In this episode of the StealthBuilt mini camper series, we finally begin building the structural foundation of the Dirt Turtle—a custom, off-road-ready mini camper that’s as tough as it’s compact. From laying out our measurements to cutting and welding steel tubing, we’re turning a blank frame into the bones of a rugged overlanding rig. If you’re into off-grid fabrication, steel work, or camper design, you’ll want to see how we’re doing it.
From Tape Lines to Steel Structure
We kick things off by mapping out the camper’s side profile directly on the floor using tape—an old-school but effective way to visualize dimensions and spacing. With the layout confirmed, we start cutting and mocking up the frame using inch-and-a-half, 16-gauge steel tubing. For the floor section, we step up to 1/8″ thick tubing to give the base extra strength for real-world trail use.
Throughout this phase, we emphasize precision: checking squareness, adjusting weld joints, and making changes on the fly to adapt to the quirks of our 40-year-old John Deere AMT chassis. Every weld is tacked first, allowing us to refine the design as we proceed.
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Aluminum Composite Panels & Frame Rigidity
We’ll be sheathing this camper in ACM (Aluminum Composite Material)—a sandwich of aluminum, plastic, aluminum that’s strong, weather-resistant, and lightweight. It’ll add major rigidity to the steel skeleton without piling on the weight. The combination of ACM panels and the steel tubing gives this camper backbone-level strength while keeping it agile enough for trails..
Custom Fitment & Engineering Adjustments
Nothing in this build is pre-fab. We engineer every joint ourselves, test-fitting each segment of tubing by hand. When a center bar didn’t fit the way we envisioned, we cut it out and reworked the geometry to better align with the AMT’s frame rails. The rear of the camper is also overbuilt intentionally, allowing for utility use beyond just camping, like firewood hauling or backcountry hunting.
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Metal Supermarkets – Our Steel Sponsor
A project like this lives or dies by the quality of its materials, and that’s where Metal Supermarkets in Fort Wayne, Indiana, stepped in. They’re not just our official steel sponsor—they’re the unsung heroes behind this entire phase of the build.
Here’s what they brought to the table:
- 397 pounds of steel, including pre-cut square tubing and flat stock
- All cuts are made precisely to spec
- Clean, straight, rust-free stock—ready to weld right out of the truck
- Extra bonus pieces added free of charge, just in case we needed revisions
Their attention to detail saved us hours of prep time. Instead of wasting energy cleaning, squaring, and cutting metal in-shop, we were able to get straight to fabrication. As Sam points out in the video, the fitment was perfect—tight tolerances achieved using just a cutoff wheel, all thanks to how flat and clean the material was.
Metal Supermarkets isn’t your typical big-box metal supplier. They work with hobbyists, pros, and fabricators alike. No minimum orders. No long lead times. Just walk in, get what you need, and walk out ready to build.
And beyond the steel, their sponsorship helped make this entire project possible. Supporting them means you’re supporting builds like this one.
First Uprights & Overhead Framing
We cap off this phase of the build by installing the first upright supports—the ones that will hold the camper’s windshield and roof structure. Getting this squared was crucial, so we took extra time dialing in the angles. The upper bunk platform was also framed in, creating a small overhang that adds both sleeping space and visual appeal.
Wrapping Up Week One
By the end of day six, the Dirt Turtle has gone from a junk John Deere AMT 622, to a full steel exoskeleton on top of an aggressively rebuilt John Deere AMT. We’ve framed out the bed, cab, overhang, and bunk area. It’s starting to look like a real camper, not just an idea.
We’re sore, frozen (literally—it was sleeting in Indiana), and tired. But we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in just one week. This is the strongest, most purpose-built mini camper we’ve ever created.
What’s Next?
We’ve got insulation, power, paneling, and custom interior work coming soon. But this episode lays the most important foundation: strength. No structure, no adventure.
Keep watching to see how we turn this steel skeleton into a go-anywhere camper built for the wild.
📺 Watch Episode 2 on the StealthBuilt YouTube Channel 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe to follow the Dirt Turtle series.
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