anyone ever done this

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anyone ever done this

Postby bjp » Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:33 pm

I got to looking at fiberglass camper shells and it looks like it would be easy to use that as the roof and build up the sides to the height you want and then fiberglass the sides.
Just a thought :)
has anyone ever done this?
I tried to search it and did not see anything listed.
Here is a rough draft of what I have in mind.
The back galley hatch is already done for you by using the rear door.
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Last edited by bjp on Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:47 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Postby Prem » Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:26 pm

bjp,

8) Cool! Let's see it. Post photos as you build it please.
:thumbsup:
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Postby bjp » Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:12 pm

Now all I have to do is locate a fiberglass shell which should not be hard to do.
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Postby Laredo » Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:04 pm

bjp, they're all over Craigslist and Ebay ... also, I've seen 'em on kijiji.com.

Run anywhere from $25 to $500.

Luck -- oh, hey, if you get a colored one are you going to paint match your sides or are you going to leave 'em woody?
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Postby bjp » Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:54 pm

Laredo wrote:bjp, they're all over Craigslist and Ebay ... also, I've seen 'em on kijiji.com.

Run anywhere from $25 to $500.

Luck -- oh, hey, if you get a colored one are you going to paint match your sides or are you going to leave 'em woody?

I will fiberglass the bottom and make it smooth on the side where you will not be able to tell they are joined togteher.
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Postby Carter » Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:59 pm

The sides normally slope toward the centerline of the vehicle and they have full length side glass. Some thinking will have to go into the doors and windows but it sounds like a neat idea

Jim
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Postby Steve_Cox » Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:08 pm

A classic from this genre.

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Postby tinksdad » Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:57 pm

Buy two the same (or at least two for the same style truck). Flip one upside down. Mate them together. Slide a frame under it. Voila....homemade egg!!

I'm sure it's not that simple; but it's a thought. :thinking: :guzzle: :hammer:
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Postby Laredo » Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:34 pm

or start with something like this ?
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Postby Prem » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:37 pm

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Listed for only $500 :thumbsup:
Source: http://www.jandbtruckbody.com/

Or check "Truck bodies" in your Yellow Pages.
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Postby bjp » Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:22 am

Carter wrote:The sides normally slope toward the centerline of the vehicle and they have full length side glass. Some thinking will have to go into the doors and windows but it sounds like a neat idea

Jim

I did not think about the sides sloping inward so I guess back to the drawing board. :thinking:
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RE: bjp's Fiberglass Camper Top as Roof For Teardrop Idea

Postby mezmo » Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:12 am

Sounds like a doable idea. A lot would depend on what you find for one. The full-size or compact truck size caps/toppers would give you a choice as to size also. The structure would be almost half built using that as the upper half of the TD/TT.

As suggested, e-bay, craigslist, local penny savers and such could be good sources for used toppers/caps

Another idea for using a PU topper/cap would be: to hinge the whole top on one side of the base/lower trailer body – the front or highway side would seem to be the most likely – and then build a tilt-up side and tilt-up ends or tilt up end and tilt up sides, as the case may be, to enclose the sides. (You'd have to brace the PU topper/cap opening end side to side, and the bottom of the whole topper/cap with a rigid perimeter, of course. [Corner gussets could help give rigidity.].) This could give you more head room or possibly enough headroom to be considered a 'standy' if that is something you think you might want. This could then let you put the entrance door in the folding side/end and trailer base all hinged together and thus allow the PU topper/cap to just be the roof of the Tear/TT and you then wouldn't have to be concerned about cutting into/up the topper/cap. I'm sure gas struts or springs or a winching mechanism of some sorts could be made to tilt up the topper/cap to suit the situation.

--Or--

Build the base tall enough to get Teardrop doors in it and cap the base with the PU topper/cap – or – build the base as a wedge of sorts that allows doors to be installed and then cap it with the PU topper/cap.

Just a couple/three of ideas on it.

So good luck and show us all how it is done! (Documented with copious amounts of pics of course!)
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looking for trailer

Postby bjp » Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:00 am

trying to find a frame with normal size tires.
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