While most campers can be used or modified for use in an emergency situation the primary purpose is camping. On this page we will detail the building of a camper which has a primary purpose of emergency living for an extended time and can also be used for camping. The ideas included can be used to modify an existing camper.
I start with some assumptions.
Has to be totally independent of outside power
capable of year round use
highly mobil and easily parked anywhere
ready to be used within 1/2 hour of an emergency
inexpensive to build
I own a Ford F350 Flat bed truck so that became my vehicle of choice. The advantages of building is that you can build to match a specific vehicle. I also chose to build a slide in camper which adresses mobility, parking and cost.
I also chose to use wood as it is easy to work with and get locally.
I am using some 2X4's, but mostly 2X 3's to keep weight down. Everything will be glued and screwed using deck tech screws. The camper will have a 9" floor, be 86" wide with a scoop over the cab. The pictures on the left show progress after one weekend. Our immediate problem with wood was finding straight lumber. Inside floor space will be limited to bunks and a dinette as well as small bathroom. The kitchen will be an outdoor kitchen that pulls out from under the bunk on the road side. All Lights will be LED, There will be two 20 lb propane tanks and two deep cycle batteries charged by a 60 Watt solar panel.The bathroom will have a 5 gal porta-potti eliminating the need for a black water tank. There will be a 6 gal fresh water tank and outside shower. I am starting with 6 gal because I have one. I hope to leave room for a larger one in the future.
Thats are progress for now, check back if you are interested in the end result.
WE are now into Oct. and the camper is ready to be placed on the truck. The outside is complete. Cost made some adjustments necessary. The siding is redwood panels which were less desirable than metal or fiberglass but affordable. The cook stove which was originally going to be a propane drop in that pulled out for the outside kitchen did not meet the emergency criteria. It was replaced with a volcano II stove that burns propane, charcoal or wood. I purchased a refrigerator that operated on 1.3 amps AC. When I did the math, that is 13 amps DC, This did not match the proposed solar panal or battery bank so it was returned. The Rv windows were switched to thermo pane casement windows to meet year round criteria. The roof has a one inch pitch to facilitate water runoff and is coated with an elastomeric roof coating. If this coating is adequate has yet to be determined. The next step is to mount the camper on my truck and get it weighed.
We are now into Jan 2012. The first weighing of the camper was at 1200 lbs. Well under what I expected. Since then the inside has been completed and It has been tested during a VT overnight trip. As a result of this trip The ladder used for access was replaced with a ramp and a battery box was built and attached to the back. A kitchen box will be attached to the rear on the other side of the door.
The Volcano stove worked beautifully on propane and a little Buddy heater kept the camper toasty warm at the lowest setting. All and all a very successful test run.
