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On the Hunt for a Slide in Popup camper

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?

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    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

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  • 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.

    • Like 1

    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:

     

     

    • Like 1
    • 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

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    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

    • Like 3

    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.

    • Like 1
    • 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?

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