The Camper Design – Take One

We took the time to go take measurements of our camper so we could get a good idea if the modifications we’re making will pan out ok.  James sat down and modeled the shell and I took a swing at the interior.  This is what we came up with.

First, I had looked it up and the ’66 Aloha is 15′-6″ long and about 7 foot wide.  I originally had, mistakenly, thought this was the interior portion, it’s not, it includes the hitch.  The interior dimensions are just under 13′ x 7′.  This is the space we plan on living in entirely for a few months at least, it will need to accommodate James and I, Miles, Hazel and of course Denver.  These are our ‘must haves’:

• A functional kitchen able to store food/supplies as well as work for cooking for the family (this is budget road tripping!).
• Sitting space for each of us (must be comfy!)
• Sleeping space for each of us (Also, must be comfy!)
• I want an indoor potty and shower (not usual in the originals)
• On grid and off grid capable in terms of water and power (One night it may be one and the next night it may be the other)
• Room for the clothes we all need (including dirty laundry until we can get it clean)
• Light weight, we are aiming for a max of 1,750#, loaded, slightly heavier than the original (dry weight) but still able to be able to be pulled with a mid-sized SUV
• Low VOC/chemical materials, it’s a small space, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds, AKA those nasty and harmful smelling smells that come with most new buildings, i.e. ‘fresh paint’) will be more noticeable
• An easy to set up and take down ‘out door space’ with a table, chairs and a cover (and blinky lights!)

overall plan view

kids bunks

kitchen/bath

kitchen with counters extended

front window rock guard/table

It seems to work well for us to do weekend projects so in my effort to apply some sort of ‘schedule’ here are the sorts of weekend projects (in no particular order) we’re looking at (we are not in a hurry, we have a good year to get this done but will maybe take it on a couple test outings in the middle of the project):

• Demo
• Design (this)
• Structure rebuild/insulation
• Relocate ceiling vent/skylight (?? potential??)
• Paneling interior, install flooring
• Paint stripping (exterior)
• Exterior painting
• Plumbing (new)
• Electrical (New LED)
• Build kitchen component
• Build clothes storage piece (not modeled above but located above the couch)
• Build couch and cushions
• Build bunk beds
• Build potty/shower
• Build rock shield/outdoor table for front window
• Build awning
• Acquire/hook up solar cover on back window

We have some pretty fancy ideas, it will be interesting to see how they pan out in the end :).  I think at this point we have pretty similar material ideas as we did on my tiny house except the dark flooring, it will be lighter.  James and I both like kind of modern. kind of natural, kind of inexpensive ;-).

I think in this case the choices are going to be made based on (#1) healthy (non chemically), (#2) price point and (#3) weight.  With the tiny house, budget drove a lot of the choices, that is a factor here too (We’d like the whole thing to be under $2,500) but it’s not as big a factor, I think the off gassing and overall health of the space is more important now with the littles.  This is another material board option I like… it’s just nice and clean.

I think the thing you may notice is that this is not going to try to look ‘vintage’.   It IS vintage, and adorable, but I don’t plan on the standard restore, it’s adapting to fit us all more than it is trying to become it’s original self again.

Here are some random inspiration pictures I stole from google, I apologize for not citing them, I have just been collecting them and can’t recall where they came from:

I like the seating, not that there isnt storage too but I like the big comfy seating

I like these lights and the general feel of these colors but I think its too dark for such a small space

We like the Hawaii theme, the bamboo is a cool idea to turn the corners

I really like bringing a little bit of nature inside, I think its really healthy and important, I also like playing with scale. And Green, I was thinking I could use some blown up natural patterns to make custom fabric for the cushions and divider curtains in the camper

Just like this