Nissan Navara D22 Wild Camper Project.

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My engine blew up on my D22 so I have retired it and am taking out the engine to get it refurbished and future proofed. I got an economical van for work so decided to follow my dream of building an off road camper! I have wanted one for ages, after seeing a unimog military version on The Isle of Harris.

I have ruled out a demountable, because I don't want a compromise and want something I can leap into and go when ever the mood takes me. Space will be limited but I want to maybe combine some of the features you see in trailers that are made into teardrop campers.

I have downloaded a hundred pictures for inspiration and this Jeep version turns me on....View attachment 212234View attachment 212235

My vehicle is a double cab so I thought I would project a pop up sleeping area over the cab. A pop up gives me speed, fuel economy, and stability plus headroom, but if I go for something like this:
View attachment 212236

I will have a more comfortable living area.....

Comments?
 
At one time there were firms who would fabricate a body for you to finish off unless you want to build from scratch. Try the American Popular mechanics who may have plans available.
They are generally referred to there as 'camper tops'
May be worth dividing your loyalties and try the self builders site http://sbmcc.co.uk
 
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I like the look of the jeep conversion but with your double cab I would be inclined to cut out the back of the cab build up the deck and have a pop top like this landrover
View attachment 212237
 
You could try these;

Products | SBS Enduro 4x4 Expedition Campers

They use composite panels. They quoted me about 5-6k to build a fully insulated box with door windows and lockers. Or you could buy the panels yourself, they literally glue together. Ideally I would love to do this on an Iveco Daily 4x4, but the cost of the base vehicle is way too high!
 
I'm building myself from Scratch, I'd prefer it to be built around the vehicle cab without hacking into that. I don't want to compromise on the structure of the original cab and I want something that is very secure, because I go off on walks, fishing boating etc.

Thanks for the links, I am tempted to use the Luton Van type aluminium corner sections with a 50mm radius to form a structural frame and then fill that with insulated panels, I am thinking aluminium.

How do those of you that use demountables on 4x4 trucks rate the handling? They look scarily bulky to me,I could build to those proportions, but I'm wondering about stability and roll.
 
Robmac said:
You could try these;

Products | SBS Enduro 4x4 Expedition Campers

They use composite panels. They quoted me about 5-6k to build a fully insulated box with door windows and lockers. Or you could buy the panels yourself, they literally glue together. Ideally I would love to do this on an Iveco Daily 4x4, but the cost of the base vehicle is way too high!
Click to expand...

If you don't mind LHD, have a look on mobile.de.

There seem to be a lot more used 4x4 Daily's and Sprinters available in Germany.
 
nabbers said:
Thanks, I like this conceptView attachment 212251


I would perhaps have the windows in the section hidden when the top is closed. Only drawback is a cold spot where fabric is used on the drop down over cab section.
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Perhaps you could have some fold-up insulated panels on the inside which would hinge up inside the fabric thus holding up the roof and preventing cold spots?
 
These people do bodies. I was looking at possibility like yourself on building in a 4x4.

Commercial Vehicle Bodybuilding Suppliers | CVR.

There are one or two sites that people have built on Unimogs which gives a good guide to construction. I will try and post them when I can remember the web addresses

Churchie
 
Well last night I down loaded an Autocad image of my truck and I have been playing with designs.

I am beginning to think that a full height over cab design is going to be the most straightforward option rather than getting into pop ups.

I am wondering how far back I can go with the body, I think I will stick to the same length as the commercially made demountables but angled at the bottom to give ground clearance on steep descents.

Width I'm not sure about....

Tonights questions
In commercially made campers, do you sleep in line with the vehicle in the bed over the cab, or across?

What material is usual for the floor?
 
nabbers said:
Width I'm not sure about....

Tonights questions
In commercially made campers, do you sleep in line with the vehicle in the bed over the cab, or across?

What material is usual for the floor?
Click to expand...

to be registered as a camper it has to have a 6 ft bed so in VW's and Bongo's etc your bed is in line, coachbuilds are built out to a width of 6ft plus thickness of walls so the bed can be across.

floors normally plywood on a frame with insulation between in a conversion and coahbuilds a custom made laminated board
 
intresting thread like your self im going threw this process like you i want to be able to leave the vehcile for hours at a time so secruity is inprtant. i have a station wagon landrover 110 View attachment 213941

i want stealth as much as possible so ididnt want a pop up also remeber that if you go for a no pop top hardside you can stand up in you can store light stuff higher up givinging you more storage a big problem with m homes or whatever is lack of storgae. i know you sacrafice sum mpg but to me the beifits far outway esp if you are only travel at low speeds. unless you are doing any serious off roading the cog centre of gravity will not be a prob esp if you have you lesire batteris and water at the bottom.

this pic is a 130 landrover but im doing the same conversion on my landrover at the mo

View attachment 213942

im lucky as its a landrover im going to keep the original top so all i need to do is unscrew it from the top if i want to put it back also it does not effect the strucatal aspect of the vehicle but this wont be the case with yours, but you can get high roof types for your sum pics below for help.

View attachment 213943View attachment 213944View attachment 213945View attachment 213946View attachment 213947View attachment 213948View attachment 213949View attachment 213950View attachment 213951
keep in touch
 
LUTON BODY | eBay

got talking to a guy last year who had a mitsubishi 4life hed put a luton box on like the above extended luton bit out over the cab by cutting deeper into box and bonded battens and kingspan to inside work fitted ally roof and fitted a roofrack with solar panels looked proper neat job and way cheaper than bespoke box depends on how handy you are but most of the bits like edge caps are avaiable from service metals along with others around the country
 
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paul h said:
LUTON BODY | eBay

got talking to a guy last year who had a mitsubishi 4life hed put a luton box on like the above extended luton bit out over the cab by cutting deeper into box and bonded battens and kingspan to inside work fitted ally roof and fitted a roofrack with solar panels looked proper neat job and way cheaper than bespoke box depends on how handy you are but most of the bits like edge caps are avaiable from service metals along with others around the country
Click to expand...

Really struggling to get this project off the ground because I can't find anyone to supply me. Service Metals were the obvious choice, but despite various enquiries, they never reply!
 
We're abouts are you daughters friends mum works at aluminium stockholders here in westhoughton
 
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