What say you about trying to use a ladder rack frame as the beginning of a pop up camper? I am posting all kinds of of camper shell questions at the moment, but I am trying to figure out the best route. Ultimately, I would LOVE an OVRLND unit, but i do not have $8K sitting around for something like that. But a ladder rack can be had cheap and is super sturdy, and I would imagine it would reduce a lot of work in designing and building the initial frame. "Just" have to add a pop up section to the top. Ridiculous idea? Poke holes in it.....
Build camper using ladder rack as a frame?
- Thread starter SixLug
- Start date
GoinBoardin
Observer
To be honest, after I used a fwc frame as my builds starting point, I would, without question, start from scratch. I spent more time reconfiguring that frame than I anticipated, and all the while felt constrained by it. I see a ladder rack in a similar light. Chop saw, welder, and a pile of light wall tubing: the sky is the limit. And by sky, I mean your own imagination. Trying to get a jump start didn't save me time, or money. I'm not going to say it can't be done well, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
Seems like a good starting point to me.
4x4JeepCamper
Observer
There's potential in this idea. Show us the frame you are thinking of starting with.
s.e.charles
Well-known member
I often pine the same idea. I would consider early how the finished canopy/ camper would be (a) removed from the bed & (b) weather-sealed. additional "strutting" should only serve to reinforce the dynamic load limit, and type sheathing might be considered to add shear strength to the whole.
I think picking a rack manufacturer and getting their engineering specs would be a good starting point and then begin the ordeal. keeping track & weighing options will help decide on final solutions.
Q: is this going to be bed cover only or cantilevered over the truck cab?
the latter will introduce its own considerations & complications.
I think picking a rack manufacturer and getting their engineering specs would be a good starting point and then begin the ordeal. keeping track & weighing options will help decide on final solutions.
Q: is this going to be bed cover only or cantilevered over the truck cab?
the latter will introduce its own considerations & complications.
The thought would be starting with a simple square tube style rack. Light load limits. I don’t and won’t pack on the roof. So the main support would be required only for holding the pop up system and static (sleeping) loads. It would be the type similar to OVRLND’s setup with an over -the- roof section.
