Lexi & Chris in a Truck Camper
@roamlab.bsky.social
Off on a perpetual road trip in our DIY renovated 1970 Avion C11. Camping, hiking, overlanding, XC mountain biking, rafting, trail running & anything else that gets us outside.
Weather doesn't care about your holiday plans or that meeting at the beginning of the week. And we've learned not to push our luck.
What's your story?
4/4
What's your story?
4/4
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Weather doesn't care about your holiday plans or that meeting at the beginning of the week. And we've learned not to push our luck.
What's your story?
4/4
What's your story?
4/4
The next morning, we drove past the remains of a semi that tested its luck and came up snake eyes.
That said, we should only be facing cold this weekend. And this time, we aren't trying to cross a massive blacked out state with empty grocery shelves, like in Texas a few years ago...
3/4
That said, we should only be facing cold this weekend. And this time, we aren't trying to cross a massive blacked out state with empty grocery shelves, like in Texas a few years ago...
3/4
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The next morning, we drove past the remains of a semi that tested its luck and came up snake eyes.
That said, we should only be facing cold this weekend. And this time, we aren't trying to cross a massive blacked out state with empty grocery shelves, like in Texas a few years ago...
3/4
That said, we should only be facing cold this weekend. And this time, we aren't trying to cross a massive blacked out state with empty grocery shelves, like in Texas a few years ago...
3/4
But we swore we wouldn't camp that cold ever again.
The same goes for tornadoes.
I pay a lot more attention to weather reports while driving through tornado alley these days. We don't want to spend another night rocked to sleep by gusts of wind whipping through a Walmart parking lot…
2/4
The same goes for tornadoes.
I pay a lot more attention to weather reports while driving through tornado alley these days. We don't want to spend another night rocked to sleep by gusts of wind whipping through a Walmart parking lot…
2/4
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
But we swore we wouldn't camp that cold ever again.
The same goes for tornadoes.
I pay a lot more attention to weather reports while driving through tornado alley these days. We don't want to spend another night rocked to sleep by gusts of wind whipping through a Walmart parking lot…
2/4
The same goes for tornadoes.
I pay a lot more attention to weather reports while driving through tornado alley these days. We don't want to spend another night rocked to sleep by gusts of wind whipping through a Walmart parking lot…
2/4
Step 1 is reframing the camper access. Getting the fit right took a long time. But it feels good to finally be sealing the aluminum frame in place.
4/4
4/4
December 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Step 1 is reframing the camper access. Getting the fit right took a long time. But it feels good to finally be sealing the aluminum frame in place.
4/4
4/4
Our first version debuted in 2022: a primarily foam prototype that relies on compression to seal out the elements. It's been good enough to get us through these last few years, but I'm working on something more tailored to our build.
3/4
3/4
December 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Our first version debuted in 2022: a primarily foam prototype that relies on compression to seal out the elements. It's been good enough to get us through these last few years, but I'm working on something more tailored to our build.
3/4
3/4
But we have one vehicle. And there are times when we need to take the camper out of the truck bed. This has made many parts of our build more complicated, including any prospect of a pass-through.
We've been experimenting with solutions for years:
2/4
We've been experimenting with solutions for years:
2/4
December 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
But we have one vehicle. And there are times when we need to take the camper out of the truck bed. This has made many parts of our build more complicated, including any prospect of a pass-through.
We've been experimenting with solutions for years:
2/4
We've been experimenting with solutions for years:
2/4
I’d never heard of that before!
November 30, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I’d never heard of that before!
Thank you. That is so true. Taking a breather and I’ll be back at it tomorrow.
November 30, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Thank you. That is so true. Taking a breather and I’ll be back at it tomorrow.
Everything with fiberglass just takes a little longer:
Laying down fiberglass.
Curing epoxy.
Sanding down the excess epoxy.
But, very soon, it means we will have cabinets that are lightweight, mold and fire-resistant, and brand spanking new.
Laying down fiberglass.
Curing epoxy.
Sanding down the excess epoxy.
But, very soon, it means we will have cabinets that are lightweight, mold and fire-resistant, and brand spanking new.
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Everything with fiberglass just takes a little longer:
Laying down fiberglass.
Curing epoxy.
Sanding down the excess epoxy.
But, very soon, it means we will have cabinets that are lightweight, mold and fire-resistant, and brand spanking new.
Laying down fiberglass.
Curing epoxy.
Sanding down the excess epoxy.
But, very soon, it means we will have cabinets that are lightweight, mold and fire-resistant, and brand spanking new.
Share a link?
November 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Share a link?
Well, not quite. When the temperatures are above freezing, the heater still works. But below freezing (you know, that time when you REALLY need a heater) we get nothing.
So, we roughed it until the weather warmed up and promptly forgot about the problem until now.
Woops.
So, we roughed it until the weather warmed up and promptly forgot about the problem until now.
Woops.
November 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Well, not quite. When the temperatures are above freezing, the heater still works. But below freezing (you know, that time when you REALLY need a heater) we get nothing.
So, we roughed it until the weather warmed up and promptly forgot about the problem until now.
Woops.
So, we roughed it until the weather warmed up and promptly forgot about the problem until now.
Woops.
The highway was in the process of being plowed. Snow piled high on both sides of the pavement. It took a while for us to find a point where we could pull out of traffic to restart the truck.
The truck seemed to run all right after that, but all that blew from the vents from then on was cold air.
The truck seemed to run all right after that, but all that blew from the vents from then on was cold air.
November 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The highway was in the process of being plowed. Snow piled high on both sides of the pavement. It took a while for us to find a point where we could pull out of traffic to restart the truck.
The truck seemed to run all right after that, but all that blew from the vents from then on was cold air.
The truck seemed to run all right after that, but all that blew from the vents from then on was cold air.
But, at least, maybe I'll be a little less reticent to share interior shots as I build out an interior worth sharing. Heck, I think we'll finally have a properly installed refrigerator by the time we commence this year's winter wanderings.
November 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
But, at least, maybe I'll be a little less reticent to share interior shots as I build out an interior worth sharing. Heck, I think we'll finally have a properly installed refrigerator by the time we commence this year's winter wanderings.
Years of people wanting to peek into our camper and explaining, "There really isn't anything to see."
Who knows how long it will take before I finally install the ceiling panel? It's not going to be right now. I have roof work that needs to be done before then.
Who knows how long it will take before I finally install the ceiling panel? It's not going to be right now. I have roof work that needs to be done before then.
November 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Years of people wanting to peek into our camper and explaining, "There really isn't anything to see."
Who knows how long it will take before I finally install the ceiling panel? It's not going to be right now. I have roof work that needs to be done before then.
Who knows how long it will take before I finally install the ceiling panel? It's not going to be right now. I have roof work that needs to be done before then.
Nowhere is that more pronounced than in the very gradual installation of the interior aluminum skins of the camper.
Years have elapsed between the detailed shaping and fitting of the aluminum along the fitted end caps (the original ends were molded plastic) and the side walls I'm installing now.
Years have elapsed between the detailed shaping and fitting of the aluminum along the fitted end caps (the original ends were molded plastic) and the side walls I'm installing now.
November 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Nowhere is that more pronounced than in the very gradual installation of the interior aluminum skins of the camper.
Years have elapsed between the detailed shaping and fitting of the aluminum along the fitted end caps (the original ends were molded plastic) and the side walls I'm installing now.
Years have elapsed between the detailed shaping and fitting of the aluminum along the fitted end caps (the original ends were molded plastic) and the side walls I'm installing now.
