Planning for the Future Sportsman Camper

Howdy folks, been a little while since I last posted. Been busy at work and also busy working on the plans for the new truck camper. Well I went and did something I didn't plan on. I ordered a book from England called "Travel Vans" by John Speed. Nice book, talks about European RVing and Camping trips around Europe, along with how to plan and build a RV for travel.

I read this book cover to cover several times since receiving it last month. It's well worth the 23.99L (British Pound) including the shipping to the US.

I also went and bit the bullet and bought the plans from Glen L in California for the Acapulco Camper. Nice blueprints, very basic construction, and best of all, I can build this in sections over the winter and do the final assembly when the weather is good and dry. Overal the camper will be 7 foot wide, have an 8' floor, a extended cabover sleeper making it about 13'8" overall length, and a center height inside of 6'4".

I'm also modifying the plans from Glen L, bringing the combination of Old School and New School together for the next 20 plus years. First is the plans call for the bed to be 64" wide between the tailgate opening. I've only got 60", so the first thing is to narrow the base by 4" overall. Second the overall floor is actually 8'1", so i would need to pull the tailgate off the GMC when using the camper. But with a floor length of 8'0", I can keep the tailgate on and use the tailgate as a deck or porch when entering and exiting the camper. So the camper is getting shortened 1" in length.

Other modifications include a Fantastic Fan, a roof vent over the sleeping area of the cabover, a vent over the bathroom area, rubber roof, aluminum siding, 4 corner jacks, an insulated floor, and modern windows, a modern door, and LED lighting. Toss in a 12V Refrigerator, propane heater, and possibly a hot water heater also.

And to start the project off I purchased the SMEV Sink Stove combo off Ebay, a nice little package of a 2 burner stove and stainless steel sink attached. Overall it's 31" by 13" by 5" with a sink 13" by 9" by 4 1/2". So I'm already started in planning, and will be starting construction next month.

Funny part is now I find that staying in the truck camper is more relaxing, especially when out on a fishing trip or just out sight seeing the countryside. It's like staying at a hotel on wheels that I don't have to pay for unless I stay in a campground, plus I can retire to after a long day of fishing.

Stay tuned and keep looking.