07-16-2023, 03:31 PM
Not familiar with those you named but looking for many ways of doing things is a good way to get ideas...
I've been living on wheels for over 50 years and there weren't any videos of this stuff back then so I developed different ideas through trial and re try methods over the many builds and restorations I've lived in ..
I moved a lot of loads over the road for most of those years . They all were pro audio gear for concerts I did. The living on wheels came early on getting sick of living in whatever motel we found ourselves in , I built my first camper on the back of my old dodge PU..It wasn't much but better than the rooms ! Boondocking at a loading dock behind a venue was way better and in a rest area was usually better still.
Got me out of the equipment truck and on my own but I still stuck to the stupid itinerary , mostly. Thousands of shows and millions of miles covering many roads big and small learning my way around the country.
Kept my rig when I stopped touring and stayed on the road traveling WITHOUT an itinerary stopping everywhere I never had the time for before. SOOOOOOOOO much better ! Doing both ... with 1/2 week each . Could be a perfect balance !
Gut it out / clean slate method is usually the best choice . It will save you many headaches. (yup yup)
It looks like you already know what you want for basic items .
Start getting dimensions of the interior as well as all the things you want in it (as you find them) and do some rough floor plans to get an idea of what makes sense . Do a different one every week or so to see if there's a better way , ya never know....( I ended sleeping on a top bunk in this one so I got much more storage under it ! and no my head doesn't touch the ceiling when I sit up in bed LOL which was learned on a tour bus.)
Realize this now though...
No matter what you end up doing , you'll always realize a better way later . Arrrrrrrgh !
#1 , IS IT WATERPROOF ? Make it so.
Insulation is an important consideration , how cold or how hot doesn't matter more is better.
Wire runs need to be considered while figuring out the walls./ floors It looks like you already know what you want for basic items . (I gravitate towards the trough method , it leaves it very accessible .)
Ventilation is a big item . (I like to add a vent in the floor as well as the roof )
Building materials:. Pallet wood is very cheap , (and very heavy). Consider a frame with a thin skin.(1x2 or 2x2 and 1/4" ply instead of 3/4" stuff , You can rip pallet wood but it is mighty finniky putting screws into ( pre drilling is a good idea ) PMF and foam is even lighter.
Weight can be a bitch , be mindful as you keep on adding it !! I'm going crazy with cedar closet liner instead of ply on some of this rig ...
I've been living on wheels for over 50 years and there weren't any videos of this stuff back then so I developed different ideas through trial and re try methods over the many builds and restorations I've lived in ..
I moved a lot of loads over the road for most of those years . They all were pro audio gear for concerts I did. The living on wheels came early on getting sick of living in whatever motel we found ourselves in , I built my first camper on the back of my old dodge PU..It wasn't much but better than the rooms ! Boondocking at a loading dock behind a venue was way better and in a rest area was usually better still.
Got me out of the equipment truck and on my own but I still stuck to the stupid itinerary , mostly. Thousands of shows and millions of miles covering many roads big and small learning my way around the country.
Kept my rig when I stopped touring and stayed on the road traveling WITHOUT an itinerary stopping everywhere I never had the time for before. SOOOOOOOOO much better ! Doing both ... with 1/2 week each . Could be a perfect balance !
Gut it out / clean slate method is usually the best choice . It will save you many headaches. (yup yup)
It looks like you already know what you want for basic items .
Start getting dimensions of the interior as well as all the things you want in it (as you find them) and do some rough floor plans to get an idea of what makes sense . Do a different one every week or so to see if there's a better way , ya never know....( I ended sleeping on a top bunk in this one so I got much more storage under it ! and no my head doesn't touch the ceiling when I sit up in bed LOL which was learned on a tour bus.)
Realize this now though...
No matter what you end up doing , you'll always realize a better way later . Arrrrrrrgh !
#1 , IS IT WATERPROOF ? Make it so.
Insulation is an important consideration , how cold or how hot doesn't matter more is better.
Wire runs need to be considered while figuring out the walls./ floors It looks like you already know what you want for basic items . (I gravitate towards the trough method , it leaves it very accessible .)
Ventilation is a big item . (I like to add a vent in the floor as well as the roof )
Building materials:. Pallet wood is very cheap , (and very heavy). Consider a frame with a thin skin.(1x2 or 2x2 and 1/4" ply instead of 3/4" stuff , You can rip pallet wood but it is mighty finniky putting screws into ( pre drilling is a good idea ) PMF and foam is even lighter.
Weight can be a bitch , be mindful as you keep on adding it !! I'm going crazy with cedar closet liner instead of ply on some of this rig ...
stay tuned
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