BajaNomad - "Loading up" a truck camper...... interior...

"Loading up" a truck camper...... interior...

surfer jim - 6-7-2006 at 06:01 PM

Started putting "stuff" inside the camper.....it is a pop-up so space is limited.....(but everybody has a limit as to what to take with them.....)

How about telling some secrets as to getting the right items in the right places....

How to hold things down so they don't spill/break....

Steps and ladders to get in and on top ....

Sleeping in comfort in hot /cold weather......( keep it "G" rated) :lol:

Bruce R Leech - 6-7-2006 at 06:26 PM

heavy stuff on the bottom and to the front. fragile things rolled up in the bedding and on the beds. Ice chests covered with sleeping bags. potato chips on top. Gps ,camera and binoculars in a ditty bag in the front next to me.

Tomas Tierra - 6-7-2006 at 07:50 PM

shortboards hanging from inside roof, longboards on top.. :yes:

You are about to enter......

Hook - 6-7-2006 at 10:40 PM

the Rubbermaid and/or Sterilite zone.

Head to a Walmart or such and check out the bins and cupboard organizers these companies now have. We prefer pulling out small organizing bins to digging through the depths of the cupboards or storage compartments.

Bubblepack is your friend.

Delicate glassware can be put in old socks and stored laying down in bins. I dont like drinking good wine from plastic, if possible.

Stackable bins with lids can be put in corners and bungeed in place if you're willing to put screw eyes into your interior walls. Probably should anchor them with an epoxy or 5200 as the interior walls are usually thin veneer or fiberboard. Cant really thru-bolt most locations.

I am also using a Hidden Hitch receiver up front and a Hitch Haul carrier for "dirty" items like a gas can, an outboard motor, firewood, Weber, briquets, extra propane tank, etc. A head on collision will probably put me in the Gringo Gazette. But it makes for better offroading with it upfront and still allows you to tow something in a pinch. It also keeps some heavy/dirty stuff out of the walkway in the camper itself and makes unloading much quicker.

I have even gone on trips where I placed my entire truckbed box up there and lashed it down with tiedowns and lcablelocked it to the hitch. Lockable outside storage.

Have you tested your fridge in really hot conditions yet, Jim? Some popups dont allow for good exhausting of the freon coils and can be greatly helped by installing 12v exhaust fans at the top of the "chimney". You want good airflow through there. You want to achieve at least a 50 degree drop from outside ambient temps. If it aint doing that, yet the coils are nice and warm, this could be the problem.

Also, make damn sure your fridge door has a good working lock. You sound like you will be doing some offroading. Its no fun getting to a remote place and finding the contents of your fridge rolling around in the back. :mad:

A-OK - 6-8-2006 at 07:18 AM

Lets see some pictures of what you are using.

Quote:

Originally posted by surfer jim
Started putting "stuff" inside the camper.....it is a pop-up so space is limited.....(but everybody has a limit as to what to take with them.....)

How about telling some secrets as to getting the right items in the right places....

How to hold things down so they don't spill/break....

Steps and ladders to get in and on top ....

Sleeping in comfort in hot /cold weather......( keep it "G" rated) :lol:

Bob H - 6-8-2006 at 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
Also, make damn sure your fridge door has a good working lock. You sound like you will be doing some offroading. Its no fun getting to a remote place and finding the contents of your fridge rolling around in the back. :mad:

Hook, lots of good info in your post. You are "right ON" about the fridge door. It ONCE happened to me and never again. It was no fun opening up the door to see 20 bottles of Pacifico all broken but one all over the floor among all the other contents - what a mess is was. Never again! A strip or two of duct tape when off roading is in order.
Bob H

Tomas Tierra - 6-8-2006 at 07:37 AM

"Delicate glassware can be put in old socks and stored laying down in bins. I dont like drinking good wine from plastic, if possible."

Thats why it comes in bottles Hook!! :lol:

[Edited on 6-8-2006 by Tomas Tierra]

rob - 6-8-2006 at 01:20 PM

Senor Hook - you are totally on regarding the poptop fridges - my beloved RC Willett Northstar camper had a Dometic 3-way fridge that never worked worth a damn ( admittedly my idea of ideal camping is San Basilio in July/Aug max temp 116F).

Finally bought a large ARB (a.k.a. Norcold) 12v portable fridge/freezer that worked off 2x6v golf cart batteries and the 3 Siemens solar panels on the roof. Sunnier it got, the better it worked - and no propane worries.

ROb

surfer jim - 6-8-2006 at 02:09 PM

Mine has an "icebox".....just like the good old days!.....

That idea of the door opening and all the stuff spilling out caught my eye....I can see it happening already....now to stop it.

Went to WAL-MART and saw some of the orgainzers....

Was thinking about how to "lash" down containers for travel also....you are right about nothing strong to mount to....

(A-OK...no camera...yet)

Tomas Tierra - 6-8-2006 at 03:17 PM

I screwed eye hooks directly into the frame for lashing things down...my camper is older and a bit rough inside..

used the cabinets that came in the camper for a long time to store stuff..just recently tore that whole side of the camper out and am running with the storage containers idea..did most of the cooking outside anyway so don't miss the stove and counter..my ice box was always used for dry food storage so don't miss that either...now once i get there, the space is incredible once you unload the plastic bins..

A-OK - 6-8-2006 at 07:27 PM

I use cargo bars similar to thesehttp://www.truckxpressions.com/productsearch.cgi?subcategory=18 and hook HD bungees to each other to keep the light stuff from geting airborne. An old Pre-runner or Gator net works to keep the goods up in the cabover area. On the ceiling I hang up to 4 surfboards and 4 rods strapped to their own secure racks that are close to flush. The full-roof rack handles everything else.

[Edited on 6-9-2006 by A-OK]

Pescador - 6-9-2006 at 05:00 PM

Actually, you want to have a little bit of stuff coming loose and getting right to the edge of closets, etc., so that when the kid at the checkpoints opens the cupboard, he gets beaned by a can of pork and beans. Kinda speeds up the process. We are in Canada right now and the roads up here are as bad as some of the old baja roads. It sure was fun when the border patrol nasty opened the cupboard and got beaned (literally) :lol:

surfer jim - 6-9-2006 at 07:29 PM

Come on... I get a hard time on here when I try to save old batteries to give out at checkpoints :spingrin:

....and now you want cans of beans to bonk them.... :saint:

Still doing details...got a am/fm/cd player and speakers wired up today....and more cooking items and kitchen things......

surfer jim - 6-10-2006 at 05:20 PM

Saturday noon...did a trial run up to BIG BEAR on fire roads....maybe 20 miles of graded road....this would be like one of the easiest runs on dirt that BAJA would have.....all the pots, pans, cups, plastic glasses.... came out of the cabinet and onto the floor...even thoughed packed good and padded with two small blankets.....

and....the camper turnbuckles had all come loose ....camper shifted and now must be centered again.....not good.....but shows what must be improved next.....

woody with a view - 6-10-2006 at 05:43 PM

Quote:

the camper turnbuckles had all come loose

may be a dumb question, but can you put something like teflon/duct tape on the threads to keep them from loosening? if you needed to you could easily remove the tape and make adjustments....?

[Edited on 6-11-2006 by woody in ob]

jimgrms - 6-11-2006 at 08:26 AM

jim lock tite every thing you can and double nut it also you can buy velcro straps and that at home depot that can be used for cupboards it has a adhesive backing on it

bajalou - 6-11-2006 at 08:43 AM

At RV supply stores, get cupboard latches that are really positive - have to push a button to open. Use ny-lock nuts whenever possible with loctite.

See if you can run a lock-nut (ny-lock) on the right hand thread side of the turn-buckle (inside the turn-buckle)

And if you still have trouble with the nuts, I have some decals to remind you to "Tighten Your Nuts"

surfer jim - 6-12-2006 at 06:57 AM

Looks like I will be back to the store.....thanks

Diver - 6-12-2006 at 07:51 AM

With my old pick-up camper, I installed a smaller eye hook near each turnbuckle mounts and then connected the center of the turnbuckle to this eye hook with a small wire. This way, the turnbuckle couldn't spin loose.

Turnbuckles

TacoFeliz - 6-12-2006 at 09:56 AM

After trashing several of the worthless aluminum turnbuckles that came with my 4 Wheeler poptop I pulled them, put in some 1/4" stainless backing plates and got some good bronze turnbuckles (used) from a ship chandlery. The threads are tighter, strength rating is WAY better and they have pre-drilled cotter pin holes so when you get them adjusted the way you want they can be locked in position and not back out.

Have had no problems since switching, been all over Baja backroads, the east Mojave and the Sierras on washboard and rockcrawler roads. Cabinet doors have blown out and the interior looked like a yard sale a couple of times, but the hold downs haven't budged.

TacoFeliz - 6-12-2006 at 10:04 AM

Used bronze turnbuckles were $10 each from Minneys. Size: 5/16 shaft, adjustable from about 7" to about 12". Stainless shackles to make quick connects or lengthen reach are available there too, or any boat place like West Marine.

http://www.minneysyachtsurplus.com/

Neal Johns - 6-12-2006 at 10:13 AM

Ignore all the advice above and take the advice of an Old Navy Chief:

Get a Locker Stick.

It should be made of any available well sanded wood, about one and a half inches in diameter and three feet long. Directions for use: After traveling on two tracks roads in Baja, insert stick into camper, stir contents in a clockwise direction, and when the desired article comes to the top, grab it. :lol:

surfer jim - 6-12-2006 at 12:55 PM

I will be going out to check things in a while....the turnbuckles are aluminum like TACO has said.....and will need some sort of method to stop them from unscrewing....I had planned to go surfing at SAN CARLOS this coming weekend with this new rig....but may just use old truck until I get this "more ready".....

now I must also recenter the camper somehow as it moved side -to -side....and that alone should be fun....

and NEIL ....you are killing me with the "stir stick " idea...

[Edited on 6-12-2006 by surfer jim]

surfer jim - 6-12-2006 at 04:18 PM

Afternoon update .....been working on finding way to tie down surfboards to racks and have something in mind that should work....

next up was turnbuckles....find out that you can stop them from tightning...but not from coming loose !!....I can put stop nuts on the ouside to lock them from moving TIGHTER....but no way to put nuts inside them to stop from coming LOOSE......(guess that is way marine version has carter pin...) thinking about red locktight and silicone or duct tape to stop the inside from moving.....I know it's " crude"....but effective!!

Diver - 6-12-2006 at 05:10 PM

Just add a caribiner-type locking ring from the center of the turnbuckle to the chain above. This will minimize loosening to 1 turn at most. Or use my method above for no movement at all.

marek - 6-12-2006 at 10:18 PM

I battled with those turnbuckles for many years. I finally got them tight enough where they didn't loosen up, only to find that they started pulling right out of the camper.

I like the idea of drilling them and putting in a pin to keep from loosening.

For surfboards, we installed Yakima tracks on the roof and just padded the crossbars.

To keep the fridge from opening, a little piece of cardboard rolled up fits nicely underneath the latch and keeps it from opening.

I also installed some fastek buckles on the bench seat to that it wouldn't bounce loose, but then was easy to fold down for sleeping.

We got pretty good at packing the camper so that things didn't break or cause a yardsale in the back of the camper.

pappy - 6-13-2006 at 10:55 AM

i think the locker stick is the way to go!!!! after all, all you need is just one!

surfer jim - 6-13-2006 at 11:51 AM

Getting lots of recomendations for "the stick" :lol:

...it must be the way to go....

Off to COSTCO soon to get supplies for this weekend...and maybe the dvd player.....

will use rachet straps for the surfboards on the yackima racks.....have put some velcro strips in place for drawers....

I tightened the turnbuckles and put locktight on them for now but out of time to do much else.....

(note to self..do not forget the RUM).......I guess I am "ready"..... :tumble:

Plan is to leave Friday or Saturday morning and return Tuesday or Wednesday night.....

Tomas Tierra - 6-13-2006 at 10:58 PM

If that road doesn't bust anything loose you should be OK!

3 weeks and counting for me and my pop top :spingrin:

oladulce - 6-14-2006 at 02:20 AM

Sounds like you're leaving soon, but here's some camper ideas for the future.

My husband puts 4 large bolts thru the floor of our campers that secure them to the bed of the truck, in addition to using camper tiedowns. He started this with our 4wheel, then our Skamper, and still does it on our current Lance. The Campers never budge in the bed .

I'm sure that securing a camper extends it's life. Unfortunately, we eventually broke the camper frames on both the 4wheel and Skamper pop-ups from off-road Baja driving but we probably got a few more years out of them than we would have !

I haven't been around so I missed the description of your rig if you gave one and don't know if this will help.
Storage:
I think it was the 4Wheel that had the platform bed with storage underneath the entire bed. This was such a great idea, that we've built a plywood platform for the beds that raise it up 4-5"on all our campers since. All our clothes for a month long trip fit easily under the bed.

The other suggestion is a biggie, but it has had the biggest impact on our enjoyment of our campers, and that's a utility/service bed for your truck.
No more moving the toolboxes, icechests, Rubbermaid containers, milkcrates, etc, etc, off the floor of the camper every time you stop or just pull over for lunch. Water containers, fuel cans, high pressure tire pump, kayak paddles and all kinds of other goodies go outside in the compartments. A utility bed made a world of difference when we had pop-ups and can't imagine being without one even now.

Fans: I use these Hella 12 volt fans in our camper and don't mess with cheapies anymore. They're quiet, small, move alot of air and use only 200mA of power. They usually about $70 but West Marine has them on sale for $60 right now.

Have fun.

surfer jim - 6-15-2006 at 10:37 AM

Four wheel pop up....only the basics....but it will be good for me and what I do.....new things...shower. dvd player, cd/outside stereo, built in lights !
can you say "Uptown"..... :lol:

wilderone - 6-19-2006 at 09:52 AM

A camping friend of mine has a cabover truck, and used to live on a large sailboat; he's a great carpenter and has applied those marine cabinetry techniques to the inside of his cabover quarters. He made some boat-type cabinets and drawers for the inside of his "camper", with small racks on the inside of the cabinet doors to hold salt/pepper, plastic dishes; pull out drawers hold several plastic containers - all the same size - which hold food items, coffee, creamer, etc. A large water barrel is strapped in one corner with a gravity hose (with on/off spiggot); another locked cabinet holds his laptop, books, valuables. Another section holds larger plastic containers and is also left available for shoes, grocery sacks, miscellaneous - it has a front and is sectioned so that things don't roll around and fall out. The cabinetry allows an area where he's put his coleman propane stove and propane cannister. On the inside back door of his cab, he's installed a counter which also flips up to add even more counter space. The cabinet doors have latches which keep them from swinging open. He has shipped this car to Europe and spent over a year living in this setup. There is ample space in the middle for a sleeping pad.
You could buy ready-made cabinets and customize the inside of them with racks, shelves, straps, etc. to hold a maximum number of items. Go look at boats for sale and study the cabinetry in them for ideas.

I'm becoming a believer in spring loaded turn buckles...

vgabndo - 6-19-2006 at 08:50 PM

When I set up my Lance in the "new" Dodge CTD, I wanted to avoid the tendency of the camper to rip the bed off the frame. I couldn't afford the best frame mounted tie down system so I went with the HappiJack system. The bed is fairly well attached to the frame at the point of connection with the tie-downs. As reported above, and as I learned with my make-shift bed to frame connections on my old F-250, if the connection is TOO tight, something has to give, and it will usually be the camper. The spring loaded turn buckles provide a little "give" and seem to have kept my outfit pretty well together for the last dozen years. They have NEVER loosened.

There have been lots of good suggestions for keeping the goods in good shape. I have found that if it stays in the cupboard, it will probably be OK. It is the projectile possessions which must be swept up.

Here's a tip: Make sure that the water pump is turned off while you are rolling. In one case, in freezing weather, a coupling cracked, on another occasion a tubing connection came apart. In both cases, the pump was on and joyfully emptied the entire contents of the water tank into the camper. In both freezing Reno, and humid Belize City, it was a nasty mess I didn't need.

Another vote for the HappiJack system

Hook - 6-20-2006 at 01:29 PM

I was wondering why I have never had a problem with loosening turnbuckles on my Lance. Must be the spring loading. But in really radical off-hwy stuff (like the La Vibora Grade), they can come completely unattached if the truck bed comes "up" on one side while the other is "down". Its a quck re-attachment IF you see it's off in time. It's always been hanging from the top eye and it would take something radical to dislodge it from there.

The other thing that the HappiJack system gives you are "spacers" that you mount into the inside walls of your truck bed. These are intended to contain the front-back and side-side shifting of the camper in the bed. They are large rubber "posts" that are mounted just outside the "footprint" of your camper in the bed. The system also comes with a truss that strengthens front wall of the truck bed in case the camper is forced towards the cab (as in a panic stop). Necessary for heavier units like the non-popups but maybe not necessary for a popup.

surfer jim - 6-21-2006 at 03:56 PM

Thanks for the tips...just returned from my first trip....400 miles each way...total of 80 on dirt...nothing spilled and camper still on !!

....road was in good shape this time but still a fair test....I will be upgradeing the mounting and adding some braceing also...also like the idea of adding maybe 4 more mounting points....I had added some velcro strips to doors and they held....

Just spent 4 hours cleaning truck and camper today.....guess that is the price you pay for "comfort"...but ready to go back... :biggrin:

Frigatebird - 6-21-2006 at 04:47 PM

Hey Jim,

Any pics of your trip?...your rig?

surfer jim - 6-22-2006 at 08:15 AM

Photos are on friends camera...I need my own camera and need to learn how to post....so for now ...nothing.....

Tomas Tierra - 6-22-2006 at 09:18 AM

How was the moon dust Amigo?? I'm going in a coupla weeks, just wondering..

and the surf was???ok?

surfer jim - 6-22-2006 at 12:45 PM

No silt....road was graded in Feb. or March from what we heard and is in very good condition....saw trailers and even a motorhome come in this time...on a scale of 1-10 it gets a "2" ...any vehicle could get in....

some of the side roads ARE silty (and not graded) but main road is great....

Big surf as expected....8-10-12 peaks.....not the biggest waves but solid swell.....