Stealth Camper: Tactical Teardrop (FULL BUILD RENOVATION)
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Date: 2026-07-10
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Comments and reviews: 20
Vintage_Vessel
such a small enclosed space will heat up very easily- and by carpeting the entire thing, you've introduced a likelihood of mold growth without even intending to. If you had wanted it to be cozy- I would have recommended either just carpeting the roof down to the floor- and leaving the walls- or vice versa. If you had really wanted carpet. In the summer, having it both painted black and with a black carpet interior, it will get warm, and possibly even moist inside- just causing a massive build up of mold. the extra window wouldn't help with circulation, unless you plan to install a fan. And even then. This is a very impressive renovation and rebuild of the camper- but there's just so much concern with having carpeted the interior in the way you did, amongst the black paint, when one of your concerns initially was moisture build up and mold growth.
As well, it would not be recommended to carpet what you'll be using as a kitchen. Liquid spills, and general messes while cooking, will be harder to clean and sterilize with that. If you had matched the tiling in the main bunk, it would've been a nice, seamless match.
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such a small enclosed space will heat up very easily- and by carpeting the entire thing, you've introduced a likelihood of mold growth without even intending to. If you had wanted it to be cozy- I would have recommended either just carpeting the roof down to the floor- and leaving the walls- or vice versa. If you had really wanted carpet. In the summer, having it both painted black and with a black carpet interior, it will get warm, and possibly even moist inside- just causing a massive build up of mold. the extra window wouldn't help with circulation, unless you plan to install a fan. And even then. This is a very impressive renovation and rebuild of the camper- but there's just so much concern with having carpeted the interior in the way you did, amongst the black paint, when one of your concerns initially was moisture build up and mold growth.
As well, it would not be recommended to carpet what you'll be using as a kitchen. Liquid spills, and general messes while cooking, will be harder to clean and sterilize with that. If you had matched the tiling in the main bunk, it would've been a nice, seamless match.
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thunderkittie679
In 1984 I bought a 1958 Aljo for $300 cash. I spent 2 years restoring it inside mostly. New flooring, new formica countertop and water tank, all new mirrors (4, new upholstery and curtains. I refinished all the wood and got a rooftop AC. A 3 burner princess stove and Marvel fridge and freezer with new seals. It had a pan in the fridge for blocks of ice but, no one sells those anymore so I ditched that. I made many blueberry and blackberry pies in the oven and the freezer makes ice in 2 hours. 42 years later I still have it. I know in winter if I get tired of the ice and snow here I can hook up and go to Florida for the winter. Orlando is 950 miles from here. I worked here in summer and in Fla in winter and did that for 15 years or so. It was the best $300 I ever spent. I do need to re-coat the roof again. I'm gonna use the white spray rubber stuff they advertise on TV to seal the seams. Keep on camping brother.
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In 1984 I bought a 1958 Aljo for $300 cash. I spent 2 years restoring it inside mostly. New flooring, new formica countertop and water tank, all new mirrors (4, new upholstery and curtains. I refinished all the wood and got a rooftop AC. A 3 burner princess stove and Marvel fridge and freezer with new seals. It had a pan in the fridge for blocks of ice but, no one sells those anymore so I ditched that. I made many blueberry and blackberry pies in the oven and the freezer makes ice in 2 hours. 42 years later I still have it. I know in winter if I get tired of the ice and snow here I can hook up and go to Florida for the winter. Orlando is 950 miles from here. I worked here in summer and in Fla in winter and did that for 15 years or so. It was the best $300 I ever spent. I do need to re-coat the roof again. I'm gonna use the white spray rubber stuff they advertise on TV to seal the seams. Keep on camping brother.
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NateB1976
Awesome build! You did a great job on everything. I can speak from experience on sleeping in confined spaces you are most certainly going to want a fan of some sort to move the air in there. Not just for comfort but you’re one bad sleeping fart away from a gas chamber. Haha! I recommend the tried and true Fantastic Fan most RV’s come with mounted in the roof(seriously look it up. Easy to install and will run in either direction to act as an exhaust or ceiling fan. In that teardrop right above you it would be fantastic! Especially if you’re camping with electric hookups in the spring or fall.
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Awesome build! You did a great job on everything. I can speak from experience on sleeping in confined spaces you are most certainly going to want a fan of some sort to move the air in there. Not just for comfort but you’re one bad sleeping fart away from a gas chamber. Haha! I recommend the tried and true Fantastic Fan most RV’s come with mounted in the roof(seriously look it up. Easy to install and will run in either direction to act as an exhaust or ceiling fan. In that teardrop right above you it would be fantastic! Especially if you’re camping with electric hookups in the spring or fall.
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JennyEverywhere
You should go around the outside wall near the top, where the roof rack brackets were moved, leaving holes. Some silicone deep in the holes, followed by some waterproof glue and some hammered-in short dowels which you then saw off flush and sand smooth, then paint over with your waterproof paint, will help keep the mould from coming back. I saw that those holes were still unrepaired at the end of the video, and you're going to have problems with them in the future unless you fix them soon.
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You should go around the outside wall near the top, where the roof rack brackets were moved, leaving holes. Some silicone deep in the holes, followed by some waterproof glue and some hammered-in short dowels which you then saw off flush and sand smooth, then paint over with your waterproof paint, will help keep the mould from coming back. I saw that those holes were still unrepaired at the end of the video, and you're going to have problems with them in the future unless you fix them soon.
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tobiasmills9647
Mike, while I usually appreciate your work, this video has showed me two things;
Firstly, you can't tell the difference between a camper and a caravan.
Secondly, painting something that small, jet black will just cause you to be broiled by the midday sun.
If you find any leaks, it'll probably be because you forgot to spreading silicone along the screws you used on your solar lights, before screwing them in. I believe the phrase is water has very narrow shoulders.
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Mike, while I usually appreciate your work, this video has showed me two things;
Firstly, you can't tell the difference between a camper and a caravan.
Secondly, painting something that small, jet black will just cause you to be broiled by the midday sun.
If you find any leaks, it'll probably be because you forgot to spreading silicone along the screws you used on your solar lights, before screwing them in. I believe the phrase is water has very narrow shoulders.
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taoutdoors
I believe the mold remover paint is to prevent mold getting from outside in. At least that's how it worked 7 years ago: ). Curious to see if prevents build up.
On the outside you could have best primed it before applying your top coat so it had better chance of sticking.
If you pull the tape off right after painting it prevents chips of paint getting pulled off. Happy camping!
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I believe the mold remover paint is to prevent mold getting from outside in. At least that's how it worked 7 years ago: ). Curious to see if prevents build up.
On the outside you could have best primed it before applying your top coat so it had better chance of sticking.
If you pull the tape off right after painting it prevents chips of paint getting pulled off. Happy camping!
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GWhittleAL
I had an almost identical blacked out Tear Drop camper. Mine was stolen out of my backyard. I have missed it ever sense.
I had the roof bars. A dog house air conditioner. The same internal storage and rear kitchen area. A roof fan.
I had operable windows with screens on my doors on both sides.
This looks to be made by the same manufacturer as mine. A company out of Ohio.
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I had an almost identical blacked out Tear Drop camper. Mine was stolen out of my backyard. I have missed it ever sense.
I had the roof bars. A dog house air conditioner. The same internal storage and rear kitchen area. A roof fan.
I had operable windows with screens on my doors on both sides.
This looks to be made by the same manufacturer as mine. A company out of Ohio.
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familytvbox5218
Can you explain to me how this is better than the tent It does exactly the same thing.
A place to sleep in nature.
Mobile homes usually have toilets, shower kitchen inside the cabin - that I can understand, but this - is basically a bed on wheels. Just put some inflatable tent inflatable bed in the trunk of a regular sedan and you're good to go.
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Can you explain to me how this is better than the tent It does exactly the same thing.
A place to sleep in nature.
Mobile homes usually have toilets, shower kitchen inside the cabin - that I can understand, but this - is basically a bed on wheels. Just put some inflatable tent inflatable bed in the trunk of a regular sedan and you're good to go.
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zantas-handle
Man, this is great and a pleasure to watch! Respectfully, just one word of caution re the colour - when you pull across traffic at night, people don't expect a tiny caravan to follow you, and if it's black, people could ram right into it. Please add some reflective stuff somewhere along the sides as a cheap and easy precaution.
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Man, this is great and a pleasure to watch! Respectfully, just one word of caution re the colour - when you pull across traffic at night, people don't expect a tiny caravan to follow you, and if it's black, people could ram right into it. Please add some reflective stuff somewhere along the sides as a cheap and easy precaution.
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jonfisher9214
I've recently been working on a job where I had to use to use a similar mould remover. it's important to wear the correct type of gas and vapour respirator mask for this job and I would recommend goggles too. In Mikes situation a portable fan would also have been useful to blow fresh air into the camper to remove the fumes.
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I've recently been working on a job where I had to use to use a similar mould remover. it's important to wear the correct type of gas and vapour respirator mask for this job and I would recommend goggles too. In Mikes situation a portable fan would also have been useful to blow fresh air into the camper to remove the fumes.
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rogerhampton2844
So sick of the word tactical’. A buzz word that means absolutely nothing. There was an opportunity to make a nice job of this but the quality of the finish is poor and the whole thing needed a bit more thought before starting. You won’t need a mosquito screen, they’ll die from the heat in there in the summer.
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So sick of the word tactical’. A buzz word that means absolutely nothing. There was an opportunity to make a nice job of this but the quality of the finish is poor and the whole thing needed a bit more thought before starting. You won’t need a mosquito screen, they’ll die from the heat in there in the summer.
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LILEE376
I dont like the emergency shelter type campers (too small in every way) where people does not like to stay inside. You made is worse with the black paint inside and outside. A rolling coffin. If you need a stealth camper in the wood you need camuflage painting outside, not black. Inside the black is more confusing.
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I dont like the emergency shelter type campers (too small in every way) where people does not like to stay inside. You made is worse with the black paint inside and outside. A rolling coffin. If you need a stealth camper in the wood you need camuflage painting outside, not black. Inside the black is more confusing.
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Cainan66
If you really want to get that specific glue out of the carpet do this,
Get a cheap iron that can steam the carpet and loosen the glue,
Then get a cheap short metal pet brush to reliably pull it out of the carpet.
I know it sounds crazy but it works.
Trust the madness, there's a method in it you know.
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If you really want to get that specific glue out of the carpet do this,
Get a cheap iron that can steam the carpet and loosen the glue,
Then get a cheap short metal pet brush to reliably pull it out of the carpet.
I know it sounds crazy but it works.
Trust the madness, there's a method in it you know.
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cjvilleneuve1566
Nice camper man, just a little tip, this type of glue can be sprayed on both surfaces on the whole piece at once, and you can wait a couple minutes for the glue to dry a bit as it's called contact glue, even if it feel dry it will stick like crazy to the other surfaces without sticking to anything else
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Nice camper man, just a little tip, this type of glue can be sprayed on both surfaces on the whole piece at once, and you can wait a couple minutes for the glue to dry a bit as it's called contact glue, even if it feel dry it will stick like crazy to the other surfaces without sticking to anything else
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UNCLETOEKNEE
You didnt mention sealing the holes left by the previous owners attempts to fit the roofrack The solar cables, you could have used a stuffing gland - basically a grommet that tightens onto the wires, also I wouldnt have that tap so close to the electrical socket - other than that - nice job!
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You didnt mention sealing the holes left by the previous owners attempts to fit the roofrack The solar cables, you could have used a stuffing gland - basically a grommet that tightens onto the wires, also I wouldnt have that tap so close to the electrical socket - other than that - nice job!
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martindennehy3866
Not sure if this helps but a carpet fitter got contact adhesive on our wallpaper, we kind of accepted a horrible mark for years until one day I tried taking it off, I used Isopropyl alcohol and it worked a treat. Removed the glue, left the surface below unharmed.
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Not sure if this helps but a carpet fitter got contact adhesive on our wallpaper, we kind of accepted a horrible mark for years until one day I tried taking it off, I used Isopropyl alcohol and it worked a treat. Removed the glue, left the surface below unharmed.
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taoutdoors
a little tip from a carpet fitter
to remove any residue from the spray adhesive simply use white spirit it would have saved you having to repaint it will also get the glue off the carpet
just a little bit on a dry clean cloth will do it.
great job there pal
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a little tip from a carpet fitter
to remove any residue from the spray adhesive simply use white spirit it would have saved you having to repaint it will also get the glue off the carpet
just a little bit on a dry clean cloth will do it.
great job there pal
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SpikyM-m9n
LoL why not just sleep in the back of your SUV with the second row down Pulling this little toaster oven will limit you to 55mph - good luck headed over to a campground 3 hours away - now it will be 5 hours away. If you got too much junk, get a roof-top cargo box.
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LoL why not just sleep in the back of your SUV with the second row down Pulling this little toaster oven will limit you to 55mph - good luck headed over to a campground 3 hours away - now it will be 5 hours away. If you got too much junk, get a roof-top cargo box.
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erhardt1477
Well
First time viewer and I have to say you made some reasonble choices sir
Not sure I would go with the same colour scheme but hey it’s YOUR trailer
Maybe some Off Road tires would finish the overall look of the build
Greetings from Germany
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Well
First time viewer and I have to say you made some reasonble choices sir
Not sure I would go with the same colour scheme but hey it’s YOUR trailer
Maybe some Off Road tires would finish the overall look of the build
Greetings from Germany
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Lancars
While these things are cool i feel like you need a door on each side as there are terrible people out there that would tip this over and if it tips with the door facing down you're in trouble. Please if anyone makes these put more then one door, seriously.
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While these things are cool i feel like you need a door on each side as there are terrible people out there that would tip this over and if it tips with the door facing down you're in trouble. Please if anyone makes these put more then one door, seriously.
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