Rocket Camper Revealed

Show All Items

This my travel trailer that has been a year in the making actually 2 years now

Step 1: This Is Not A True Instructable

Picture of This Is Not A True Instructable

Show All Items

I just wanted every one to see what has kept me away from my favorite web site

Almost every thing in my 16 foot travel trailer is hand made

Questions welcome, Obviously a year and a half work cannot be written up in a short Instructables

Absolutely inspiring!! I've never worked with fiberglass, but if I could end up with a rounded trailer, it would be worth it. Thanks so much for sharing. Lita in Colorado.

you should put the planet express symbol on it.

Fantastic work. Beautiful craftsmanship. You sir have a unique ability, incomparable! If you don't mind my asking, how much have you invested in this camper? I'd like to build a camper for my wife and I some day.

I stopped counting around 15 K the time is the real hurdle. It's on face book to with its own page Bill.

Smcmasters1 I stopped counting around 15k

New stuff on my atomic camper Facebook page regularly.

Please, please, please post whatever you can about the construction of this wonderful artwork! Even if its not a complete step-by-step, an insight to the technques that you used, or even where you learned how to do them, would be A-MAZ-ING.

I am speechless.......... You sir are a true craftsman, to be able to take a idea from your head and end up with a finished project like this in your garage is unblievable

Look for me on the travel channel Extreme RV's around December.

You had me at awesome.

A mobile Adult Playhouse, Impressive. it would make one hell of an apartment dwellers Man Cave, take and panel around the top half with solar panels, (you could continue around the lower portion with fake panels to continue the scheme) for constant solar power, again making it a man cave...

Thanks Scott I really do want a better tow rig, all it takes is time and money, I rarely have them simultaneously.

LOL Don't I know it! I'm a Jeep Guy, My wife loves Jeeps we have three Grand Cherokees, two of them are project vehicles, and one Wrangler which is a slow build since it is a daily driver, and anything done to it cant take it down for more than a weekend at a time. but money ALWAYS gets in the way.

Because I am a person who hates to 'Settle!' I absolutely adore this project and for one, very solid, reason. You have built something without compromise, exactly as perceived and you did not 'settle' for average, boring, mundane or accepted practice. I salute your embrace of Function AND Form, Art and, above all else, FUN. The only way to go beyond perfect, in my humble opinion, would be to build a Tow Vehicle equally as unique. That would definitely put this over Instructable the top! There just isn't enough, in our lives, that makes us happy! i can see where this made for a very happy Couple. Congratulations!

Wow Thank you very much, as for a tow rig, yes sir I have considered this dilemma with great frequency. Since the camper is based on 1950's movie rockets, it would seem that a vehicle of equal age would be right for the job. In an ideal world a military surplus rig would be perfect, Since I plan to travel the west with it realibility is a major issue, so for now.... If you google. Atomic camper several articles will pop up. Just between you and me, the crowds that form when we camp can at times wear you out, the same questions over and over, We slowed this down by printing a frequent question sheet to the door. God Bless Bill aka Longwinters

Oh yes, that sweet heart has got to have some 'heft' (Shall we say!) to her dimensions. I can see a vintage (1945 to 55!) COE Cab mounted on a MUCH newer dodge cummins, one ton frame, to get the job done and provide a reasonable fuel economy number! Especially painted to match!'Oh! HURT me!'

look for one of the old ford econoline pickups it would be a perfect companion

they made tow trucks out of these, and fit 351 windsors and clevelands in them so reliability wouldn't be an issue and with a modern transmission fuel economy and torque would be in place. Granted, it would most likely be a restoration project in itself but the trailer deserves something that matches. You could go with the same model and body type van but the pickup is more Unique and has that retro look.

ScottE4 great idea, once it gather a buck of cash I'm thinking about going to one of the higher end antique and older model auctions, I have seen some gorgeous restorations for what I think is cheap.

I love this! Make sure to have "UFO RECOVERY TEAM" painted on the doors of your tow vehicle.

Brilliant!

Just found this. You rock! It's a beautiful camper.

here is a construction pic you can see the paper going on in several layers,The other is from a fellow camper who took our picture while on the road to go camping, and Becky my wife

The exterior is made of paper soaked in glue, it shrinks drawing tight then I covered it with fiber glass and then epoxy paint. I'll try and find some early construction pictures on my old PC

Did you use butchers paper? What kind of glue? I concur with everyone else here: IMPRESSIVE!

Very impressive!

It should be done in 3 weeks

Oh my that is gorgeous! How much does it take to complete?

incredible inlay work. Tremendous details! DIY frig. And you haven't even shown us running gear yet! As Bad billy goat said. I'm 63 and I'm proud, but now I hate yoU!!! :)

As an individual I have always had a strong sense of self belief and identity, enjoying and being proud who I am and what I've got, until now in my 39th year. I have never been envious of another until now....... I hate you!! I really wish I had just a percentage your vision, skills and abilities. You are a very clever person and I hope you realise that. Good luck with the rest of the project and I look forward (with envy) to see the finished result.

totally awesome

The finish date for the trailer is spring 2014 since I posted these pictures I have finished both beds (except final fabric) the side and rear windows, plus I don't know what it all melts into a big blur...

cool! you should post the finished product!

Hello longwinters Yes Iam back again and Iam deeply impressed about this relly wonderful work. Take my congrats as a carpenter I am Your buddy from good old europe

My god! What are you building here my friend! Amazing....I'm blown away!!! Fantastic. I'm looking forward to see more...

Dream Dragon if you think of the old plaster lath construction you would be correct I have saved the window cut outs and they are very strong, by the third layer of thick paper the walls were very strong the fiber glass was only used for water protection The expanding spray foam from the interior linked the laths and back filled around the paper I was not the first to think of this I found this article in a 1950's popular science mag, the first photo is me standing on a window cut out I weigh 180 I did it with one foot but could not take a picture doing so Needless to say you can walk across the top easily

Droberson123 the problem is its sitting in one half of a 2 car garage all photos have to be taken from the front or quite close by the side. I'll try the panorama feature as soon as I move some building materials leaning on it There is a pre-paint pic which gives an accurate over all size view

AMAZING !! This was a labour of love ,it shows !!!

WOW! That's awesome work. I'd be interested to know more details about the paper and fiberglass skin. The technique sounds similar to the way I used to make model aeroplanes when I was a kid, but sealing it with fiberglass sounds like JUST the job for a light weight and resilient skin.

When you can get to it I would love to see a full outside photo. This looks impressive but it is hard getting the big picture from all the detail photos. Very impressive project. Great job. This deserves to be driven to Burning Man.

mighty cool

Wow! Truly amazing! I love the kitchen, or should it be called the galley? Could this be Instructables first life-size Nautilus?;-)

Very inspiring work!

You sir are an artist! It looks amazing.

Thanks everybody it's been a long time coming some early construction pics

You've got some mad skills - beautiful work!

That is the coolest thing ever.

this is WICKED AWESOME! Thank you!!!!!

That rocket is rocking man!!!

Very cool . Great job , it would be super if you could do some short Instructables on various parts of your trailer . Like how you built the curved sides , or the door , the windows , the fridge . Like I tell the kids take human sized bites . Regardless I love that you shared this neato keen project .