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I joined this site years ago when I bought a Northstar T1000 and put it my my Humvee.
Since then I sold it as there was no where good to take it I. Illinois.
Moved to Alaska 11/21.
Kept the Humvee
Been finding amazing off road adventures.
I bought a project camper this week.
Hoping to put it all together soon
$500. Stripped all the skin off it today to locate and repair some wood rot.
Here it is.
Nice! Will make a great article here on TCA. 🙂
That would be awesome. Just peeled the roof and siding.
Next phase is sectioning out the rotten wood. I picked up a truck load of materials yesterday at Lowes – the standard cheap pine fir strips is NOT okay to use as they are twisted, bowed, and will likely split with screws and staples. I upgraded to higher quality materials – costing more – but should be easier to work with. I’m going to have to pick my path carefully to not remove too much at one time – I also picked up some cheap 2x3x8 boards to cross brace while the structure is opened up.
Ah…so, the rotten wood is mostly gone now. Been a steady thrash getting the rotten wood out. My plan was to leave the inner paneling in place – although it is clearly needing replacment in places…but it acts as a template for everything to go into place on the structural side. I “THINK” I’m happy with the results so far. Next…is the electrical. I have a power panel, switches, outlets, lights – and more on the way.
Keep us updated.
May we also see the picture of the Humvee (hoping it’s the military type).
Yes, it is a military model. I have a few videos of it in action off-road and with some modifications at my youtube channel – mcspeed1
Update – I have all the wood work complete. I’ve installed new metal siding and re-worked the original windows and have them in along with the back door. Hoping to have the roof skin on this weekend. I’m trying a product called Peel & Stick that is made for exterior permanent use with a 10 year warranty. It is in 36″ wide rolls and sticks down like ice and water shield. I am in a bad spot as I can’t get any TPO/PVC or other roofing material at a reasonable price shipped – and the glue won’t ship as it freezes.
I will revisit the roof later if this doesn’t work well – but will get it sealed up for now and ready to put outside.
Here is where we are now.
I’m as excited as you are.
I saw another dude who converted a Humvee military with an overlander camper.
And met in California someone who made a ex-military Volvo into bad-ass truck camper.
Your Alasa adventure will be cool to track and follow.
Best wishes to you.
Thank you! Hopefully so. I’m picking up the drip molding and other molding this afternoon and doing the final prep to install the roofing membrane. I “think” it is all going to go much faster from here – dozens of smaller projects instead of these massive things. The last bit will be doing the fitting to the truck – I bought a military trailer that I’m going to modify to drop the camper in to make it mobile about the yard, and possibly even tow it in that if needed so I can keep my Humvee four door. We will see – lots of plans.
So – I’m pivoting a little bit – Picked up a way too high mile 2008 GMC 2500 4×4 this weekend (same color as the camper) and am now working to make the project multiple means of transport. I made an update video of where we were by this last weekend – already made big changes since this….I’ve got stupid hours of video to go through and edit to show how I did the roof, walls – etc – I’m ordering some more aluminum today to be broken on a 90 degree to slip up in the under area. Normally you do this first – then overlap, but I want to be able to drop this down for other service work going forward so I’m doing it backwards and putting my faith in sealant at the lips. So now I’ll be focusing efforts to the GMC as I wrap this up. We are getting very excited about getting this out for an overnighter soon.
Hello fellow truckers! We have now put overnight trip #3 in the record books – I switched out plans to make this camper dedicated to the Humvee – however, I did modify the floor to fit the humvee and can without a doubt slip it in there too. The 2008 GMC 2500 has been doing great We’ve taken it to a couple of fairly local places- the highlight possibly is seeing the July 4 car launch at Glacier View. Yesterday we wrapped up about a 300 mile round trip to Hope, Alaksa.
The solar is working excellent – the addition of the large ACM rolls 275 amp hour 6 volt batteries hurt the wallet but are kicking butt. 400 watts on the roof and an oversized charged controller make it nice. I’m not running an a/c inverter yet. We did the 12 volt tv/DVD player and LOVE it. I also did the twin roof fans so pulling in and pushing out moves nice air – the batteries keep up like a champ and we are really able to sit and be comfortable in silence.
The lack of a gray tank is troubling – it just dumps out a cap on the side (1970 oringinal plumbing) – there is no easy room in the cabinets to re-route a line much less room for a gray tank. I’ve been hanging a bucket on the side and dumping as needed (dish, hand washing water). Said bucket could be a bear attractor with food from dish washing – but we will continue to plot this through.
The portable potty is okay – gets the job done. Many places here have outdoor bathrooms around the parks that I can dump it or a station – but thus far we just get home and dump that.
The Chinese diesel heater has been incredible – heats it up sooo fast. I went to to the next level on heat shielding on the exhaust and feel okay about letting it run wile we sleep. I have gas and CO and fire detector all running for safety. I’ve tested and tested it – and am convinced it is as safe as it is going to be for regular use.
The stove top has been a journey. I had to build up aluminum back splashing to avoid melting the camper down and recently built in an aluminum plate into the hood to protect the light and fan (that I installed) from cooking heat.
There is no hot water – we have to boil a pot. There is really no room for a hot water heater. I see there are portable ones I might set up using the outdoor shower to hook it in – and maybe an outdoor shower tent attached to the camper to make that go. This last outing would have been awesome to take a quick shower. Bug spray and sweat is not as well tamed with a hot wash cloth sink bath.
The power steering gear is leaking slowly on the GMC – I’ve ordered a new one and that is the next mechanical thing as well as the cruise control won’t engage. All DTCs are cleared so I’m sure the switch is bad (one on the way).
So far 10 MPG is what we get hills or no hills.
Summer is going away FAST in AK – so wanting to work out bugs before I have to park it.
Overall – it is the best $500 I ever spent (although many many more $500 since…..) I’m glad I went gas on the truck – more weight capacity and cheaper easier to find fuel for the most part. However, at 200 miles into a journey we are on the serious hunt for re-fueling.
The videos I made in order below:
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