Rolling Workshop Made From Camper
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Dennis Frisbey, of Rocheport, Mo., renovates old camping trailers into a variety of creative projects. “I found an old gray 28-ft. camper sitting abandoned and noticed the old relic had one strong point—the frame was solid, boxed-tubing construction with a lot of cross braces.” He saw the potential immediately. “I called the Highway Patrol to apply for a new title. Since there were no serial numbers to trace, I claimed the carcass and dragged it home.”
Frisbey first removed the aluminum siding and salvaged usable items from the interior. “I cut the body off with a Sawzall and borrowed a tractor to shove it aside. It was more work than expected, especially to replace all the wiring and plumbing,” he says. The camper’s wired for 240 volts, 50 amps, which includes a 12-volt converter and lights. “With a deep-cycle battery mounted near the hitch, I have interior and exterior lights at all times,” he says.
After sitting dormant for three decades, Frisbey found the brakes too rusty to rebuild. “Fortunately, there are kits available with the backing plates, shoes and electric hardware ready to bolt on as a complete assembly. I bought four, and it was ready to roll within hours.”
The wheels and tires were also dry-rotted and rusted, which required internet searching to replace. “The price ended up being cheaper than the local tire store,” he says.
Frisbey used a Sawzall to cut the wheel openings in the outer sheet metal after it was screwed in place. “Building the doors from scratch was easier than it looks,” he says. “By using tin that was already cut away, I merely had to trim it down to fit the door.”
The rolling workshop is Frisbey’s most elaborate project to date. “I got burned out about halfway through,” he says. “I lost track of how much it cost—don’t ask! But I have no regrets now that I use it weekly.” He laughs that the workshop went way over budget because he wanted to include everything he’d ever need. There are plenty of comforts inside, including a small half bath. “I’ve got a cot and sleeping bag in the storage bin above the water tank, as well as a camp stove and a few canned goods. I haven’t had to sleep here yet, but who knows what the future holds.”
Some aspects, including homemade fenders, allowed for cost savings. “It came with cheap inner fenders that couldn’t be salvaged,” he says. “Pre-fabricated steel fenders could work, but I’m retired now. I had barn tin lying around, so I built the fenders one piece at a time. Not a penny out of pocket, just many hours of work.”
His biggest regret is not using enough wood supports for the sides and roof. “It seems okay, but I worry about snow sitting on it. I was initially concerned about using Rust-Oleum paint on the workshop trailer, but it’s been several years now, and it still looks good.”
Overall, the workshop works better than he’d hoped. “I live on an 80-acre campground with several other families. I have an on-board generator and can do anything from welding to electrical or plumbing repair,” he says. “With the drill press, table saw, band saw and my large toolbox already onboard, I can fix nearly anything that the campground throws at me. This includes a new deck with a wheelchair-accessible ramp for one of my neighbors. Sadly, I don’t get to enjoy a clean workshop often because I’m always in the middle of several projects. I may be retired, but I’m never bored.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dennis Frisbey, 401 N. Roby Farm Rd., Lot 12, Rocheport, Mo. 65279 (ph 816-807-1477).
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Rolling Workshop Made From Camper
Dennis Frisbey, of Rocheport, Mo., renovates old camping trailers into a variety of creative projects. “I found an old gray 28-ft. camper sitting abandoned and noticed the old relic had one strong point—the frame was solid, boxed-tubing construction with a lot of cross braces.” He saw the potential immediately. “I called the Highway Patrol to apply for a new title. Since there were no serial numbers to trace, I claimed the carcass and dragged it home.”
Frisbey first removed the aluminum siding and salvaged usable items from the interior. “I cut the body off with a Sawzall and borrowed a tractor to shove it aside. It was more work than expected, especially to replace all the wiring and plumbing,” he says. The camper’s wired for 240 volts, 50 amps, which includes a 12-volt converter and lights. “With a deep-cycle battery mounted near the hitch, I have interior and exterior lights at all times,” he says.
After sitting dormant for three decades, Frisbey found the brakes too rusty to rebuild. “Fortunately, there are kits available with the backing plates, shoes and electric hardware ready to bolt on as a complete assembly. I bought four, and it was ready to roll within hours.”
The wheels and tires were also dry-rotted and rusted, which required internet searching to replace. “The price ended up being cheaper than the local tire store,” he says.
Frisbey used a Sawzall to cut the wheel openings in the outer sheet metal after it was screwed in place. “Building the doors from scratch was easier than it looks,” he says. “By using tin that was already cut away, I merely had to trim it down to fit the door.”
The rolling workshop is Frisbey’s most elaborate project to date. “I got burned out about halfway through,” he says. “I lost track of how much it cost—don’t ask! But I have no regrets now that I use it weekly.” He laughs that the workshop went way over budget because he wanted to include everything he’d ever need. There are plenty of comforts inside, including a small half bath. “I’ve got a cot and sleeping bag in the storage bin above the water tank, as well as a camp stove and a few canned goods. I haven’t had to sleep here yet, but who knows what the future holds.”
Some aspects, including homemade fenders, allowed for cost savings. “It came with cheap inner fenders that couldn’t be salvaged,” he says. “Pre-fabricated steel fenders could work, but I’m retired now. I had barn tin lying around, so I built the fenders one piece at a time. Not a penny out of pocket, just many hours of work.”
His biggest regret is not using enough wood supports for the sides and roof. “It seems okay, but I worry about snow sitting on it. I was initially concerned about using Rust-Oleum paint on the workshop trailer, but it’s been several years now, and it still looks good.”
Overall, the workshop works better than he’d hoped. “I live on an 80-acre campground with several other families. I have an on-board generator and can do anything from welding to electrical or plumbing repair,” he says. “With the drill press, table saw, band saw and my large toolbox already onboard, I can fix nearly anything that the campground throws at me. This includes a new deck with a wheelchair-accessible ramp for one of my neighbors. Sadly, I don’t get to enjoy a clean workshop often because I’m always in the middle of several projects. I may be retired, but I’m never bored.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dennis Frisbey, 401 N. Roby Farm Rd., Lot 12, Rocheport, Mo. 65279 (ph 816-807-1477).
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