Tacoma Camper Build

  • HTML tutorial

North American Sojourner

Rank VI
Member

Off-Road Ranger I

3,916
Mark Twain National Forest
First Name
Dave
Last Name
Zimmer
Member #

30139

Ham/GMRS Callsign
WRXV870
Service Branch
USN Retired
I have thought hard about posting this since I've sold the truck. Almost sad about it but excited for the new build too. So here we go. The camper/topper/cap/shell from hell.
LMAO.

Started on the shell within a few months of buying the 2019 Tacoma. Loved the truck, hated the driveline. I have no idea why I bought it and was actually glad I sold it. The shell was special though. Love it and still have it.

Started with a 1x1 frame on a 2x1 rail on the bottom.
View attachment 217541

Skinned it in aluminum (063) I think top and sides. The doors were made from .125 aluminum and attached using 351,811 rivets....Kidding of course. I did buy a HF (harbor freight) air riveter. I used cork as a gasket and it had adhesive on one side. It was wonderful. Cork has held oil in oil pans for a century, upsidedown. LOL

View attachment 217542

View attachment 217543

So then I started to skin it. I had the sheets precut but still had to cut in the doors and other pieces.

View attachment 217544

The doors were thick, and secure. I used stainless hinges and some cheap chinese latches. (should have gone with the good ones)

View attachment 217548

View attachment 217549
 

North American Sojourner

Rank VI
Member

Off-Road Ranger I

3,916
Mark Twain National Forest
First Name
Dave
Last Name
Zimmer
Member #

30139

Ham/GMRS Callsign
WRXV870
Service Branch
USN Retired
Now on to the other 5,921 things to attach to it..LOL.
Due to a major design fault by me, the back door sucked. Had a gap from the rail to the door edge that I could not cover and be movable so I just sucked it up and delt with the little bit of water and dust. I don't think the dust would ever be 100% gone. Just would not happen.
I did manage to put a light on it tho. LOL

View attachment 217555

Next was a command center. LOL. Yeah, I wanted to jump out of the drivers seat, run back and open the first door and grab stuff, charge stuff, look at stuff and just be cool at the gas station...ahahahahhahaha. Kidding.
So I made a sheet metal bender (brake) and folded up some scrap left over aluminum.

View attachment 217556

View attachment 217557

Of course I needed a battery in the back to charge all these toys I had, so I made a bench in the rear of the truck to hold the battery, and then installed the master switch, fuse box and charging ports with a battery, and aux battery monitor. Oh, I added a solar panel on the roof, and a MTTP solar controller in the command center too...

View attachment 217560

Boom, the cool stuff LOL

View attachment 217561

In order to mount the solar panel, I had to have a roof rack. The roof rack support stubs were added when I skinned the roof. It was the only good decision I have ever made, except the kids of course, but they don't like me so who cares..lol..........kidding of course.

View attachment 217562

View attachment 217563

At this point I'd like to let everyone know I lost all my radio stations and 60% of my radio reception for not disconnecting the truck battery before welding on the roof, 16" from the radio antenna.....so there. That's a damn lesson for the youngsters....and old people like me.
Zim

View attachment 217568
 

North American Sojourner

Rank VI
Member

Off-Road Ranger I

3,916
Mark Twain National Forest
First Name
Dave
Last Name
Zimmer
Member #

30139

Ham/GMRS Callsign
WRXV870
Service Branch
USN Retired
I had some lights from my old job at autozone, so I used those on the inside. There were 4 and they did a really nice job lighting up the joint. I also put 2 porch lights on each side for dark camp setup's.

View attachment 217571

View attachment 217572

View attachment 217574

I turned my attention to the inside and wanted a indoor light switch panel, some more charging stations and a place for my cheapo first aid kit that was accessible from the second door.

View attachment 217575

View attachment 217576

View attachment 217577

Also threw in the fire extinguisher. Also accessible from the other door. Setting a trend here...LMAO.
Now I needed air, but just not the typical air compressor set up. I wanted piped air at each side, with at least a two gallon tank of reserve air. Got the tank from HF and the Simtty from 4wheel and began the install.

View attachment 217578


View attachment 217579

View attachment 217580
 

North American Sojourner

Rank VI
Member

Off-Road Ranger I

3,916
Mark Twain National Forest
First Name
Dave
Last Name
Zimmer
Member #

30139

Ham/GMRS Callsign
WRXV870
Service Branch
USN Retired
Camping time. Had been out camping during the build but the real trial was this trip up to Mark Twain Lake. The camper did awesome and carried the gear with no issues.

View attachment 217584

View attachment 217585
Even put in a hanging rack for towels, suits, jackets that got wet.

I've always wanted a chuck box for the kitchen gear. I went a little overboard on that but it's very useful.

View attachment 217587

View attachment 217588
A little bigger than I wanted but better to overbuild than under and not be able to add on...lol
I had also built a kitchen rack I could swing out on the tailgate if I ever wanted to just stop and have a lunch. It worked great on several short trips.

View attachment 217589

I could put it on either side of the gate but it's neat, and less slippery than the tailgate.

View attachment 217590
 

North American Sojourner

Rank VI
Member

Off-Road Ranger I

3,916
Mark Twain National Forest
First Name
Dave
Last Name
Zimmer
Member #

30139

Ham/GMRS Callsign
WRXV870
Service Branch
USN Retired
Then there was the kayak. No problem right? Holy kayak crap batman. This was a pain in my ass. Picked up some brackets because I can't bend 1" tube for less than $400. LOL. So for $45 I get the brackets, did the modification and mounted them on the roof rack. A little tight because of the solar panel, but it fit. Only problem was when the kayak was up there, it cut power to the panel...ahahahahahhahahaha. Design error No. 933a. LOL

View attachment 217592

Also built the ladder to get up there and tie it all down.

View attachment 217594

So this little thing was a champ. It was just a guide "V" to get the kayak up there with the brackets. This was the second try at this. First one was a dumbass attempt with rollers....lmao. It was bad, really bad.

View attachment 217595

Even welded in a tube for our Flag. MERICA....

View attachment 217596
 
  • Like
Reactions: ChristelandChantal

Sparrowmict

Rank II

Enthusiast I

404
Oklahoma
First Name
Raymond
Last Name
Farrow
Member #

27870

That looks amazing. well thought out. I freely admit to unnecessarily getting into something in my bed drawer system at the gas station and or putting things into my fridge or getting a beverage. sparks quite a few questions.
 

North American Sojourner

Rank VI
Member

Off-Road Ranger I

3,916
Mark Twain National Forest
First Name
Dave
Last Name
Zimmer
Member #

30139

Ham/GMRS Callsign
WRXV870
Service Branch
USN Retired
That looks amazing. well thought out. I freely admit to unnecessarily getting into something in my bed drawer system at the gas station and or putting things into my fridge or getting a beverage. sparks quite a few questions.
I'll never admit to showing off Raymond. Cough, cough. LOL. I've opened my door a thousand times for nothing. Ahahahahahhahaha.
Zim
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sparrowmict