DIY Camper Cabin

For those who like to travel and enjoy the outdoors, nothing beats the portability and convenience of having your own camper cabin. A camper cabin can be built from wood and installed on the back of a pickup truck. The directions below are based on a 7-foot bed with a width of 64 inches. The dimensions of your camper will have to be based on the size of your truck bed. Building a scoop, at a 45-degree angle above the truck cab is essential to reduce wind resistance while driving.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Skill saw
• Power drill
• Wrench
• Boards (2-by-4 and 2-by-6)
• Plywood (1/2-inch)
• Rust-proof deck deck screws
• 2-1/2-inch bolts (1/4-inch diam.)
• Bolt nuts
• Lock washers
• Caulk (all weather)
• Caulking gun

Instructions

Constructing the Side Walls

1. Write down the exact dimensions of your truck bed with a measuring tape, as well as the height of your cab from the back of the bed. Remember to allow for the thickness of the gate so you will be able to close it when the camper cabin is in place.

2. Draw your plans on paper to calculate how much lumber will be needed for the camper cabin. Then gather your lumber and other materials. The frame will be built on the ground and then lifted onto the truck bed.

3. Place three 2-by-6's on the ground to serve as beams. A 7-foot beam will be the base of the cabin. Above that, a 10-foot beam will extend over the cab, with a 2-inch clearance above the cab roof. Above that, a 9-foot beam will frame the roof of the camper. Note that the middle beam will extend from the others over the truck cab, but will be in-line with the other beams at the rear of the cab.

4. Cut four 2-by-4s with a skill saw, using your measurement of the cab height. Place these as posts between the bottom and middle beams. Put one on each end of the bottom beam. Put the third post 1 foot from the front post, and the fourth beam 2 feet from the back post. There should be about 4 feet between the two middle posts.

5. Measure four more 2-by-4s to serve as posts between the top and middle beams.

6. Build a second wall frame with the same dimensions as the first. Screw the boards together with 3-inch deck screws. Then cut sheets of plywood to fit the frames and screw them onto the frames using 1 5/8-inch deck screws.

Framing the Camper

1. Ask for help to raise each wall and position them 5 feet apart. Brace one wall with 2-by-4s nailed to the sides of the frame and angled into the ground to help keep it upright.

2. Cut six 2-by-6s to a length of 64 inches each. Four will be used to frame the front and back walls, and two will be used as ceiling joints. Use 3-inch deck screws to secure the 2-by-6s.

3. Place two 2-by-6s between the two side walls, at the top and bottom to make the rear wall. Place two more on the other end, top and bottom again, to form the front wall. Then place two between the tops of the walls, each 2 feet from the ends to frame the ceiling.

4. Cover the roof and rear wall with plywood, using 1 5/8-inch deck screws to secure them to the frame.

Making the Scoop

1. Begin making a scoop for the front of the camper by measuring the distance between the front of the roof and the front of the extending middle beam. This is most easily done by placing the end of a 2-by-4 against the wall at a 45-degree angle, and then tracing the edges onto the 2-by-4.

2. Cut the 2-by-4 on the marks you traced with a skill saw. Then trace the ends of that piece onto a second 2-by-4 and cut it as well. Cut a third 2-by-4 to a length of 64 inches to make the bottom of the scoop. Then screw the three boards against the walls and middle beams.

3. Cover the front and sides of the scoop with cut pieces of plywood and secure them tightly with deck screws.

4. Ask some friends to help lift the camper shell onto the bed of your truck. Drill 3/8-inch holes through the plywood of the side walls into the rails of the truck bed. Then secure the camper to the bed with 1/4-inch by 2 1/2 inch bolts, nuts and lock washers.

5. Caulk the joints between boards from the inside of your camper. Pay particular attention to the ceiling and back wall, as this is where rain is most likely to get in.

Framing the Door

1. Frame a door in the back wall by measuring the dimensions of a small prefabricated door. Cut two posts from 2-by-4s and screw them in position in the center of the wall to accommodate the door.

2. Cut another 2-by-4 to fit between the two posts for the top of the door frame. The bottom beam already in place can be used for the bottom of the door frame.

3. Nail your door into place within the frame.

4. Cover the area surrounding the door with cut pieces of plywood, securing them to the frame with deck screws. Then paint and finish the camper according to your preference.

Tips & Warnings

• Be certain to verify your truck and tires are suitable for the weight of a camper cabin.

References

• Glen L: Cabove Camper Construction Photos
• Cheap RV Living: Build Your Own Camper