Biggest Mistakes I Made Building This DIY Truck Camper
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- Опубліковано 22 гру 2024
- In this video I share some of the biggest mistakes I made while building my DIY truck camper. These are things I WON'T do again with my next homemade camper! I also share some of the things I'm enjoying most about the build!
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Timmy's build from Truck House Life solves both the water runoff issue AND the headroom issue by having a roof that is peaked in the center.
This channel still delivering great content even without the Element. Thanks for putting this content out
Good to see you Nate. This was interesting, always like your reviews on things. Also appreciate that your's is a drama free channel.✌️🤗
I think the thing I really liked about this video is just the overall transparency that you show Nate. Long time subscriber and I was impressed by the build when you did it 9 months ago and just the desire to learn from mistakes. Don't see that often. Big fan
I too built a camper like this - for the door leaking, I would add a metal flange (flap) that extends over the cap and add some weather stripping behind it. For the white paint scuffs, paint it in semi-gloss, and use Mr. Clean sponges to clean up the scuffs. The Mr. Clean sponges might work without even making it a semi-gloss. I'll put a video together of my build and share it. Thanks for sharing what you learned!
I appreciate the frank discussion. Very good observations and lessons learned.
I really appreciate the self evaluation you have done! I will be doing a flatbed build 2025 with canvas and Durabak..love the validation. I have done light paint in the past, and one thing that has helped is a single "medium thick" coat of water based spar varnish (does not yellow) over the paint. Satin or matt finish keeps the shine down and a quick wipe with a magic eraser gets the scuffs off without taking paint. Exterior door molding will help direct water away from the gaps. Durabak the interior surfaces of the door jam with a .25 inch sill plate to direct any water away from the inside. I have added larger rubber automotive trim gaskets to my door(s) opening as well on test builds. Now I have to go back and binge watch your whole build! Excellent job!
Life is a learning process. Thanks for sharing.
Magic eraser gets rid of scuff marks on white paint. Nice build!
Good to see your thinking on your build! Have you thought of using melamine paint? It's easy to scrub it clean.
3rd! It works for him and he can always build another one to suit his future needs.
Glossy over Matte cleans up easier.
Was going to make the same suggestion.
Like manufactured Rv's, try using/installing rv rain gutter strips where needed. Also your camper if building an overhead bed for sure will give you a lot more room. If you're gonna go to all the trouble & money, build it so you can stand up all the fully in it. Give yourself that enjoyable room for u & a friend. For weight,,, build with cedar, frame & all. This will give you the lightest weight possible. I've seen a video with you and Endgame camper, Dave. He builds all his with cedar. He has one (7.0 build), you can stand up fully in it with a overhang bed that's only 650 pounds. Thats incredible! I'm gonna start building mine here hopefully soon, with the same technique. Looking forward to your next build!👍
Always great to have you back Nate!
I'm building my own camper i ended up making it 6ft interior which is perfect for me to stand up and I installed a full size rv door on sale for 150 dollars and I'm using some plastic 1/8" sheets to cover the outside and using trim on the corners i ended up not doing a cab over to keep it simple and lighter.... these campers around me are insanely priced building one is completely worth it all the wood only cost me 500 and I probably have about 1k into the entire thing so far
That's great! It sure takes talent to do something like that!
....pic?
I'm anxious to build one myself. But I would like to have a over cab sleeping area. Any advice? On structure to support that weight?
I think you had about 3000 when I started watching your channel. Now 99.8 K come on put a few videos out more frequently you’re almost over the line. ❤
Thanks for the update and the honest assessment of your camper. I’m currently in the middle of my own camper build which hope to start uploading those videos by early next year. Looking forward to more videos on your camper.
That's a great wind dam. You must get at least 10 mpg lower..😮
Slim Potatohead repurposed a used snow board to create a spoiler on the back of his Jeep/trailer combo. Low dollar fix and probably would see some improvement.
I think I would go with your previous truck campers you had on the back of your truck. I would think they would be easier to maintain and would be lighter, plus they can expand to allow you to standup.
Remarkable what you can do-it-yourself!
Thanks for the update. Very interesting.
Very nice video 📹 presentation 👍. Two thumbs up 👍. See you on the next one adventurer 😊.
Thanks for the update. On my box truck after removing the roll up door I framed the wall with 2x2s and plywood then bonded FRP panels over the plywood then put it in position. After 5 years it still looks clean and butyl tape has kept the water out around the edges
here and excited to watch the next build good video
Thank you for another informative video. With white paint we always got simi glossy because it wipes down better. Magic eraser works good for scuffs too. I just repainted when things get too marked up. Thank you again for taking us along on your journey. Blessings.
Naysayers. Whatever. You are very good at this camper stuff. I'm in my Grand caravan atm. This is great. I agree with $$ for slide ins. I'm a truck girl and you are my fave for the builds. I'm already stockpiling materials in my garage for something similar
your construction skills are amazing...love how you utilize pocket holes in your framing...so much time and effort has gone into your builld..great job...
Enjoyed watching and good to see you.
You did a great job with your camper. A suggestion for the interior walls instead of paint, use formica laminate sheets for the walls.
Make some foamie cabinets out of 1 inch xps paint on screen mesh on the shelves and enjoy light but sturdy storage.
Hello, I have watched a few of your videos. Can you please talk (in your future video) about (or is it already covered in one of your videos?) how your truck camper is secured (attached) to your truck? Also Did you add any extra framing support to the four corners where your four jacks are used to lift your truck camper? Thanks again...
Thanks, I’ve enjoyed watching your videos. Can you say what is the height of the interior from floor to ceiling?
If you want to go white inside I would suggest FRP. If glued to plywood it is very tough and wipes clean easily. You can get in various textures, or smooth.
Good video 😀
FYI,
As there are auto wrecking yards in the world, there are also
Rv wrecking yards where all you will find is old Rvs whose parts
are for sale. ALSO-Elkhart, Indiana is ground zero for most of
the Rvs built in the US. Also in this town are a couple of HUGE
warehouses open to the public just stuffed to the rafters with
brand new Rv parts acquired from the Rv makers in town.
Discontinued items and such. Everything in these warehouses
go for cheap.
!
if you run an aluminum strip across the back on the roof like you did above your door, the bulk of your rainwater will be diverted to the back corners.
I watched the videos where you built it. If you had increased the height, how much more would it have cost? Great build.
Thanks for sharing
Might have better luck with a full gloss White paint, should be a smoother surface and wipe clean maybe?
A contrast of grey and white paint would be my choice. Grey for the inside fins (lower) and white for everything else.
You can create a angle on roof that's just cosmetic but will help
Would a magic eraser work on the scuff marks?
If you think an angle on the roof will fix your leaking door problem, jack up one end or one side and put some 2x6 and plywood as a wedge. That will angle the roof, test it and see if it works, the 1.5" angle shouldnt bother you to much.
Of course you are still in Florida of all places lmao 😂😂
4:01 dodo it again lol 😂 he said doodo
Everything you say in this video is exactly what I did to my DIY Truck Camper. 1 year later and holding up. Sail Boats of the Land
do you have a microwave or instant pot in there?
Maybe make the roof a popup
Already nine months? Time flies!
Maybe adding a flat rubber gasket around the door would stop the water from coming in.
Try White Poly Board
Coat it with Okon. -white paint
You should put actual siding on the exterior instead of just painting it when you do your remodel.
Okay way cool 😎 that you know now. Hope you can check out my light weight foam camper blessings
1 0 0 K ! ! ! soooo close
Just put some weather stripping around the door.
Why not take the tailgate off? One less issue and can’t be stolen
😊😊
Get the good door and leave gate behind. Comes right off
I have found that painted plywood doesn't stand up to rain after a few years.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
2nd! Jesus Wins. Love the update Nate
I would ditch the tailgate for fear someone would close it and I could not get out
@4:00 he said "doodoo" 😂
@8:33 he doodooed again and then again a few seconds later. 3 doodoos in 10 minutes. Damn!🤦🏻💩💩💩
put a coat ofploy
Where is your girlfriend?
I don't know on this one you always build out or rehabilitate aesthetically pleasing vehicles but this thing is terrible-it's ugly and on that big old gas guzzling truck it's like wow why not drive a class A. It's a waste of material and money. Love the channel and always leave positive comments-sorry for the hard take here but I hope you don't continue on with this behemoth.
Building a camper is way cheaper than a class a plus he can still tow with the truck plus you learn from building and build your skills and the truck is way easier to drive and you can park anywhere
A lot of reasons to choose this over a class A main one being able to camp and sleep many more places without disturbing or drawing attention to you selffrom people and more importantly the law!
He took pride in building what HE wanted. And it's working for him. I think it's not bad. I'd change a few things, just as he suggested. Anybody can go BUY a camper like the many of hundreds of people. Most are cookie cutter units. When you build, it's one of a kind and if you are happy with it , that's all that matters. Great job.😎👍
Sometimes people don't have the money to buy class A stuff. Or even if they do, maybe they'd rather save the money and try to build themselves. I believe if he does build another camper, I believe it will turn out well. He's got the ambition, curiosity, & drive to build it. People that don't know how to do things for themselves, instead pay big bucks to buy new or have other people to do for them. These people are lazy in the mind and don't try to build & create. Afraid of failure! Even the best builders fail. But the never give up!👊
Friend mimic what you did above the door to stop the rain entering your camper above all openings plus silicone to stop the damage.
Kinda junky, just buy a new truck camper.