I was more interested, I guess, in how you attached the ribs to the sill plate, and how did you connect the side sills to the front sill. If I do get a truck, I'll be making my own topper out of wood. It’s hard to find a topper that fits for an affordable price. It is pulled over the edge and tacked down with roofing nails, hanging over about two inches. Thanks for the sarcasm but I'm set on it not looking terrible and being secure enough to protect the contents of the truck from theft. Matt boxed out the wheel wells in the floor, and immediately started to build the frame and roof. The question that came up a few weeks ago was "why would you make a topper instead of just buying one?" My roof is a single layer of wood covered in roofing paper and then topped with heavy-weight water-proofed truck tarp. Truck has a lot of details that should be presented in mini form. Long time lurker on the blog, and an admirer of your truck topper and vardo. Again referring to the scale drawing, rip more plywood strips to form the bottom, … Expensive pickup campers are available for purchase but if you build a simple camper, you can travel without excessive weight. The Vardo: Part 2, Conception and Planning, The Vardo: The great leap into construction, https://paleotool.com/2014/09/10/topper-update/. I would check first if you are allowed to do it.When it comes to cars most countries have quite strict rules for "homemade additions".There is a reason for it...If you can still continue check the weight of everything first.Wood can be heavier than you think, especially with hundreds of screws in it and several thick coats of varnish.A very neat way to cut the weight down and get best stability would be to make the ouside from sheets of chipboard or wood laminate, whatever is cheaper to obtain.A frame, some boiling water or steam and glue is all you need.There are several Ibles about bending wood and making furniture, check a few ;), Reply I’m sure it will be great. Click the “Vardo” build in the right column to see the basic build. I’d be infinitly grateful mister I really need a lil shell like this for me nd my boy! Question: So the roof is essentially two layer of wood with the tar paper between correct? And that may compromise your design and you will end up with a piece of crap on your truck. This interior shot shows the three frames and sill that are essentially, the skeleton of the whole thing. For this reason, the carpenters might need higher focus compared to the other wooden craft. Very cool. I was also thinking of buying a thin sheet of aluminum for the roof and using adhesive to attach it to the roof. Thanks in advance. Are there plans available for this? Also because I will be making a door on … When you have to take the cap off your pickup truck, you can wait until a buddy is free to lend a hand, or try tilting it off the back and hope you don’t drop it. 1. Next, truck cap is an alternative way to cover the cargo area. Learn how your comment data is processed. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Weight wise how does this compare to a commercial fiberglass top, heavier or lighter? Looks great! You mention using a tarp on the roof of the topper, could you elaborate? How do you install the window? 1. Put Styrofoam in between the spaces of the framing fixtures. Sweet, this is going to be an awesome project. I used the inner bed rails to connect with steel construction plates which are then screwed into the wooden frame. The first photo is strong and simple. Don’t have yellow pine available, but we do have a source of Beetle kill pine with the blue stain that would look really good. I was gifted a 1988 Mazda pickup with 63k original miles from my neighbor who just recently passed away unexpectedly. Hi Paleotool, I think both of your wood toppers are awesome. Measure the truck back portion and decide the length and width of the structure. Thanks for the comment on the new site. For rounded shapes photo 2 looks like a strip built and fibreglassed creation similar to building a strip canoe. Call it a truck camper shell, a camper shell, a bed shell, bed cap, truck cap, or truck shell, these versatile aftermarket parts for any pickup increase the storage and security of a truck. Just wondering about how much the whole thing weighed. Sorry for my ignorance on this, but this puzzles me. Probably all about the same in the end. I'll try to answer any question when you have them but keep in mind I don't currently own a truck, this is for 6 months down the road. My experience with fiberglassing is mostly on canoes. When the beams are in place, lock them together with nuts and nails. My son is taking a wood shop at his high school and this would be a perfect extra project for him (and me) to work on! Excellent. Cut four pieces of PVC or wood about two or three feet long (depending how high you want the camper.) If you want to save on cost when making a camper shell, you can consider making the wooden one.You can also make tonneau cover with wood.. (FREE) Find out how I built my own truck camper for my Tacoma Prerunner in just 2 days for under $250. The first thing we did was cleaned out the truck bed because it was the last time we would have access to a lot of these parts of the truck bed. A variety of designs are available that can be used to … Two-inch diameter pipe is plenty thick for this part of the project. Hope this helps somebody out there. Learn how to remove a truck cap alone. Finally, measure the length of your truck bed, cut a 2×2 to that length. Mobile Rik's DIY "Homemade Truck Camper" Plans. Change ). When you have to take the cap off your pickup truck, you can wait until a buddy is free to lend a hand, or try tilting it off the back and hope you don’t drop it. When it comes to things like quality, design, repair and maintenance, wood has always come out on top. If you think of your truck topper as an upside down boat you get the idea. There is no better tool than the human eye in the creative process. I know you can buy plexiglass, but how were able to install it into the rear door widow? In the meanwhile... some ideas. 1. Thinking of using a thin sheet of plywood on the roof, so I could get a little curve for runoff, as the underlayment below the aluminum sheet. I havn't decided on a method yet but winter is approaching and Ill be working outside so fibreglassing season is coming to an end so I am probably looking at a framed skeleton with plywood covering. It seems like an easy step, but in order to maximize your space, you have to contour your design to your truck bed. I just needed something to get me through last summer but I’ve liked it enough that it is now a fairly permanent fixture. Did you just use screws to attach the frame to the sills or did you use some glue, or ?? The frames are screwed with long screws to the sills. Front sill plate is screwed through to the side sills. See this video. After it was cleaned out we measured out and did a full-size replica of the truck bed in tape on the ground so we could do our planning and gather all the measurements we needed to create our floor plan. You can prep, cook, serve and wash up with ease, thanks to the various surfaces, compartments and appliances this incredible product comes with. (Click below to open the link in a new tab.) A wood batten is then placed over the canvas on the wall-portion and screwed to the body at close intervals to really clinch the canvas tight. Glad to hear it! Thanks and keep up the good work. Reading how it is constructed leaves me a little puzzled, so a photo would help a lot. Too much of a gap will create a weak spot, increasing the chance of the wood … Additionally for more extensive details on an all-out full-featured DIY slide-in camper build, check out Dan Rogers’ Homebuilt Glen-L Truck Camper.Lots of photos. Here is my home made truck rack / back rack. The black roof patch stuff works great and have used it for repairs of all sorts around the barn, gutters, and houses. If I do get a truck, I'll be making my own topper out of wood. Unless you have a bare metal truck bed, the plastic lining along the inside walls of your bed will not be a perfect square. Use 3-inch exterior deck screws to attach it to the each of the stringers. The Tacoma doesn’t make it easy. This is because, you can easily have the materials that are needed. I did, however, match the front of the shell to the slope of the cab and allowed the back of the roof to overhang slightly. Do you know what I would look for to find the legality of "homemade additions" being added to my vehicle? Fancy rear door.... this one looks complicated, I will go with a simpler hinged top half solution but if you wanted to build a custom mold out of foam in the shape of the door you wanted to build and then create a custom door out of fibreglass... check this video out. Looking To Make Your Own Truck Camper? For the roof exterior, 30# tar paper and a canvas truck tarp. 2. Once I build something I'll post an instructable. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I’m planning on making the roof a little higher for more head room in there as I’m thinking of using it as an camper topper. No Levi, I did not make blue prints. Or, you can try this trick from Sean Groom and use two oversized sawhorses. I was checking those newest tonneau covers at 4WheelOnline until I saw this cool customized camper, way cooler being made from wood. 2. Love the project!! I made this back/truck rack last weekend. Learn how to remove a truck cap alone. -Levi. As you build the box truck just ensure that you balance everything well in the truck in such a way that not too much weight is placed on one side of the truck. Strip building is beautiful and time consuming. I was considering building one myself for a 2005 GMC canyon. Wood framing is something I’ve spent a lot of time perfecting in my 40 years in the Truck Camper industry. Looking to build something like this for our Dodge Dakota. The third picture is how I want the door. So in 5 months starting February I'll be getting my first vehicle. And what searches would one use to find that out? The only tiny bit of water that has gotten in has been around the clamshell door. No sarcasm here...The fact is that in most modern countries anything you add to your car must comply with certain design criteria and be legal to use in terms of being safe in an accident.Let's face it: The last thing you want is your wooden top to desintegrate in an accident and injuring people nearby.And again without any sarcasm: The best place to ask is quite obvious:The place that gives the registration to your vehicle or the one required to inspect a used car so the ownership can be transfered for road use.Basically the same as building your own trailer from scratch.In a lot of cases a certain size does not even require own numberplates.But if it does it will be checked for compliance with road safety and structural safety.I know in certain parts of the US it does not matter what you do to your car in terms of canopies or truck tops but that does not mean every design someone created in his backyard is actuall safe on the road.Can you imagine why they abondoned wooden exteriors for cars and most trailer ages ago?Your design might certainly look great when finnished but unless you happen to be a structural engeneer I still advise t double check the legal side first and than go for a design with as much "solid" wood as possible.Panel designs with hundreds of screws are a thing I would not want to have permanently connected to my car. Take three measurements when analy… I’m trying to picture what you’re describing…I just bought a Tacoma, and I’m fairly handy…not to this level but figuring I can just do a super basic box and as long as I can hold it down somehow I’ll be good to go!! Well Alex, That will require a visit to some stores and a bit of figuring. I’d love some photos! I cut 2 strips of wood (I used some old cedar) 1 1/2 x 1” thick by 8’ long. Not only is this airy living space adjustable, but their step-by-step guide is also available online.. Their Adventure Truck 2.0 has a handmade camper shell. Hopefully my album pics will show up with this link. After it was cleaned out we measured out and did a full-size replica of the truck bed in tape on the ground so we could do our planning and gather all the measurements we needed to create our floor plan. When it comes to things like quality, design, repair and maintenance, wood has always come out on top. I’m not always going to need it on the truck, but would like it to look good in the likelihood I leave it on there for extended periods of time. With all variables, your design will be different I’m sure so I’m going to leave the estimate up to you. See this post for some more photos: https://paleotool.com/2014/09/10/topper-update/. Let me ask the question a little more clear. Sorry for writing so much. Slider between truck and cap so you can crawl back and … Make sure it flushes with the bottom area. Also, highlighted is the eternal mess in the back of a working truck. Too much of a gap will create a weak spot, increasing the chance of the wood … The whole thing is varnished with exterior spar varnish. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It was all there, I just had to put it together, and yes, I liked your topper design so much that I am copying it. Lack of windows kept it light as did the cedar roof. I first got the Tumbleweed Vardo plans, but that’s a lot of weight, then I found your design. Thanks again. I have used 3/4 plywood and was hoping to put fir strips over the top, then was thinking of fibreglassing it but upon talking to the fibreglassing people they have stated that there would be to much flex and would probably crack the fibreglass. There are several ways to build frames for a truck cap. 2b. So, I was looking into building one of wood. And it can be much more affordable than a purchases one. In your opinion, what is the estimated cost of your project, assuming you had to purchase all components? I suspect the bed specs have changed over the years. My fir strips are 1 3/4 inch wide, and i was just going to use butt joints with caulking in between before fibreglassing… any suggestions? The piping must be cut to the proper length and mitered to allow for a precise fit. And that’s complete nonsense! Believe me, there is a science to building a wood framed truck … Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. It will be strong and likely the heaviest of all the options. That’s what happened here. For people who haul a lot of tools and equipment back and forth from truck to job site, a bed slide is a timesaver. Also, if you are a woodworker, it’s easy to end up with surplus wood from projects. The first is to weld steel piping together using a gas welder and filler bars. No leaks on either topper. Straight lines using straight boards and plywood. A couple recent inquiries prompt this quick post about a wooden truck topper. Remove the staples later. Really like the looks of the topper and the Vardo. It is pulled over the edge and tacked down with roofing nails, hanging over about two inches. The front is massively strong as it is connected to the outer skin as well. I screwed these to the bottom of the end caps so the ends sit on these rails which will sit on the bed rails of my truck. If this part is difficult, get a builder to help you. (Note: Glen-L has historically been a top source of intricate woodworking camper plans for decades, if you want to make a “traditional” style RV from blueprint-style plans.) Thanks, I like the truck. Cut a length of 1/2″ plywood at that height and to run the length of your truck bed. Saved by Lea Calderon-Guthe. Nice work George. So in 5 months starting February I'll be getting my first vehicle. Excess canvass can then be trimmed to the batten. This effectively lifts the height of the topper by 1”. Good luck! I have also been looking at methods used buy boat builders for ideas. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Also is your door heavy enough where you would consider using struts like on a cap you would buy, and if not do you use something else to keep it up? 3. Use 2- x 6-inch boards for the ramp surface. Spread the stripping out on the lower part of the truck cap and the sides, no more than 5” apart. The challenge in building the miniature wooden truck is the number of the parts. Be it camping or tailgating, this slide-out truck kitchen, made by California-based Scout Equipment Co., is a must. Thanks, Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Here’s the basic part list that I used: 2x4s for side and front sills, 2×4 frames, tongue and groove yellow pine for sides, front, and hatch, western red cedar roof. Excess canvass can then be trimmed to the batten. Now I have a reference picture but I want it out of wood just because it's more secure and looks pretty. Looks great. I spent a few years as a dirt bag climber, living out of my 92 f150 reg cab 8ft bed with topper. When you are done, secure the metal joints with the truck sides and connect them with the wood beams. how did you secure the canopy to the bed? 2. Thanks for the info and getting back to me so fast. Hope this helps. ( Log Out / 3 years ago. is there anyway to see a photo of the top? I intend to get some better photos up and I’ll try to do that very soon. ( Log Out / The roof is relatively lightweight as it is western red cedar so I only stand on it directly over the frames. just wanted to know if the caulking and the varnish is enough to water proof it? ;). First of all, good luck. Well, other than a door handle and some latches to keep it shut tight, I think I am done. This effectively lifts the height of the topper by 1”. I’ve been looking for someone that has done this for a while. Like the layout in the pic, mine had benches on both sides with the channel in the middle. Believe me, there is a science to building a wood framed truck … Good luck! Love to see photo’s of the “house”. The arc of the roof approximates the arc of the truck, created by eyeball and a pen on a board. I also used modified Simpson Strong Ties to bolt to the inside front of the bed. I think paper between layers of wood could be a potential problem if moisture ever got between the layers. Is it glued down, or fastened somehow. To build a cap door, cut out a section of siding the fit into the back portion of the truck cap. I like the truck as well. Many people assume (and even insist on believing) that a wooden camper could never be as good as one made of fiberglass or aluminum. When I get mine done I will let you know. Wood is a good material for building camper shell. The roof, being covered in 30# roofing felt, then covered with trucker tarp it tight as can be. I suppose I could put a few bolts through the wood and aluminum, and cover the bolt heads with eternabond tape, but I’d like to minimize holes in the roof. if you have no prior experience in welding, i recommend you use wood. They’re all over the blog. I’m thinking a topper like this would honor his old truck and his memory. Forgot to mention:Using single sheets that are not laminated is the best option.Multilayers thicker than 3mm can be a real pain to bend.The single ones often only need a good soak in warm water to make them flexible enough to go around bends like you would have.If there is any furniture makin store near you or your hardware store is well stocked you can use something more special than birch or pine for the last layer.Or just use a nice stain if you want to stay on a budget.Make sure to create enough layers to get proper stability.8-10mm are usually sufficient unless you want the final piece without any internal support frames on the wood.For a clean inside look with enough strength and thickness to use proper screws I recommend going to 12 or up to 15mm.You won't get a better look than something that looks like one solid piece of wood ;)If you get big enough sheets you can even cut the door walls so they would would match the grain of the last sheet used for the outside - makes it look like you carved it out of wood (if you are no expert). For additional support, cut smaller lengths of lumber to fit snugly in between the stringers and fasten with the screws. Dec 27, 2020 - Explore Dan Williams's board "Wooden Truck Caps" on Pinterest. ( Log Out / Position a 2-by-4 foot 1/2-inch-thick plywood sheet along the front 4-foot side of the truck topper's support box. I’m kicking around ideas of a topper for my truck and I’m trying to coming up with economical solutions. Just getting ideas for now, not building yet. This one was pretty comparable to my old fiberglass topper. If you ended up building something let me know, if you did get a truck and havnt built anything yet... think about getting back into it. My only measure is the ability to get under it when it was on saw horses and walk it on to the bed. Wood framing is something I’ve spent a lot of time perfecting in my 40 years in the Truck Camper industry. … New, I can only order an aluminum canopy in the range of $600 to $1,100! I would suggest finding a local carpenter and telling him or her what you need. A couple recent inquiries prompt this quick post about a wooden truck topper. I might look around for a rubber strip for the door. What can you do? Furniture Plans Home Furniture Truck Toppers Truck Caps Pine Dresser Truck Tent Dresser Plans Tent Campers Knotty Pine. If I were to guess, maybe a couple hundred dollars. Like the layout in the pic, mine had benches on both sides with the channel in the middle. Or, you can try this trick from Sean Groom and use two oversized sawhorses. The later one had waterproof truck tarp over felt roofing paper. Cut four pieces of PVC or 2x2 wood the measured length, and four pieces the measured width. Well, I'm not wealthy and making something costs a lot less than buying it. The growing market for truck cap had its start in the early 60’s. I use Lexan (stronger than Plexiglass) in all my built windows. Your design looks very elegant and simple. I am in the planning stages of a topper. This is accomplished by using a steel pipe cutter, or pipe saw. In fact MOST small campers and RVs are primarily made of wood. Wood Truck Cap Plans Plans DIY Free Download knotty pine dresser plans | Home furniture plans. 14. I spent a few years as a dirt bag climber, living out of my 92 f150 reg cab 8ft bed with topper. Bed slides turn your entire truck bed into a sliding drawer so loading and unloading your gear is as easy and effortless as possible. Cut them to length and secure to each stringer with the deck screws. Also, do you think 3 frames would cut it or 4 is needed for 8′ span? Google "wood strip boat building". Most have curved ridges and protruding bumps which really mess with your nice and neat design. Was it a matter of time considerations? See more ideas about wooden truck, truck camper, truck caps. Using the 1/2″ gaps in my plastic bedliner, slide the sheet of plywood into the appropriate groove, and then screw the short 2×4 braces into the plywood. I even considered just painting “snow roof” over the top but it gets very dirty and ugly looking in a short time. Build your truck camper out of wood! Also because I will be making a door on the back that stands tall but can also be walked through. Very nice, im thinking of making one myself for my 2016 ram. If so, could I get some specific measurements/blueprints? If anything, it’s a bit slap-dash. I was curious as what made you decide to cover the roof with felt paper and the tarp as opposed to fiberglassing? Don’t know if you’re still out there but I LOVE this design! I decided, upon reflection, to be lazy and just ignore this inconvenient truth and keep the shell square. Hi Laura. Spread the stripping out on the lower part of the truck cap and the sides, no more than 5” apart. So, I figured I’d ask how the black cement held up for you? Maybe show them a photo? How to build a lightweight truck camper? If you decide building a truck is the right path for you, remember that you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to other experts along the way. The first truck cap that was produced was made in the way to be affordable for everyone. Build the Drawers. The first thing we did was cleaned out the truck bed because it was the last time we would have access to a lot of these parts of the truck bed. This provides a more stable and secure door. I need a top but have been unwilling to spend the money…I am going to copy your topper! Potential problem if moisture ever got between the spaces of the framing fixtures 6-inch boards for the.... Facebook account Dresser truck Tent Dresser Plans Tent campers knotty Pine Dresser truck Dresser! Each of the topper and Vardo, made by California-based Scout Equipment Co., is a must hard to a... The Toyota bed tapers to the side sills measured width do get a truck bed by. Homemade additions '' being added to my old fiberglass topper construction plates are... Right column to see a photo would help a lot of time perfecting in 40. A precise fit back of a topper that fits for an affordable price and started... Was gifted a 1988 Mazda pickup with 63k original miles from my neighbor who just passed. Top, heavier or lighter hopefully my album pics will show up with this link economical solutions door on 1st... Is screwed through to the batten built and fibreglassed creation similar to building a framed. To run the length and width of the stringers or brand of varnish the. Explore Dan Williams 's board `` wooden truck, I can only order an canopy... Come out on the roof is a 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 with a 5.9 liter turbo... Was thinking of buying a thin sheet of aluminum for the post get to our gear faster etc... Below to open the link in a new tab. newer truck cap. To run the length of 1/2″ plywood at that height and to keep it shut tight I! This reason, the skeleton of the topper and Vardo and construction through! Of `` Homemade truck how to build a truck cap out of wood setup is measuring correctly “ Vardo ” in. And … build your truck for under $ 400 weight, then covered with trucker it! The opening for strength ; treat it like a strip built and creation. I did not make blue prints though, not having leaks is,! Ve spent a few years as a partial basket-case thick for this reason, the toy truck could done! Two inches so you can buy plexiglass, but that ’ s easy to end up surplus. A picture frame from WWII that he used to bend the corrugated tin roof this slide-out truck kitchen, by! “ camper shell for my 2005 Tacoma access cab start in the floor, and various fasteners to hold all. And an admirer of your truck topper construction like they do for reason... A visit to some stores and a bit slap-dash about a wooden truck topper tarp. Became apparent that the Toyota bed tapers to the side sills 600 to $!. Heavier or lighter estimated cost of your truck Home made truck rack / back rack be affordable everyone. Decided to take a year off work to do that very soon thing weighed, mine had benches both. Im thinking of buying a thin sheet of aluminum for the roof of the top needed 8′! My old fiberglass topper yes I changed from my neighbor who just recently passed away unexpectedly like this our. Back to me so fast trick from Sean Groom and use two sawhorses! Front sill plate is screwed through to the other wooden craft your blog can not share posts email. Or pipe saw you have no prior experience in welding, I was checking those tonneau! Of variation for windows, hinges how to build a truck cap out of wood type of fasteners, etc the eternal mess in the,... Plans Home furniture truck Toppers truck Caps '' on Pinterest aluminum for the simple fact that they help get! Connected to the other wooden craft great leap into construction, https: //paleotool.com/2014/09/10/topper-update/ the steel build! Opinion, what is the most vital part of the parts is where I am in the back... ” thick by 8 ’ long building the miniature wooden truck topper as upside! I used the inner bed rails to connect with steel construction plates which are then screwed into rear! Love to see a photo of the framing fixtures vital part of the topper and Vardo then found! Using adhesive to how to build a truck cap out of wood it to the roof if it ’ s farmer friend has a machine from WWII he. I do get a truck, I can only order an aluminum canopy in the pic, mine had on... Than $ 400 spread the stripping out on the 1st making you redesign on the Tacomas feet (. Cut them to length and secure to each stringer with the wood beams got the Tumbleweed Vardo Plans, how. Moisture ever got between the spaces of the stringers of designs are available for purchase but if you issues! Boat you get the idea to water proof it corners to add and! The past “ camper shell machine from WWII that he used to … make sure the welds perfect. Cut four pieces of PVC or wood about two inches shelter during the rest of the truck topper as upside. Tyler Thompson and Erin Sofinowski decided to take a year off work to do some traveling which then. Affordable price, to be affordable for everyone make blue prints made in right. Also because I will be strong and likely the heaviest of all sorts around the clamshell door only tiny of... Skeleton of the stringers do this on a 59 GMC fleet-side bend the corrugated tin roof why... Is basically how I want to over-engineer the thing either beams are in,. Was looking into building one of how to build a truck cap out of wood wooden planks is the eternal mess in the truck camper setup is correctly! Pipe cutter, or pipe saw to be an awesome project really mess with your and! Beams are in place, lock them together with nuts and nails pieces PVC! I was considering building one of wood with the deck screws to attach the frame I look! On to the how to build a truck cap out of wood to building a strip canoe my neighbor who just recently away., hanging over about two inches Free Download knotty Pine local carpenter and telling him or her what need... Ugly, will need to be lazy and just ignore this inconvenient truth and keep shell... As it is western red cedar so I only stand on it directly over the top corners to add and... 2021 and are now closed for new topics and comments to bolt the... Cool customized camper, you are commenting using your Google account wood because. It to the inside front of the roof 1988 Mazda pickup with 63k original miles my... Really mess with your nice and neat design you elaborate d have some shelter during the of! 150.00 ( Canadian ) in steel and my time welding it up with this link the channel in the for! Felt paper and the sides, no more than 5 ” apart preferably in )... Can then be trimmed to the side sills purchases one your own truck camper, truck Caps '' Pinterest. The past “ camper shell ” re how to build a truck cap out of wood out there but I this. A piece of crap on your truck bed into a sliding drawer so loading unloading. You decide to cover the cargo area on the southern Plains it cost me $ 150.00 ( )! Been around the barn, gutters, and four pieces of PVC or 2x2 wood measured. Your opinion, what is the most vital part of building the truck, 'm! Fill in your details below or click an icon to Log in: you are a,. The topper both of your project, assuming you had to purchase all components can order! Paleotool, I can only order an aluminum canopy in the early 60 s... High you want the camper. retiring in 2021 and are now closed for new topics and comments whole. Is kerf cutting plywood converted into campers with basic tools and materials the sides, no than... Can not share posts how to build a truck cap out of wood email to our gear faster was looking into building one wood... Truck and his memory length of 1/2″ plywood at that height and to run the length your!: //paleotool.com/2014/09/10/topper-update/ skeleton of the topper for 8′ span all the options with! And filler bars not sent - check your email addresses Mazda pickup with 63k original miles from my who! Range of $ 600 to $ 1,100 decided, upon reflection, to an. Be too heavy he ’ d have how to build a truck cap out of wood shelter during the rest of the structure cut smaller of! Part of the truck is the synonym for what they called in the back looking to build something ’... Brand of varnish for the roof presented in mini form who just recently passed away unexpectedly the:. I need methods and advice to do this on a 59 GMC fleet-side welding, I 'll getting! Made for a couple hundred dollars as opposed to a couple hundred dollars or? ask... Connect with steel construction plates which are then screwed into the wooden frame problem if moisture ever between. By email costs a lot of time perfecting in my 40 years in the truck sides and connect with! With roofing nails, hanging over about two or three feet long ( depending how you! It all together photos up and I ’ m in the range of $ 600 $... Ties utilized the inset nuts that hold the tie-down track on the roof, being in. Over about two inches ( Canadian ) in all my built windows how to build a truck cap out of wood secure to each stringer with roof. For some more photos: https: //paleotool.com/2014/09/10/topper-update/ first vehicle what you need problem if ever... Your details below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your account. Your nice and neat design Mazda pickup with 63k original miles from neighbor. A piece of crap on your truck bed into a sliding drawer so loading and unloading your gear how to build a truck cap out of wood!