Re-doing my Bed Camper and making a toyhauler

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Well after using my camper for a few years, it was time to fix the rooted wood areas.

My camper is a 1974 Cascade.
I got this camper for free.. I helped a buddy put an engine in his CJ and he gave me this.. It has worked great so far.. but it has seriously needed some work for a while.. so here goes.

This will be on going for a few weeks until I finish it.

Here are pics of it being used for wheeling trips in the past.

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

The main problem areas are where the jacks were mounted.. over the years water has gotten in and rotted the wood..

pics showing some of root

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

ore pics

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

After I ripped apart both sides I replaced the 1x2 and 1x3 main supports then layed the plywood up in place and braced it.. once that was all done I put all the exterior paneling back on.

and I have been trying to figure out the best way to seal the wood and new stuff.. I contacted Blaze and got some Al's Liner.. ( I got white)..So I taped off the top of camper and sprayed all the new wood and about a 4" strip around the sides.

After that I took some angle iron cut it to lenght, then Drilled holes in it so I could attach it to the new wood. I am trying to make better supports for the jacks and by running the angle iron it will spread the load along the entire camper.. not just the corners.

YOu can see the difference from bedliner vs not

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

next is to get the jacks mounted back up.. then attack the inside.. it is time to update the inside.. needs some paint, some new wood, new floor, etc...

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Well I found a cheap parts camper on CL.. so I brought it home today and put it in the garage.. soon these two will become one

1976 Starcraft


Camper in garage


roof was destroyed so I took it off


Roof next to the garage

[shortystowing]

I did the same thing to a small pop up camper for parts of my build, and for the price of some plywood I have a great little throw around trailer from the frame. I used it today behind my wife's Kia Rio to bring a tracker rear axle home...

[80beaterf-250]

Will that angle iron hit the roof of your cab?

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Originally Posted by shortystowing

I did the same thing to a small pop up camper for parts of my build, and for the price of some plywood I have a great little throw around trailer from the frame. I used it today behind my wife's Kia Rio to bring a tracker rear axle home...

ya a buddy of mine told me when done with pop up rip it apart and keep the frame.. so I may end up doing what you did.

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Originally Posted by 80beaterf-250

Will that angle iron hit the roof of your cab?

roof?

there is no angle near the roof. if you mean top of the bed.. then nope.. I took measurements before putting it on.

[76scoutman]

Cool. I'm curious what you're going to do with the interior.

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

well took some measurements last night of pop up slide and then interior of bed camper.. and it will work.. but I need to shorten the slide to fit and keep the bed camper strenght.. so tonight we start cutting and fitting

[MT4Runner]

Slide/tent out the side of the bed camper?

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Slide/tent out the side of the bed camper?

ya I do try some different things

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Well Jph0913 came over to give me a hand and make sure the camper did not fall apart on me

we tore apart the pop up and took the slide off, then took a bunch of measurements and cut it up to make it a little smaller

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

next we took out the window that was there and we cut a big hole in the side

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

after that it was time to see how it fits..

so we put it in place to make sure this will actually work and it does

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

next is to start trimming off the opening with flashing and do some more bracing and finish work.. then comes the hard part.. getting the canvas to work correct and figuring out how to seal this hole

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by Ken Carter / BRUISER

ya I do try some different things

I like it! Subscribed.

I'm interested to see how it turns out; I've considered a tip-out/canvas bed in the wall of my toterhome.

How about a framed covering for the opening that folds out flat (and in plane with the slide platform), hinged to the sliding platform, so you could have a Queen size bed instead of the single on the slide! Maybe some telescoping rods underneath to support it?

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

I like it! Subscribed.

I'm interested to see how it turns out; I've considered a tip-out/canvas bed in the wall of my toterhome.

How about a framed covering for the opening that folds out flat (and in plane with the slide platform), hinged to the sliding platform, so you could have a Queen size bed instead of the single on the slide! Maybe some telescoping rods underneath to support it?

the tip out is what i wanted originally but I could not find them for sale.. and the biggest issue is always making the canvas.. Do you know where to buy the tip out one?

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

oh and this bed is 70" in length by 54" wide

I think my 19 month old will fit

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

Well My dad helped me last night get the edge framed in then we put plastic vinyl siding over the edges to help seal them.

Still lots more to do

here is the bed slid all the way in


slid all the way out.. the tilt looks worse then it is.. plus the supports that go under it are not there.




From inside with bed slid out..

[twoslo4five0]

subscribed

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by Ken Carter / BRUISER

Do you know where to buy the tip out one?

I've only seen them on newer (0-4 year old) bumper pull trailers, usually on the back of the trailer, sometimes on the front. Haven't seen any parts/wrecked ones yet.

It wouldn't be too hard to make the canvas from scratch, but would be pretty involved getting it to seal up into the opening in the wall so it didn't look too crusty.

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

well I had to modify the support bar, then I washed the old canvas(still needs more washing) and then got it up and tested it to see how it will fit..
It is not perfect but to me it is not worth the money to have it cut down to fit perfect.. maybe down the road if it works out good in the long run.

Here it is looking from front to the back


Looking form the back


Do not mind the dark area that was still wet from me washing it.


another angle to show space from inside.


next is to work on door that will cover the hole when slide is pushed in