How to Build a Cheap Camper Out of a Mini Pickup

The economy’s tanked, it’s time to leave, but there isn’t enough money to buy a van. What other choices are there? Building an inexpensive rig that will be comfortable and keep the weather out isn’t all that hard. Using a mini-pickup such as the Ford Ranger, Chevy S10, or even a Toyota Tacoma as the base vehicle, building living quarters on the back can give you more usable space then you might find in a standard sized van. The added benefit will be economy, the smaller unit will be a fuel miser when compared to a standard sized van.

The first step is to discard the pickup box. It’s shape will limit the space in anything your going to build. The weight of the steel box can be replaced with a roomier structure that will be more user friendly.

The thought of modifying an existing tear drop trailer to fit on the rear of the pickup may come to mind. This approach isn’t recommended as modifying anything to work will require making sacrifices. Custom building to fit your exact needs will assure you have the best possible rig to fit your needs.

The key to success is light weight construction techniques. Making use of 1/4″ luan plywood for sheeting, 2×2’s for framing, and 2×4’s and 1/2″ plywood for floor structure you can construct your living quarters to match the shape of your truck.

By removing the pickup box you can create a flat floor that extends out slightly past the side of the cab. Maybe as wide as 6′ which would allow a bed to be built cross wise saving precious floor space. Don’t extend the roof height more then about 6″ above the cab. By exceeding the dimensions of the truck by only small amounts the aerodynamics won’t suffer as much and the original economy of the vehicle will be retained.

The roof should be arched, allowing rainwater to immediately run off. This type of construction will maximize head room while leaving the majority of the roof profile low with less air resistance.

With luan construction applying a good coat of exterior paint immediately upon installation is essential. If moisture is allowed to hit the raw paneling delamination will quickly occur.

With these simple materials you can build your modified Stealth Van Dwelling out of any small pickup and still have money left to go traveling.

One piece of advise, never travel with a person in the house portion of your vehicle. With light weight construction techniques if your involved in an accident the house structure will probably disintegrate on impact. Like most RV’s, the point is to keep the weather out and the weight low. Survivability isn’t a strong point for most RV’s on the road today.