Steve McQueens Camper

[CptnBG]

Interesting article on Steve McQueen's truck camper, Boldride
I remember when it was auctioned. I have a 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton and would like to have a smaller version of this camper, more like a cap.

[gbopp]

Less Stuff wrote:

Trucks of that vintage did not have flat bed top rails. Rather they were tapered.
Like this:

They were probably tapered because they were a work horse. The dirt and other 'stuff' that got loaded would roll into the bed. 🙂

[Less_Stuff]

CptnBG wrote:


I'm thinking of building something like this one. Just a basic shell to overnight in.

Here is my hot glued foam board model of what I am thinking about:

That rear tip up door could be locked down by my RAM's electrical locking tailgate.
The tip up door would need an opening window so no one could lock me in the camper by closing the truck tailgate.

[gitpicker2009]

That Casual Turtle pic above made me curious, so I went to their webiste
http://casualturtlecampers.com/original-cabover/

That's some pretty cool stuff:)

[CptnBG]

d3500ram wrote:

Less Stuff wrote:
Interesting how old can be new again.

Interesting comparison. I can see how the outside could be a perceived likeness. My initial thought was that the SMQ "camper" is more of a large pick-up bed shell/ topper with a sleeping platform.

I could not tell from the images but is there a floor on the older one? I did not see one, is there a rear picture for it?

Here's one I found. It was custom built to fit the slanted cap rails like less stuff pointed out.



Here's mine for comparison.



I'm thinking of building something like this one. Just a basic shell to overnight in.

[Less_Stuff]

d3500ram wrote:

Less Stuff wrote:
Interesting how old can be new again.

Interesting comparison. I can see how the outside could be a perceived likeness. My initial thought was that the SMQ "camper" is more of a large pick-up bed shell/ topper with a sleeping platform.

I could not tell from the images but is there a floor on the older one? I did not see one, is there a rear picture for it?

The side picture shows what looks like to me, side walls into the truck bed.
Trucks of that vintage did not have flat bed top rails. Rather they were tapered.
Like this:

[d3500ram]

Less Stuff wrote:
Interesting how old can be new again.

Interesting comparison. I can see how the outside could be a perceived likeness. My initial thought was that the SMQ "camper" is more of a large pick-up bed shell/ topper with a sleeping platform.

I could not tell from the images but is there a floor on the older one? I did not see one, is there a rear picture for it?

[downtheroad]

Or.....you fill in the comment________________.

[Less_Stuff]

Interesting how old can be new again.