How To Build A Lightweight Truck Camper? (Easy Steps)

A truck camper is always an enjoyable thing for travelers. If you are like them, you might dream of having a truck camper. But most people don’t know how to build a lightweight truck camper.

However, building one camper at home is a tough thing without a proper guide. Though the process is long and complex, some help from an expert will make your half task done. Thinking that this article is designed.

If you are determined to make one, we are ready to help you by giving proper guidance and information. After reading this discussion from beginning to end, you will find everything clear about the camper. So, let’s start.

Can You Build Your Own Truck Camper?

Yes, absolutely. You can make a truck camper at home if you have enough passion and time. With that, you have to have some tools near your hands and require basic carpentry skills. These are the must to make a truck camper.

A truck camper can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors while still having all of the creature comforts of home. You can choose from a variety of different models, sizes, and specs, so there is sure to be a perfect fit for your needs. 

Some of the most popular truck camper models include the travel trailer, fifth wheel, and pop-up camper. To make one, at home, you need a lot of time and planning. Read the following guide to get help for the whole process.

How Much Does It Cost To Build a Truck Camper?

The cost of making a truck camper depends on the material you are going to use, design, size, and many more. So, answering this question directly is not easy. But an estimate can be given. You will get an idea of a camper building cost if you imagine its making process. It will take around 5 to 10 days of dedicated labor and a lot of materials.

So, the price will surely be higher. The building cost of a truck camper will be from $1000 to $3000 based on model and size. This cost is excluding labor costs. If you include that, the price will increase based on the labor cost of your area. Building a truck camper will take around 5 to 10 days for one carpenter.

Tools Require To Build a Lightweight Truck Camper

So many tools and instruments are required to make a camper on a truck. Frankly saying, if we make a list of these items, surely some items will miss. With that, different people use different tools based on their comfort. So, it may vary. 

But here we make a list of tools that are must to complete the DIY project. Let’s see some tools first and then we’ll talk about materials. Here are some of the essential tools that you will need to build a lightweight truck camper: 

• Drill
• Saw
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Drill bit
• Jigsaw
• Sandpaper
• Clamps
• Drill bits
• Crews
• Nails
• Nut Bolts
• Spray paint
• Level
• Tape measure
• Power drill

Now the materials you need to make a truck camper. This is also important to know. 

• Plywood
• Timber
• Color
• Water Resistant Shedding

How To Build A Lightweight Truck Camper?

Building a lightweight truck camper is completely upon you. You have to follow your own way to make one. You may use aluminum or wood to make one. The design also varies. But we will show you how to build a lightweight truck camper with timber and plywood. The building process is long but here it is given in short. So, let’s start.

Step 1: Measure the Truck’s Body

Before you start shopping for materials and other items for a camper, make sure to measure the length and width of your truck’s body. This will ensure that you are buying the right materials for you. With that, after measuring, you will get a good idea to design the camber. Note that you have to measure height, width, and length.

Step 2: Make a Design Of your Own

At this stage, you’ll need to make a sketch of the camper on paper. This would also enable you to identify which things should go where and in what arrangement. Remember that your design will be possible to make and lightweight. Because our goal is to make a lightweight camper that is easy also. 

While making a design, keep the truck size in mind. You also have to plan inner space distribution. If you can keep these things in mind, your camper will be a great one.

Step 3: Make a Structure

Now you have to make a structure based on the design you sketch. Make horizontal and verticle beams using timber and attest them by screwing. You also have to attest the wooden structure with the truck body. The use of screws will make it more sturdy, but you must choose the right thickness that is enough to support everything.

Making the floor with plywood is also a part of making structure. After measuring the space of your truck, you have to use that measuring value in making the structure and floor. Some people don’t make any floor, they use the truck bed as a deck.

Step 4: Attest The Structure With the Truck Body

After you have made a design and put the structure, attach it to your truck’s body. To attest structure with the truck body, you have to use bolts and nuts. Because the structure will be secured by screws and nuts, you may think that it is more complicated than before.

This is another complicated step for you. If you made any mistake in measuring the truck body and beams then you will not be able to attest the structure to the truck body. A pro tip for you, try to set up beams after you attest the plywood floor to the truck bed.

Step 5: Cover the Structure with Plywood

After you complete the structure attachment, you need to cover that with plywood pieces. Keep in mind that, we are making a lightweight camper. So, plywood and timber are the main elements here. You have to cover the front side, left and right side with them, and the backside will be open. 

You have to make a door on the backside and windows based on your preference. But make a window with glass. One more point to be noted. The shedding should be something that can prevent water. You may use tin sheets or high-quality paper.

Step 6: Plan the Internal Space Distribution

Though this is not part of making a camper, we can not avoid it. Because space decoration is very important to ensure best use of a truck camper. You have to design the frame keeping the bed over the truck engine if you have a light truck. This will save a lot of space to keep a stove, freeze, resting place, and generator or a solar battery.

Try to keep windows on both sides. This will make your camping more enjoyable. But try to cover the windows with strong glass. This will keep you safe even in National Park.

That was all about making a truck camper that is lightweight. The making process is longer than we effort to describe here. There are many minor things that are not possible to talk about here. You will find them if you once start making one.

How Long Does It Take To Build a Truck Camper?

Building a truck camper can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it does take some time and effort to get it right. If you are new in making a DIY truck camber, you should be curious about the time it takes. The time it takes to build a truck camber depends on many things.

In general, making a truck camper will take 5 to 10 days from beginning to end. But there are some determines behind the time. If you are experienced, you have carpenter skills, the design you want to build is simple and you have every tool and material ready then it will take less time. 

But if everything that is required to make a truck camper is not in your favor, it will take infiniti to build it. Even if you can complete it, the outcome will not be good enough.

Is It Worth Building a Camper Yourself?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the decision of whether or not to build a camper yourself will largely depend on your specific needs and preferences. However, here are some reasons why building your own camper might be a good idea:

• You can customize your camper to fit your specific needs and wants.
• Save money by building your own camper rather than buying one pre-made.
• Option to create a camper that is completely unique and personalized to your own style and preferences.
• You can build your camper using materials that are readily available and affordable.

After you know these benefits of building a camper yourself, you should find the answer. But directly saying, it is worth building a truck camper yourself.

Conclusion

This was the building process of a lightweight truck camper at home. We tried to present the process to you in a simple way. Though there is a lack of detailed information, but these are enough to make one. If you read this text in detail, you will get more necessary info regarding truck campers. We hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading from us.

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