33-Inch Foamy Camper Build for a Suzuki Burgman 650 Trip

[DaveJ in 98092]

YouTuber Drew Builds Stuff inspired me to start one. He has FREE plans for a PMF that weighs about 130 pounds.

I do not need a huge space. This camper will be well under 20 square feet. Will not have a galley, shower, hot tub....

It will have three electrical systems, Shore power and 120 volt plug ins, Battery with Solar and the basic 12VDC running and turnsignals. My motorcycle Stator has about 250 watts of excess power that gets dumped to ground so I may install a 18 AMP DC to DC charger to the battery to charge as I ride 400 to 600 miles per day.

I will try to update this with each section as I go.

I am retired US Army so Boondocking is not too much of a problem.

 

[DaveJ in 98092]

My motorcycle is a 2015 Suzuki Burgman 650 Scooter. It has a CVT and the computer puts it in the right gear for the right time. While not really quick it gets up to "Killing Speed" fast enough. Top speed is about 115 MPH. Gets 54 MPG at 70 MPH. Wet weight and empty trunk it weighs about 580 pounds and with it loaded for camping and me on the seat its over 900 pounds. At that weight it will still go up the Continental Divide at the speed limit +. I run a 185/60 14 All Season Car Tire in the rear so rain grip is stellar.

Before I crashed in April 2015 I could keep up with the sport bikes in the corners. I got hit by a flying car tire while doing 70 MPH and took a hard shot at the concrete barrier and slid 450 feet down the freeway. 7 days in ICU and 45 days recovering at home. I still ride.

I am retired US ARMY Communications. I did complex telephone and electrician work. I was an electrician for 43 years, 21 in the Army and for GTE/Verizon/Frontier Telephone companies doing Battery Backup, Generator and Rectifier cabling.
I was ASE certified in Automotive for 3 years, and was WEBO Welder certified in all axis's and pipe.

 

[DaveJ in 98092]

Wiring up the Shore power so the same 120 VAC outlets work with the 1500 Watt Inverter I could do one of two ways.

One would be use 2 each Form C (5 pin) relays with the inverter going through on the normally closed pins and then when Shore power is switched on, the relay would go open cutting off the inverter power transferring shore power to the output pins. A bit complicated to do, even harder to explain.

Second way is to install a manual two pole dual throw cut off switch. Much simpler and less chance for a cross wire disaster.

A simple wiring diagram below.

 

[Tony Latham]

Wiring up the Shore power so the same 120 VAC outlets work with the 1500 Watt Inverter I could do one of two ways.

I'm curious, what will you use them for?

Tony

 

[DaveJ in 98092]

I'm curious, what will you use them for?

Tony

Tony, just FYI, I received your book through Amazon today. Have not cracked it yet.

I will have a few 120 volt AC things that will not run on 12 VDC. Must have at least 2 120 VAC outlets, one inside and one outside. Would not use both at the same time.

Most things I am getting a 12VDc to what ever the device needs. Like my laptop needs 19 VDC so if I am running without Shore power I do not want to invert to 120 VAC and then use my 120 VAC to 19 VDC adapter. I have the ResMed 12-24 VDC to 24 VDC adapter for my CPAP.

I have a PRESTO coffee "PRESS" like device that takes K-Cup pods but I must boil water in a 1000 watt 120 VAC kettle. I will have a small Air Fryer that draws 1200 watts for things like Fish Sticks, Tater Tots, Burritos and such.

I Admin 2 forums and moderate two Facebook pages so I need Internet. Most TENT camp spots do not have WIFI in range. They put the better paying RV customers up close to where the WIFI is. Since Starlink Lite is a month by month service, once you buy the equipment its easy to activate for a month of riding/camping then stop service. I DO NOT game so the latency will not be an issue.

 

[Jeff Bramlett]

Interesting bike! Will be fun to see your build. The electronics is over my head but I want to figure it out.

 

[DaveJ in 98092]

Ether a Teardrop or a Squaredrop will work for me.

Plans are to have this ready by first part of September 2026 for a Ride down from Seattle area to Eurika Springs AR for a major Scooter Rally. Will take 4-5 days camping for the 2,200 miles down and same back. The rally is 5 days so i will also camp too.

 

[DaveJ in 98092]

Interesting bike! Will be fun to see your build. The electronics is over my head but I want to figure it out.

Electronics can be a bit challenging even for an old crusty electrician. I have not been licensed for almost 12 years now. A fellow elecrician will let me look up codes in his book to make sure I do not mess up.

Lebanon OR? I am currently not home but down in Salem OR at sisters house. Will go home in the morn.

On the bike. Suzuki imported the Burgman 400cc in 2002 then the 650cc in 2003. The 650 is a twin. It has dual disc's up front and one in back. Under the seat is a huge trunk. Also under the seat is the battery and fuel tank. The engine is laid almost flat and the pistons are around the riders ankles so all the weight is down LOW. It is a SCOOTER in looks and name only. It is almost as good a Sport Tour bike as a Goldwing. Between 4 different ones I have almost 185,000 miles on Burgman Scooters. In the pictures below that is my 2008 Burgman 650. Under the seat is 54 liters of storage and that Top Box on the back is also 55 liter. There are 3 glove boxes too. I then made a rack to mount two 22 liter side cases. For a total of about 168 liters storage. Easy to strap a duffle on the rear seat too.

 

[Tony Latham]

Have not cracked it yet.

Gotcha, and thanks. Holler if you have questions.

Tony

 

[DaveJ in 98092]

This got put on ice for this years camping season. Will maybe start this winter.

I got a deal on a Bushtec Motorcycle trailer and will just tent camp this season. Has 24 cubic feet or over 600 liters of space inside. Fits nice behind the scooter, I can just barely see it in my mirrors. 350 pound weight limit, 125 pounds empty. My 200 watt solar panels fit nice on the top.

 

[DaveJ in 98092]

Bushtec has independent "A" arm suspension with an air shock on each side like a strut. You load the trailer and then pump up the air shocks till the tires are 90 degrees plumb to the ground. NO BOUNCE.

I can copy this A arm suspension for my light weight Foamy. Its a real simple design.

 

[uncleogre]

Dave,
Something to think about. I built this camper with a foam core composite body for going to bike rallies.
It is 2.0m long and 0.9m wide which equates to about 20 sq ft.

Drews build was a big inspiration.

 

[DaveJ in 98092]

Dave,
Something to think about. I built this camper with a foam core composite body for going to bike rallies.
It is 2.0m long and 0.9m wide which equates to about 20 sq ft.
View attachment 2456153Drews build was a big inspiration.

I'd love to see more pictures of the trailer but I'd also love to see more of your "Tractor" unit too.

 

[uncleogre]

I'd love to see more pictures of the trailer but I'd also love to see more of your "Tractor" unit too.

Dave,
There is a write up of the camper in the Foamie section, 'Off road foamie camper'.
If you can access Advriders, there is another write up of the 'tractor' and camper. Username - Uncleogre.