Mini-Motorhome
 

Was wondering if any others have used their Blazer in this way. I took the back seat out and put in a good 3/4 size mattress (also called a Hollywood style mattress) because it fits right in between the wheel wells. I had to special order it at the mattress store because they do not normally carry them. Then I made some special wood supports for the mattress in the back seat floor area and some custom shelves for each side of it. My wife and I use this rig for camping trips from Bar Harbor, Maine to Redwoods Forest in California and from the International Peace Garden, on the Canadian border to Saguaro National Park in Arizona. I will keep making updates to this thread showing more features that I use on the Blazer and would like to hear from others who have done likewise.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411260411

https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411260411

I have seen some guys build a box under the mattress to gain storage space
Down fall is that it puts you closer to the roof of the truck

I like it.

Simple and effective is the way to go.

what more would you need? :icon_clapclap:

The following pictures show how I made wood shelves to support the 3/4 mattress and for storage spaces on each side behind the seats.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411509703
The center gray shelf has access doors for the storage space underneath when the mattress is slid back.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411509703
Back view of storage shelves behind the driver's seat.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411509703
Front view of same storage shelves.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411509703
Front view of storage shelves behind passenger seat.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411509703

The next posting will show other storage innovations I use.

I also built a roof rack storage rack that is only 6" deep x 42" wide and 6 feet long that holds a tremendous amount of stuff. I wanted to keep the profile low for a little better gas mileage.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411511171

Inside it I can carry a 9' x 9' umbrella tent, tool bags, camp stove, replacement propane tanks, fold-up toilet, as well as space for many other things like replacement batteries, plastic baggies, tow rope, booster cables, extension cords, and souviners. LED light illuminates contents at night.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411511171

I can access the roof top carrier easily with my modified truck tire steps. Bought two, took the step off the second one and added it to the first one for a 2-step model. It folds easily for storage inside beside the mattress. (Later picture will show where it is stored.)
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411511171

Next posting will be more interior mods.

For the next installment: I use Reflectix Insolation to cover the windows for sleeping. I used to use black plastic, but found the Reflectix easier to shape and work with as it is stiffer and can be pressed into the window spaces, eliminating the need for tape or Velcro to hold it in place. Old gun racks make excellent places to store tent poles and walking sticks.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411574311
Here it is on the driver's side window. I leave a little extra tab on top that can be inserted out the opening with the window rolled down slightly, then when you roll the window back up it holds it securely in place.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411574311

For added storage space, I added a Steel Horse brand shelf above the sun visors. I use it for storing binoculars, cameras, etc. It is also a great place to clip my cell phone holder while traveling. I have my altimeter mounted to the left side. You can also see several of my LED lights mounted to the topper. I mounted metal L-brackets to the screws holding the topper to the cab and the LED lights attach with strong magnets as they are trouble lights sold at auto supply stores. Recently I moved the mount for my GPS unit up to the shelf above the sun visors as well.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411574311

Stayed tuned for my next installment.

Up here in the colder climates, people often put in 110 volt heaters to heat up the inside of the vehicle. I remounted one to a stub of 4x4 cut down to fit in one of my cup holders. Next, I added a 110 volt thermostat to an outlet box, so that when it gets cool inside my mini-motor home I can turn up the thermostat and have controlled heat inside. My wife thinks it is a "toasty" idea!
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411583666

Here is a close-up view of the 110 volt thermostat from the front and the side, mounted in a plastic electrical box with a 110 volt outlet out the back.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411597882http://abe.midco.net/~barondeau1/Vettes/CIMG0063a.JPG

To get 110 volts inside the vehicle, I added an extension cord through the grill.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411583082

If it is to warm inside, I can plug in my swiveling fan that is also mounted on a piece of 4x4 cut to fit in the console cup holder. This and the heater are carried in the shelves beside the mattress behind the driver's seat.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411583082

Next installment is under the hood.

Modifications under the hood include the following: First, I installed the 12 volt air compressor from my old camper (mounted between the jack and the windshield washer fluid reservoir). When I upgraded my camper to a demand system, I had not use for the air compressor any more, so it got relegated to the Blazer. Second, I installed a DIY toolbox for storing the coiled hose for the air compressor and a few tools that I use often. Third, I installed a 2nd backup battery in the empty space on the driver's side of the radiator. This battery is charged during driving, but isolated by a relay when the ignition is shut off. This battery is wired into the interior for all of the 12 volt accessories I run for the mini-motor home such as the oscillating fan, DVD player, and electronics chargers.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411601236

Tool box with coiled air compressor hose.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411601236

For easier access at the rear, I routed an air hose from the underhood air compressor to the rear bumper with a quick-connector. Now I can use the coiled air hose from the rear tires and for the Air-Lift kit that I installed to level the ride.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411601236https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411601236

Next installment: boxes on the back

my set up mattress out of a popup camper Attachment 31057

It looks like have put a lot of thought into using your blazer for a camper. Also it looks like it is in really good shape for its age. How long does your second battery last with the heater, fan or DVD player running?

I knew there were others out there using their Blazer's like I was! I like the idea of the storage space under the mattress.

My wife and I have been camping like this for years and I keep making changes and improvements every year. Just this year I added a new shelf in the back for the bucket that holds our shower flip-flops and we finally purchased a new tent that doesn't require separate poles. It pops up automatically when we pull it out of the bag. Much quicker than our old umbrella tent that we had been using for the last 43 years. The second battery lasts for everything we need because we usually are driving during the day and recharging it. It does not run the heater as that is purely a 110 volt unit, so we do need an electrical hookup if we are camping where we will need heat at night. Otherwise it is sleeping in sweat pants, sweat shirts, and the additional sleeping bag we carry. I keep the old 1990 Blazer in as perfect a condition as I can. It usually doesn't get driven in the winter time to keep it salt free (which it is) but it does get used in the summertime a lot.

This thing is awesome!! I wish I could convince my wife to do something like this but her idea of camping is staying at the Hilton:( Owell I shouldn't complain she lets me do what I want to!

A 20 year old blonde and a 20 year old redhead, but my wife tells me that I'm not wired for 220.
:)

In case it rains, I have a blue tarp with some extra poles that I bought at a camp supply store. I put eye bolt lag screws into my gray wood box on top and tie the tarp to them with strips of rubber cut from an old car tire tube. It would sag in the middle if too much rain accummulated so I build a wooden umbrella frame that I could put in the center hole of my folding picnic table to support the blue tarp. Also added a couple pieces of metal to the umbrella frame so I could stick my magnetic LED lights to it for light outside. For a pole, I used one from those flags you hang outside your house, because it was in several pieces that screwed together making it more collapsible to store (along with the blue tarp and ropes) in my overhead gray box.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411697274
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1411697274

Next installment: the boxes on the back

I use a hitch tray on the back with several boxes to carry the majority of our camping equipment. I found a large black box that fit very nicely on the tray. In that we carry our water (in a collapsible jug), our food, and all cooking and eating utinsels. We also carry our folding camp chairs and our folding picnic table - the small green one in other pictures. I also attached a spare tire holder from a camping store to the back of the tray. A backup camera on the license plate was added for safety. The boxes are held in place with four bungie cords connected together with a metal ring. Now you can see why I added the Air Lift suspension system.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412017100
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412017100

I found two green boxes at our local Alco store to fit in the remaining space on the tray. They have removable trays for more organization. In one of the green boxes I carry my fire starters, firewood, campfire equipment, and leveling blocks. In the other one I carry my 4-cup coffee maker, spare water bottles, and soda. There is also room for me to bring home rocks we collect and other souvenirs.
http://abe.midco.net/~barondeau1/Vettes/DSC_0837a.JPG
http://abe.midco.net/~barondeau1/Vettes/DSC_0884a.JPG

Just got back from a two day camping trip with this rig to the annual buffalo round-up in Custer State Park in South Dakota. Next trip is to Scotts Bluff in Nebraska.

A few other modifications I have made to my Blazer:
1-installed a backup camera on the back with the monitor located in the rear view mirror. It makes backing up a lot safer
2-hot wired the electric windows so that they would work whether the ignition key was off or on
3-installed 4-5 under dash 12 volt outlets for my various accessory use
4-installed an external transmission cooler (I also tow a trailer camper with it) and a transmission temperature gauge
5-installed an FM converter that plugs into the antenna connection for my MP3 player with a mini-plug connection under the dash
and finally 6-I developed an Excel spreadsheet with a check off for everything we take with us on our camping trips and the location we pack it in the Blazer. Since then we have never forgotten anything.

This is my last installment, but I would be happy to answer any specific questions or show more close-up pictures if anyone is interested. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing what others have done along this line too.

Any chance you can post a link to where you found that spare tire carrier? Looks like you can pull up on the handle and the tire drops down?

Awesome rig! My wife and kids use my Blazer for camping, we tent camp though. We use the Cargo Carrier the same way you do, and have plenty of room for all our personals in the cab. Would like more info on that roof compartment, though. That looks extremely handy, and I'm always looking for more cargo space.

Yes, it does work that way. I purchased it years ago from my local camper supply dealer. I noticed when I did a search of Google and Camping World that the models they sell now don't have the handle at the top to pull, instead they have a pin to pull out that allows them to drop down. Go to Camping World or search Amazon and you can find this type.
MikeB

I made the top out of 2x6 sides, front board, back board, and 1/4" plywood for the top and bottom. It measures 6" deep x 42" wide x 68" long. The top was reinforced with 1x1 boards glued across every two feet with the sides and back board made from 1x2 1/2" boards. I used a piano hinge across the front. As you can see from the picture below I used simple boards to support it when it was open, but attached a chain and spring to prevent the wind from catching it and flipping it open. The little black rectangle on the lid is an LED light to see what I am doing or getting at night. The bottom was also made of 1/4" plywood with 2x2's reinforcing it every two feet.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412279798

For it to fit on my roof rack, I had to make some box inserts for the crossbars of my roof rack. I used 1" boards to make these as illustrated by the next picture.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412280377

In the next picture, you an see the 1x1 reinforcements for the top plywood, the 2x2 reinforcements for the bottom plywood, and the box enclosure for the roof rack. Ignore the boards inbetween the 2x2 and box enclosure as that was a replacement box enclosure that I covered over for the previous pickup topper I used it on. (It has gone through two remodels already and been repainted several times.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412281076

Here is an outside picture of my roof rack box enclosure. If you have an adjustable roof rack, you could put your bars at the front and back of your box and not have to builds the box enclosures like I did. But the old roof rack on my 1990 Blazer is not adjustable.
http://abe.midco.net/~barondeau1/Vettes/CIMG0101a.JPG

As you can see in the above picture, I used my router to route out a space for the top sides in the 2x6 sides of the main box for a flush fit. I did not do that at the back edge. The front of the box was cut at an angle for cutting wind resistance and is just a fake hollow space underneath as seen in the next picture. The metal eyebolts are for anchoring my blue rain tarp when I set it up. Also use the eyebolts to hoist it up off the Blazer for storage. I hang it from my garage ceiling in the winter time.
http://abe.midco.net/~barondeau1/Vettes/CIMG0104a.JPG

I hope some of this information gives you help and ideas for making your own box on top of your Blazer. It does not look like it will hold a lot with it being only 6" deep, but you would be surprized how much stuff I can get stored up there. I generally carry my tent, camp stove, portable toilet, spare propane tanks, spare batteries, spare plastic bags, blue rain tarp, plastic ground cloth, bag of tools and connectors, window screens, umbrella top, and camera tripod up there. The truck tire step mentioned in posting #6 allows me to access everything in the box from either side of the vehicle. Feel free to contact me for more information on anything or if you would like a more detailed picture of any part.

To give you a better idea of the umbrella I made for my portable picnic table to use under the blue tarp for support, as I mentioned in posting #16 here is a picture of the parts dismantled. The metal pieces are for holding magnetic LED trouble lights.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412281578

Here is a better picture of the spare tire holder mentioned in posting #17. I had my local welder, weld a flat plate on the back of my tray support to bolt it on with. It does fold down for easier access to my boxed supplies.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412281755

The space at the back of the mattress on either side was also utilized. I built a small box on the right side with space underneath for storing a spare blanket. Behind it sits the angled shelf I made for the bucket holding our shower flip-flops. To the left of the bucket is the black tire step all folded up and stored on the edge of the mattress. (I mentioned in posting # 6 that I would show a better picture of its storage space.) On top of the spare blanket box we use a red canvas bag that we got at a Pier 1 type of imports store for storing towels and other clothing. We use 4 of those same type of canvas bags to divide up our stored materials in the big black box on the back of the tray, too.
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412282143
https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1412347941

For storage on the left side of the mattress, we found a plastic white waste basket that fit very nicely for storing, coats, extra sweatshirts, hiking hats, etc. In front of it, we store our hiking boots. Nothing fancy here.
http://abe.midco.net/~barondeau1/Vettes/DSC_0906a.JPG

Wow, thanks for the pics. Lots of detail! I'm actually about to go with a roof basket, but it never occurred to me to build one out of wood. (And I work in a Lumberyard. DOH!) It looks GREAT! I can tell you put a lot of thought and work into constructing it. And I'm sure it's very functional.

When I was looking for storage space for my roof rack, all the commercial units were so high and created a lot of wind resistance, so I decided to try and make my own in a low, wide profile to hopefully cut down the wind resistance. I still make 15-16 miles per gallon with my 1990 Blazer which is not much worse than when I didn't have the box on top. It doesn't look like it, but it can hold a tremendous amound of stuff up there. I used to remove it with a pulley and winch system in my garage every winter, but now that I am retired and still go south camping during the winter, I leave it on the Blazer full time.