mikeyc
Member
I have had my Eagle since 2020, using it on climbing, surfing and snowboarding trips around the west and in Mexico. Love it, but I have been noticing that I'm jealous of my van friends when it gets cold, and then when I start to look at where I would install a heater I realize that there is a lot that I would want to change or upgrade to make this thing great for my uses - as a home when I'm traveling and an office at the beach when I'm home. One thing always leads to another and then I just don't install the heater because there are 20 other things I would want to do if I'm opening up that can of worms.
Over the next few weeks I'm doing the research and purchasing items, then in June I'm hoping to take a few weeks at a friends house in San Diego to take the camper off the truck and get to work.
I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE WTW. Definitely have spent a lot of time on here browsing and looking through other setups. It's very helpful and I really appreciate the community.
My Eagle has been neglected the last couple years. We moved to California from Colorado and I don't really have a garage or driveway to take it on or off anymore and so haven't been able to do repairs on it and have been too busy to bother. The battery died and I've basically just been using it like a tent. I spent a week with a buddy in Mammoth and we ended up hanging in his cozy sprinter the entire time because it was so warm. I want that.
I do like my setup even though the Tacoma is a bit underpowered and the gearing is annoying. I'd like a re-gear, larger tires, a bull bar (too many close calls in Wyoming!), and honestly just a flatbed but those things will have to wait. I really like the streamlined size of the eagle and how it fits on the truck.
Some of my travels and photos are here: instagram.com/mikeycrouch
Current setup:
My current thoughts and plans are below and are subject to change! I'm just writing this currently to gather my thoughts a bit so it might look similar to a creative brief.
Goals:
[*]Fridge:
[*]Electrical: this will be a whole separate post as I'm working it out right now and obviously this is the most complex part of this whole endeavor. But:
[*]Stove: I'm not sure about this. I actually think that old stove on the eagle is pretty elegant and simple, I just don't cook on it (always cook outside). I also just use a jetboil for hot water and coffee in the mornings, then we always cook outside, hooking into the propane via the door on the side of the truck. Ideally I'd get rid of it to gain more space, but I'm worried I'm going to want it, especially in the winter time when I have the heater.
[*]Storage: This will be another longer post as well, but I'm hoping to keep the same general layout in the camper due to the access doors being built around the water, propane and fridge, but update a couple things on storage and expand the available space to put things while keeping my bed/couch.
[*]Couch/Bed Update: I've looked into some new cushions for the bed and couch. Considering what others have done on here with the 4" bed half that sits in the bed and splitting the other half to store it as a couch back in the camper when the lid is down. Found some guys that do good upholstery work in TJ that I'm going to try out too.
[*]Dining table/work table. Looking at something like a Lagun table but not trying to spend $500. Any suggestions? Also considering making something that slides out of the kitchen area.
[*]Cab window delete: I have a window on the front of the camper facing the cab. It opens but I've never opened it since I first got it because it's a pain. I don't really see the need for it, and I was thinking I might remove the window and replace it with insulation and possibly try to figure out a maxtrax holder between the camper and the cab. The benefit of this is that I can turn that entire wall into storage, and I think I should be able to figure out a way to fit a maxtrax box on the outside of it as well?
[*]Under camper storage: Since the bed walls of the Tacoma are taller, we had to build a stand for it to sit on in the bed. It's 2x4's so it's 3.5" tall underneath. I'd like to build something about 3.75" tall and have a drawer that pulls out where I can store some things inside.
[*]Odds and Ends:
Over the next few weeks I'm doing the research and purchasing items, then in June I'm hoping to take a few weeks at a friends house in San Diego to take the camper off the truck and get to work.
I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE WTW. Definitely have spent a lot of time on here browsing and looking through other setups. It's very helpful and I really appreciate the community.
My Eagle has been neglected the last couple years. We moved to California from Colorado and I don't really have a garage or driveway to take it on or off anymore and so haven't been able to do repairs on it and have been too busy to bother. The battery died and I've basically just been using it like a tent. I spent a week with a buddy in Mammoth and we ended up hanging in his cozy sprinter the entire time because it was so warm. I want that.
I do like my setup even though the Tacoma is a bit underpowered and the gearing is annoying. I'd like a re-gear, larger tires, a bull bar (too many close calls in Wyoming!), and honestly just a flatbed but those things will have to wait. I really like the streamlined size of the eagle and how it fits on the truck.
Some of my travels and photos are here: instagram.com/mikeycrouch
Current setup:
- Kitchen setup with propane box on the side, propane stove, sink and 20gal water tank on drivers side.
- Small battery on the passenger side under the seat.
- Not hooked into my current 2021 Tacoma alternator (will be soon)
- Side dinette on passenger side with a table that pops up from the middle seat.
- Norcold fridge near the door on drivers side.
My current thoughts and plans are below and are subject to change! I'm just writing this currently to gather my thoughts a bit so it might look similar to a creative brief.
Goals:
- Heat for cold nights!
- Running water, no hot water
- Surfboard storage inside.
- ability to nap or sleep with top down.
- Fridge access with top down.
- Heat: Propex HS2000 heater
I already have this heater and it sounds like it works reasonably well besides some condensation. I've slept in the camper when it was 10 degrees and it was not comfortable - but not bad either with the right amount of blankets. I'd just rather be able to walk around in my underwear and be able to get out of bed without layering up.
[*]Fridge:
- ICECO or Dometic fridge - Not sure which one yet. Depends on the discount I can find, but it sounds like they're about the same except I'm going to need a better discount on the Dometic to make it work.
[*]Electrical: this will be a whole separate post as I'm working it out right now and obviously this is the most complex part of this whole endeavor. But:
- 206ah sok battery
- 200w solar panel up top (should I just get two? - worried about surf racks up top and how that would affect solar.
- Alternator connection and wiring upgrade to 6awg
- I am thinking of keeping the iota for shorepower but I don't really understand it yet.
[*]Stove: I'm not sure about this. I actually think that old stove on the eagle is pretty elegant and simple, I just don't cook on it (always cook outside). I also just use a jetboil for hot water and coffee in the mornings, then we always cook outside, hooking into the propane via the door on the side of the truck. Ideally I'd get rid of it to gain more space, but I'm worried I'm going to want it, especially in the winter time when I have the heater.
[*]Storage: This will be another longer post as well, but I'm hoping to keep the same general layout in the camper due to the access doors being built around the water, propane and fridge, but update a couple things on storage and expand the available space to put things while keeping my bed/couch.
[*]Couch/Bed Update: I've looked into some new cushions for the bed and couch. Considering what others have done on here with the 4" bed half that sits in the bed and splitting the other half to store it as a couch back in the camper when the lid is down. Found some guys that do good upholstery work in TJ that I'm going to try out too.
[*]Dining table/work table. Looking at something like a Lagun table but not trying to spend $500. Any suggestions? Also considering making something that slides out of the kitchen area.
[*]Cab window delete: I have a window on the front of the camper facing the cab. It opens but I've never opened it since I first got it because it's a pain. I don't really see the need for it, and I was thinking I might remove the window and replace it with insulation and possibly try to figure out a maxtrax holder between the camper and the cab. The benefit of this is that I can turn that entire wall into storage, and I think I should be able to figure out a way to fit a maxtrax box on the outside of it as well?
[*]Under camper storage: Since the bed walls of the Tacoma are taller, we had to build a stand for it to sit on in the bed. It's 2x4's so it's 3.5" tall underneath. I'd like to build something about 3.75" tall and have a drawer that pulls out where I can store some things inside.
[*]Odds and Ends:
- Installing Yakima tracks on top soon. There were some Yakima feet on the top of the camper and one of them has come loose from a tree incident. I'm going to be installing the solar onto the racks along with some yakima bars to hold surfboards.
- I've got what looks like might be some stress cracks on the front of the camper above both corners of the window that I'm going to have to inspect when I get it off the truck.
- Rotopax on the back of the truck using bolts from the step that I will be taking off. I am going to use the through bolt connections on there and considering cutting a piece of aluminum to back it up on the inside of the camper - is that overkill?
- I want to paint the jack connection points - they are rusty and look like ****. I've noticed that a few of them are missing some screws so looking into getting into the frame to adjust them, although I'd like to not take off the siding to do so. Going to play this one by ear.
