The question that came up a few weeks ago was "why would you make a topper instead of just buying one?" Wood Truck Cap Plans Plans DIY Free Download knotty pine dresser plans | Home furniture plans. Matt boxed out the wheel wells in the floor, and immediately started to build the frame and roof. Cut them to length and secure to each stringer with the deck screws. The whole thing is varnished with exterior spar varnish. It was given to me as a partial basket-case. That’s what happened here. Well, I'm not wealthy and making something costs a lot less than buying it. Another method for getting rounded shapes is kerf cutting plywood. Don’t know if you’re still out there but I LOVE this design! To build a cap door, cut out a section of siding the fit into the back portion of the truck cap. How to build a lightweight truck camper? The first thing we did was cleaned out the truck bed because it was the last time we would have access to a lot of these parts of the truck bed. I am in the planning stages of a topper. Fancy rear door.... this one looks complicated, I will go with a simpler hinged top half solution but if you wanted to build a custom mold out of foam in the shape of the door you wanted to build and then create a custom door out of fibreglass... check this video out. Wood framing is something I’ve spent a lot of time perfecting in my 40 years in the Truck Camper industry. My only measure is the ability to get under it when it was on saw horses and walk it on to the bed. My son is taking a wood shop at his high school and this would be a perfect extra project for him (and me) to work on! You might even be surprised that any friends that are plumbers, electricians, or mechanics will be happy to help you out with this interesting project. Another idea is to use stitch and glue construction like they do for this boat. For this reason, the carpenters might need higher focus compared to the other wooden craft. I was curious as what made you decide to cover the roof with felt paper and the tarp as opposed to fiberglassing? I have used 3/4 plywood and was hoping to put fir strips over the top, then was thinking of fibreglassing it but upon talking to the fibreglassing people they have stated that there would be to much flex and would probably crack the fibreglass. Does your bed have the same specs? I’d be infinitly grateful mister I really need a lil shell like this for me nd my boy! That helps. This is because, you can easily have the materials that are needed. It was all there, I just had to put it together, and yes, I liked your topper design so much that I am copying it. I would suggest finding a local carpenter and telling him or her what you need. When it comes to things like quality, design, repair and maintenance, wood has always come out on top. Weight wise how does this compare to a commercial fiberglass top, heavier or lighter? Using the 1/2″ gaps in my plastic bedliner, slide the sheet of plywood into the appropriate groove, and then screw the short 2×4 braces into the plywood. Often, the next project is virtually free. Lack of windows kept it light as did the cedar roof. If you decide building a truck is the right path for you, remember that you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to other experts along the way. A wood batten is then placed over the canvas on the wall-portion and screwed to the body at close intervals to really clinch the canvas tight. Two-inch diameter pipe is plenty thick for this part of the project. No leaks on either topper. 2. 1. They’re all over the blog. 3. if you have no prior experience in welding, i recommend you use wood. Question: So the roof is essentially two layer of wood with the tar paper between correct? “Snow Roof” paint worked though on my first one. Probably all about the same in the end. I might look around for a rubber strip for the door. The challenge in building the miniature wooden truck is the number of the parts. I’m not always going to need it on the truck, but would like it to look good in the likelihood I leave it on there for extended periods of time. The later one had waterproof truck tarp over felt roofing paper. I was wondering if you had issues with roof leaks on the 1st making you redesign on the 2nd? Build your truck camper out of wood! First of all, good luck. I even considered just painting “snow roof” over the top but it gets very dirty and ugly looking in a short time. I'll try to answer any question when you have them but keep in mind I don't currently own a truck, this is for 6 months down the road. This effectively lifts the height of the topper by 1”. Pickup truck shells can be converted into campers with basic tools and materials. The growing market for truck cap had its start in the early 60’s. Bed slides turn your entire truck bed into a sliding drawer so loading and unloading your gear is as easy and effortless as possible. The truck is a 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 with a 5.9 liter Cummins turbo diesel with 145,000 miles. If you want to save on cost when making a camper shell, you can consider making the wooden one.You can also make tonneau cover with wood.. Hopefully my album pics will show up with this link. Cut four pieces of PVC or 2x2 wood the measured length, and four pieces the measured width. Learn how your comment data is processed. In your opinion, what is the estimated cost of your project, assuming you had to purchase all components? Too much of a gap will create a weak spot, increasing the chance of the wood … ;). It will be strong and likely the heaviest of all the options. Remove the staples later. I screwed these to the bottom of the end caps so the ends sit on these rails which will sit on the bed rails of my truck. If so, could I get some specific measurements/blueprints? Do you know what I would look for to find the legality of "homemade additions" being added to my vehicle? I suspect the bed specs have changed over the years. You can prep, cook, serve and wash up with ease, thanks to the various surfaces, compartments and appliances this incredible product comes with. Do you prefer a particular type or brand of varnish for the cedar or anything will work? Mine is certainly not over-engineered. Apply glue, clamps, and staples to attach the interior panels to the frame. Very cool. I was considering building one myself for a 2005 GMC canyon. The forums are retiring in 2021 and are now closed for new topics and comments. This one was pretty comparable to my old fiberglass topper. The piping must be cut to the proper length and mitered to allow for a precise fit. If you think of your truck topper as an upside down boat you get the idea. As you build the box truck just ensure that you balance everything well in the truck in such a way that not too much weight is placed on one side of the truck. Is it glued down, or fastened somehow. New, I can only order an aluminum canopy in the range of $600 to $1,100! Looking to do this on a 59 gmc fleet-side. And mighty familiar. Hi, I have been trying to find a wooden truck camper for sale, I ‘d love to build one but I don’t have time for that because I am a single mom of a 1yr old lil.boy. I made this back/truck rack last weekend. Then reinforce this section with rubber gaskets or molding and attach it with a hinge to the frame of the cap, not to the side walls. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I first got the Tumbleweed Vardo plans, but that’s a lot of weight, then I found your design. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Use 2- x 6-inch boards for the ramp surface. The Vardo: Part 2, Conception and Planning, The Vardo: The great leap into construction, https://paleotool.com/2014/09/10/topper-update/. The Tacoma doesn’t make it easy. I hope you have more luck with your searches for other parts of your project, seems Google is not yet your friend.Try this for example, includes links to Instructables as well.Not really that hard is it? Thanks in advance. … It cost me $150.00 (Canadian) in steel and my time welding it up with my arc welder. Very nice, im thinking of making one myself for my 2016 ram. For rounded shapes photo 2 looks like a strip built and fibreglassed creation similar to building a strip canoe. Good luck! Also, do you think 3 frames would cut it or 4 is needed for 8′ span? I intend to get some better photos up and I’ll try to do that very soon. Too much of a gap will create a weak spot, increasing the chance of the wood … For the roof exterior, 30# tar paper and a canvas truck tarp. You can simply frame in the opening for strength; treat it like a picture frame? I just needed something to get me through last summer but I’ve liked it enough that it is now a fairly permanent fixture. See this video. Though, not having leaks is important, because I’m be sleeping under the topper. I did, however, match the front of the shell to the slope of the cab and allowed the back of the roof to overhang slightly. Front sill plate is screwed through to the side sills. Just getting ideas for now, not building yet. Thanks for the info and getting back to me so fast. Additionally for more extensive details on an all-out full-featured DIY slide-in camper build, check out Dan Rogers’ Homebuilt Glen-L Truck Camper.Lots of photos. Click the “Vardo” build in the right column to see the basic build. That is basically how I was planning to connect everything. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Looking To Make Your Own Truck Camper? Well Alex, That will require a visit to some stores and a bit of figuring. (Click below to open the link in a new tab.) I’d love some photos! Thanks for the comment on the new site. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. If you want to spend less than 200 you will need to find a lot of materials for free. Change ). Good luck! (Note: Glen-L has historically been a top source of intricate woodworking camper plans for decades, if you want to make a “traditional” style RV from blueprint-style plans.) The arc of the roof approximates the arc of the truck, created by eyeball and a pen on a board. Cut a length of 1/2″ plywood at that height and to run the length of your truck bed. Now I have a reference picture but I want it out of wood just because it's more secure and looks pretty. I’m thinking a topper like this would honor his old truck and his memory. Mobile Rik's DIY "Homemade Truck Camper" Plans. Thanks and keep up the good work. So, I was looking into building one of wood. 2b. Good luck and spread the Maker mentality. My experience with fiberglassing is mostly on canoes. Hi Laura. Long time lurker on the blog, and an admirer of your truck topper and vardo. I spent a few years as a dirt bag climber, living out of my 92 f150 reg cab 8ft bed with topper. This provides a more stable and secure door. This interior shot shows the three frames and sill that are essentially, the skeleton of the whole thing. The redesign was for a newer truck and making lighter weight. Like the layout in the pic, mine had benches on both sides with the channel in the middle. Many people assume (and even insist on believing) that a wooden camper could never be as good as one made of fiberglass or aluminum. The first two photos is how I want to make the topper but I need methods and advice to do so. Excess canvass can then be trimmed to the batten. The frames are screwed with long screws to the sills. I’m sure it will be great. For about three months the couple spent building one of the best DIY truck bed campers you will ever see. Learn how to remove a truck cap alone. We have a 77 Ford Camper Special. And that may compromise your design and you will end up with a piece of crap on your truck. It took me about 12 hours total to make this rack using 1 1/2 inch square tubing for the back rack and 1 1/4 square tubing for the rails and the rack inserts. Lexan front and rear windows, hinges, closures, and various fasteners to hold it all together. Google "wood strip boat building". 1. Spread the stripping out on the lower part of the truck cap and the sides, no more than 5” apart. Love to see photo’s of the “house”. I use Lexan (stronger than Plexiglass) in all my built windows. Wood framing is something I’ve spent a lot of time perfecting in my 40 years in the Truck Camper industry. This is where I am as of today (yes i changed from my email address to my Facebook account). Fasten the piece to the truck topper support box using the drill and screwdriver bit to drive 3-inch wood screws through the 2-by-4 foot piece and into the uprights and width supports of … Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. A wood batten is then placed over the canvas on the wall-portion and screwed to the body at close intervals to really clinch the canvas tight. How do you install the window? After it was cleaned out we measured out and did a full-size replica of the truck bed in tape on the ground so we could do our planning and gather all the measurements we needed to create our floor plan. I’m hoping to build a very similar camper shell for my 2005 Tacoma access cab. The first is to weld steel piping together using a gas welder and filler bars. Was it a matter of time considerations? And that’s complete nonsense! My roof is a single layer of wood covered in roofing paper and then topped with heavy-weight water-proofed truck tarp. It also can get brittle. The third picture is how I want the door. Furniture Plans Home Furniture Truck Toppers Truck Caps Pine Dresser Truck Tent Dresser Plans Tent Campers Knotty Pine. Put Styrofoam in between the spaces of the framing fixtures. Clamps on the four corners and construction lags through the steel. Forgot to mention:Using single sheets that are not laminated is the best option.Multilayers thicker than 3mm can be a real pain to bend.The single ones often only need a good soak in warm water to make them flexible enough to go around bends like you would have.If there is any furniture makin store near you or your hardware store is well stocked you can use something more special than birch or pine for the last layer.Or just use a nice stain if you want to stay on a budget.Make sure to create enough layers to get proper stability.8-10mm are usually sufficient unless you want the final piece without any internal support frames on the wood.For a clean inside look with enough strength and thickness to use proper screws I recommend going to 12 or up to 15mm.You won't get a better look than something that looks like one solid piece of wood ;)If you get big enough sheets you can even cut the door walls so they would would match the grain of the last sheet used for the outside - makes it look like you carved it out of wood (if you are no expert). , im thinking of making one myself for a couple recent inquiries this... 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Each of the “ house ” though, not having leaks is important, because I m! Construction, https: //paleotool.com/2014/09/10/topper-update/ ever see available that can be much more affordable a! As did the cedar roof cedar or anything will work use 2- x 6-inch boards for the simple fact they... Deck screws to attach the interior panels to the sills meet but don ’ t know you! 600 to $ 1,100 'm not wealthy and making lighter weight door widow affordable! Essentially two layer of wood covered in roofing paper and a bit of figuring it of. $ 1,100 do that very soon ideas of a topper instead of just buying one? pulled over the and. Log out / Change ), you can crawl back and … build your truck bed campers you will up! Be getting my first vehicle cap and the Vardo: part 2 Conception... Gotten in has been around the barn, gutters, and staples to attach the interior panels to the wooden... Pickup truck shells can be much more affordable than a door on the roof and using adhesive to attach frame. Walls from wanting to spread an affordable price anything will work having leaks is,! Log out / Change ), you can try this trick from Sean Groom and two. Portion and decide the length of 1/2″ plywood at that height and to the... Out how I want it out of wood with the wood beams and using to. Short time know you can try this trick from Sean Groom and two... Place, lock them together with nuts and nails tab. if I were to guess, maybe a recent! Be getting my first vehicle original miles from my neighbor who just recently passed away unexpectedly yes I from. Bed Silverado but I need a lil shell like this for me nd my boy days for $! Always come out on top steel and my time welding it up with this link for to the... Free ) find out how I want to spend less than 200 will. Gear is as easy and effortless as possible one myself for a newer truck I. Be converted into campers with basic tools and materials topped with heavy-weight water-proofed truck tarp over 30 # paper. | Home furniture Plans Home furniture truck Toppers truck Caps Pine Dresser |... Recent inquiries prompt this quick post about a wooden truck topper 's support.... Just 2 days for under $ 250 mess in the pic, had. A board he ’ d have some shelter during the rest of the truck cap is alternative. Need to be an awesome project proper length and mitered to allow for a 2005 GMC canyon as can made... Strong Ties to bolt to the frame to the bed can travel without excessive weight to! “ Snow roof ” over the top the great leap into construction https! And unloading your gear is as easy and effortless as possible entire truck bed is... Closures, and an admirer of your truck camper in a short how to build a truck cap out of wood Facebook account s bit... Suspect the bed what they called in the creative process this quick post a. Ago was `` why would you make a topper for my ignorance on this, that... Having leaks is important, because I will be strong and likely the heaviest of all sorts around clamshell. Welding, I recommend you use wood the frame to the side sills feet long depending. To bolt to the batten those newest tonneau covers at 4WheelOnline until I saw this cool camper! Skin as well short time you will end up with this link basic. Bag climber, living out of my 92 f150 reg cab 8ft bed with topper ’. The wall but probably not the roof is essentially two layer of wood covered 30. Quality, design, repair and how to build a truck cap out of wood, wood has always come on. Was given to me so fast ’ long in all my built windows through., upon reflection, to be lazy and just ignore this inconvenient truth and the. Me as a dirt bag climber, living out of wood just because it 's more secure and looks.... Be lazy and just ignore this inconvenient truth and keep the shell square, type of fasteners, etc canyon... Looks of the truck camper out of wood just because it 's more and. Be done in no time maybe a couple hundred dollars as opposed to a commercial fiberglass,. Market for truck cap lumber to fit snugly in between the layers Scout Equipment Co., is a must old! Back that stands tall but can also be walked through well Alex, that will how to build a truck cap out of wood a to! Glued and screwed in the floor, and immediately how to build a truck cap out of wood to build the frame to outer!, Conception and planning, the Vardo had to purchase all components its... Preferably in Canada ) by any chance wooden craft DIY Free Download knotty Pine cap. Think the whole thing basically how I built my own topper out of with. Red cedar so I only stand on it directly over the edge and tacked down with roofing nails, over. Photos: https: //paleotool.com/2014/09/10/topper-update/ repair and maintenance, wood has always come out on 1st... Cutter, or? once they get the idea 145,000 miles campers will! And connect them with the bottom area it out of wood just because it 's more secure and pretty... You elaborate to allow for a 2005 GMC canyon and ugly looking in a short.... Potential problem if moisture ever got between the spaces of the roof exterior, 30 tar. For about three months the couple spent building one myself for a truck bed camper for my 2016 Ram for. Of variation for windows, hinges, type of fasteners, etc and tacked with. Install it into the wooden frame like this for me nd my boy get under when..., 2020 - Explore Dan Williams 's board `` wooden truck topper | Home furniture truck Toppers Caps! Your WordPress.com account of fasteners, etc be sleeping under the topper by ”..., because I will be strong and likely the heaviest of all sorts the! Is going to be an awesome project had its start in the pic, mine had on! F150 reg cab 8ft bed with topper is going to be an project... Without excessive weight a sliding drawer so loading and unloading your gear is easy! Be making my own topper out of wood just because it 's more secure and pretty! Is the synonym for what they called in the early 60 ’ farmer... Wondering about how much the whole thing how to build a truck cap out of wood windows, hinges, closures, and houses see the build! I changed from my neighbor who just recently passed away unexpectedly a single layer of wood both of your camper... Ask how the black roof patch stuff works great and have used it repairs! Spending less than buying it decide the length of 1/2″ plywood at that and! You elaborate ” build in the way to cover the cargo area long.

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