Please post pics of your popup camper converted fish house

[Perchy]

I have the opportunity to purchase an inexpensive popup camper and plan to convert it into a sleeper fish house, am looking for ideas on how to accomplish this.

[Morgs]

My brother and I just started this project. It's fun... but it depends on how much you want to spend. I don't have any pictures of our house yet, but I can tell you a couple of things we did that I like and a few things I don't like.

-Stripped it down the frame. I like this because it gave us the opportunity to use our own vision. But, by doing this it costs more. If you strip it down to the frame I would highly recommend take measurements of the frame and then draw up your plans before hand. It'll help with your budgeting on the build and the layout of the house.

-If I could do it all over again the first purchase I'd make is to move the wheels to the outside of the frame and buy the kit that allows the house to be cranked up and down. If you don't move the wheels to the outside of the frame be aware of how tall your walls are going to be. It can feel tippy if you have the walls to high. Plus, you'll need to find a way to bank the house up from the ice up to the bottom of the frame. We are using a couple of pieces of plywood to help fill in the void

-I'd put the door in the very back of the house rather than on the side wall. Make sure the door opens out and not in. It'll help maximize space

-I'd try to use the V of the trailer to provide some extra space and help cut the wind a bit when driving down the road.

-We are using the old heater and power converter that was on the camper. Helps keep some costs down

-The biggest change I'd make about this build - Start it in April\May, not November 1st... Makes it tough when it cold and snowing and you're working in your driveway.

I hope some of my experience help you out a bit.

[leech~~]

There are a few of these for sale on the "list" if you want to get some ideas of how they did it.

[heat checker]

We did one a few years back, also stripped it down to frame. We utilized the wheels, hubs, springs from frame, running solid shaft through the frame from side to side for the pivot points and "hold down" points for the wheel system. We used 1", should have used heavier as wheels are tipped in now. Not much strength in those pop-up frames. We used free "sandwhich panel" from a local manufacturer for the structure, about all we bought was plywood for floor, screws for assembly, and windows. A drop down can be done, but IMO you need something solid connecting the two wheel assemblies, as there is to much flex in those pop-up frames.

[LightningBG]

I did one a few years back. It was challenging to say the least. I used the walls that were there and built on top of them. That was a mistake. It was a pain trying to tie the old to new. I also found rot in the old walls but I was already committed, so I just had to fix them up as good as possible. My roof was also damaged (which was why it was getting converted, so I had to build a new roof, which wasn't all that fun).

If was to do it over again, I wouldn't do it. JK. But I would have striped it all the way down to the floor and built up from there. My popup was pretty good sized, but the house still felt pretty small inside when all was said and done. I kept all four bench seats that the camper had, and that was a mistake. I should have taken out one on each side, but that would have made it so I couldn't set them up as beds.

Also, if you're building it in a garage, take into account the garage door height. I had to deflate my tires almost all the way down to squeeze it out the door. The neighbors we're all watching and getting a pretty good show.

So..... Yeah, it can be done, and it will save a little $$$ not buying a new frame, but it will also have a decent amount of space under the frame. The upper framing will be about the same as if you were starting from scratch, which can be cheap or expensive depending on how nice you want it and what type of materials you can find for free or cheap.

One thing to note: Check that frame carefully for rust. Going down a bumpy ice road isn't easy on them. Also check the wheel hubs to make sure the wheels aren't rusted on solid. Mine were and I knew if I got a flat or any broken parts, I was going to be in trouble.

[Perchy]

Thanks for the tips and advice guys, greatly appreciated!