Every budget build ends up costing more than they thought.
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
1985 k30 budget EarthRoamer project [Deleted]
- Thread starter 85k5witha6.2
- Start date
- Status
You bet! But at the end of the day I bet it still comes out to less than 300k-400k like an earth roamer!
I also don’t really have a budget for it, the 3 big pieces I should have less than $7000 Into I think? Then 20ish to finish it maybe?
I wish the motor wasn’t making a noise I would daily this thing, just stopped at the shop and bump the key and it fires right up, might take the valve covers off and check out the top end then pull the pan. Maybe I can get it to last a few miles for some fun. Such a cool truck.
It seems too nice to me for your plans, but it's not my truck.
Martin
Martin
I am curious about the cab to camper connection.
I watched this one last year. Homebuilt but done well.
I like projects, I like squarebodys, I like campers. That said I don't know that I would start with the truck you have. Its short, its old, you don't want the engine, you dont want the transmission. Why start with it?
I'm not a ford guy but the truck in the video is a heavier duty setup, has an extended cab for more room and it allowed them to concentrate on building a super custom camper without needing to mess around building a truck too. You clearly have the skills to build whatever you want. I think the starting point of a standard cab longbed square will be very limiting in the camper options. A C+C with 10-12 ft of bed opens up lots of options. Hanging out in a pickup camper sucks, they are tiny. You won't have much more space than that.
The reason an earthroamer costs $500,000 is that they a ridiculously over engineered. The electrical system alone costs more than most campers. Check out the earthroamer propaganda, they are insane.
I like projects, I like squarebodys, I like campers. That said I don't know that I would start with the truck you have. Its short, its old, you don't want the engine, you dont want the transmission. Why start with it?
I'm not a ford guy but the truck in the video is a heavier duty setup, has an extended cab for more room and it allowed them to concentrate on building a super custom camper without needing to mess around building a truck too. You clearly have the skills to build whatever you want. I think the starting point of a standard cab longbed square will be very limiting in the camper options. A C+C with 10-12 ft of bed opens up lots of options. Hanging out in a pickup camper sucks, they are tiny. You won't have much more space than that.
The reason an earthroamer costs $500,000 is that they a ridiculously over engineered. The electrical system alone costs more than most campers. Check out the earthroamer propaganda, they are insane.
Easy solution for you. Cut truck in half behind cab. Cut tongue off trailer weld the two together and swap D70HD for trailer axle. Voila earthroamer! Why do you have to make this so difficult?
I’ll buy it before you cut it.
My idea has mostly come from the YouTube channel ambition strikes, I was going to copy their design on the body itself and the connection to the cab, probably just a small pass through the size of the sliding window. The body and cab will be completely separate from each other and just a rubber grommet type thing between to crawl through. Or possible not even connect them.
Last edited:
We put 3000 miles on my duramax and 6 days in the truck bed camper.
I have watched the videos on that one and also the really in depth videos from ambition strikes. They lived in theirs for a few months and it was smaller than I’m planning.
I do agree with everyone this is probably not the most ideal pickup, especially with how nice and complete it is. But yolo
As far as the electrical system, the long term plan is a few lithium batteries and inverter/charger, solar panels, solar charger and other parts from victron, but that adds up to more than I paid for the truck and express van combined.
Cutting up a nice one doesn't really bother me as long as it fits the idea of the build. My first real 4x4 build I did from scratch was a full size Cherokee (2 door wagoneer), and it had a bunch of rust in it. Got it cheap, put a bunch of time and money into it. Lifted, locked, gears, swapped in a newer engine. Fought the rust the whole time I had it and in the end I had learned an important lesson: Don't do a bunch of work to a vehicle that has rust and issues., find a better starting point so your upgrades end up in a good solid vehicle. I had a bunch of time and money into a rig with rust patches in the body and frame. Anything I build now I try and start with a good, clean specimen. If the K30 fits your vision then you should start with a good one.View attachment 400085
We put 3000 miles on my duramax and 6 days in the truck bed camper.
I have watched the videos on that one and also the really in depth videos from ambition strikes. They lived in theirs for a few months and it was smaller than I’m planning.
I do agree with everyone this is probably not the most ideal pickup, especially with how nice and complete it is. But yolo
Only thing that bothers me is the standard cab.
Almost useless for a traveller.
Almost useless for a traveller.
I don’t think the single cab will bother me, as I used to have a cab and chassis LLY that I went all over the country getting vehicles in. However the wife might not enjoy trying to sleep I’m the passenger seat while I drive.
I was thinking you if you had a kid or pet. As for your wife a reclining seat would be more enjoyable for sure.
I think the cab configuration is to small and you should sell it to me.
I have a longer chassis available but I'm in WA state. I bought this truck for the drivetrain parts to build a shorter K30 cab/chassis truck which i have a frame for. Although if you are worried about destroying a nice truck, the body on this is not as nice. It doesn't have much for rust, just a worn out old work truck.
No kids here, not for a long time, although we did get a stupid expensive cat a few days ago.
FYI you should never pay for a cat. There are always free ones. 
Are you going to do a pass through from the cab to camper so you don't have to get out? That would solve cab size issues since she could just climb in back like a regular RV.
Are you going to do a pass through from the cab to camper so you don't have to get out? That would solve cab size issues since she could just climb in back like a regular RV.
I thought I could build my truck for under 10k.
I will be following this thread, I'm a sucker for a camping rig.
- Status
