DIY Custom Van Hightop Build Day 5 - Finishing Framing the Walls of the Van Hightop

[@RobinMallary]

It's looking good!

[@barackmycat9448]

Doing it your way. Good for you. I hope it all works out. This is great!

[@RobertWitham]

That's the key with this project. It's truly a custom build that is optimized for our unique situation - basically needing to accommodate two people for weeks to months at a time with room to sleep, eat, work, etc. That does mean some trade-offs as far as wind drag, fuel efficiency, etc. On the other hand, it drives better with the big hightop than it did hauling the travel trailer. After the main build is completed we will still be installing a fairing on the front to help with the aerodynamics somewhat, but I didn't want to try making that part of the structure. If it serves its intended purpose though it will be worth the trade-offs that we made.

[@lindawitham1876]

So enjoying see the progress!

[@RobertWitham]

You've even been able to have a few sneak peeks too! We're hoping to still accomplish something today and tomorrow, but this wind is definitely looking to be a challenge. The solar panels are probably the next really big project, but they will have to wait for a calmer day later in the week!

[@alvinmousseau1100]

Awesome video

[@RobertWitham]

Thank you :)

[@cuddlesanddaisy]

It's coming along.👍

[@RobertWitham]

We are making steady progress at least. We're actually further along than where the videos are at just because I cannot edit fast enough while still working on the van, doing regular work and family things, etc. LOL

[@Linda-xb5ol]

Wow you guys have come far ❤❤❤❤it’s looking good 😊 so far❤❤❤❤thanks for sharing

[@RobertWitham]

It has been quite a project, but it is at least coming along. We think the results will (hopefully) be worth all of the work.

[@patd4u2]

I think you should make it a two-story addition.

[@KatysCampKitchen]

Fun stuff!

[@RobertWitham]

It's quite a project, but mostly interesting (if occasionally stressful LOL).

[@BLONDIEBlondie-x3y]

Are you sure that is going to be a high enough extension? Lol. You are doing a great job!

[@RobertWitham]

We started out assuming a 24" hightop which is a pretty common commercial top size. It was the realization that we could really change our interior space layout that prompted us to go just a bit higher. There are obvious trade-offs (wind drag, fuel efficiency), but we need to make this thing usable with two people for weeks or even months at a time so we ultimately decided to go big!

[@wandarogers5769]

🤗

[@johnmalthus4481]

Your lucky there here in Australia you have to have an engineers plate on it or it will be ordered of the road

[@jonthebru]

What is it that they say? "Driving down the road in a camper is like a 6.0 Richter scale earthquake contantly and on rough roads a higher number. Hopefully you are adding more metal straps and bracing.

[@nothere7198]

I dunno, 24"oc might be just a bit over engineered for a 3 foot high wall skinned in ply (both sides ? quality exterior wood glued and screwed ?) depending on how many windows you might be putting up there of course. I'm just afraid it's all adding weight. Every 36" 2x feels light but they add up lol. Curious to see what you do/did for roof ribs and if you will/did put a slight bow in it to shed water. But then if you were thinking that you probably could have saved a little on the side height and still had good finished height inside so I'm guessing you're doing a flat top for utility reasons and ease of build. Might have been mentioned, but you got that weigh-in nearly empty, be good to know how much the completed high top adds to it.

[@RobertWitham]

We definitely plan to have a weight done when everything is finished. It is all a balance of weight vs strength and usability. The boxy shape was motivated by both usability and simplicity/strength concerns. Ultimately we do think it is all very strong now, and we will still add a non-structural fairing to help with wind drag in the front. There is no way around an increased wind drag, unfortunately, but then towing the travel trailer was a brutal wind drag too so we're pretty much trading one for the other. The best recorded MPG hauling the trailer was 11, but usually it was 10 or less.