I'm a big fan of DIY RV projects. Even though I've never done one myself, I love watching and writing about people turning their visions of a mobile home into reality. But it's one thing to renovate an RV, and it's another thing to build one from scratch. Today, I'm looking at an awesome truck camper unlike anything you've ever seen before.
Here is Jim and his homebuilt 1987 Jeep Comanche camper. The Comanche is a variant of the Cherokee that was produced between 1986 and 1992. Only about 200,000 were produced, making this model quite rare.
That's why I was so surprised when I found out that Jim's DIY project involved joining two Jeep Comanches together. What makes this project even more impressive is that Jim built it in his driveway all by himself.
As soon as you lay eyes on this rig, you’ll know this is no ordinary Comanche. While the front is clearly a Comanche, the rear houses a massive aluminum camper box.
Jim had been familiar with Jeeps while still in high school, and he and his family decided they wanted to travel a bit to see where they wanted to settle. They bought a Jeep Comanche, but its engine blew up on the drive home, so they bought another unit. They combined all the best parts of both Jeeps into the one we see today.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
Of course, you can add countless pre-built campers to your truck. The couple originally considered buying one, but were put off by the price and reliability, so Jim decided to build a pop-up himself.
Jim has some “making experience” from college courses and hobbies, but hasn't had full professional experience. However, as you'll soon see, his creation turned out great.
Anyway, now that you have some context for this rig, let's take a closer look, starting with the outside. In the back, Jim installed two propane tank mounts, a small ladder, a 2-gallon RotopaX diesel tank, and mounts for a shovel and jack.
The aluminum camper box has three Arctic Tern windows and a pop-up roof supported by gas struts. The roof also has a Maxxair fan and two 100W solar panels.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
Also on the driver's side, you'll notice an external vent for a water heater and two fuel fillers. Jim has mounted tanks for both vehicles. Only one of them is connected, so the vehicle has a fuel capacity of 22 gallons (83 liters), which can be expanded to 47 gallons (178 liters) if he connects the other tank.
Jim built a custom bumper on the front that holds two LED light pods and a winch. I love his solution to ensure his vehicle doesn't hit garages, bridges or low branches.
He has an antenna (that isn't actually attached to anything) that is as high as the highest point of the rig. So if the antenna touches a bridge while he's driving under it, he'll know there's not enough room for his RV to pass.
Atop the cockpit, you’ll find a roof rack that holds a spare tire and a Pelican case for additional storage. The rack extends down into rails that are bolted to the camper’s box and welded to the vehicle’s frame for added strength. Other notable exterior features include a solar-powered light and an outdoor shower.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
Jim has come up with a fantastic, “spaceship” door on the passenger side of the vehicle. It has two parts: one opens upwards and the other has steps and opens downwards. The steps are necessary because the camper box is quite high. In addition, the doors remain closed thanks to a magnetic lock.
Step inside and you’re greeted by a surprisingly spacious living space when the top is raised. As for the aesthetics, Jim went for a rustic look with lots of woodwork, including plywood walls. I also like that there’s plenty of natural light coming into the camper box through the three windows and the three large zippered windows in the awning.
The interior is divided into four key areas: a bathroom and lounge area on the sides, an extra lounge area in the back, and a bedroom up top. I'll start with the back.
The rear lounge area consists of an L-shaped sofa with four benches and a decent-sized swivel table. The benches provide extra storage and house a water heater and power system. The latter’s highlights are a 1,500W inverter, 200Ah battery bank, fuse panel and solar charge controller.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
Jim made sure that heating was not an issue in his rig. The 6-gallon (22 liter) water heater uses the vehicle's cooling system to heat the water while the engine is running, but can also be powered by propane if needed. Plus, a Chinese diesel heater will keep things nice and toasty in the coldest environments.
Next, we have the galley on the driver’s side of the interior. It has a basic layout with a small but deep stainless steel sink, a built-in two-burner stove, a magnetic utensil holder, a fold-down table for extra counter space, and an 85-liter pull-out refrigerator/freezer. For storage, you can use a small cabinet and four drawers.
Jim installed a long bench with storage inside on the opposite side. The only exception is the space toward the front, which is mostly occupied by a 10-gallon (38-liter) fresh water tank.
Jim created a passageway between the camper box and the driver's cabin for convenience and safety. It's not big enough to walk through comfortably, but it does provide enough room to crawl through. He also added a curtain for privacy and to block out light from the front.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny Home Tours
Now, let’s move on to the top of the rig. The pop-up tent is made of waterproof and UV-resistant Sunbrella fabric and has three zippered windows with mosquito netting. The bed platform can be raised during the day and lowered when you want to relax or sleep.
The platform is almost as wide as a queen-sized bed, but much longer, measuring 7.5 feet (229 centimeters). Jim also added a decent amount of light to the pop-top tent ceiling for a more cozy and romantic feel.
All in all, kudos to Jim for this truly impressive and one-of-a-kind creation. He put hundreds, if not thousands, of hours into creating this tiny house on wheels, but I'd say it was worth it, and I'm sure Jim would agree.
It's incredibly spacious, looks great inside and out, and has all the essentials you need to get started on the road and on the go. The only thing missing is a bathroom or at least a toilet, but that's not a big deal.
