Slide on Campers or Motorhome with bed over cab
Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 09:43
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kev.h
Looking at building a camper/ for the back of my 4WD Mitsubishi Canter still in design stage
A few questions for those who have had experience with bed over cab type campers
1 - Is the bed over cab practical ?
2 - What height do I need in the bed area for comfortable access ?
3 - Is a pop top over the bed practical to increase head clearance without being too high overall ?
4 - Does a pop top create problem packing up in the rain I hate packing up my camper trailer wet ?
5 - Three way fridge on Gas or 12v and solar ?
6 - Any other hints that may help with the design I will be using Composite Panel for the construction
Thanks in advance
Kev
Reply By: pop2jocem - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:14
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:14
kev,
No personal experience, but I was looking at something similar at one stage. Assuming the Canter has a tilt cab and you are not changing that design radically you might consider how you will tilt the cab for routine maintenance if you put a bed over the cab.
Just a thought.
Cheers
Pop
AnswerID:
509651
Follow Up By: kev.h - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:19
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:19
No issue there its a dual cab so does not tilt in the usual manner (has the cab semi fixed big job to lift cab) the camper will be easily removed if required for major engine work
Thanks kev
FollowupID:
787591
Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:44
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:44
Yeah, fair enough mate, didn't realise yours was a dual cab. Looked at going the dual cab way myself when the kids were at
home. I did see one that used a hydraulic cylinder to lift the cab but it all got too hard in the end so we opted for a Troopy with camper trailer.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Cheers
Pop
FollowupID:
787594
Reply By: Member - wicket - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:48
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:48
Not sure if you've seen this site
expeditionportal but very informative with several of the posters doing similar to what you have in mind, they are documenting as they go.
Also there is a very helpful bloke in
Canberra doing a canter build at the moment, his site is full of useful info
canter4x4.
Good luck with this, I'm planning something similar (no cab over) on the new Iveco 4x4 cab chassis.
After reading all through the above sites I'll be finding someone to build it for me though
AnswerID:
509655
Follow Up By: kev.h - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 12:36
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 12:36
Hi Wicket
The Iveco looks the goods I would have looked closer at it except I already own the Canter
Yes I have looked at those sites the canter4x4 with the coil
suspension is way out of my budget
Have you seen this site (
http://www.traveltrucks.com.au) I have dealt with Kym he is very helpful he was building Earth Cruisers prior to his current venture
Thanks Kev
FollowupID:
787603
Follow Up By: Member - wicket - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 13:25
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 13:25
Have spoken to Kym on a couple of occasions looks like he's the goto guy for Iveco stuff.
Good luck with the build, just make sure you post up plenty of photos and info as you go ;)
FollowupID:
787611
Follow Up By: Member - wicket - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 13:32
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 13:32
bugger, that should be 'dual'
where's the edit button David ?
FollowupID:
787613
Follow Up By: kev.h - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 14:20
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 14:20
Hi Wicket
Well sort of more like this one (
http://www.freedomoffroad.com.au/product/17/northstar_nomad_9.html)
If I go with a pop top it will only be over the bed area I will have 1.9/2.0m in the living area
I haven't figured out how to put a link in like you did so its copy and paste, its on the same site
Cheers Kevin
FollowupID:
787619
Follow Up By: Member - wicket - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 14:38
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 14:38
The trouble with pop tops and hardside campers (as I see it) is the height, even when closed a poptop on the canter is pretty tall.
Here's a very clever solution, you'll get the bed and living area in on a small footprint, I think these guys are now out of business but plenty of photos to give you some ideas
Highrise trayback
FollowupID:
787624
Follow Up By: kev.h - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 17:05
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 17:05
Without moving the bed out of the living area on a dual cab the living space is cramped have looked at sliding the bed out, folding the bed out etc and having the camper a pop top same height as the cab but they all have problems with the design
With a pop top and slide-out you loose a fair amount of strength from your body
A over cab pop top still does not give standing room without raising the top
I don't believe the height will pose too many problems where I intend to go, we will be towing a Suzuki for a run around and for the tight tourist tracks it will be fitted out for overnight camping as
well with roof top tent slide out kitchen and fridge
Kev
FollowupID:
787641
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:53
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 10:53
The most difficult issue with the Canter will be the very flexable chassis.
There is massive movement between the body and the cab which will necessitate large clearance, which in turn increases the total height.
Our bed runs N-S rather than E-W and that has great advantages. Still, anything under 1M above the matress will make life difficult for bed making and maybe chlostrophobic
It was for this reason that we added a pop-top just over the bed area. In really bad weather we can sleep with it down.
Stick with a compressor fridge and as much solar as possible.
Composite panel is the only way to go.
Trade up to an OKA :-)
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID:
509656
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 11:00
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 11:00
Useful site and contact for you ....
http://epicycles.com/
Construction blog here....
http://epicycles.com/Truck%20Blog/2010-01-01/2010-01-01.htm
This vehicle is now in Europe having been driven overland via China and Russia, but not without some "issues" related to flexable chassis, and
suspension.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
FollowupID:
787596
Follow Up By: kev.h - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 13:19
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 13:19
Thanks peter
That's a different concept
Almost all the trucks that go with the rear pivot system seem to encounter chassis issues it is difficult to engineer out the twisting motion and the chassis was not designed for three point loading - (this one with the pivot close to the diff is far better than the ones that have the pivot at the rear)
My design is to spring mount the sub frame so it spreads the load over the length of the chassis this system does not seem to have the same amount of chassis issues
There is very little vertical movement between the rear of the cab and the body with the major movement at the rear of the chassis in relation to the cab
The horizontal movement of the cab in relation to the body has to be taken into account and does have an effect on the clearance required your right there
How do i access the movie of your Oka ?
Cheers Kev
FollowupID:
787609
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 14:37
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 14:37
How do i access the movie of your Oka ?
Double click should do it.
I could email you a pile of notes I did for someone else.
The epicycle one also needed a complete spring change when it got to Europe (to parabolics) and the spare wheels broke the camper chassis rails.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
FollowupID:
787623
Follow Up By: kev.h - Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 17:13
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 at 17:13
Thanks peter
"Double click should do it." now why didn't I think of that
"I could email you a pile of notes I did for someone else." that would be great any help is appreciated
kev.h*bigpond.com (* = @)
thanks Kev
FollowupID:
787642
Reply By: Member - Ann D (WA) - Friday, Apr 26, 2013 at 14:50
Friday, Apr 26, 2013 at 14:50
Kev,
Have a look at Glenn L site for some ideas and plans for slide on campers.
Ann
AnswerID:
509837
Follow Up By: Member - wicket - Friday, Apr 26, 2013 at 15:23
Friday, Apr 26, 2013 at 15:23
You mean this site ?
glen l
FollowupID:
787828
Reply By: Member - Ann D (WA) - Saturday, Apr 27, 2013 at 12:53
Saturday, Apr 27, 2013 at 12:53
Yes Kev,
Thats the site, I've been looking at.
Cheers
Ann
AnswerID:
509890