r/TruckCampers

Just got back from 11 days. 400 watts solar / 230 amp hour lithium ran the fridge without issues; 3 days with clouds I got down to around 20 percent. The go power PWM charge controller is junk and doesn’t give a remotely accurate battery percentage so I have just been using a lithium voltage chart. Will be installing a MPPT with built in DC to DC charging asap. Any input on where to run the wire in?

Very annoyed that the cabinet enclosures are veneered MDF; cabinet doors are solid wood.

Much preferred the sliding pocket bathroom door on my NL to the bi-fold door.

The skylight doesn’t add allot of heat and provides allot of natural light.

The new torq lift stairs with the adjustable leg posts are very handy.

Added some much needed spice rack storage and some command hooks on the mirror.

Converted the dinette to a permanent day/kid bed/gear pile.

Overall pleased with its size and weight. Even with 38 gallons of water it drives much better than my old unit.

Drove up fire and tower roads in Big Sur this past weekend pushing my truck farther than I ever have. It would probably be easy for most of yall but having never wheeled before it was a bit scary to carry 2000lbs up 30% grades with moguls and loose rock

But I finally got to use 4lo and the rear locker which made it incredible easy. The truck handles everything with ease. Plus I finally earned some pinstripes on both the truck and camper

Also: new procedure for off-roading. EVERYTHING ON THE FLOOR. Realized it a bit too late the first time.

Last pic is a stop at Pismo Beach

1996 Northern Lite 610

Sadly for me, but lucky for you we have decided to part ways with our pristine 1996 Northern Lite 610 ( The original owner before me who kept it stored in a heated shop its whole life )

We purchased this camper last year off the original owner, and sold our 1994 and kept this one, we couldn’t pass it up as he had it stored in a heated shop and the plastic was still on the mattress and it was flawless. We recently welcomed a new born and decided we are going to switch to a travel trailer we can pull with our 4Runner to accommodate more stuff and also our two dogs.

Like mentioned previously, the camper is pristine and in one of a kind condition - No leaks, no cracks in weather stripping, no rust, no sun fading, pump, all electrical, furnace work great, minor interior renovation by wife!

We are located in Okotoks just south of Calgary AB, I know selling this camper is going to be a sh*tshow as it was a sh*tshow trying to get my hands on one (took me 2-3years) I have priced it high for a reason and looking for serious inquiries, it will be first come first serve at the right price!

It’s been a while since I offered an update, most of them have been posted to my Instagram (DM me for the tag!) but here’s a few pictures!

-Got the PMF on and painted, I wish I had time to trial run some different methods but I am on a severe time crunch

-Inside has 1/4 inch Luan stained “Premium teak” with 3 coats of polyurethane: It’s light as hell but a bear to work with… don’t use painters tape

-Trim installed to clean up the edges

-Windows and vent fan installed with Butyl tape, pre-drilled screws, and tons of RTV on every screw

-Hurricane hinge installed with aluminum trim and door seals to keep out water. Ran some RV sealant around all windows to seal out the moisture

-Gate door T handles installed along with aluminum stoppers to hold the door nice and tight against the sealing surface

-got real technical and fancy with the door bottom seal, consisting of a door threshold trim piece, a cap extruded aluminum piece and a t-rail extruded vinyl used by a custom cap builder in my area.

-Aluminum bracket extending to the bed frame to hold the weight of the front of the camper to the bed instead of relying on the side rails

-Paint mockup to be completed I the next month

Despite the payload police constantly checking me, I’m still on track to have the full build weigh under payload capacity, even with various suspension upgrades!!

This whole project has been an intense learning experience from start to now and I’m not even 75% finished with the whole build… stay tuned as it gets ready to mount on my truck, and I get the final weight counts!!

Been using this rig for a couple years now, but looking for a more secure option for what’s in the bed of the truck. Looking to include a couple mountain bikes for our trips. Thinking a camper shell instead of the bed rack would be the way to go. What do y’all think? Looking for camper shell recommendations.

I planned on painting it next week , probably will build my battery box this week also. Interior is far from finished but probably usable for a short trip.

I’m an avid camper. I have a 4x4 off-road Toyota Tacoma with a truck shell that I built a platform and drawers for and my pup and I fit great in.

There’s a new person and a dog in the mix now and I’m also just getting tired of crawling in and out of that tiny ass shell.

I’ve recently come into some ‘Monopoly money’ with some stocks hitting it big and can buy this guilt free. I want a completely sufficient truck within legal capacity that will keep me and my family safe. We go on forest roads (nothing crazy) - but I don’t like campgrounds and still plan on doing mostly dispersed in PNW.,

My plan is to get an older truck bed camper- anywhere from mid-90s to early 2000s so I can learn the ropes on having one, use it to learn how to fix things, etc. I figure if I hate it, that will be little money lost and the truck will still have good resale value.

I’m just here looking for last minute thoughts, tips, any ‘if I could do anything I want with the experience I have now, this is what I would do’ advice? This is a mega purchase and it’s a nerve wracking thing to pull the trigger on 😅

I got a 13 sierra 1500 with some mods i want to add a overcab camper it weights 1980 sticker on my truck is around 1500 im around 500lbs over with a full camper means gas food and everything so at max ill be 500 over is that over kill???
35s on 17s
Headers
Tranny cooler
Intake
Exhaust
Tuned

I got this bed cap of market place don’t know exact model, but the bottom corner of the window that faces into the truck is popped out, I managed to get the weather stripping part back on but just not sure how to get it back into the fiberglass edge, any suggestions?

Aluminum framing and aluminum composite panels for this very light slide-in camper.

I want it to be as versatile as possible.

Wide hatch opening for easy access to bigger stuff and small door for the camper version.

First build the lower box only, same height as the truck cab.

The second build will get the pop-up roof addition.

I don't need it bigger than that as we already have our house on wheels behind the truck.

I’d like your input on a decision I’m in the middle of. I need more space in my bed. Ive got a coupon to take down the price of the OVS pro+ to $2,800.. well actually, i already ordered the thing but since it wont get here until mid-august I figure i can potentially cancel the order if I go with the Leer. The side doors swing up which will be great for getting tools out of the back but the windows are tiny and dont have a screen (I will 100% be camping out the back- a quarter of the reason I went with a long bed was for this purpose the other 3/4 was bc im in construction and need the space for my tools). However as of right now theres no way to open the thing from the inside. I did email them to ask if they were working on different locks so that i could confidently camp inside without having to call the fire department, and OVS said the locks were in the works.

Then a guy 2 hours north of me is selling his Leer 100xr for $1,900. Different color, silver Leer and the forrest green tacoma (i will prolly get it wrapped or painted depending on local prices). While the Leer doesnt have those swinging quicklift opening sides, it does have large windows with screens and comes with a locking/unlocking key fob + a dome light inside.

So i mean for a grand less, i could grab the leer and have it installed by next week. I just dont necessarily wanna cut myself short on potential with the swinging hinged side doors cause that was a decent selling point for me.. i just wish that they had bigger opening windows with an included screen. And again, as of right now, there is no official way to escape the bed without keeping the cap unlocked (and also hoping that a passerby doesnt lock it on me).

The other thing, and moreso sorta the main point is my tools. Im in contruction; remodeling. I feel like theyre about the same as for keeping my tools secure. Are the hinging side doors worth the extra dough? Do i keep my original decision and stick with the OVS for hopes that they come out with a locking/unlocking set for truck bed camping? Or do i go with the Leer? - the other big thing here is the ability to throw a cab rack and a cap rack on my truck so that i can haul lumber over top of my rig. Any advice on that front would be great too.

Photos are just of the mockups to help me decide. FYI: The photos of the ovs mockup arent really proportionate. The cap would sit flush with my roof. Also, i blacked out the badges as well as the ‘TACOMA’ print on the tailgate.

I will say tho, i have the syneticusa tonneau cover and also live in south florida. That said, those locks are a pain in the ass every time bc they get boiling hot. I would hope that the leer is easier to handle.