Ice station MI

[shooter]

Since I have a good tube amp and winter snuck up, I decided on Ghetto camper II.  I call it “Ice station Michigan, Corporate down-sized model”. 
My last day at the beer-bait n gas was Dec 1, got the box built in 2weeks, and hit the road.  Had it weatherproofed from rain by Alabama, started interior layout in the panhandle, then blew both15yr old,  $12 shocks by mid-Florida.  Changed them out at my Daughters place with some $200 sensa-trac coil-over shocks, and she’s ready for more road.

I’m 5’9” so the inside truck-bed part is 5’11”, with an attached “mud-room” back ~8’.  Over all interior size is ~ 5ft X 8ft with all my mechanical, electrical, and electronics tools in the “back-seat”  Couch, fold-out bed on left, near right, galley, far right closet, storage below both.
I left my solar array and fixins at home, by spring I should be ready to install them and be “Off-grid camper ready “

[tubenit]

That's creative!  Cool.  Thanks for sharing it.

With respect, Tubenit

[shooter]

Thanks, I usually come outta a store to find ppl takin pics 
It's a good conversation piece.  Got the electrical cleaned up so there's not extension cords everywhere, Galley is in, just need to find some netting for the "cabinet doors".

Got So. Fl sticker shock though, the B/C 3/8" ply I bought in MI was $13 4 X 8, down here close to $30    Ah well, my fishin license and daypack are getting well used 

[shooter]

since it's July in January 
got some sun n painting done.
I got 2 jobs!! the neighbors seen me running power tools n ask if I could..... paid for my outta state fishing license!

[Ed_Chambley]

Shooter, you just a wild man I say, just wild man!

[shooter]

 
my family keeps me around for novelty sake 

[Ritchie200]

 


Jim

[Willabe]

my family keeps me around for novelty sake 

     

[Ed_Chambley]

What my daddy called me.

[Ritchie200]

Do you want to know what we call you?

Jim 

[shooter]

I'm sure it would have lots of expletives 
that's ok, I'm quite self assured, n if you meant Ed, pretty sure he is also 

Goin to start tightening up the Igloo, I painted it "off angle" so it "tracks" you as you walk in front of the truck.  My G.kid is blest with both an Eye, and and ear, I had her walk past the truck looking at the igloo, her comment; "Grampa, that's really creepy, I like like it!"

 

[Ritchie200]

Oh sorry, I did mean Ed! 

I want to see pics when done!

Jim

[shooter]

The circles have been bugging me, finally solved it, each will have a vector arrow, painted "around(3D-ish)" that axis;  phase shifted atom   

[Ed_Chambley]

Cool Beans.  Some people have bad forum etiquette, so we try to look over them.  Especially when the just trued 60.

[Ritchie200]

You just stay off my lawn!!!

Jim

[shooter]

Ah, so just a yungin then, no manners 
I was in the Navy when you still saw those signs about lawns n sailors

[tubenit]

You gonna make a plywood version of a wind deflector? 

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/AeroShield-48-x-22-Wind-Deflector-Black-p/25-0070.htm?gclid=CjwKCAiA4OvhBRAjEiwAU2FoJcOozJY1Wky9XL7mHQSfV8zrcA0Q3bwkYEuN61M1PkiSmrLoOIpQGBoCmC0QAvD_BwE&gdffi=d722fab84a06472899ce2a16e4d2ed3f&gdfms=1A795FF9F7C94558A897730E4BAAB2AE

Jeff

[shooter]

that one's still in flux.  I lost 3mpg, so far only used the interstate for ~~5miles in 2k miles.

[Ritchie200]

Shooter,

After seeing how tall your camper was, I couldn't help but remember one of the most hilarious Top Gear episodes ever.  You and Jeremy have something in common!  Maybe you can glean some ideas from their "experience" if you have never seen this one....!

Jim

[sluckey]

The white one looks like a mobile air traffic control tower. 

[DummyLoad]

skip to 30:00      


--pete

[Ritchie200]

If you do that you will miss the screaming!

Jim

[shooter]

 
I watched that episode twice!
Sluckey, yup, paint it haze-gray, slap a GE director/antenna and you have my old radar
Mine handles about like that one also 
I've seen lots of "home-rolled" campers in old photos and museums, mostly on Model A chassis from the way back days, so I'm just a poor example wanna-be 

[shooter]

roof issues, I've been sealing with deck sealer and silicone II, each rain brought a new "nuisance leak" a knot in the wood mainly.  Bit the bullet and bought a $60 gal of Siliconized paint designed for flat roofs, Amazed at this stuff, the white is the most brilliant I've ever seen, the coverage, adhesion also amazing.  so far 4+" over 3 days and nary a hint of wet!!!   

I've ticked off a few more big FL critters; 
Wild boar from 10yrd, 1st time encounter, you Southern boys can keep them!  I'll take my chances with a grizzly any day!
BobCat, been up close and personal a few times, but this Lady was by far the biggest I've ever seen!!!
BIG snake, only got a look at a 2' section low in the brush, girth ~~ 5", with no snake stick, I just left it alone    The scales were pinky finger sized, gussing the length >>10'

[DummyLoad]

If you do that you will miss the screaming!

Jim

this one's in the top 5 favs. 

--pete

[Ritchie200]

I'll give you that and raise you this:

[shooter]

you guys really need to get outdoors more 

[shooter]

The redneck camper needs and upgrade!  the rack n pinion works when it wants, not good at 70mph!!!
It's a good thing I was raised on crappy steering, 45 degrees on the steering wheel before anything happens was normal


new rack n pinion, power steering pump, steering shaft, thermostat that failed in TX.
hoping to hit the road in May for 5 weeks of drone flying ANYWHERE besides my back yard!!!

[shooter]

she's back together, did a 10 mile road test, nothing failed, BUT;
I "installed" a possible bad ground, horn don't honk, airbag light stays lit! no game changer, I have seatbelt and can hot wire a horn   


Also the brand new high pressure line for the P.S. F^$^$&**%$$$%King leaks!  very small weep, intermittent, but has to be fixed!  Gotta love the Quality control!!!!

[shooter]

went for a 4 day cruise to East Kentucky, ran like a daily commuter.
thinking this might be better than the Chester artwork 

[shooter]

ROADtripin again;
the body mounts for the cab front both rotted out so some grinding I made room for some nice 5/4 lumber, thru-bolted to the floorboard. no more door sag.  Rides a little stiff 
2 new steer tires, CB radio installed and cal'd.
heading to Indy Tuesday to film the Convoy coming in, probably tag along for a couple days.  At 38F for the high, it'll be just like ice-fishin from a shanty     

[shooter]

After my road trip to Hagerstown last month, I pulled the camper off.  Striping it down for the good stuff to be re-proposed once again.  The new addition is a 14 X 7, 6ft headroom.  I need to flip the springs to ride on top the axle (that version was over 1k more!)  I crawled under both, same setup, same parts. Probably undercoat it while I’m lying there thinking.  That should buy me a 3” lift.  might also make it a little squirrelly to handle!
This will be my 1^st wet build, good thing I know how to make an outhouse
1^st draft of the layout, the box is to scale, the interior not so much.
Hopefully she’s ready for a shake-down run by end of July.

[shooter]

some updates to Incognito


Living space is 90% done
having some cargo-net "doors" built for front closet and un-bunk storage


Fed-Ex should be here today with the blackwater tank.  once that gets a home I can work the rest, shower, heat, stove.....


since we don't have central air, the camper is my 'ol folk cooling shed 

[sluckey]

Looking good!

[shooter]

Next;
blackwater tank, oh boy!
graywater and shower base should be here by end of month

[shooter]

should be ready for a shower by Saturday!!
leak-checked yesterday, aside from the cut I installed in the pex, all's good 
then it's on to building the floor over the backwater tank, kitchen counter, sinks, fridge, microwave.......


hoping for a test run by 1st week in October, we get fall tree colors here instead if license plate colors like ya Southern folk 

[shooter]

the weather went south, finally got a good day
I probably found every combination possible for the drain system, after about 2 hours the best version finally un-locked itself
plumbing is NOT my better suit