Home built truck camper. L-Life explained

Home built truck camper. L-Life explained
This is believe or not, a home-built, do-it-yourself, slide-in truck camper that I built over the course of the last 3 plus years. The camper is primarily made of the 1” thick sheets of structural honeycomb made by Nida-Core,covered with 18oz stitched bi-axial fiberglass material as the main structural covering. This specific camper was designed for a factory special ordered 2000 Dodge Dakota Sport with the 1-ton payload package that my wife and I bought almost 18 years ago. This video replaces the previous video to correct some of the item descriptions, improve sound, provide a basic build materials throughout, and finally combine all the features along with the as-is camper specifications.

[@bonethugsboysable]

One of the best DIY truck camper on KZbin 🔥

[@kjosr1]

By far one of the best DIY build videos out there, Nice Work....

[@fcioce2]

Don't know where to begin. Awesome build with impressive results. Outstanding research and engineering. Well presented and unpretentious video. Generous technical details without being overbearing. As others have commented, the finished product looks nothing short of professional; indeed, the quality is superior to many commercial offerings. You are a true craftsman! Best of luck to you, sir. May you enjoy the fruits of your labor for many years. Thank you for sharing and for your inspiration.

[@lennym1273]

Usually when I see DIY campers I think of all the things I would do different, BUT I don't see a thing I could improve upon, well done sir...

[@hendersonv687]

Wow, wow, wow...a man with multi talent I thought I was good until I see your camper. You are my hero. I just bought a Tacoma 2019 truck. I'm going to make my wife watch your video and help me to build our camper. I need someone help me to do this project. No one qualify better then my wife.

[@Geoff9001]

Absolutely one of the best designs for a truck camper on the internet. Well done Bob!

[@flyty2134]

The weight on that camper is remarkable I love it. Best video on homemade camper I have seen and I’ve seen a lot of them.

[@brocluno01]

Thank you. Well done. Light tough campers are very hard to come by. Yours is excellent. There's an outfit down in Texas that used to make very good foam core campers. Cave Campers. The owner got sick and fold up shop. The business is for sale and I hope someone buys it, and continues the legacy ... But, in the meantime, we'll have to roll our own. Taking cues from your video, I'm getting closer. A few more home remodel projects and then I can get started :-)

[@jkxtc2016]

Nice set up...for a smaller truck...looks really nice .thanks for the video.

[@veritasvincit4178]

the most professional DIY i believe i have ever seen. Excellent design , attention to detail and build quality.

[@jamesrose1974]

Great job! I saw the thumbnail and was thinking "yeah right, he bought it and renovated it..." Damn good job!

[@rogerbettencourt9654]

Hands down the best video on self built truck camper. Thank you for sharing.

[@Melkiah34]

What an amazing job you did on that camper!

[@jaxes88]

Great job! In many respects this was built better than a lot of commercially made campers!

[@slmjake]

This is still one of the best builds on KZbin to date! Your manufacturing method a x your aerodynamic attributes surpass the rest from my limited experience.

[@craigcarman354]

Absolutely well done! Your craftsmanship and design is the finest self build I have seen and your video presentation was informative, perfectly edited and you have my greatest compliments. I hope your family creates great memories during your travels and camping.

[@davidanthony7864]

Great Camper. Really inspired by your design and materials. Great Job!

[@iambeeman1]

I build campers for a living. Amazing job, very very well done.

[@iambeeman1]

But....I'm pretty sure your propane tank is supposed to be outside the living area for safety reasons.

[@vinnyandrocky]

One of the best looking DIY camper shells I seen on KZbin, good job and thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍

[@brucecggallagher1949]

Thanks Bob for sharing your build...a very inspiring build with much thought put into it. Cheers from British Columbia

[@danmcelroy6584]

That is the lightest truck camper build I seen yet! And it’s awesome! Someday maybe I’ll get to build one. Great job and looks like pro quality!✌️

[@johngalt2508]

i have been kicking around the idea of building my own camper on and off for years. i like the nida core idea and the craftsmanship you brought to your build. well planned and even better executed! now i need a shop and more money to start digging in on this i kept thinking building it like a boat the nida core is perferct for this application.

[@clipvue222]

Been researching all the videos on you tube because I would like a camper for a 5.5ft bed truck and so I ran across your video and got lots of thoughts and idea

[@roderickmacgregor4867]

Well done very clever use of space and imagination ,when you jumped on the cut out for window for demonstration purposes i was gobsmacked that is strong stuff. Saw the thumb nail and felt sure this was a camper you had modded and refreshed yourself but not the case very very impressed with your craftsmanship. I salute you.

[@phillipestlund9871]

Man, you are truly an inspiration. Wonderfully done.

[@crv20051]

Really great work, thanks for taking the time to post with the details listed, very helpful!

[@BarrioHTV]

Best lightweight dyi I’ve ever seen ! Wowza!!

[@rhub585]

best self built i have seen with meticulous information...good job!

[@slmjake]

To this day I think this is the most engineered exterior shell build on KZbin to date. The rest are pikers compared to this and I like many of them. I am not a huge fan of interior layout but to each his own and hats off to all the builders!!! God bless and enjoy this free country and fight for our freedoms to move arounds nd as we please! God bless!

[@johnvititoe6051]

Obviously a labor of love. Well done, sir.

[@markhalliday8196]

Thanks for the Ideas, I've been looking to build a truck camper and keep the weight down. I like what you did, my change will be to do galvanized steel square tube and welded frame instead of wood, add more water storage and wet bath. Great Ideas with the honeycomb material!

[@johnsilvers5883]

Very nice. Looks like a factory built but better.

[@wboquist]

Beautiful work, extremely well explained. BTW, I think your Dad's rig was awesome, too. The skills must run in the family!

[@wandaparker9340]

You did an AWESOME BUILD on this truck camper. Very professionally built! I’m truly impressed! Wishing you and your family wonderfully safe adventures! W

[@SpikeFastRacing]

Best home build on KZbin!

[@ronblack45]

Great job Bob. Really liked the ingenuity of it all. You really have my mind going now and rethinking a lot about how we want to go on a build for our 2019 Tundra with a 5 Ft bed. Thank you so much for your video and your willingness to share it with us all.

[@dontall71]

Truly awesome craftsmanship, thanks for sharing this with us!

[@thomasdipaolo2349]

appreciate all the details. super nice truck camper

[@grantlandking4361]

Very nice craftsmanship bro. Sounds like your parents sparked the "family camper travelling fever". That's awesome! You were blessed to have them and likewise your family to have yourself. I admire your use of materials and resources, which when combined are super durable, lightweight, and functional. I dare say you approach daily life with the same values and skills... I say joy and peace of heart are obtained in such ways, and family bonds strengthened. What a great camper, backstory, and informative video! I truly enjoyed it and hope this cozy lil' jewel serves you well. Thank you my friend, and may God bless you and your loved ones. Much love & PEACE from NC

[@georgewallace3106]

Very well done I have been considering building one and you just made the project so much easier. Thank you for sharing

[@johnnieblackburn3182]

Beautifully done.

[@jimt1575]

Impressive build. The exterior work is fantastic!

[@trevortrevortsr2]

The quality of your build is wonderful

[@FrancisRoy]

Wow this is awesome. Thanks for sharing all the details

[@ala116]

great project u 've did ! i will take that for my next project , i have a ready a camper truck ,but is still from the 80's, time for a make over . thank's for sharing .

[@sabejreid2072]

How wonderful, hard work and clear thinking. Great job.

[@davidbrown9784]

finally after a few years of watching diy camper videos I find one that is thought out that is 6 years old. the trick with camper builds is to make it strong (using adhesive on Everything and ring shank long staples instead of screws and using larger lumber where critical and much smaller where not) weight is a major factor that so many diy truck campers end up on a trailer! lots of half ton trucks have a 650 lb bed load!

[@sharonkasper5126]

Great honeycomb product. Beautiful finish work inside and out. Much fiberglass, very heavy, expensive. No R factor mentioned. (Insulation qualities) none.

[@pex2268]

Perfection if it had a wet bath,you sir are very skilled,tips hat

[@caseyx7408]

I ABSOLUTELY ❤️ ❤️❤️ IT!!!! You did one Hell of a job man... it’s looks Great!!! 👍🏽

[@jooseman420]

Nice build! Over the top, for a home build! Love it

[@markpasse9691]

I'm so envious. I really wish that I had those kinds of skills. I'm hopeless with my hands. What a lovely design and build. Very impressive. Well done Sir.

[@phillipestlund9871]

You can do it friend. Start with small things. Make a birdhouse.. then make a kid's playhouse or doghouse. Have fun and don't expect perfection.. roll with mistakes. That's what woodfiller and paint are for lol. But you can do anything

[@markpasse9691]

@@phillipestlund9871 Thanks Bro, I appreciate the comment and the encouragement.

[@phillipestlund9871]

@@markpasse9691 you got it man. In fact, it would be cool to lay it out on the line and make a KZbin video of a guy who thought he couldn't make a camper... Making A Camper!!!!

[@deniseodaniel622]

Absolutely beautiful job. I echo an earlier comment about the propane tank inside. Propane tanks could be filled at a cool temperature - then they might vent propane in the warm camper interior - which could be deadly. I would add a vent to the outside of the propane compartment and somehow seal the interior access door against a gas leak. An interior tank would be illegal anywhere. (That is shared just so you don't have a deadly situation!) Absolutely beautiful job on your design and construction. Wishing you HAPPY camping.....!!! Well done......

[@bobanthony75]

Compartment totally sealed inside except for the access door. There is a with vent door to outside at the front of the camper box - I plan to update access door to a sealed door. Table saw took a dump, so for now I'm relying on propane detector, which is in my opinion is too sensitive.

[@DaleOKelly]

love the build. I'm planning a bed off camper. Once I fabricate a flatbed, I'll be ready to start. I already have a great truck with a damaged bed. So it's a no brainer. Your info will be very useful. I was looking for an option for wall and roof materials. I'll send some pics once I get going. thanks for the detail and that list at the end. great video. Dale in VA.

[@dennisinTurkey]

Thank you. This was one of the most helpful videos on building a light weight truck camper that I've found. I appreciate the detail! (PS at 19:26 there some typos)

[@hldye7442]

And a quality project for sure / thanks for taking time to show the details on construction. 1m am wanting to build a camper but working on getting the right truck first . one step at a time :)

[@flyovercounty1427]

He’s a great design and build.

[@mariaangeleshernandez5075]

Mr.you’re a genius! well done love it!😊👋Hello from Orange 🍊County Ca

[@tomascharles5080]

That is one beautiful looking camper.

[@raymondward1009]

Looks like a store-bought unit inside and out!

[@chandlerfrog09173]

Very useful S2. Thank you. I'm definitely going to use the same materials with minor variations.

[@DanWebster]

wow what a build, you got me thinking boat with the same material.

[@thisoldsaw5438]

Absolutely fantastic!!!! Greatly appreciated 👍

[@mazstojan8889]

Very nice video thankyou

[@surfbum8166]

Nice job. The honeycomb and epoxy material is the way to go

[@mfsolutions]

wow great detail and explanations!

[@debbiegibbons1226]

Absolutely fantastic!!! Congratulations!!

[@Mmoz2112]

Nice Build!!

[@user-nc3gf7ro5x]

Really impressive!

[@chrisreed26]

Great job on the build...It looks like a factory built camper...I had wanted to get a smaller truck camper that would fit the small 5.5' bed in my 2008 Nissan Titan Crew Cab Truck...cargo bed capacity of 2,000 lbs...I don't like the smaller, pop-top campers that would fit it nor do I want to spend the new price for one that would fit..they just aren't worth the high prices...this video gives me some great ideas in that it does not have to look like a hunting shack like many other home built truck campers do!!

[@starlordstarlordman8489]

Wow great detail

[@timpeterson3605]

Nice work.

[@rons1042]

Thanks for the great viodeo and explainations. Very impressive .

[@bobanthony75]

THX, Hopefully not too boring. I will have a solar update video coming soon.

[@decaf4me2]

Fantastic! Very inspiring. Thx for sharing that. Would love to see you actually do the fiberglass/epoxy process. Cheers!

[@i8BBQ4Lunch]

Nice work. You've opened my eyes to some new products.

[@bobanthony75]

"thesupercamper.blogspot.com" is the sight I came across many years ago that inspired me to take on this type of similar project. I would probably do 1-1/2" thick material for the walls if I had to do I all over again, as window & door jams are mostly designed for 1-1/2". (Plus R 3.3/inch, so R 4.95 possible).

[@bryanwalker7031]

Bob... Thanks for the video. I recently purchased a (interior dimensions) 6'x12' - 5,000 lb. utility trailer meant for other purposes. But once I got it, the first thing that I thought was customization. So I asked myself, how about a slide out camper that I can tow behind my Tundra Crewmax (5.5' box). I scanned KZbin and came across your video. You've now provided me with my 2019 project...and I suspect a neighbour of mine will want to build the same with me. Obviously a different footprint and a lot more room - but seeing what you've done and how you did it - you've provided me with a whole lot of ideas. As an old Sgt said to me years ago - "If you haven't got a plan, you can't f&^% it up". Thanks for all of the ideas...and Happy New Year. ...Bryan

[@Paul-sh4on]

VERY NICE....GREAT JOB

[@charleshall1862]

I absolutely love what you did! I have a 1999 SLT that closely resembles your truck. I've searched for ever for a slide in camper. They're like unicorns. I bought the truck new, I plan to restore the mechanics and would love to do some thing like this. Maybe some options for off grid in the mountains. Thanks for inspiration and motivation to make it happen!

[@johnnyrotton40]

Great video sir and an excellent camper build love the innovation.

[@TravelswithYoly]

The video is a great run down of the design and effort that you put into this build .... really impressed. The finished weight is amazing. From my experience the only things I would do differently would be to mount the LP/CO2 detector lower to the floor and design some sort of reclining back for the bench seat. I hate 90 degree seat backs and can never understand why 99% of all industry dinettes are built like that. I find them all to be very uncomfortable for any extended length of time (and we've camped in a heavy rain storm lasting more than 28 hours before) :-) I love your love of the Dakota. We had the same 4.7L engine in our 2006 Dakota. It also got about 17 mpg. In addition we've had 5 Ram 1500s (2 Pentastars, an Ecodiesel and 3 V-8s) and our current 2500HD. People ask me why I like Rams so much and I tell them simply that not one of them has ever spent a night in a service bay :-) I was a bit disappointed after seeing the video thumbnail ... I was hoping to see your creation "in the wild" :-)

[@dj12ozbowflex59]

Travels with Yoly I LOVE your videos!

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Thank you for posting 👍

[@SquarebodyTruckCamper]

Great attention to detail on this build. Looks great!!

[@jamesdillon3320]

Great job and you are a patient and talented craftsman. Very well thought out. Congrats- Jamie

[@HandymanMark]

Did an awesome job that's the thing fantastic camper

[@JonnyDIY]

Beautiful Build Bob! KZbin misses you, hope all is well on your end 👍

[@cw4608]

So glad I ran across this video. Thanks for the info!

[@randykern9090]

Wow, that's is amazing. So much better than those built by professional companies. I have 3 questions. 1) Did you consider building the inside components out of the same material instead of wood? 2) Why don't the RV manufacturers use the Nida Core material? 3) Could you have used aluminum instead of wood for your structural supports? What you did is so much lighter than anything I have seen on the market. Thanks for the information.

[@mikerobbins5049]

Very nice job.....

[@timmclain9408]

Very well very smart and very hard to believe from beginning to end this is all you! Damn fine job!! Bob Villa couldn't come close to anything near it. The propane bottle inside works fine where I'm from.

[@junulock]

A nice job with the fiberglassing and stuff. Hate to tell you but that layout is so close to my folks old Forester 8.5 ft camper though swapped around. In from the door starting on the right was the large closet ( usable with a cassette portapottie) but had another 6” deep series of shelves at the back with a door. Next the table & sitting area. (Changes to a bed by dropping the table top). Large storage cabinet under seat accessed by a cabinet door. The other side portion of seating below the overhead bunk you could access a large area by lifting a hatch/ lid under the seat. Like yours it had the hard lid portion to step up to get in the bunk. You were stepping on a flip up cover where the water tank sat in the middle with lots of extra room for stuff.

[@junulock]

In from the left was the furnace at the bottom with a good size closet you could hang your clothes in. The kitchen counter with the sink, then 2 or 3 burner propane stove. A set of 2 smaller cabinets above this. Then an icebox. Below the icebox was where the propane tank stored with an outside access door that could be locked. Last; where the kitchen table/ bed was there was the good sized window and they had made a like open shoebox with unit that ran the whole way across above the window. That worked great for quick storage of stuff but we could & did put the fishing rods up there. That was one of the best design layouts I’ve ever seen for a camper.

[@Hockeycoho]

Your build is fantastic ! really doing my best not to copy it (we have a bumper pull beautiful trailer but man the truck bed is freeing)

[@machomanOOOOHYEEEAH]

Nice work and so much hard work. Only thing would drive me crazy- the cabinet doors, the rails and stiles are oriented wrong. The stiles are traditionally always full height of doors and the rails cut between. Not a criticism, just noticed it straight away as I’m a carpenter. Thanks for the video.

[@Wojo338]

Thanks for the effort and detail of this video. You are an inspiration, buddy. Cheers!

[@dmann1209]

Amazing! Very good looking build.

[@zacharykingston1046]

Very much appreciate how u did this and presented it..

[@morriswest1165]

Best DYI camper yet

[@drawfark]

Thank You! I haven't even finished this but it seems to be the video that i have been looking for!

[@drawfark]

Yes! Very cool!

[@kalenagy]

you gave me ideas thx 4 sharing

[@givemeaforkingname]

Very nice build, lots of helpful ideas. Thanks for sharing !

[@jeffthompson8663]

Very smart build and builder.