Manfred, that is great! Good luck with the new business! Can you share any details?
Steve
Steve
Jayco Sportster 8ft - Renovation
- Thread starter Manfred65
- Start date
Manfred65
Senior Member
Steve, what are you interested in ?
Just to know more about what type and brand of truck campers you will be representing. Right now, I am at my limit of toys.
Manfred65
Senior Member
Steve,
we actully sell TravelLite Campers and Palomino Popup.
Why?
We need Campers to fit European and Japanese PickupTrucks. These are 95% mid-size Trucks. Most of the Fullsizetrucks like Ford, RAM and Chevy are used in Germany only for show..... driving up and down the road in front of well frequented Ice-Cream-Bars.
There are not much brands offering this at price we can make profit after all import expenses.
FWC and CapriCampers are exclusively sold by another company.
TravelLite provides us the Hardwall-Campers to fit midsize Trucks and 1/2ton trucks. In Germany most mid-size and 1/2 can be raised in GVWR to 3.5 tons / 7716 lbs with Airbags or Roadmaster Systems. Only problem on some Trucks is the weight on the rear axle. Like on the RAM 1500.
Palomino offers us the one Popup SS-500 to fit a mid-size on a reasonable price.
The SS-550 and some of the TravelLite SuperLite Series built for 1/2 ton will fit the German Volkswagen Amarok and the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class too. The X-Class is based on the new generation Nissan Frontier (Navara in Europe) but has more room between wheel wells. (48")
My main concern is that i need campers that fit in a 40´HC-Container for shipping:
These are the TravelLite SuperLite and the TravelLite Air and Rayzr + all Palomino Popup Campers. The all new Palomino Hardside HS-750 that hopefully will be released in the very near future will fit too.
I have two customers waiting for this new camper. It does not have the bulky look of the HS-650 which is only a "blown-up SS-500 in my opinion.
All bigger campers need other shipping solutions: I can´t afford it always buying a vintage Truck (30yrs+ can be imported without custom tax here) to ship such a wide camper RoRo.
If anyone in this Forum can offer a reasonable solution for this i will appreciate his E-Mail.
I am also interested in Rory Willets Bundutec Campers or the Outfitter Caribou Lite and i still have good contact to Alaskancampers but all these brands will end up with high sales prices in Europe (price + shipping + custom tax + vat + needed changes for use in Europe.)
I think i have to contact these manufacturers to have the possibility to fullfill a single custom order if needed.
If you are still looking for a new toy i may have one in the near future:
http://sbsadventurecampers.com/wp/django-specifications-and-introductory-price-list/
These campers are built in Slovenija in the European Union and we consider to import them or to manufacture them in license in the US. Actually they are working on prototypes and i will see the first one around April 14./15. After checking it out we will decide if we will sell them in Germany and may be overseas.
For our actual work please have a look at our website. Scrolling down you can find a button to switch between the preferred languages.
https://pickupcamper-schwaben.de
Regards
Manfred
we actully sell TravelLite Campers and Palomino Popup.
Why?
We need Campers to fit European and Japanese PickupTrucks. These are 95% mid-size Trucks. Most of the Fullsizetrucks like Ford, RAM and Chevy are used in Germany only for show..... driving up and down the road in front of well frequented Ice-Cream-Bars.
There are not much brands offering this at price we can make profit after all import expenses.
FWC and CapriCampers are exclusively sold by another company.
TravelLite provides us the Hardwall-Campers to fit midsize Trucks and 1/2ton trucks. In Germany most mid-size and 1/2 can be raised in GVWR to 3.5 tons / 7716 lbs with Airbags or Roadmaster Systems. Only problem on some Trucks is the weight on the rear axle. Like on the RAM 1500.
Palomino offers us the one Popup SS-500 to fit a mid-size on a reasonable price.
The SS-550 and some of the TravelLite SuperLite Series built for 1/2 ton will fit the German Volkswagen Amarok and the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class too. The X-Class is based on the new generation Nissan Frontier (Navara in Europe) but has more room between wheel wells. (48")
My main concern is that i need campers that fit in a 40´HC-Container for shipping:
These are the TravelLite SuperLite and the TravelLite Air and Rayzr + all Palomino Popup Campers. The all new Palomino Hardside HS-750 that hopefully will be released in the very near future will fit too.
I have two customers waiting for this new camper. It does not have the bulky look of the HS-650 which is only a "blown-up SS-500 in my opinion.
All bigger campers need other shipping solutions: I can´t afford it always buying a vintage Truck (30yrs+ can be imported without custom tax here) to ship such a wide camper RoRo.
If anyone in this Forum can offer a reasonable solution for this i will appreciate his E-Mail.
I am also interested in Rory Willets Bundutec Campers or the Outfitter Caribou Lite and i still have good contact to Alaskancampers but all these brands will end up with high sales prices in Europe (price + shipping + custom tax + vat + needed changes for use in Europe.)
I think i have to contact these manufacturers to have the possibility to fullfill a single custom order if needed.
If you are still looking for a new toy i may have one in the near future:
http://sbsadventurecampers.com/wp/django-specifications-and-introductory-price-list/
These campers are built in Slovenija in the European Union and we consider to import them or to manufacture them in license in the US. Actually they are working on prototypes and i will see the first one around April 14./15. After checking it out we will decide if we will sell them in Germany and may be overseas.
For our actual work please have a look at our website. Scrolling down you can find a button to switch between the preferred languages.
https://pickupcamper-schwaben.de
Regards
Manfred
Manfred thanks! That Django looks nice, but for now my ATC Bobcat is doing a good job.
I think it’s great that you’re turning your Interest into a thriving business! Best of luck!
I think it’s great that you’re turning your Interest into a thriving business! Best of luck!
billharr
Senior Member
Manfred the Django in interesting. "Solid sided elevating roof with push button operation." Need to see how that will work.
I will be in Basel CH just after the July show, Visiting daughter all of August this year.
I will be in Basel CH just after the July show, Visiting daughter all of August this year.
Manfred65
Senior Member
Hi Bill,
you know that you are welcome to contact and to visit us at any time!
We will take tons of pictures of the prototype in April (scheduled is April15.) , checking out how it is made and what quality they deliver. We have to find out what to do and discuss with Gary from sbsadventure how to sell it in the USA.
I wonder how they will seal these folding walls. If we are going to sell the Django we plan to have one on display on the show in July and after this at our "homebase".
you know that you are welcome to contact and to visit us at any time!
We will take tons of pictures of the prototype in April (scheduled is April15.) , checking out how it is made and what quality they deliver. We have to find out what to do and discuss with Gary from sbsadventure how to sell it in the USA.
I wonder how they will seal these folding walls. If we are going to sell the Django we plan to have one on display on the show in July and after this at our "homebase".
Manfred65
Senior Member
Two new things on the small business that doesn´t grow as fast as expected. After missing some appointments i have never heard about the Django. There is still a website but that was it.... No call back...nothing.
So we decided to go with Rory Willett and BundutecUSA to have a more custom option. Not Fiberglass but the possibility to get what a customer wants. Palominos are now Aluminium framed, this can give us a push forward....
So we decided to go with Rory Willett and BundutecUSA to have a more custom option. Not Fiberglass but the possibility to get what a customer wants. Palominos are now Aluminium framed, this can give us a push forward....
Manfred65
Senior Member
Bad news on the Jayco....OK, not real news. The damaged roof leaked all the time ....only a few drops and it was no problem because we have not covered it inside to find the leaking spot one day. All the sealing wasn´t successful. I think there are some pinholes in the old aluminium sheeting we can´t find. Other reason is that we had no chance to get the roof back in the proper shape that the water might be able to run off the roof.
The camper still work for short trips but we are planning to do a rebuild or to work with Rory to have a new roof built and shipped with our campers one day.
We hope ya All coming good through the wintertime!
The camper still work for short trips but we are planning to do a rebuild or to work with Rory to have a new roof built and shipped with our campers one day.
We hope ya All coming good through the wintertime!
corybrown50
Senior Member
Manfred....this is an amazing write up. You and your "hobby carpenter" have truly inspired me. We were just gifted a 92 Jayco Sportster 8.5 in rather rough shape....after seeing your transformation I am enthusiastic about digging in and camping with it this year with my wife and Kinder......step 1 for me will be getting it dry inside, then a rebuild of the side support for the over cab portion. I'm planning almost a complete gut and trying to put a queen mattress in the cab over portion to stick out towards the rear door with cabinets for storage under and bunks for the kids instead of the "dinette" area.
Your images of the progress not only give me a WUNDERBAR reference point, but also take much of the scariness away from the process of stripping away the aluminum siding. It is just stick construction inside....I will also be putting the camper on a similar F150, so having that reference as well is great.
Danke, Danke, Danke!!!!
Your images of the progress not only give me a WUNDERBAR reference point, but also take much of the scariness away from the process of stripping away the aluminum siding. It is just stick construction inside....I will also be putting the camper on a similar F150, so having that reference as well is great.
Danke, Danke, Danke!!!!
Manfred65
Senior Member
Hi Cory,
Thank you very much for the "Flowers". I am happy if our story can help or inspire others to start their rebuild! Like i wrote on page 1: Our intention was, if we fail with our work, that we would have learned how these campers are built. Friends offered me a total 8 gal of gas to make a nice campfire out of the camper.....
Most damages on our Jayco came from the jacks + from water running down the roof lift system. When you strip the camper properly check the steel wires of the roof lift and all the guide rollers (i hope this is the right word - from Google translator ). Tear down the cabover (front, floor and underbed storage) remove some staples and pull out the old cabover support to the front. Now you can use it as a template.
Like you can see: The front wall of the cabover was still original!
On this pics you can imagine how the cabover-support sits inside the framework. See the dark section!
Thank you very much for the "Flowers". I am happy if our story can help or inspire others to start their rebuild! Like i wrote on page 1: Our intention was, if we fail with our work, that we would have learned how these campers are built. Friends offered me a total 8 gal of gas to make a nice campfire out of the camper.....
Most damages on our Jayco came from the jacks + from water running down the roof lift system. When you strip the camper properly check the steel wires of the roof lift and all the guide rollers (i hope this is the right word - from Google translator
). Tear down the cabover (front, floor and underbed storage) remove some staples and pull out the old cabover support to the front. Now you can use it as a template.
Like you can see: The front wall of the cabover was still original!
On this pics you can imagine how the cabover-support sits inside the framework. See the dark section!
corybrown50
Senior Member
Hello again sir,
Do you still have any of the specs or diagrams that Jayco shared with you? Trying to plan out the work here....ready to get started as soon as my transmission on my truck is finally finished....hopefully this weekend.
Do you still have any of the specs or diagrams that Jayco shared with you? Trying to plan out the work here....ready to get started as soon as my transmission on my truck is finally finished....hopefully this weekend.
Manfred65
Senior Member
I am sorry. Unfortunately i missed all the specs and drawings to to a harddisk-crash 2 years ago
Try to E-Mail Jayco at Middlebury Indiana. There were very helpful and i think they will be again.....
Try to E-Mail Jayco at Middlebury Indiana. There were very helpful and i think they will be again.....
corybrown50
Senior Member
No problem. Thank you. Can you share with me how long the "black" wood was that went to the over cab area? Looking at it next to the door leads me to believe it is only 7 or 8ft/2.5 meters long. Also, do you remember the dimensions of the lumber inside? Your pictures are fantastic and allowing me to get my plan together. I want to have as much material with me before digging in.
Manfred65
Senior Member
Hi Cory,
the panels are approx. 240 cm/ 94.5" on drivers side and 230 cm /90.5" passenger side long. Thickness is 1/2" / 12mm
Like you see on the pics i had to cut out the fridge vent and exhaust. In the area where this panel is located the fram is this 1/2" thinner than on the rest of the camper.
We used a Material that i can´t find on "Lowes" Homepage. It is a special kind of plywood ( nordic wood from Finland). The wood-slices are laminated together under pressure. This plywood is much stronger, more reliable than standard plywood. But it needs properly cleaning with alcohol or NO glue ( esp. no Sikaflex and similar ) will have a chance to bond it somewhere. This wood is used to build horse and utility trailers in Europe. But is is a little heavier than normal plywood due to the resin.
I hope this helps.
Keep on building!
Manfred
the panels are approx. 240 cm/ 94.5" on drivers side and 230 cm /90.5" passenger side long. Thickness is 1/2" / 12mm
Like you see on the pics i had to cut out the fridge vent and exhaust. In the area where this panel is located the fram is this 1/2" thinner than on the rest of the camper.
We used a Material that i can´t find on "Lowes" Homepage. It is a special kind of plywood ( nordic wood from Finland). The wood-slices are laminated together under pressure. This plywood is much stronger, more reliable than standard plywood. But it needs properly cleaning with alcohol or NO glue ( esp. no Sikaflex and similar ) will have a chance to bond it somewhere. This wood is used to build horse and utility trailers in Europe. But is is a little heavier than normal plywood due to the resin.
I hope this helps.
Keep on building!
Manfred
corybrown50
Senior Member
Thank you sir....that helps out very much. As soon as the new transmission lines on my truck stop leaking I'll be able to head to the hardware store and stock up. I'll use marine grade plywood here. Not as strong but I'm used to it after redoing my boat. Just going slow with a plan.....
corybrown50
Senior Member
Hey Manfred, thought I'd share a look at the inside of mine, but I don't have permission to load photos.....passenger side and cabover were a rotten mess. Rear passenger and wheel floors were bad too. Driver side wasn't as bad. I have to get the side done, then jump to the roof.
Your build is my blueprint!
Your build is my blueprint!
Cory, are you having technical issues with photos?
corybrown50
Senior Member
Yes, when I try to add a photo, a pop up comes that states "Sorry, you don't have permission to upload photo."
Let’s take this offline and figure it out. I’ll send you a PM.
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