Hey Bud, the second color came out very cool. It looks sharp. The build is coming along great, nice job. I am looking forward to seeing it complete and getting used. Thanks for sharing. Mike
Thanks Mike! I’m pretty happy with how it turned out considering what the initial color looked like. I appreciate the comment. I’ll upload a vid of the upcoming trip👍🏽
@@budchap I just moved from Bend to Ashland, so have been busy. I went camping this last week and am starting to get an idea of what things I want in the truck bed and where I might want them for easier use. Hopefully that will help me develop a build that is practical.
Thanks for the video Bud. Looks fantastic. Haha I was thinking carpet squares. Your idea is way better for both insulation and looks! Any footage on carpeting the roof?
Thanks Ryan I appreciate the comment. Yeah I almost went with carpet too. I was going to do the reflectix underneath the carpet for added insulation but decided to choose differently. Didn’t think about it at the time but now I’ll plan and have the option of adding things to the wood siding when before I didn’t want to commit to drilling through the aluminum siding. I have some videos of carpeting/insulating the top but it’s not complete yet. Is that something you’d want to see? I could always through a short video together of how I did it.
Yes, any video on the carpeting would be great. Just thinking of ways to warm up all the aluminum. I opted for no window or opening on the drivers side so adding paneling should be a breeze.
@@ryanbair9099 okay sounds good I’ll put something together about the roof insulation. You might actually be able to make it one solid piece for your truck then.. and if I were you I would spend the few extra bucks and buy that purple insulation board. I think it was like ten more bucks and you get a better R value. Idk why I didn’t opt for that. Probably because I didn’t think the project was going to work out from the beginning haha.
That turned out great, very nice work. I just got a Topo Mesa and my first step is going to be insulating the walls & roof. I mentioned this to my viewers, and several were of the opinion that it was pointless to insulate the walls since the camper is half canvas anyway. I originally had that thought myself, but the few nights I've camped in it over the past month, it feels noticeably colder near the aluminum walls than near the tent canvas, which makes me think those aluminum walls are conducting heat outward much more than the canvas is. That was a lot of words to basically ask you: do you feel like the insulation makes it cozier even with the upper tent portion deployed? To me it seems like any amount of heat loss that can be prevented is a win...just wondering what your experience has been with the insulation in place. A second question: it looks like you sleep below and not in bed the camper came with?
Hey thanks for the comment! Some good questions. So I agree with you that any type of insulation we can add, the better just for less heat loss. Obviously the heat will escape eventually as the night progresses but at least we can slow that progression. I also like that it has created a better sound barrier which helps me sleep at night. So I’m 50/50 with sleeping up top with the camper fully deployed, and then sleeping on my platform below. When I sleep below, I don’t pop the top, so that’s where the wall insulation has really been a benefit. And my last trip I definitely could tell the difference. It still gets cold but it just takes much longer to feel it and then it seems like the camper heats up quickly once I get in the back, just with my body heat. I think another plus of the wood siding is that you can physically mount stuff on it. I thought of drilling into the aluminum but that’s to much of a commitment for me due to all of this just basically being a experiment. I haven’t gotten to that yet (mounting onto the wood siding) but looking forward to possibly making little cubbies that I drill into the siding. When i ordered mine I don’t think they were offering the pads, at that time so I just purchased a stoic 4 inch self inflating pad for up top and then got a foam 4 inch pad off of Amazon for my bed below. Hope this helps and good luck with your build!
Nice build Bud. I ordered a Mesa and having trouble deciding on side panel windows wit security in mind. I like the Tern Arctics in hopes they are too small 12” x 43” to crawl in theough. What do you like and don’t like about the pop out access panels? Also I’m in the East Sierra and concerned how heat conducting from the black powder coat. Any experience w overheating from the black color? Thanks!!
Hey so I personally wouldn’t get for anything but the cargo doors. Just because once you start packing up the truck bed, it fills pretty quick and it’s a pain in the ass to get in and out to access things that may not be immediately by the tail gate. So I will put items that I may need quick access to while on the road near the cargo doors and can just open and reach in.. I always thought I would miss having a window but when I want a view while I’m in the camper, I just open the cargo doors. I don’t like how they leak but I am 90% sure I can seal them once I get to it. Not at the top of my list though since we’re approaching summer. I am pretty paranoid when it comes to security so that was another reason I didn’t order windows. I don’t want people looking in. I honestly wish I went with no back window, don’t know if that’s even an option though. I haven’t noticed any excessive heat conduction from the black powder coat but I also live in a pretty moderate climate. It will get hot to the touch on the exterior but nothing that’s concerning from the interior, and hopefully this paneling/insulation will radiate the heat away and outward with that Mylar film that is on the insulation. Hopefully this helps, and if you have any other questions feel free to hit me up!
picking up my Mesa in July! Nice panel work. This inspired me to do mine once I pick up my Mesa, but probably in lighter color like maple. How is the wall panel holding up?
Nice! I’m sure your ready for install and to take it out. Panels are holding on strong so far.. probably around 1500 miles, mainly being highway/city but about 20-30 miles on dirt. Forest service roads, ohv roads etc but nothing super technical. If anything I would probably use more glue/adhesive than I demonstrated in the video and I would somehow use tension rods or another tool to put pressure on both sides of the camper as the panels set to dry.. if that makes any sense. I just didn’t think of it at the time and didn’t realize how long it takes the adhesive to set. So your going to need some type of tool to put pressure unless your going to sit there and press manually with your hands as it dries. Also do it in the heat of the day so the glue dries quicker. They have a temp range for the adhesive for it to adhere properly. I think I was on the low end because it was winter when I did it. Hope this helps in some way. Good luck with your build
Awesome build!! This is very inspiring - They do make a NON EXPANDING foam FWIW next time!
Hey thanks for the comment! I didn’t know that existed so I appreciate the heads up. Next time I’ll come more prepared haha
Rad video, that wood paneling looks awesome.
Thanks Jonny! I actually follow your build on IG. Coming out really nice so far. Keep up the good work
@@budchap thanks man! I may have to do some camper insulation one of these days. Lmk if it makes a difference 💪🏼
So damn cool man! Love this.. wood paneling in a truck. Great look! Thanks
Thanks man! Yeah I’m happy with the wood paneling. Thanks for tuning in!
Hey Bud, the second color came out very cool. It looks sharp.
The build is coming along great, nice job. I am looking forward to seeing it complete and getting used. Thanks for sharing. Mike
Thanks Mike! I’m pretty happy with how it turned out considering what the initial color looked like. I appreciate the comment. I’ll upload a vid of the upcoming trip👍🏽
TOPO TOPPER🎉🎉🎉🎉
This is really cool. I haven't seen many build-outs of popup toppers.
Thanks Jeff! Yeah it’s a good platform but very basic. Looking forward to see what other people come up with
Very clever way to develop your template. Looks great and should not only help with temperature, but also sound.
Thanks I appreciate that. How’s your build coming along? And hopefully it helps with both noise and temp as your saying
@@budchap I just moved from Bend to Ashland, so have been busy. I went camping this last week and am starting to get an idea of what things I want in the truck bed and where I might want them for easier use. Hopefully that will help me develop a build that is practical.
Looks great Bud!!
Thanks Castro!
Looks great!!
Thank you! Slowly getting there!
Nice!!
Thank you! Cheers
Thanks for the video Bud. Looks fantastic. Haha I was thinking carpet squares. Your idea is way better for both insulation and looks! Any footage on carpeting the roof?
Thanks Ryan I appreciate the comment. Yeah I almost went with carpet too. I was going to do the reflectix underneath the carpet for added insulation but decided to choose differently. Didn’t think about it at the time but now I’ll plan and have the option of adding things to the wood siding when before I didn’t want to commit to drilling through the aluminum siding. I have some videos of carpeting/insulating the top but it’s not complete yet. Is that something you’d want to see? I could always through a short video together of how I did it.
Yes, any video on the carpeting would be great. Just thinking of ways to warm up all the aluminum. I opted for no window or opening on the drivers side so adding paneling should be a breeze.
@@ryanbair9099 okay sounds good I’ll put something together about the roof insulation. You might actually be able to make it one solid piece for your truck then.. and if I were you I would spend the few extra bucks and buy that purple insulation board. I think it was like ten more bucks and you get a better R value. Idk why I didn’t opt for that. Probably because I didn’t think the project was going to work out from the beginning haha.
That turned out great, very nice work.
I just got a Topo Mesa and my first step is going to be insulating the walls & roof. I mentioned this to my viewers, and several were of the opinion that it was pointless to insulate the walls since the camper is half canvas anyway. I originally had that thought myself, but the few nights I've camped in it over the past month, it feels noticeably colder near the aluminum walls than near the tent canvas, which makes me think those aluminum walls are conducting heat outward much more than the canvas is. That was a lot of words to basically ask you: do you feel like the insulation makes it cozier even with the upper tent portion deployed? To me it seems like any amount of heat loss that can be prevented is a win...just wondering what your experience has been with the insulation in place.
A second question: it looks like you sleep below and not in bed the camper came with?
Hey thanks for the comment! Some good questions. So I agree with you that any type of insulation we can add, the better just for less heat loss. Obviously the heat will escape eventually as the night progresses but at least we can slow that progression. I also like that it has created a better sound barrier which helps me sleep at night. So I’m 50/50 with sleeping up top with the camper fully deployed, and then sleeping on my platform below. When I sleep below, I don’t pop the top, so that’s where the wall insulation has really been a benefit. And my last trip I definitely could tell the difference. It still gets cold but it just takes much longer to feel it and then it seems like the camper heats up quickly once I get in the back, just with my body heat. I think another plus of the wood siding is that you can physically mount stuff on it. I thought of drilling into the aluminum but that’s to much of a commitment for me due to all of this just basically being a experiment. I haven’t gotten to that yet (mounting onto the wood siding) but looking forward to possibly making little cubbies that I drill into the siding. When i ordered mine I don’t think they were offering the pads, at that time so I just purchased a stoic 4 inch self inflating pad for up top and then got a foam 4 inch pad off of Amazon for my bed below. Hope this helps and good luck with your build!
Nice build Bud. I ordered a Mesa and having trouble deciding on side panel windows wit security in mind. I like the Tern Arctics in hopes they are too small 12” x 43” to crawl in theough. What do you like and don’t like about the pop out access panels? Also I’m in the East Sierra and concerned how heat conducting from the black powder coat. Any experience w overheating from the black color? Thanks!!
Hey so I personally wouldn’t get for anything but the cargo doors. Just because once you start packing up the truck bed, it fills pretty quick and it’s a pain in the ass to get in and out to access things that may not be immediately by the tail gate. So I will put items that I may need quick access to while on the road near the cargo doors and can just open and reach in.. I always thought I would miss having a window but when I want a view while I’m in the camper, I just open the cargo doors. I don’t like how they leak but I am 90% sure I can seal them once I get to it. Not at the top of my list though since we’re approaching summer. I am pretty paranoid when it comes to security so that was another reason I didn’t order windows. I don’t want people looking in. I honestly wish I went with no back window, don’t know if that’s even an option though. I haven’t noticed any excessive heat conduction from the black powder coat but I also live in a pretty moderate climate. It will get hot to the touch on the exterior but nothing that’s concerning from the interior, and hopefully this paneling/insulation will radiate the heat away and outward with that Mylar film that is on the insulation. Hopefully this helps, and if you have any other questions feel free to hit me up!
picking up my Mesa in July!
Nice panel work. This inspired me to do mine once I pick up my Mesa, but probably in lighter color like maple.
How is the wall panel holding up?
Nice! I’m sure your ready for install and to take it out. Panels are holding on strong so far.. probably around 1500 miles, mainly being highway/city but about 20-30 miles on dirt. Forest service roads, ohv roads etc but nothing super technical. If anything I would probably use more glue/adhesive than I demonstrated in the video and I would somehow use tension rods or another tool to put pressure on both sides of the camper as the panels set to dry.. if that makes any sense. I just didn’t think of it at the time and didn’t realize how long it takes the adhesive to set. So your going to need some type of tool to put pressure unless your going to sit there and press manually with your hands as it dries. Also do it in the heat of the day so the glue dries quicker. They have a temp range for the adhesive for it to adhere properly. I think I was on the low end because it was winter when I did it. Hope this helps in some way. Good luck with your build
Please stop the music when you talking thank you❤