1988 Four Wheel Camper Grandby renovation and Tundra Fit

[Ourayphotography]

Hello all,
Well, I just bought this old 1988 Grandby FWC camper, and it survived the sketchy trip home. The plan is to rebuild it and make it fit my 2005 Tundra. Not totally sure what I have gotten myself into, as It will need quite a lot of work, so any input from you guys would be super helpful.
It is about 4 inches wider than the Tundra bed, so a big part of the project will be fabricating a complete new bed to accept the camper. I have never posted on a page like this, so any tips on that would also be very helpful.
Thanks!

 

[longhorn1]

Welcome. This sight and Facebook Four Wheel Camper Owners will give you plenty of info on re-builds. Tim Morrissey has YouTube videos of all aspects of his build-out of an 80's something FWC.

 

[Wallowa]

You asked...

I have a 2005 Tundra Access Cab SR5 with a '16 Hawk....never in my wildest dreams would I have considered putting in a FWC Grandby in our Tundra..

Where to start...height.. last thing you want to do raise the Center of Gravity [CG] like shown in your photos..our Hawk slides in between the wheel wells with 1/2" clearance from each wheel well...prefect...low and laterally 'held' in place by the wheel wells..

Then with your double cab having a shorter bed that overhang at the rear damn near has your front wheels off the ground...

Trying to use turnbuckles with that bed/camper configuration may well be impossible or at best very weak..

Just my take..but our Tundra trucks with darn near any FWC will suffer from the load...downsize your expectations.

Phil

Ps...just noticed your receiver hitches under rear of the Tundra...surely you aren't planning to tow and carry that load...also odd number and placement of "eye bolts" along the top roof [where you are using bungie cords and tie downs]...

 

[Ourayphotography]

It shall be a wild ride!! I will be flat-bedding the truck, so the height will drop quite a bit. It is on 2 pallets for the ride home, so it is sitting about 12" higher than the final location.

 

[Ourayphotography]

Welcome. This sight and Facebook Four Wheel Camper Owners will give you plenty of info on re-builds. Tim Morrissey has YouTube videos of all aspects of his build-out of an 80's something FWC.

Thanks, yes Tim has been a big motivator seeing his project.

 

[jimjxsn]

OurayPhotography,
Congratulations on the "new" camper! It looks like a great project. As I'm sure you have seen there are many others on this site who have taken on considerable projects.

If you are set on making your Tundra into a flatbed, I'm sure you realize that the camper will fit higher than in a pickup bed since a flatbed typically is above the top of the wheels/tires. It looks like a flatbed would mean the camper will be about the height it is in your pictures.

Over the years others have taken on the alternative solution of replacing the "foot pack" to fit a narrower truck bed.

Both approaches seem do-able given the necessary skills.

Best of luck and enjoy the project.

 

[ski3pin]

Congrats on your new camper and good luck with your project! You may have already seen it, but here is one of my favorite rebuilds that was shared on Wander the West -

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/12116-new-build-1981-grandby-to-become-a-hawk/

 

[Ourayphotography]

Thanks
jimjxsn
Yes it will be a 2 level flatbed. The 48" center will be down to the stock bed location, and will jump up on the sides for wheel clearance. When the camper is not installed, I will have a center filler panel to make it a true flatbed. Different for sure. Very utility

 

[jimjxsn]

Thanks jimjxsn
Yes it will be a 2 level flatbed. The 48" center will be down to the stock bed location, and will jump up on the sides for wheel clearance. When the camper is not installed, I will have a center filler panel to make it a true flatbed. Different for sure. Very utility

That sounds like a great design. Best of luck on the build.

 

[shellback]

Consider the condition of the camper floor pack and framing. If it isn't up to snuff, you may be better off rebuilding the camper to fit your truck bed. I rebuild a 79 Grandby to fit my 2016 Chevy. Here's my build. http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/13966-1979-granby/?hl=%201979%20%20granby It's not near as detailed as Pokey's or Tim's.

 

[Ourayphotography]

Consider the condition of the camper floor pack and framing. If it isn't up to snuff, you may be better off rebuilding the camper to fit your truck bed. I rebuild a 79 Grandby to fit my 2016 Chevy. Here's my build. http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/13966-1979-granby/?hl=%201979%20%20granby It's not near as detailed as Pokey's or Tim's.

Hello

shellback
Yes, the wood structure Is something I am just now learning about and need to look at very closely. If it looks weak, I might remove it all and re-structure it out of welded alum or light steel. I had always planned to fabricate a new bed, so the larger awkward size is kind of a bonus. Used campers that fit modern trucks were just out of my budget.
The big reason I decided to eliminate the standard truck bed is so I can get a much more secure and quick release mounting points. I will use this for pretty hard off-roading. The plan is to be able to pop this thing off the truck very quickly at camp if needed. yes Kind of Odd.
Thanks, I will go read your build. Is yours done?

 

[Ourayphotography]

Day 1 of tear down.
Well there is no going back now. Quite a bit of structural damage. The front aluminum wall/framing is mostly broken & separated from the wood lower structure, and the wood tub of the camper looks pretty bad as well. Furnace, sink and built ins are mostly out.
On the bright side, I think 200+ pounds have been shed.

 

[shellback]

Ahh! You are in to it now! I stripped mine to the aluminum skeleton, tossed everything but the windows, roof and door. Then built it the way I wanted it. There were many times I was ready to throw in the towel, but in the end I am very pleased. Feel free to PM me if there's anything I can help you with.

 

[Ourayphotography]

Ahh! You are in to it now! I stripped mine to the aluminum skeleton, tossed everything but the windows, roof and door. Then built it the way I wanted it. There were many times I was ready to throw in the towel, but in the end I am very pleased. Feel free to PM me if there's anything I can help you with.

Thanks Shellback, that would be awesome. Have some ideas about ridding the wood tub structure all-together, and would be nice to bounce off someone. I have not even tried to lift the roof yet, that might be the next day or so, never even been in a FWC before. How to PM someone? Thanks!

 

[longhorn1]

Hello shellback
Yes, the wood structure Is something I am just now learning about and need to look at very closely. If it looks weak, I might remove it all and re-structure it out of welded alum or light steel. I had always planned to fabricate a new bed, so the larger awkward size is kind of a bonus. Used campers that fit modern trucks were just out of my budget.
The big reason I decided to eliminate the standard truck bed is so I can get a much more secure and quick release mounting points. I will use this for pretty hard off-roading. The plan is to be able to pop this thing off the truck very quickly at camp if needed. yes Kind of Odd.
Thanks, I will go read your build. Is yours done?

FWC aren't designed for use off the truck, unless you have the bottom fully support. Raising a camper loaded with water and supplies is risky.

 

[ski3pin]

Digging right in! Let the fun begin.

 

[PaulT]

—snip—
How to PM someone? Thanks!

Click/tap your handle in the upper right of the page. Click/tap “Personal Messenger”

Paul

 

[Ourayphotography]

Well, day 2 of tear down.
The black stuff was definitely not a joy to discover. The canvas is actually not horrible, but some light mold. Also not sure If I can rebuild the inner liner and ceiling with the canvas attached. Thoughts?
I have most of the lower camper gutted.

 

[Ourayphotography]

Newer campers have what i am guessing are lift struts. Can our older campers go to this system?

 

[Vic Harder]

Newer campers have what i am guessing are lift struts. Can our older campers go to this system?

yes!

Man, all that mold sucks. Where did all the moisture come from to feed that?