Many people are choosing to build their own truck camper instead of buying one. It can be a great way to save money, but it does require some planning. If you are planning on building your own truck camper you should be prepared to do a lot of research. You will need to choose your building materials, construct the frame, and create the shell.
Creating a truck camper for your expedition is about as home improvement goes. It’s really important to get the job done right, so you’ll have reliable shelter when heading out on the open road. Keep reading to find out some great steps you can take in order to build your very own rig, and start making any ideas you’ve had just an actual thing.
What type of camper and what type of truck do you need for a DIY Expedition Truck Camper?
The first thing you need to decide on is what type of camper you want. The main two types are hitch mount and deck mounted. Hitch mounted campers (the one which you tow) are going to be a little easier to put together, but you may need to invest more money into a truck as well. There are a number of hitch-mounted options to choose from, as well as other campers that can be mounted to your truck. Every camper is different and what is perfect for one, doesn’t have to be for another. It is important that you do your research online. Try to find reviews of various camper shells before you decide what you are going to create.
Deciding on the type of camper will also help you figure out what kind of truck you’re going to need. These projects tend to get out of hand on a limited budget so it’s important that you figure out how much money you’re going to invest. Based on your budget you can examine the possibilities. If you’re not prepared to put some money into the project then you’ll probably want to look for something smaller. All too often people start putting together these projects without looking at the cost of the materials and end up with a non-working rig. So be sure to do that before you spend your hard-earned money on these items.
Why Build an Expedition Truck Camper?
Overland trucks are often designed to be your getaway home while on the road or traveling in the wilderness and/or remote areas. When arriving at a camping spot people mainly use them as their camping base especially for places that aren’t well equipped with public or sanitary camping facilities. Most overland expedition truck campers are built with a robust and heavy-duty design to accommodate any type of terrain and road conditions. They typically provide a cozy, all-season living space that provides the comforts of home while on the road. They have the capability to travel long distances with the ability to carry a good deal of gear and supplies.
Most of the time people build overland truck campers to support their own activities in the outdoors and people use them them for both short and long-term adventures. Proper overland truck campers are the ones that can be easily transported on public highways but can also leave the paved roads. And believe us, a comfortable, cozy truck camper that has good construction and plenty of space is an excellent travel companion.
The Requirements of a Expedition Truck Camper
An expedition truck camper is one that is designed for off-road camping and can be driven in any terrain. This means it needs to be extremely durable and able to survive many different climates and terrains. They also need to be equipped with a durable, leakproof roof that is able to stand up against the weather and harsh conditions. They are built to be able to drive on rough roads and rough terrain so you want to be sure that you equip your expedition truck with a heavy-duty suspension that can handle off-road driving. A good offroad truck has great approach-, break-over, and departure angles. If you don’t know what those angles are, don’t worry. We’ve created a blog post about these angles for the most popular 4×4 vehicles.
Besides offroading, the suspension is also designed to be able to carry heavy loads, including lots of gear. A fully functional expedition truck camper will have enough space to hold everything you need for an extended camping trip often for multiple weeks. As an extra feature, expedition truck campers are often also equipped with a rear hitch, which allows them to tow extra gear behind the vehicle.
Today, there are tons of modern expedition truck campers available on the market and many of these expedition trucks also come with a rooftop tent, making them even more versatile. These modern campers are more affordable and easy to use than their classic predecessors.
Planning for a DIY Camper Build
A DIY camper build is probably a project that you have likely never done before. A few possible problems are missing or unclear instructions to built one, too many parts, and not having the right tools. There are lots of resources available on the internet for this type of project. Building your own DIY camper is not for the faint of heart. The first difficulty you’ll run into is the lack of detailed instructions. It’s unlikely that every single detail will be covered. In fact, it is possible that some details will be missing altogether. In addition, some detail of the building process may be left out. It’s also possible that some tools will not be available in your country. If that is the case, you’ll need to visit a specialty store or order online.
There are many places that sell parts and can source tools for you. Always try to keep in mind that it’s easier to go wrong while building a DIY camper, so if you run into problems, talk to other camper builders and people who have tried the same project. To finish it off it is also important to make sure that you have enough space to build a camper. You’ll need space for the cabin, storage, and living space.
Using Truck Camper Plans to Build Your Own
Truck camper plans can be a nice blueprint for building your own camper. Truck camper plans are great because it walks you through every step of the process and is filled with pictures. This process of building your own truck can take weeks, months, and even multiple years, but the end result is well worth it. Building a truck camper is challenging, but once completed, you have a fully functioning mobile home that is completely yours and makes you proud to pull up your driveway. When you’ve saved up a bit of money to build your truck, start looking at plans. There are a few that you can use as a guide, but you’ll need to make minor changes in order to make it fit your truck. Once you have found a few plans that you like, go out and buy all the materials necessary to build the camper. We’ve compiled a shortlist of inspirational truck camper builds and plans:
- http://www.wildwewander.com/diy-truck-camper
- http://www.butlerprojects.com/other/truckcamper/index.htm
- https://www.overlandkitted.com/four-wheel-drive/2018/8/27/build-this-diy-truck-camper
- http://homebuilt-trkcamper.blogspot.com/
- https://imgur.com/gallery/RokIb
If you are planning to build your own teardrop trailer then can truly recommend this book: Building a Teardrop Trailer: Plans and Methods for Crafting an Heirloom Camper Paperback. This book is also really useful if you want to start looking into building your own camper because it is very detailed. In different chapters they describe the undercarriage and everything from the size of the steel to what axle needs to go underneath it. Other chapters cover wiring, heating, solar systems, propane plumbing, and how to create an efficient galley.
Conclusion
As you can see, building your own expedition truck is a lot of work. So the question becomes, “How much work is it worth it?” The real answer is that it’s up to you. The benefit of building a camper is that you can make it exactly what you want. If you get tired of it, you can just deconstruct it and start again. You can create a mobile home for yourself on wheels and often this whole process is fun and rewarding. Oh and by the way, when you have your truck and you start offroading with it, always be prepared for the worst. We’ve compiled an article with the top 10 of must-have gear for every offroad trip which you might find interesting as well.
