78 Fleet Rebuild

[Pac12_afterdark]

Made some more progress. Got all the windows / accessories in place, finished up the rear. The trim should get rid of that small wave on the drivers side. Man I suck at applying silicone though, no matter what I try. It’s an eye sore.

I don’t think I’m going to do the silver sticker as I had originally imagined. Didn’t. Like how it looked. Need some more warm weather to get the rest of the trim and siding buttoned up.

 

[pods8]

Did you vhb you siding down?

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

I used Sika black sika flex, I have one more side to do maybe I’ll run an experiment.

I have had fantastic experiences with vhb in the past.

 

[pods8]

I presume you have to clamp the panel in place while it cures? Did you just do the edges and openings? Or how did you go about that?

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

Yep you are right so I started with the center accessories (kind of like “tacking” in place) to get it sturdy. Then I applied a bead from the inside of the camper between the sheet and the aluminum tube. Then placed a 2x4 with a towel over the end to hold it in place while it dried. I kind of wedged the 2x4 on the bottom against my boat trailer tire.

I also wiped everything down with ipa and dried that I was sticking in place prior to applying the adhesive.

Not sure why I’m so anal about the paint finish right now, it usually gets beat within a few hunting trips anyways.

 

[pods8]

Not sure why I’m so anal about the paint finish right now, it usually gets beat within a few hunting trips anyways.

That’s why I am pragmatically likely going with white strip siding with some ridges. Haven’t put in the order yet but it’ll wear better in the long run.

My truck is the color of your camper.

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

I think that’s a good call, the ridges hide any surface imperfections as well. I’m already starting to noodle a ground up build. I’d like to do a flatbed layout on a Ute tray. We’ll see how this siding lasts a few seasons!

 

[pods8]

I’m already starting to noodle a ground up build. I’d like to do a flatbed layout on a Ute tray. We’ll see how this siding lasts a few seasons!

That is where I started on things a lot of years back with a failed composite build, eventually after a number of years I started again with more tried/true aluminum and initially framed out for my flatbed but my truck was aging at that point and I planned to get a replacement so I paused. My experience over a decade with a flatbed, without some sort of custom cap/cover, was it was annoying using my truck because I couldn't toss gear in the bed easily without strapping it down and making sure it was protected from the weather.

My opinion is if you're going to have your camper on your truck nearly always then a flatbed definitely makes for a nice footprint to build off of. If you like to use your truck without a camper for other things too then ponder out if you'd find the above situation annoying.

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

That is where I started on things a lot of years back with a failed composite build, eventually after a number of years I started again with more tried/true aluminum and initially framed out for my flatbed but my truck was aging at that point and I planned to get a replacement so I paused. My experience over a decade with a flatbed, without some sort of custom cap/cover, was it was annoying using my truck because I couldn't toss gear in the bed easily without strapping it down and making sure it was protected from the weather.

My opinion is if you're going to have your camper on your truck nearly always then a flatbed definitely makes for a nice footprint to build off of. If you like to use your truck without a camper for other things too then ponder out if you'd find the above situation annoying.

I like the perspective and that was my fear as well, I have been researching the fold down style sides and rear that Australian trays have.

All just a poor dream for now, the camper stays in about 7 or 8 months out of the year, but the functionality the remaining months is important to me.

My hope is with a flatbed configuration I could do two left/ right twin beds for my girls and keep the cabinet queen for the wife and I. Squeeze out a few more years. Really don’t want to go to a pull behind.

 

[pods8]

I like the perspective and that was my fear as well, I have been researching the fold down style sides and rear that Australian trays have.

All just a poor dream for now, the camper stays in about 7 or 8 months out of the year, but the functionality the remaining months is important to me.

My hope is with a flatbed configuration I could do two left/ right twin beds for my girls and keep the cabinet queen for the wife and I. Squeeze out a few more years. Really don’t want to go to a pull behind.

I had a UTE bed with the fold down sides. I probably could have custom made a topper of some sort but the point was it would need to be something custom again vs just buying a cover / cap easily. The fold up cover on my new truck I picked up used for a few hundred bucks and it was installed in minutes.

For what its worth, I have 3 kids and I do have a 29' pull behind trailer. For family camping I highly prefer it and would only be inclined to use the truck camper for family stuff if going somewhere notably off road. The trailer has more space and being able to leave it set up somewhere and drive away is quite convenient.

But for solo trips/hunts or when I'm taking one or two of the kids out a truck camper is super handy and I've missed having one the last couple years (when I had my old truck with the flat bed I could toss an 80s FWC on there since there were no bed width restrictions and they can be acquired rather cheaply in CO at times since the old ones were built here). Run and gun trips and wandering on rougher roads the FWC style campers are handy and less to deal with.

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

I had a UTE bed with the fold down sides. I probably could have custom made a topper of some sort but the point was it would need to be something custom again vs just buying a cover / cap easily. The fold up cover on my new truck I picked up used for a few hundred bucks and it was installed in minutes.

For what its worth, I have 3 kids and I do have a 29' pull behind trailer. For family camping I highly prefer it and would only be inclined to use the truck camper for family stuff if going somewhere notably off road. The trailer has more space and being able to leave it set up somewhere and drive away is quite convenient.

But for solo trips/hunts or when I'm taking one or two of the kids out a truck camper is super handy and I've missed having one the last couple years (when I had my old truck with the flat bed I could toss an 80s FWC on there since there were no bed width restrictions and they can be acquired rather cheaply in CO at times since the old ones were built here). Run and gun trips and wandering on rougher roads the FWC style campers are handy and less to deal with.

This is good perspective, maybe the wife is right… we might need another toy.

The tundras GVWR isn’t concussive for what she has in mind, so it unleashes a whole new set of problems (opportunities?)

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

Houston, we have windows.

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

I have a stupid question, but I can’t find the answer. Do I put butyl tape in between the canvas and roof or trim and canvas or both?

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I have a stupid question, but I can’t find the answer. Do I put butyl tape in between the canvas and roof or trim and canvas or both?

I think it’s a good question, and I’m curious about how it’s done.

 

[pods8]

Roof frame, then headliner wrapped up, then sideliner wrapped up, then roof wrapped down, THEN if using butyl, then trim.

Old ones didn’t necessarily use butyl but I intend to just to help seal screws more.

Technically with the sideliner tucked under the roof a leak past the trim should run down the sideliner but I’d rather just make water past screws really difficult.

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

Roof frame, then headliner wrapped up, then sideliner wrapped up, then roof wrapped down, THEN if using butyl, then trim.

Old ones didn’t necessarily use butyl but I intend to just to help seal screws more.

Technically with the sideliner tucked under the roof a leak past the trim should run down the sideliner but I’d rather just make water past screws really difficult.

Knew I could count on you!

I saw a video where they tucked the canvas under the roof, but then the trim didn’t line up.

Hoping to get all my trim on the “body” tomorrow. Would like to get the roof on during this extended weekend…

 

[pods8]

Knew I could count on you!

I saw a video where they tucked the canvas under the roof, but then the trim didn’t line up.

Hoping to get all my trim on the “body” tomorrow. Would like to get the roof on during this extended weekend…

Old ones didn’t tuck the canvas but they do now and it makes a lot more sense when you think about it.

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

Got most the trim on but ran out of hardware to finish. Ice fishing trips the next two weekends so I’ll get back at it early march.

Got my sled dog all tuned up and ready to go. I saved a Johnson outboard throttle control from an old airboat I bought. Added that and a new torque converter belt/ cover. It’s ready for another season.


I can’t wait to get to the interior on this camper. I have decided I’m going to fiber glass the cab over as I think it will add some strength.

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

Put the roof on, finished most the trim. Going to aim to get the canvas back in place this week if this weather holds out…

Got my EMT conduits bent up for the lift mechanism.

 

[Pac12_afterdark]

Tent back on, I need to mess with my lifts. I have the geometry wrong. Doesn't go down all the way. Tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day so I’ll do some work on it.

I took some screen shots of someone showing theirs off online so I’ll more closely replicate those ratios.