Thread: Design and build a camper trailer - novice

Well, this week has been pretty good. Actually seem to have made some progress - you know the kind that you can see.

Got the kitchen setup finished and screwed in. Got the back section on that. Also go the roof on, and the floor section on the storage area. Plus I got a 1st coat of primer on most of it. O, and got the frame made up for the solar panel.

Pics to prove it.


I've got 2 draws for the middle section of the narrow area of the shelves.

ahhh how good does it feel when you feel/look like your getting somewhere with your project!

Ok so all the sheeting is on the box now! with primer! Kitchen is ready and holes are cut for air intake, fuel and water fillers.











Here's a couple of door frames with the 1st coat of colour on them.


Just realised that you can't see the door frames much... o well....

Next on the list is paint the inside hammertone silver. Then paint the outside, fit the rear door, sheet all the doors, paint doors, wire, plumb, bolt on solar and tent. Need to also make the lifting legs.

Looks good debruiser, your'e cracking along now.

Originally Posted by Cracka

Looks good debruiser, your'e cracking along now.

Thanks Cracka. It felt like it would never end for a while there..... but now that the sheeting is going on it's a different story. Can't wait to get all the fabrication work done so I can move onto wiring and plumbing. Although plumbing is going to be a pain! I know for a fact that the diesel pump has different size fittings on it to the tank and I'm pretty sure that the water is going to have the same issues.

Been doing battle with paint the last week. I think I'm sorta winning. Inside is hammer finish - metalic silver. Outside is Jasmine Green hammertone. I'm not very happy with the finish on the outside. I really struggled getting the gun to throw it... the compressor is old and I think has lost some of it's perk as well so that wasn't helping.

t'rffic job following with much interest. However something seems to have happened to photos in previous posts ... they've apparently been moved/deleted from the host. any chance of resurrecting them?

FWIW: The use of a fan to pressurise the camper body is OK providing that you have it pretty well sealed, otherwise the fan can't keep up. It draws the dust in because of the very large vacuum produced behind the camper body. A pair of simple deflectors to redirect airflow around the rear of the camper body ( like they used to have to deflect air across the rear windows of EH Holden station wagons) can help a lot...

Originally Posted by Hoges

t'rffic job following with much interest. However something seems to have happened to photos in previous posts ... they've apparently been moved/deleted from the host. any chance of resurrecting them?

FWIW: The use of a fan to pressurise the camper body is OK providing that you have it pretty well sealed, otherwise the fan can't keep up. It draws the dust in because of the very large vacuum produced behind the camper body. A pair of simple deflectors to redirect airflow around the rear of the camper body ( like they used to have to deflect air across the rear windows of EH Holden station wagons) can help a lot...

Yea I was sorting out my photobucket and apparently the photos don't work. If I get a chance tonight I will see if I can sort it out.

The fan thing... yea I'm hoping that I get a reasonable seal, but wont really know until I get the doors finished. The rest of the box should good, I've used 3 tubes of sicaflex 221 - everywhere that the sheeting touches metal it has sicaflex under it. IF the fan can't keep up I might looking at getting a better one (this one is just a series 3 LR fan and fan box) OR might just jam a better motor on the fan.... see how it goes first.

Well after a couple more weeks of working part time on the camper here is some progress.

Roof bars to put the tent on. and mount the solar to.


Water and air pump installed


a door ready for paint


Kitchen area fabrication complete. Just got to finish the door and attach:


Kitchen door/bench, needs a sink and hinges/locks.


Tomorrow I will be working on the rest of the doors to get them to painting stage.