Building a Jiffy Camper
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Category: Bantam Trailer - Discussion - For Sale - Wanted
Forum Name: Other Trailers Discussion
Forum Description: Area for discussing trailers other than a bantam
URL: https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=38082
Printed Date: 18 Apr. 2024 at 7:04pm
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Topic: Building a Jiffy Camper
Posted By: 48willys
Subject: Building a Jiffy Camper
Date Posted: 18 July 2016 at 2:35pm
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I've been thinking of trying to build a copy of sorts of the Jiffy Camper for my Ben-Hur trailer. I'm hoping somebody here may have some experience doing something like this, considering its a little like the jeep tops. So all I have to work with is a few pictures pilfered from the internet  . A few pics of what I'm talking about.....   It looks like a thin type material, I was thinking of using a good thick cotton canvas for the top and maybe a thinner canvas for the sides and putting Canvak on it, would this work out ok or would I be better off with a tent material that is already water proofed? ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Replies:
Posted By: bretto
Date Posted: 18 July 2016 at 3:51pm
Just go buy one, its only $275 for the whole thing. ------------- http://s1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb356/1brale/M38%20restore/" rel="nofollow - PHOTO DIARY OF MY BUILD |
Posted By: Adrian
Date Posted: 18 July 2016 at 7:09pm
 ------------- 1946 CJ-2A Column Change 14605 1973 Saab 96 |
bretto wrote:Posted By: Gristle
Date Posted: 19 July 2016 at 2:04am
| I've been thinking of the same sort of setup for my Bantam trailer. Bear Creek Canvas has canvas patterns for Appleby & Apache trailers from the 60s that may just do the trick! |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 19 July 2016 at 12:11pm
Yea wish it was that easy, more than likely I'll have that much or more in just materials  . That's cool that you can still get the top for those, it doesn't look like it would take a lot to make it work on a bantam or even the sears trailers. ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: Dave Pete
Date Posted: 03 Oct. 2016 at 1:55pm
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I've been thinking about such cool plans forever. My problem is that I'm tall. I need an 80" bed (like a queen or long-boy double or twin). Often, the queen bed sold in RV's these days are what's called an RV Queen, which is what, 74" long? Anyway, more than 6' and less than 80". My Spen trailer only has a 6' box, so any "pop-up" I design like these would created sides beds too short. Maybe laying a bed east west? (left to right), AFTER popping up? Also, think about that structure. All heavy metal? What about fold out plywood sides with hinged leg/supports that once out, provide the right size "platform" to simply set up a tent on? Buy a modern lightweight tent and set it up on the platform. Size the tent to your trailer size capability? Cut the tent floor out where the box is and finish the edge so it doesn't fray. Maybe something like that?
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Posted By: sandusky
Date Posted: 03 Oct. 2016 at 7:43pm
| As far as a mattress we've been using the inflatable kind. I think Coleman and others mfg. them. They are pretty darn comfortable compared to the old school mattresses. We keep several of them at our Cabin when the guests out number the Beds. Nobody complains. One or 2 of these might work for you. |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 03 Oct. 2018 at 6:14pm
I haven't given up on this project, it's just moving super slow . The family that has the original Jiffy Camper contacted me and has been super helpful getting me pictures and measurements. The frames are actually much more complex than I would have thought, they aren't a normal dimensional steel, it's actually a folded and rolled steel. So I'm not going for a exact copy, mine is just 2x2 angle, and some old legs off a sign stand I got at the junk yard. I wasn't sure what to do for wire and springs, but a friend was changing his trampoline tarp so I thought I would try using it.  ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: rocnroll
Date Posted: 03 Oct. 2018 at 7:35pm
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Trampoline is a great idea and lightweight. For tent I would definately lean toward tent/ awning material. Google Sunbrella material for ideas on color and designs.....could make a neat little pop-up. ------------- '47 CJ2A PU '48 CJ2A Lefty "Common sense is not that common" |
Posted By: PackRat
Date Posted: 03 Oct. 2018 at 9:07pm
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My '47 Bantam came to me with some home-made "arches" and sides on it. The material for the top that came with it was no longer usable though. What was pretty ingenious was a PO cut a couple 4x4s diagonally and bolted them to the sloping sides of the tub to create a flat pair of mounts. Then he/she cut some 3/4" plywood carefully around the stake pockets (he used three sections) so he had a flat bunk surface. Once that was done, he then had storage under the plywood and could put a mattress on top of the plywood. You could...do roughly the same thing but make the rearward plywood section longer than the 72" of the bed so that when you arrived at camp, you unloaded the trailer, slid the rear section into position, bolted it through the side mounts and the sloping tub. this section would be the additional length you need to get it to 80". You still need to fabricate some kind of canvas top for your trailer or just use a big tarp and bungie cords you put up when you arrive at camp. You can't go down the highway with the canvas top UP or you will shorten its lifespan dramatically. You would need an additional rib section to hole the tarp up an additional 12-16 inches behind the trailer I think. A little personal design preference might include an extended section and a couple poles to give you a covered area behind the trailer if you wanted it. I slept in my Alaskan, but towed the Bantam with everyone's coolers and things that did not fit into their jeeps on a recent expedition to Hell and Gone and the dust was ridiculous...I believe if you intend on taking a Bantam into the boonies, that you insure that you can tarp the bed of the trailer to keep the dust and the rain OUT. You won't get it ALL out, but a trusty whisk broom (hand held) will help you with that. You don't want your mattress getting dusted! I pre-loaded stuff into a couple beat up footlockers which protected my stuff from dust and served as tables in camp. They would fit just barely under the plywood if I had wo those sections fitted in place before departure. ------------- GPW-17963 4/24/42 Ford F-250 Alaskan Camper Bantam T3-C #21170 |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 11 Mar. 2019 at 4:55pm
 IMGMaking a little more progress, finished the other bed frame and have started making the uprights. I think I may try to make something to steam bend the bows, the basic principles of doing it look somewhat easy. ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 26 Aug. 2020 at 12:37am
Slowly getting there, started sewing together the top. Ended up using a heavy cotton canvas, it wasn’t my first choice but the price was right. I don’t have any specs on it but it seems to be the heavy tight weave stuff that is used for cotton tents, and seems to be naturally water resistant. From my research it will still need some treatment so I’m leaning towards Canvak.   ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 26 Aug. 2020 at 6:25pm
This how I understand that the original frames nested together, I may have messed up the bow bracket length though. I think they should extend into the trailer pockets, but I’ll make it work the way I have them, otherwise I’ll have to change the brackets on the uprights. ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 07 Apr. 2021 at 2:20am
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I needed to waterproof the wood parts and had some enamel sand paint left over, I thought it made a good period correct coating. The end panel’s are coming together rather well but I’ve had some trouble with the window zipper, I probably should have stuck with the square design of the original. I just need to tackle the door now.    ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: Gristle
Date Posted: 07 Apr. 2021 at 1:47pm
| Looking good! |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 21 Apr. 2021 at 10:09pm
Getting some more done, window screen, door and screen, bed frame covers, and tailgate step. Still have some things left but I’m actually starting think I may get this finished .   ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: rocnroll
Date Posted: 21 Apr. 2021 at 10:20pm
Looking good!.....I'm really liking this project.  ------------- '47 CJ2A PU '48 CJ2A Lefty "Common sense is not that common" |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 28 Apr. 2021 at 6:16pm
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Thanks, I’m looking forward to trying it out soon. My canvas finally ran out, used the last little bit to make the trailer cover. I also cut down some wheel chocks to go into the back of the trailer, it’s not normally a feature these trailers had, I think this one was used by a telephone company because these were added and I found the remaining bell decals when I sanded the sides down, but they should come in handy.  ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 21 May 2021 at 2:03pm
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I set it up in the yard and did my first overnight in it. Overall it’s really a great setup, and is comfortable to sleep in. I’ll probably add a mat or something for the colder nights, it got down to 40 and the cold air coming through the bed frame was a little much for a sleeping bag. But a hot summer night that might be a plus having the extra ventilation. Setup and take down is probably a little more than the original, it took me 25min to put up by myself. I haven’t decided on canvas treatment yet, Canvak says it’s not for untreated canvas and after reading of others experience, it may not be the right choice for this. Thinking now I may do a Borax treatment for fire resistance followed by a Teflon or silicone water treatment. The plus side of that is it shouldn’t affect the dynamics of the canvas much and the borax may add some mold/mildew resistance, but I need to do more research.  ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
Posted By: rocnroll
Date Posted: 21 May 2021 at 2:32pm
Nice.....good job!  ------------- '47 CJ2A PU '48 CJ2A Lefty "Common sense is not that common" |
Posted By: 3-48s
Date Posted: 21 May 2021 at 4:21pm
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Very cool, Nice Job! When I was a younger lad my friend's dad had a Ben-Hur- Jiffy Camper that he used at Lake Welch in Harriman Park, NY. They had large tent on a platform that was the main lodge & when guests came to stay they put the Jiffy Camper onto service. It was a thrifty way to have a room to go to the 1964 Worlds Fair in NYC. ------------- 1945 CJ2A #10536 1948 CJ2A #176528 "Elmer" 1948 CJ2A #155970 "Gray Mule" 1948 CJ2A #155365 "Old Yeller" (GONE) BANTAM T3C # 6147 (GONE) BANTAM T3C # 30856 |
Posted By: 48willys
Date Posted: 22 May 2021 at 8:49am
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Thanks. That’s cool you have experience with one. I wonder how popular they were, it’s hard to find much history about them on the internet. ------------- 1946 cj2a #28680 1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |