Conversion: Pop-up camper to fish house

[GotALunker]

Anyone ever do this?

Any tips/suggestions/pics/thoughts that might make my experience easier/better?

[heat checker]

We did one, basically got rid of everything but the frame and built on that. We ran 1" shaft all the way through frame for both the "pivot point" and the "pin point" for the wheel system as frames are pretty thin. Ended up buying just the floor material and screws. The rest of materials we either had, or got for nothing, so it was about a $150 build for us. Will post a few pics if I get time.

[heat checker]

Not sure how to post pics, but will give it a whirl...

[baggy]

How did you do the wheels? I have a camper that I converted and would love to be able to drop it down.

[DuckBlind]

GotALunker email me at sdbergman10 at hotmail and I will send you some pics. We built one last year out of a 1964 Bethany pop up camper. I dont know how to get pics on here...

[heat checker]

How did you do the wheels? I have a camper that I converted and would love to be able to drop it down.

We ran 1" shaft through the frame between wheel assemblies. I didn't have any box beam, so I used heavy duty angle iron and made some. I put the springs on the bottom...wrong move, too much torque on springs. So I will take them off and mount the springs on top of the wheel beams. Should have looked at a drop down before I built them. Used the ends off a receiver hitch to bolt to frame as winch mounts.

[TooTallTom]

GotALunker,

I don't know what your situation is (have the camper/ really looking forward to the project/ budget/ etc.) but there is something like what you seem to be describing for sale on Kraigslist right now. Price is $500, location is "north metro". You can search for fish house in the Sporting Goods section, and it will come up not too far down.

Tom.

[GotALunker]

thanks everyone for the comments and private messages!

yep, have a camper that got "destroyed" during a massive windstorm a few years back so the top doesn't go up like it should anymore. me, my father in law, and brother in law have been saying for years we're gonna make it into an ice shack and I think this is gonna be the year it happens. so looking forward to that...

lots of questions still on the table. not sure what the budget is...dont really know quite what to expect either. not sure about what'll need to be done as far as wiring, insulation, skirting, auger extension etc...