You ever heard of boondocking ? I'll keep the toilet/shower thank you. :D

Just terrible to drive around with your crap. :)

If you are talking real boonies, then it makes no sense. The world is the bathroom and nobody there to smell you!

G

Today I used the new lift system for the first time. It has three 12 volt electric motors it was effortless to raise the camper. Slid the dually underneath and lowered it down she fit like a glove. I'll have to either lower the OEM bumper by 4 " or make a custom bumper to allow the camper to move forward another 4-5 ". Today was another major step forward.

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Does the lift system stay with the camper on the road? Looks a little cumbersome.

Yes it does. Truck camper lift jacks are a compromise. Three or four independant jacks are less cumbersome but not nearly as solid as this lift system. After loading this camper ( once ! ) with the original lift jacks I knew I was going to change to something else. I don't plan on offroading with this rig but I do plan on it being solid as a rock wherever I do stay.

WOW where has the time gone ? I originally posted almost 8 years ago ! :eek: Anyway a lot has happened since then I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and kicked that to the curb :D , we bought our retirement house , we moved into that house and I retired a little over a year ago . So the camper is basically in the same shape as it was back then . But most of my projects that held me up for getting to the camper are nearing completion so the camper will be in the hopper soon :D My goal is to complete her this year and start using her for what I hope to be many trips around the US . Stay tuned for updates SmileWavy

Good to hear, health, retirement and projects.
All the best, enjoy, life‘s too short.

I've been waiting for you to get back to the camper. I'll be watching. ;)

brock911 thanks . Hey Paul yeah your not kidding I can't believe it's been this long :( But I am re-motivated to get back to her I'm hoping to start in April . She is totally gutted of all cabinets/plumbing but still has most of the interior skin in place . I only removed what was needed to get out all the " stuff " I want/need to replace or repair . I have tools and crap scattered inside so first thing will be total removal for a clean slate . Then a scrub down to get rid of mold/dirt/crud . All of the wood repairs have been completed but the " wings " I think I will paint them . The wings basically make up some of the interior base cabinets and dinette . I currently have many coats of varnish on the plywood but I fear once enclosed will be too dark . I'm thinking a simple coat of a light grey paint will work .

I have a little bit of structural work to do in the front bunk area and after that I will paint the interior . Again just a simple light beige color . Cabinets will stay in their natural stained finish . I will put down a new floor a simple vinyl of some type for easy clean up . At that point she can start going together . Completing her this year is a stretch as I do have other projects , 2.5 acres to mow and a part time job 2-3 days a week . But she'll come together and I will document as much as possible . Today I'm starting the repair of the transfer case on " kong " my dually . Need to get that taken care of ( pump leak ) so she stays healthy and ready to carry the camper :D That's about it for now later guys SmileWavy

SmileWavy wow Rick seeing this old thread show up again put two and two together for me. I hadn't put the camper and your shop, and now boat projects all together with them all being things that you have going on.

Good title on your camper thread, you really do like projects!

And knocking out a bout with cancer to boot, good going there Rick.

That's going to be a very cool camper once you get it back together.

Cheers Richard

Dusting off this project AGAIN ! :D So believe it or not I am almost ready to dig into the camper . I have one project left to do on my new parking garage and then the camper is next . At least that's what I am telling myself :D Stay tuned for updates .

Ok, I think I'll sub to this thread now.
I've been watching the whole time, but I was waiting till you actually began work on the camper.
Sooo, chop chop! Get after it! :D:pSmileWavy

Me too, I've been looking forward to seeing this progress as well!

I am almost ashamed I bought this camper 9 years ago and haven't finished her . But it's been a crazy 9 years with many highs and a few lows . But this year she will be a priority . Not committing to it being finished but she will be in work 😁

Don't you have a nice little boat that acts as a diversion too?

You are correct ........... I am retired and not enough hours in the day 😁

With the camper on, how would you lower the spare tire on the dually?

Can't say for sure until I get the camper all the way into the bed . If the rear cross bar of the lift is in the way the easy answer is lower the lift . If I have to change a flat rear tire it's probably easier to remove the camper from the truck . The frame of the lift system that contact's the ground is adjustable for length . The front and rear " hoops " slide inside of the main frame .

When I end up with my final position in the bed I will adjust both hoops to be the least intrusive . Then bolt the hoops in place and be done . I have to make some brackets for the truck frame , the brackets are basically an upside down U . The hoops raise up and into the U locking the camper to the truck .

Hello everyone FINALLY back to work on the camper ! I started about two weeks ago I still had to remove the water tank/pump and the battery compartment wall . Today I peeled the old linoleum off the floor , a combination of heat gun and brute force :D . Now the fun of belt sanding the old backing off the floor :( . They did not spare one ounce of glue on that floor :mad: . But I guess that's part of the reason it's still around after 53 years !

When I get the floor cleaned up I am going to do some reinforcing here and there and then paint it and the wood side that go over the wheel wells of the truck . Those wood sides make up the interior of the base cabinets and with just the varnish on there it's going to be too dark in my opinion . All exposed wood will remain stained/urethaned to keep the old world charm . Anyway here is a pic of the very raw canvas :D


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Go Rick Go!

Haha hey Paul .......... I need all the encouragement I can get ! :D

just showing up and starting is 80% of a project like that.

you got that done!! off to a great start!

have you seen those tiny wood stoves for rigs such as these? pretty neat.

Vash you're not kidding , finding motivation to do crappy jobs is getting harder in retirement . This is one of the last planned big projects so I needed to dig in to get it done . I know I might not finish until next year but it will get finished . I want to start using it and start seeing more of this great country .

Glad you have your health & getting back to the Camper!

Hey TC how you doing ? Been a while since we chatted . Fortunately it is not health issues that have kept me from the camper . I have been so damn busy 😠 since I retired I just haven't had the time . But now I am trying to make the camper a priority to get it done . But boating season is here now and I am easily distracted 😁

Have your wife hide your fishing rods.
That'll help motivate your camper work.

Haha it's not so much the fishing , I just enjoy being on the water . I find it very peaceful . Life is all about balance 😁

Doing OK - still in the same place & playing with cars!

Me again , just letting you guys know I'm still alive :D . As usual other projects have stopped me from getting back to the camper . My wife pressed me for an answer today on when I will finish the damn thing :rolleyes: so I better make a firm commitment soon . I will do my best to complete next year . Stay tuned :)

New plywood floor installed last week . Yesterday I applied one coat of Kilz primer tomorrow a second coat will be applied . Let dry then two coats of paint. Then I can install the new linoleum floor. Slowly gaining momentum 😁 .

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Good to see it back under way Rick

Thanks Paul. I lost motivation with the retirement home purchase, home projects , built two garages and also car/boat/tractor projects . My main focus now is the camper and the 996 . Still juggling but there is light at the end of the tunnel 😁

Put down a second coat of primer this morning , man I was sweating like a pig 🐖! . It is hot and humid here in Georgia. I will let it dry for several days before painting. Nothing pic worthy ...... . . It's whiter than the other day 😁

Starting to think ahead to plumbing . This camper came with a black tank ( sewage ) only because back in the day it was ok to dump grey water on the ground . The black tank has various cracks so unusable . And no one makes a similar tank .

So I am thinking about adding a readily available grey tank to handle kitchen and bathroom sinks . For a toilet I am thinking about using a porta potti style . Two that look good for my situation are the Camco 41545 and the Thetford 92305 or 92306 .

They each hold a little over 5 gallons of black gold 😁 . The Camco doesn't have a hold down bracket/s but the Thetford has one that has to be purchased separately . Do any of you guys have any real world experience with any of these models ?

There is probably a custom plastic tank manufacturer close to you. They could probably bang something together that would work for you.
I had a porta potti in my old pop up camper.
It really and I mean really was an invaluable piece of equipment when I was touring down the baja!

^^^ I want to change up the bathroom and it's a small space . A truck camper is a compromise on space and I think a porta potti will help me free up some space . If I can eliminate the black tank that was under the camper that frees up space for a grey tank .

The old bathroom had a hand held shower, I plan to eliminate that also . So the plan is a simple dry bath with toilet and a sink . By eliminating the shower the grey tank will only be for the kitchen and bathroom sinks .

I have been thinking about this for a while now but still open to ideas . The camper will only be used by my wife and I and the dog 😁 .

Another idea is an outdoor shower if you can find a place to install one. Great for hosing off dogs or cyclist after a muddy run.

Today I installed the new linoleum floor. Made a template out of newspaper and placed onto the lino . I cut the floor about a 1/2 " larger to give some wiggle room. After cutting to rough size I rolled it up and carried into the camper .

Got it in place and started trimming to fit . I have it close I am going to let it sit in place for a day or two and then do the final finite trim . Wife likes it so that's a win 😁 . I may switch gears and remove and replace the roof AC . It is getting quite hot and humid here the AC will make working much nicer .

I can't post a pic from my phone as the pic size is too large . I will send a pic from my computer tonight or tomorrow .

Had to hop on the old laptop computer to be able to resize the pic :( . Anyway here's the new floor . One more item checked off ........... so many more to go :D

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I'm back !!!! :D . So many projects in the rearview mirror that have held up the camper restoration . This morning I riveted on three of the interior panels I had previously removed . It's finally going back together . I have to resize some pics and then will add them to this post . The other day I finished installing the new water inlet flange/fitting . Decided to go with Pex for the plumbing . Today the roll of Pex showed up tomorrow a bunch of fittings/clamps/tools will show up .

I am starting in the bathroom and working my way around the camper to install the aluminum interior panels . After those are all installed I can move forward with setting the water heater and start running the Pex . Then base cabinets and so on . My wife can't make up her mind if she wants the camper inside painted or leave the patina of the wallpapered look from 1968 .

That decision has to be made soon because IF we are going to paint that will have to be next after all interior panels are riveted in place . And that will then be a decision point on IF we paint the cabinets . It's time for her to get off the pot ;) . I also now have a concrete floor in the RV storage building which REALLY is nice for working on . It just all takes time . Pics to follow SmileWavy