We have spent many nights for no cost, and have found the average cost to be less than $25 per night when using commercial RV parks. In five years of use it has paid for itself. Total cost of the cRamper was about $1.25 per pound. Loading is easily accomplished with two lifters made out of boat trailer winches, which were fabricated by a local welding shop. Handling has not changed to any degree there is no wallowing, swaying, or noticeable instability when carrying the camper. Access to a Dremel power tool and hand held belt sander would be helpful.įinished dry weight of the unit is 440 pounds, which is less than 1/3 of the rated cargo capacity for the truck bed, and 700 pounds less than the lightest factory built unit. Power tools needed, at a minimum are: saber saw, drill, and sander. All of the construction can be accomplished with common hand tools. All joints are done with close grain hardwood blocks, high-grade wood screws (stay away from drywall screws) and either Epoxy or Polyurethane glue. All construction is either the original fiberglass topper or 3/8-inch to 1/2- inch plywood. These details can be seen in the picture at the top of the article, taken at the Arches National Park. An exterior cargo container was made from furnace ducting and attached to the front of the camper. To give added headroom in the camper a six-inch high box beam was built between the bottom of the topper and the rails in the truck box. The sliding windows in the topper only required cleaning and replacement of the screens.īecause we had a 6 foot bed, we measured out what our finished roof height would be, and cut a notch out of the front of the 8 foot topper, which allowed us to put about two feet of the topper over the top of the truck cab as a storage area that is accessible from the inside. An older eight-foot fiberglass topper was found in a local salvage yard for $50, and for an extra $5 a stainless steel sink was harvested from a salvaged motor home. We decided that we could build a slide-in camper of our own. In the above picture, notice the window air conditioner mounted on the top right gained extra height by adding a box shell. The only luxury would be the installation of an electrical system, which would allow us to have an air conditioner and electric heat. We only wanted a place to sleep, a couch that allowed us to lounge a bit, an ice chest, a sink with limited water supply, light cooking facilities and a toilet. What we needed was a small, practical unit that weighed about 700 pounds, which is about one-half the weight of the commercially available units. During the process of selecting a camper or trailer we came to a conclusion we didn’t want to use a trailer, and the campers that would fit our truck were very heavy and full of features that we didn’t need or want. A special intended use for this truck was to haul a camper, or tow a small camping trailer. The Chevrolet Silverado truck that we are now using replaced two older, high mileage vehicles it was selected for its passenger comfort, cargo capacity, and towing capability. When we built the rig we didn’t want a major investment in a larger outfit since we could not travel enough to justify the expense. Finding the right one does not mean keeping up with the Joneses but finding one that saves you money and is very practical without sacrificing comfort or other needs.This little rig was home built from a salvaged fiberglass pickup topper because my wife and I did not care for what was commercially available. The best RV for boondocking will be the one that fits your preferences, lifestyle and boondocking needs. You never know when the temperatures will drop and being prepared is the intelligent move to make. That means you need a good wifi device and connection to make sure you can get help when you need it. But if you like to cook outdoors a good portable propane cook stove on hand is safer than building a fire. Cooking facilities are a must and most RVs have a small kitchen inside.Also make sure to have an extra 12 volt battery along for the ride. Solar batteries will provide extra power and they are easy to recharge when you are well away from civilization.Bring larger extra water storage jugs filled with water along. The built in tanks may hold enough for normal RV activities but having extra water around is always a smart move.
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