Repainting my camper shell

Recently picked up a new Vision hi-top fiberglass camper shell. It is a white color, my truck is silver. I've got a few things that I'm going to do to it, including -

• Repainting
• New rear plexiglass window
• New seals
• Sealing of small holes
• Upholstery
• Surf rack
• 3rd brake light backup camera combo

My shell currently has this brake light on it -

$40 Alpinetech 15.5" Quarter Round Spoiler Light LED 3rd Brake Light

https://www.amazon.com/Alpinetech-Q...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JMEQ4W9MYQFQW5HQX9MJ

It is 15" long and I am trying to find one that is of similar size with a built in backup camera, like this one - https://www.tadibrothers.com/products/universal-wireless-3rd-brake-light-backup-camera-system

Has anyone ever found a brake light with a built in backup camera, 15" long?



I haven’t painted anything before, but my buddy has a paint gun I’m thinking I could buy OEM paint for and then blast my camper + clear coat.

Once I get holes+dings from previous owner filled, what are my steps in getting this thing repainted?

My friend painted my old camper, we went to autozone and bought OEM spray cans of paint and clear coat, sanded the camper, then did the whole thing with cans. Came out pretty good, but a gun, of course, will always look much better.



I think the hardest thing about this project will be the upholstery - sourcing the marine carpet/upholstery and applying it will be difficult.

 

Is it painted of is it gel coat? Makes a difference

 

Not sure, just put some new pics up

 

Is that fiberglass?

That stuff is nasty when you start sanding it. Wear a very good respirator and a Tyvek chemical suit so the fibers won't get on your skin or your clothing.

 

Yes - Should I be sanding until I see the grey material underneath?

 

Once you fill in the holes and scratches with Bondo, liberally sand the shell until it's uniform. You don't need to remove material all the way to the fiberglass.

 

If you have 05 to 15 taco the tailgate handle has a backup camera option for like 60 bucks on eBay

 

'02 first gen. Only option I have seen so far for backup cameras is through license plate or small 3rd brake light, trying to find a compromise

 

Mine is license plate mounted. Perfectly fine for me.

 

Worst case scenario I will end up doing a license plate camera. I saw a thread on here somewhere with someone thinking backup cams for hi-rise shells would be useful - especially with a surf rack on top

 

Just get one of those pod style backup cameras and stick it above the 3rd brake light. Easy as that.

 

I looked and 05 and newer only have tailgate handle backup camera but if your good with a Dremel you can cut a small hole to the left or right of the handle and install an aftermarket camera it looks like there would be enough room to do it

 

You're right - for some reason I didn't know those existed. Something like this -

 

Here something interesting if your worried about somebody stealing your tailgate they make custom locks for first gen

 

i rock a pop and lock and its great

 

if your canopy is unpainted and still gelcoat then just give it a good sand and prime.You do not want or need to sand through the gel coat.That is actually doing more harm than good.I would recommend starting with degreasing as you can force contaminates into the gelcoat which could cause issues like fish eyeing ( a reaction that happens when fresh paint hits things like grease/silicone etc).I would fill holes with a fibreglass filler and slight imperfections with an autobody filler putty.

 

Yes and no,still requires the same basic prep.

 

Absolutely not unless you want to create a lot of unnessasary work.

 

When I was younger and just getting started in the autobody industry,I spent a day in the summer sun repairing a badly busted up boat hull.I spent hrs laying up and sanding fiberglass wearing only shorts.Made for a very itchy evening.hahaha(I wasn’t laughing that evening).

 

I'm wondering if its possible to combine this with their other pop & lock option..