Funny, I’ve never named any of my vehicles, boats, motorcycles, RV or trucks by a personal name. So when I decided to build my own micro camper, I wondered again if I should name it? We have a miniature Morkie, a Maltese and Yorkie mix who travels with us. He’s 11 now and getting to be an old guy and he loves camping. We just came back from Utah and Colorado with him on our month long campout in our pop up. So, the idea of naming our new camper Toby is sounding good and he’ll love getting out with us again soon.
Toby will be a Grasshopper Square Drop 5x11 standee. I recently purchased a Dilly boat trailer (4” C channel) that I’m presently restoring (sanding & priming with Rustoleum rust primer). The frame will get squared off rectangular at the front with some welding modifications. Since I’m a carpenter and not a welder, this will be stick frame (2x2 & 2x3) construction with 1/4 inch or 1/8” exterior plywood/luan and 1/4 “ interior with block foam. Have’t decided yet whether it will have an aluminum skin or fiberglass and paint it.
I’ve been mulling over a rear kitchen galley and I realize we never cooked in our pop up camper, nor did we use the outside stove that hung on the wall. We prefer cooking with a 2 burner propane stove at a picnic table as well as washing dishes. We also use a 12x12 dining tent when there’s room at the campsite or cold wet weather is forecast. So, I realized we don’t need a rear outside kitchen galley and therefore could benefit with a more optimal rear entry design like a slide in truck bed camper. They’re designed with an inside galley on one side and a dinette on the other. Our real need for an inside galley would be for brushing our teeth, washing our hands and have a coffee pot. I’ve considered fold down seats and table for the dinette or make permanent benches with cushions 16x16 and storage and a table to drop down to bridge the other seats, add another cushion and have a mini couch. We’re working a Thetford cassette toilet in the build along with A/C. Come to Texas and you’ll know what I mean. The queen side bed will have storage drawers underneath and outside basement access.