I cut a big hole!!! IN MY CAMPER ROOF
Well at least mine "may not" be as bad as some. Yes, that's right, this is a shell mounted on top of another shell, on an old Ford Ranger
We're having unpredictable thunderstorm showers, making it a bit difficult. Made some progress though. About 1/2 hour before this was taken, the top was upside down on the Dakota bed, getting the tent material roughed in. It is fastened via 10-24 panhead screws and nuts, with long strips of aluminum. Once I get it together, I'll pull the screws one at a time, put on washers, dope them with sealer, and put 'em back in. Part of the reason I used a tent instead of generic canvas, is that is an easy way of getting a Great Big Screened Vent without a lot of money This was a 3 or 4 man domed tent
Here, the lower part is just hanging. It will be fastened to the rear of the camper top opening.
Objects hanging out are 3/4 foam pipe insulation, which I fastened to the 2x4's outboard of the factory seals, to encourage a more reliable seal, "I hope." I will of course trim them to length
Below.....Looking cornerwise to the rear top corner, showing the aluminum strip. Material above is scrap, will get trimmed, the lower part is draping down and will be similarly fastened to the rear and sides of the camper top
Below....The front hinge area. Not cleaned up yet, this is a motorbike tube to add insurance to the front seal. The 2x4 below and insulation will be covered with aluminum strip plus right angle material to wrap under ceiling. I bent the camper metal top up vertical against the insides of the 2x4's all 4 sides, and it is heavily caulked, hopefully, "no leaks". Front has inner tube pieces up under the front outer corners of the hinge area, plus the tube you see. I'm going to build an aluminum windshield in front of the hinge area to further discourage wind blown weather from coming in This is a weak point of the top design, which originally, of course, was shielded by the pickup cab.
Probably next---before fastening the lower part of the tent--well be to determine if I can adapt the gas shocks, and if not, device a prop system, because whatever that amounts to will determine vertical height, and hence, positioning of the lower canvas anchor points.
Well at least mine "may not" be as bad as some. Yes, that's right, this is a shell mounted on top of another shell, on an old Ford Ranger
We're having unpredictable thunderstorm showers, making it a bit difficult. Made some progress though. About 1/2 hour before this was taken, the top was upside down on the Dakota bed, getting the tent material roughed in. It is fastened via 10-24 panhead screws and nuts, with long strips of aluminum. Once I get it together, I'll pull the screws one at a time, put on washers, dope them with sealer, and put 'em back in. Part of the reason I used a tent instead of generic canvas, is that is an easy way of getting a Great Big Screened Vent without a lot of money This was a 3 or 4 man domed tent
Here, the lower part is just hanging. It will be fastened to the rear of the camper top opening.
Objects hanging out are 3/4 foam pipe insulation, which I fastened to the 2x4's outboard of the factory seals, to encourage a more reliable seal, "I hope." I will of course trim them to length
Below.....Looking cornerwise to the rear top corner, showing the aluminum strip. Material above is scrap, will get trimmed, the lower part is draping down and will be similarly fastened to the rear and sides of the camper top
Below....The front hinge area. Not cleaned up yet, this is a motorbike tube to add insurance to the front seal. The 2x4 below and insulation will be covered with aluminum strip plus right angle material to wrap under ceiling. I bent the camper metal top up vertical against the insides of the 2x4's all 4 sides, and it is heavily caulked, hopefully, "no leaks". Front has inner tube pieces up under the front outer corners of the hinge area, plus the tube you see. I'm going to build an aluminum windshield in front of the hinge area to further discourage wind blown weather from coming in This is a weak point of the top design, which originally, of course, was shielded by the pickup cab.
Probably next---before fastening the lower part of the tent--well be to determine if I can adapt the gas shocks, and if not, device a prop system, because whatever that amounts to will determine vertical height, and hence, positioning of the lower canvas anchor points.