external spot light)

1 - radio say 3 to 5 amps.

charge 2 cell phones 

 

Right now I can get 2 full days of camping without plugging into the trailer plug on the truck to charge.  If I NEED power I can always just plug in the 7pin plug and start the truck.

 

 

 

 

How big of a panel do I need to get? 

 

50w should  = ~ 30 amp hours per day if I get 8 hours of sun?