A Simple DIY Truck Camper Anyone Can Build For $1000! (Part 1)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- A tour of my nautical-themed DIY truck camper build! We'll walk through the design and materials needed to build your own simple, good-looking, spacious and highly-functional shell. The camper shell took me less than a week to build with help from a few good friends, standard power tools and LESS THAN $1k in materials! The shell weighs in under 200 pounds (super light), and it's still standing strong after almost three years of use. It's been fully waterproof from the start with minimal maintenance, and it's nicely insulated so I use it anywhere in every season.
This video introduces a step-by-step series about how to build this wooden truck camper. If you're looking for a tried-and-true design that's not too complicated, but still good-looking and functional, this series is for you. We cover the lessons learned, the little, invaluable tips, and all the mistakes I made so don't have to. If you're on the fence about building a truck camper (I was), I hope this series motivates you to go for it! With some patience, preparation, a few resources and a little help from friends, I truly believe anyone could build this design.
This tour overviews the exterior of my DIY truck top camper. For the interior tour and bed build-out, check out Part Two of the series, linked here: • Inside Tour of My $100...
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Chapters
0:00 Overview
2:10 Why build?
4:10 Camper walls
5:30 Double doors
8:17 Portholes
9:30 Roof material
10:20 Sealant
11:00 Mounting
12:05 Roof rack
I have watched a lot of videos on building truck campers and this is the way I am going to build mine. I am 68 and saving up to buy a truck. I have lived in vans but the truck thing is what I want. So glad to find your videos. I am going to make it a point to go to Desend on Bend next Labor day. 4 days of music and workshops. It looks like a groovy time. I live near Tampa Florida. It is 2963 miles from my house to Bend. If I leave a week and a half before it starts I will have plenty of time to get there.
Man Being a Retired Navy Man I love those Port Hole round Windows!!!! Big Dawg that camper is Choice!!! Frickin love it!!!!
The imperfections in your build make the end result even better. You have an honest build that is functional and it has character. I have done 5 builds and I thoroughly enjoyed every one except one build that was all metal and that was a disaster. Now, I moved away from the builds and I bought a mid-rise camper shell for my truck. It was installed yesterday and I am going to do an inside the shell build only using materials on-hand. It will be simple with a bed with storage underneath, and a storage unit on the other side of the bed. I have a fridge and cassette toilet and my challenge is to use only multi-purpose components inside the shell. It's a challenge but I think I can do it. You can understand where I am headed, but those who have never done an honest build will never know the satisfaction we feel when we do everything ourselves. Regards.
1 question
If u like them so much why didn’t u stick with the first 1 ? Do u just like doing it so much u have got to build another one? What happens to the other ones u built? Is that more than 1 question
Outstanding! Sounds like you got the build bug too. Such a fun project to build these from scratch. But I could see how after 4 builds and one disaster how you'd be compelled to go pre-fabbed. Let us know how you like the mid-rise! I've shied away because I like not needing to set up/take down, but they do add a TON of space, and some are pretty easy to transform. Cheers!
Haha, my guess is he just liked doing it and seeing what he could make next. I had so much fun with my build, I'd love to do another one, but most of my spare time goes into my sailboat these days.
Amazing camper! Look forward to the step by step series! Take Care
Thanks so much! Feed back like this drives this channel. Next vid will cover frame design and basic construction. Hope you follow and check back in!
Very sick build man!
Great design, dude.
loved it!
Thank you! Glad you like it. The interior tour is now posted as well!
Great vid and great information
Nice build. Well done. Although, Idk why you went around from one side to the other for 13 minutes.
Awesome build. I'm trying to decide between buying a soft top or building my own. I really like how light weight yours is...I need to design it so my wife and I buy can sleep in it... I've seen the extendable platforms and fold over pads so we can have a work area inside, and then convert it to a sleeping area at night
They’re actually called BUNGS! Nice work Cuddy
They are actually called BUNGS!
More importantly, the bung is used to fill the bung hole. Beavis and butt-head would be proud.
wow nice DIY for outdoor trip 🍃😍,
Thank you 🤗
Very cool economical build. Porthole windows are different, nice.
Thanks, Bob! I think the portholes add a lot of character and make it feel less like a big wooden box, though that's essentially all it is!
Bro that's sick
Nice job, less complicated and more achievable than the foamy fibreglass home builds I've been seeing a lot of, I'd paint the whole thing with a bed liner like raptor paint, bad ass look 🤔👍
Hahahaha the MaxiPad! haha. Awesome build. way to save money on the build, you'll need it to fill that beast for trips
Indeed! I'd rather have more toys than a fancy pre-fabbed camper any day. Cheers amigo!
Nice job want to build one myself but don't have the money yet but great work thanks
Nice job man 👍 thanks I subscribed. Good health and God bless
You're the man. Thanks for the love and holler anytime!
NICE…!! (Simplicity is BEST…!!). 🤣👍🏼👣👠
1000% agree!
Cool if Metal like can make a Runaway type of Prison: to quickly take enemy and "run off". This is nice exploration and adventure too. The seriousness here should be level like they will want to break it, it looks nicer life if other places. I feel like wanting to biz this too, i ever think of if alot of scrap cars to make into truck, then now this too, "upgrade choice?" Kind of business. Wow.
The maxi pad 😂😂😂 good one
Slumber siding would be nice
I like this. I built a simpler version years ago. It was fun to use. Never did sort out the roof leaks though.
Did you fiberglass the roof?
@@theemeraldfox7779 No. It wasn't included in the budget. I was young and naive about the build 50 years ago.
Awesome
(Non-urgent re: Food for thought.)(Attention: Mike.) Dear sir: Hello! How are you today? Thank you for putting this video together! I enjoyed it. In addition, I'm not a Builder, live in British Columbia, Canada, and have a "Custom U-Build Truck Camperette-" concept I'd like to do. If possible, I'd like my (very squat, fully-enclosed, Sleeping-Compartment only-) Camperette to resemble your Camper somewhat, but instead to have a Log-Cabin's (Cedar,) "One-Half Round Log" and "D-Log Shell-" construction (at least on the two sides, to cut down on a Log-Cabin's typical heaviness,) be able to get in under a typical (sliding-open, 7-feet high) Garage-Door Opening at a house (when it's within a Truck-Bed and without striking the Garage-Door,) be removable, and have House- and RV Adaptable/Convertible Electrical-Powering (so it's versatile as to where it can draw power from, such as from inside a Garage at someone's house (120V, 60Hz (CAN),) or from a Powering-Station at a Campground or RV-Park, in BC.) To flesh out: As far as I know, in BC, as long as a (powered?) structure is less than: 10-feet long x 10-feet wide x (?) feet high, then its Owner doesn't need a permit for parking the structure anywhere in the province. (I believe that if I've got my Camperette, while it's within a Truck-Bed, inside a (heated and rented?) Garage at someone's house, then people can't complain, mostly because it's concealed (?)) Incidentally, my understanding about Log-Cabins (on property) is that, despite their evident drawbacks of being vulnerable to thieves if isolated out in the woods, having a relatively shorter life-expectancy compared to other kinds of homes, and needing constant upkeep and weather-proofing, they can't be beat when it comes to having (negligible) Moisture- and Heat Loss-issues, no matter what time of year it is. (I sure hope I've got that right! :) Finally, it seems one should treat a home, which has Wooden Exterior-Cladding, with (expensive) Natural Cedar-Oil Finish, whenever possible. (At least I don't want to put in Water-Lines (Plumbing, Sewage,) where most of the problems come from, or additional sources of Powering! Yay!) Please keep in touch, anyone, and I hope this treatise can be helpful to others! 🤩-Renee K. Taylor, Kamloops, BC, Canada (ameardx@yahoo.ca)(Apr. 5/24.)
Looks good....saw another build the guy used a thin sheet of alum. On roof✌
Definitely keeping that in the back pocket in case the current roof fails. Thanks for passing along!
Really like your camper, about to build one myself . I have done carpentry work for years so it shouldn't be a big problem ; I Hope 😅.Looks as though you gave yours some thought before you started, Looks great !!
Let me suggest you use something other than Cool Seal or other sealer on your roof , wWhy not try truck bed liner ? It's waterproof and will stick good to the wood roof . Just a suggestion, keep up the good videos 👍.
Great fun build! 🤙 Oof that gas mileage though, thinking something may be hindering your mileage. Should be able to get at least 15 without the shell. Love first gen tundras, I have an 02
Yeah, it's brutal. Gotta pay to play-that's why I tell myself anyway, ha.
thats a cool build
if your really concerned about your portholes try removing them polishing them up (you may need to diassemble them) and then spray them with minwax polyurethane or lacquer them this will prevent corrosion for several years however as with everything it wont last for eternity you may need to recoat them in 5 to 7 years
Great camper !! 👍 Where do I find the step by step guide? You have a new subscriber ! ✌️❤️🍻
verry nice my friend ihave idea for my jeep.thanks.im watching from philippines
Right on! That's epic.
Amazing and practical build! From bed to ceiling how many inches ?
Thanks so much! Bed floor to ceiling is 50". It's a good amount of space without making the camper look ridiculously tall.
Maxi pad 🤣🤣🤣 Thats hilarious
Красавчик! Такой комфортный кемпер построил! Люблю тоже такие кемперы для отдыха самые то в любое время года !
Got any pics of yours luv?
@@theemeraldfox7779 какие фотки ?
Very nice, you say you bolted this to the bed rails, I think. Will any video be coming up soon about this. Thanks, very nice indeed.
Thanks for checking it out! Yes, I bolted the 2x4 at the base of the frame directly through the tops of the bed walls. The next video in the series will cover that and other construction elements, so follow along and check it out! In the meantime, you can see the interior in this video: th-cam.com/video/HImjW2mP4O8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching!
@@dirtbagdopamine7964 Cool Thank you look forward to it!
Simplicity is key
10000%!
Note to the wise,
Your truck
Will eventually crack if you don't have proper support,
Need to transfer the weight
To the bottom floor of the bed.
Great
Thank you!!
I subbed b/c of the channel name, good video
Epic! I thought about it long and hard, and came to the conclusion that Dirtbag Dopamine pretty much covers the essence! haha Appreciate the love.
I want to make something like this but, no wall on rear truck. So you can access camper or sleeper from truck.
I dont like overhead bed campers. I like this.
Love that idea! I'd have done the same thing if I didn't have a bed on my truck.
i will finish mine with white bed liner
How do you have less than 1,000 subscribers like what??
Done subs
Dude my truck/house is also called max😂
This is absolutely baller.
Hell ya thanks Justin!
Did we see the inside???
Hey Grey! You can check out the inside here: th-cam.com/video/HImjW2mP4O8/w-d-xo.html
Let me know what else you'd like to know about!
The most important was in the inside u didn't show well I was
Black roof = bake oven.
That was my fear. it's surprisingly not too bad with the 1" polyiso insulation.
Great video but very disappointed not seeing the inside
Hey Thomas! I wasn't able to fit it all in one video, so I covered the inside in a separate one. Here's the link to the inside tour: th-cam.com/video/HImjW2mP4O8/w-d-xo.html
@@dirtbagdopamine7964 hey thanks for answering, the other video ended up coming up on my recommended. Again, killer build man.
I dint see anything in that wood material thats anywhere near a 1k
Glue, nails, windows, hinges, insulation, and anything else used in the construction.
Hello sir good day im alfred or ApedCamp from the philippines , if you give me a chance to won a gopro hero 11 i use this for all my travel and outdoors camping trip, because i need waterproof camera for the heavy rain in the jungle, i stay in the deep forest in 24 hours , thankyou and godbless sir. 😇
Subscribe and you'll have a good chance! Thanks for watching.
@@dirtbagdopamine7964 everything is done bro 🙂
Dude you should make a company doing stuff like this, id pay $3-4k easily for one
Toyotas ARE most reliable....
1000 might sound nice, but once you run into complications and problems, you might just wish you spent an extra 500-700 and gotten a real one
I never experienced that, but that might be right for some folks. I loved the building process and its challenges, and it came out how I envisioned without too much difficulty. That said, I had some help from a great builder, and all the tools and materials to make it happen smoothly. To each their own!
Buddy talks a lot, skip to 13 mins if you wanna see the inside
Haha, here's the full inside tour: th-cam.com/video/HImjW2mP4O8/w-d-xo.html
Are the 2indow panes tempered? If not it'll send sharp shards everywhere.
Yep. I built mine back in 2016.
I wish ANY of you could come up with anything I haven't already done in the world of Off grid, tiny home, overlanding,
I guess thats the problem with being older .
Everybody in their 20s and 30s think they're pioneers in these endeavors.
Been there Done that !!! All before you were born.
Nice! You're like the Chris Columbus of truck campers.
That’s life man it for us all to live and experience. You get that experience pass it on make it easier for the next generation who knows maybe they’ll improve it a bit, that’s what it’s all about
Came for the bung holes, stayed for the Beavis and Butt-Head reference. I'm guessing you're 33.
Sick! I’m about a month away from finishing my camper for my 03 Cummins. You got Instagram?
Would actually like to talk to you about your experience with the fiberglass and epoxy. My entire camper is wrapped in fiberglass and epoxy
Hey Aaron, sounds like a rad build! Would love to see photos. I'm on instagram @Dirtbag_Dopamine. Just starting this brand, so not much content on there, but will be soon!
Hit me up on the gram! My experience was fiberglass & polyurethane resin over plywood on the roof was no bueno. If any there are any air pockets or moisture trapped underneath the glass job, they will lead to cracking, bubbling and delamination. But I still think it could work well if you can get a clean bond with no air pockets, but it's hard to do. Alternatively I used spar varathane on the sides/doors and that worked great, but I felt it wasn't heavy duty enough for the roof. Happy to chat more about it!