Camper Special - Page 2

bigwalton · #16 10-30-2009, 11:22 AM

Right on... too cool!

I'm all for making it into whatever you need. It's being used, it's happy. The scrap issue aside, if everyone left "rare" vehicles alone and didn't enjoy them and do what they wanted, there'd be a boatload of rusted out hulks sitting around waiting for someone that didn't want to modify it in any way.

People have asked me about doing what I have done to my postal, since it's "rare" and I always say it would likely be rotting in the lot where I got it or someone else who just wanted a cheap Jeep would have bought it and trashed the hard top (a very common occurrence with these after they were sold to the public) to beat on in the woods until it died and went for scrap.

Get 'er done!

jscherb · #17 10-30-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigwalton

Right on... too cool!

I'm all for making it into whatever you need. It's being used, it's happy. The scrap issue aside, if everyone left "rare" vehicles alone and didn't enjoy them and do what they wanted, there'd be a boatload of rusted out hulks sitting around waiting for someone that didn't want to modify it in any way.

People have asked me about doing what I have done to my postal, since it's "rare" and I always say it would likely be rotting in the lot where I got it or someone else who just wanted a cheap Jeep would have bought it and trashed the hard top (a very common occurrence with these after they were sold to the public) to beat on in the woods until it died and went for scrap.

Get 'er done!

X2 - on with the build!

red mistress · #18 10-30-2009, 12:01 PM

http://www.jeeptruck.com/brandis/brandis.html

I talked to Rich at length at PA Jeep show year before last.
He's awesome mechanic, machinist & builder and... way ahead of his time.

Build it however you want, not many Jeeps are collectible.

My cousin sold all his personal belongings and took off homelss for 18 months....had a incredible time, met incredible wife on journey, and has very strong work ethic nowadays.
Only go around once.

Panther · #19 10-30-2009, 02:02 PM

Isn't that interesting!? Of all the M725's I've searched that is the look I'm after!

charliev · #20 10-30-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panther

that's probably considered more difficult for this rig but doable. It's afterall a camper so there's water, food, dishes, stuff bouncing around on the box so I can't go too crazy.

Panther,

The M725 could have done all the trails we did on TVTX, take some more time to look at the Tacoma with the campod, it literally had the kitchen sink. I think the height and width will be your only limiting factors here in the northeast.

Good luck with this build.

Panther · #21 11-03-2009, 09:08 PM

So I bought the donor truck, just have to pick it up, maybe this weekend.

Now, I only wish I had Jeff's CAD skills but here's my attempt at mocking up the roof pop up:

bigwalton · #22 11-03-2009, 10:10 PM

Wow, that looks like it could be a 2-story luxury suite!

CBRogers · #23 11-05-2009, 07:23 PM

Hey Panther,

What about cutting the top all the way around and making it like a pop up camper. You could make it such that you could put in hard sides of 1.5 to 2' in height when you get somewhere and raise the lid.

Take a look at the Turtle Adventures tucks they had built. I believe that it is Turtle IV that had a pop up style roof. With nice hard sides it could be made real cold tight if you decide to go north on your adventure.

Carl

breaknstuffzfun · #24 11-11-2009, 10:27 PM

Panther,

Looks great, If you have not already found their site www.mikenchell.com those tear drop guys have some great ideas you may be able to use for your popup camper.

Breaknstuffzfun

Panther · #25 11-13-2009, 06:39 PM

I've given some thought to the Camper set up in the box and there are a 3 basic options I see for the bed and additional square footage.

1) Add a pop up like the one I photo chopped. Have the pop up height rise high enough for the bed space and add sectional cushions in a set similar to some pop up vans.

2) Add a 1.5 to 2 foot pop up like you mention Carl. The roof would be cut out and raised for standing room. Then a pop up tent on top of the roof for the bed. You wouldn't have both pop up raised at the same time certainly.

3) Add the 1.5-2" roof pop up for standing room and for the bed add a side pop out.
The passenger side wall of the box would cut out in the shape of a rectangle 6 feet long and 4 feet high. The wall would hinge at the bottom laying flat when opened, this would be enough room for the bed and raised be the backing of a couch. A tent would have to be made like the side pop out campers that would open up as the wall is lowered. Sorry for the poor quality graphics (not all of use can be Jason

) but attached is a drawing of this idea.

Of the 3 choices, I like 3 the best. The set back is that the wall is taking up 6 of the 8 feet of space on that side. I still need lotsa storage and it may be that closets cover the bed when it's in a raised position.

Your thoughts?

bigjeepnfool · #26 11-16-2009, 10:23 PM

Lee,
Just seeing this for the first time........I wish you the best. Looks like it will be a fun build. Can't wait to see it finished!!!

JeepScrambler · #27 11-16-2009, 10:54 PM

Have you taken a look at the Adventure Trailers Overland Equipment? My '02 CTD 4x4 included a topper made by them on it when I bought the truck from a doctor from Colorado who used it for one season of elk hunting. The top is hinged along the front edge of the topper where it can be flipped forward over the cab of the truck. Above the cab then is the bed and the back portion is open to below. The inside of th bed on my truck with the topper installed is finished with carpet and padding with storage along both sides along the wheel wells. The center portion of the carpeted area could be left up to provide another bed and more storage below. My topper is very similar to the one shown in the link except mine has two windows along each side (one window slides open and the other flips open. Its something I would have never bought on my own since they are somewhat pricey but I'm glad it came with my truck!

It could be another option for ya so you aren't loosing any space inside the rear of the truck for a bed. I will have to do some digging around and see if I have any pictures of my truck with the camper/topper on installed since I currently do not have it on the truck.

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/flippac.html

bigwalton · #28 11-16-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepScrambler

Have you taken a look at the Adventure Trailers Overland Equipment? My '02 CTD 4x4 included a topper made by them on it when I bought the truck from a doctor from Colorado who used it for one season of elk hunting. The top is hinged along the front edge of the topper where it can be flipped forward over the cab of the truck. Above the cab then is the bed and the back portion is open to below. The inside of th bed on my truck with the topper installed is finished with carpet and padding with storage along both sides along the wheel wells. The center portion of the carpeted area could be left up to provide another bed and more storage below. My topper is very similar to the one shown in the link except mine has two windows along each side (one window slides open and the other flips open. Its something I would have never bought on my own since they are somewhat pricey but I'm glad it came with my truck!

It could be another option for ya so you aren't loosing any space inside the rear of the truck for a bed. I will have to do some digging around and see if I have any pictures of my truck with the camper/topper on installed since I currently do not have it on the truck.

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/flippac.html

Lee, that's what I was thinking about as the best option to keep all your space inside the box. It would be like the Earthroamer JK, just in reverse.

Panther · #29 11-17-2009, 11:04 PM

Well today marks the official start of the project!
First here are some better quality before pics instead of the cell phone.

Here's a 37" MTR next to it stock height.

This the tire I'm thinking about running but it depends on availability.

I'm very impressed with the condition it's in for how old it is.

The rust you see is just surface and there no rot to speak of.

I cant say enough how cool this rig is, this project is an absolute blast!

There's some much stuff I'm I have to learn but the Dodge gets towed tomorrow so more updates then.

Panther · #30 11-17-2009, 11:08 PM

I do like the Flip Pac and have seen those and the Turtle Adventures pop up, both I really like.

At this point I'm thinking about the roof pop up and wall swinging down for their simplicity. There was a Flip Pac in San Diego for $600, I would have been all over that if it were closer.