Turn a Pickup Into a Camper
MOTHER'S WOODSHOP
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WILL SHELTON
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E.J. Bess's ingenious convertible pickup truck.
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E.J. Bess of Tigard, Oregon, recently sent us this nifty little space-saving project that immediately had us all thinking of ways we could "convertible-ize" other pickups. She reports that, "By building a convertible bed in the back of my 1969 Ford pickup, I have the hauling capacity of the pickup plus a sleeping area that works fine for several weeks at a time camping out." We were convinced and quickly scratched our heads and wondered why we didn't think of it first.
Use ¼” lag bolts with corresponding washers to join all 2 x 4s.
Nail plywood to 2 x 4 frame with 40 common 1½ " nails.
A. Lag bolt (we suggest galvanized hot dip bolts all around) to truck bed from the outside using fender washers on all three legs. B. Three snap hinges (one on each post) will keep the bed folding smoothly.
C. Two snap catches should be used (one on each side of the table). D. Hook and eye attachment to camper is a critical area. It must be reinforced to reduce the risk of damage to the camper side.
My living quarters consist of a bed that can be put up during the day and lowered at night for sleeping purposes. While the bed is in the up position, I have a foldable shelf under the bed which can be used as an eating table or a simple shelf. You can install as many tables as you find convenient.
I wanted the bed large enough for comfort so I built it as wide as I could and still be able to pivot it up vertically above the wheel well.
