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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: lantana on December 06, 2014, 04:30:28 PM

Title: camper build
Post by: lantana on December 06, 2014, 04:30:28 PM
not sure if this is in the right place thought Id give out a few ideas, Im building a camper 8x5, sleeping cabin will take a queen size bed and it will have a separate rear gully its 4ft high inside,frame is stitched with 50x50x3 mm angle and heavy duty rivets as I cant weld aluminium ,they say a good rivet is better then a bad weld and rivets hold planes together
all walls,roof and floor will have insulation Marine ply inside cab, inside galley will be aluminium, outer skin will be signalloy in white
large roof vent to see the stars at night a door each side up front, stereo tv/dvd player, roof rack for my Old Town Next when it gets here
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Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Sweetwater on December 08, 2014, 12:16:17 AM
Awesome project mate.  :Clap) Would like to see the finished job........  :thumb
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on December 08, 2014, 10:27:42 AM
Thanks for the reply, I will post pics when its finished dont have any plans for camper its off the top of my head solving problems as I go
 not a lot of spare time right now and two eye operations Jan & Feb will slow me down too, getting my lens removed and artificial lens pot in
hope to have it all ready for chasing Cod  in winter, a queens size bed should keep me warm

 cheers
      Eric
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on January 13, 2015, 11:29:02 PM
Some more pictures attached below (added by admin for lantana)

Thanks for the help Fitz,
 Well for those who are following the build, I have finished lining the sleeper cab, floor is ready waiting for insulation so i have started on the cupboards above the foot of bed
 the wide section each side of cupboards is where ill fit the speakers the shelf under will hold stereo and DVD player, a few more small cupboards and ill start the outside insulation and  skin

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Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on April 13, 2015, 10:11:34 AM
ok im not sure if i can get pics up as i have been having trouble,just a quick update on my camper build so far inside cabinets are done all walls roof and floor has been insulated
just waiting for aluminium for outer skin, was going with white but it will show up scratches and bug marks so im now going with the silver bullet look
i should have enough left over to line the rear galley in aluminium too, so it should be easy to keep clean
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: bushwacker on April 13, 2015, 06:08:07 PM
Looking good  :)
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Sweetwater on April 14, 2015, 07:53:50 PM
I love it, well done.  :thumbsup

Are the frames welded or clip on joiners?

Did you do the the fancy doors inside, just the cabinet or all the timber work?
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Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on April 14, 2015, 08:21:54 PM
I love it, well done.  :thumbsup

Are the frames welded or clip on joiners?

Did you do the the fancy doors inside, just the cabinet or all the timber work?
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 Yes I have done everything from ground up just run a router around the doors to tweek them i think they come up good
 I used black joiners for the corners then everything is riveted using 50x50 angle frame is 25x25x2 aluminium the frame does not move now so when the outer skin is riveted on its not going any where
 after all the early planes wrer held together that way i was told a good rivet is better then a bad weld,
 some of the timber inside on cabinets is recycled , ill try and post a pic showing some frame work
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Binder on April 15, 2015, 05:56:06 AM
I see rivets as a much better option than welding with aluminum. Unless you know what your doing you just set yourself up for fatigue cracking when welding it.
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Sweetwater on April 15, 2015, 09:18:03 PM
Where'd you source the joiners? I've had a bit if a look before but had no luck. You've half inspired me to do a similar build.
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Nativeman on April 16, 2015, 09:36:36 AM
Eric

That's looking great, good to see your progress, not long now mate you will be touring this Country of ours, I can't wait to here about it.  :youbeauty
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on April 16, 2015, 08:23:01 PM
Where'd you source the joiners? I've had a bit if a look before but had no luck. You've half inspired me to do a similar build.
i bought my black joiners at bunnings but where i buy my aluminium from is alsun they also have them but a tip of advice if i may ,I was going to use 25x25x1.2 wall but they were all out so he sold me 25x25x2 for same price as it would only put a few extra kgs on the build i went that way when i got home silly bugger found the thicker wall on the box would not take the joiners as i was only using 6 three way joiners i just sanded them with a grinder i only used one on each bottom corner and one on each top corner at the back just to hold things in place so i could square it all up then i riveted everything
you only need a thin wall 25x25 though,
 
another thing i would change is make it a 2400x1200 as we always sleep on that wide in the ute but wife asked for a 1500 wide for a queens size bed ,but the al sheet come in a standard size of 2400x1200
so no waste , the brackets i saved money buy getting a 5mt stick of aluminium 50x50x3 and cut brackets at 20mm wide,i bung in a pic showing i even did a bracket in corners with joiners to make it strong

 PS: im be building another one after this so i will try to post a sketch of it
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on April 16, 2015, 08:37:30 PM
ok let me inspire you more, after the war when there was little money people that liked camping and hunting would grab an old 8x4 trailer 4 sheets of water proof ply a few hinges and a couple of old caravan windows and a camper was born they called them teardrops and if a square back it was called a tiny camper so after my build im doing one i have a old 750kg heavy duty trailer 8x4 its just sitting there so when the weather is cr@p and i cant fish it will be a good project ,quick to build and cheap
,walls will be 19mm thick ply, i have no plans it all there in my head but i have knocked up to sketches and will build one of them, if you want to copy my sketch or copy my aluminium build you are welcome

 i think ill go with the wombat one
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Novice on April 16, 2015, 09:22:50 PM
Where'd you source the joiners? I've had a bit if a look before but had no luck. You've half inspired me to do a similar build.


The joiners are what they call Qubelok.

I use them for making aviaries and lids on tubs for my range of critters.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa457/skinkasaurus/P1050926_zps3b5e106f.jpg)

Aluminium warehouse Ipswich
http://www.whitepages.com.au/business-listing/aluminium-warehouse-ipswich-1714075/yamanto-qld (http://www.whitepages.com.au/business-listing/aluminium-warehouse-ipswich-1714075/yamanto-qld)
on Warwick rd at Yamanto sells them, all the range. Heaps cheaper than the Bunnings rip off mercants. The aluminium tubing can be cut to size on site while you wait too.

Nice work btw Eric,  :thumbsup

Cheers,
Dave.
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on April 22, 2015, 04:32:52 PM
did a wee bit more, im using flat aluminium for roof and front down to draw bar, the top of front ill use a flapper wheel and put a pattern on it and below will go a light checker plate
using 1.6 aluminium i need a brake press to bend the metal so i cut out all the bits and as my son is a good welder i waited untill he came to visit and Tony knocked up my press for me
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Bluey55 on May 03, 2015, 10:36:29 PM
Looks great, you are very handy, can't wait to see the finished project, you remind me of the old saying " Do it yourself because nobody else will do it yourself ",
Thanks for sharing mate and good luck with it,
Kind regards,
Bluey55.
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on June 02, 2015, 03:14:07 PM
Sorry im so long winded with this build but health injury and family has taken up most of my time, but i decided to enjoy the build whenever i get the time,started the outside skin but changed to the rear galley, thought id whittle some wood

 give my wife six cupboards three at the bottom for heavy things and three up top for lighter things,no sink as i think its a wast of space in a camper,two draws one holds all the eating and cooking utensils and the other draw holds plates,bowls,mugs and two whisky glasses

 we cook outside on a table but i left a work space for a quick meal on an over night or just boil the billy and fry a snag for lunch on the road,i lined this work space with aluminium for safety and easy cleaning
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Sweetwater on June 02, 2015, 09:06:47 PM
Thanks for sharing. Loving seeing this camper van come together. Well done.  :Clap)
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Nativeman on June 02, 2015, 09:08:38 PM
Just awesome Eric.... keep it coming

Cheers
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on June 03, 2015, 05:53:25 PM
ok i need some advice and want to pick your brain,ill be doing outside skins soon and already thinking ahead i need a rack with out punching holes in camper i can fix it to the chassis
i want full length to fit kayaks and an awning both sides off the rack,camper will have black trim so rack will match color
it will be light weight low profile i have done a mock up photo of camper, so let me have , will this look too ugly, mock up looks a bit overkill but you get the picture

   any thoughts Please

  Eric
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Sweetwater on June 04, 2015, 02:31:54 AM
If the frame is outside of the camper. What about having the rear mounts piviting and the front mounts releasable. That way you can unlock the front, swing the rack back off the camper towards the rear to somewhere between 45 degrees and vertical, load your kayaks and swing it back up into position, lock in the front mounts.
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on June 04, 2015, 05:42:59 PM
If the frame is outside of the camper. What about having the rear mounts piviting and the front mounts releasable. That way you can unlock the front, swing the rack back off the camper towards the rear to somewhere between 45 degrees and vertical, load your kayaks and swing it back up into position, lock in the front mounts.
Thanks for the suggestions, I like the idea of swinging the rack via a pivit ill put that on the White board
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on August 14, 2015, 02:31:15 PM
As i lost so much time at start of this buildi got stuck into it last week decided the fancy bits like dvd and solar will have to wait as i want to get it to the stage of camping in and its almost ready
I knocked up the rear galley door and used a hurricane hinge ,camera light meter is going but will try and get more photos in the next few days

 im not a sticker man but there is one that must go on

Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on August 15, 2015, 09:47:27 AM
a few things to do before i start using it
pop cabin doors back in, get rubber seals ,latches, and two gas struts for galley door
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Sweetwater on August 16, 2015, 01:37:46 PM
A fantastic job. Love it...!!!!  :Clap)
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: bushwacker on August 20, 2015, 06:23:32 PM
What more do you really need :thumbsup
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on September 27, 2015, 02:21:29 PM
time to end this build thread ill add more to camper later but no need to post more pics,hope i never wasted your time and thanks to all for the feedback sorry it took so long but I lost first six months with health and injuries, I have kept track of build time and if you had all parts on hand you should build this easy in your spare time on weekends and the odd arvo in around ten weeks

 last to go in was two side doors I used Sikaflex 291 to seal araund doors its marine grade, my wife made me a special doona for camping too

 regards
        Eric
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on September 27, 2015, 02:29:52 PM
not sure why pics never loaded so here another tryat pics
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: Sweetwater on September 28, 2015, 07:02:36 PM
First class effort mate. I love it...!!!!
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: A Marshall on September 29, 2015, 09:48:25 AM
Well done mate, that looks excellent.

Cheers Andrew
Title: Re: camper build
Post by: lantana on December 14, 2016, 06:20:06 PM
Its been quiet awhile since the build thread started but i thought id do one more and bring it up to date I decided not to build a full steel rack as id be tempted to bung heavy things up top
first i made two steel racks to hold an awning and a yak but after my last trip away i decided i needed a light weight rack to store light things out of my way from the back of ute i built it the same way as my trailer frame stitching it with rivets, its quiet strong 2100x1500 and just under 12kgs
since my last trip i have mounted the spare wheel on the draw bar, i brought this thread back to life as i know some one here is starting a camper build
here is a pic of rack and a few from my last trip a few weeks ago