Ognen Duzlevski found a 1994 GMC TopKick rotting in a field and transformed it into an unrivaled Palomino horse-hauling truck camper rig. With the odometer stuck at 238,000 miles and a new owner with no prior mechanical experience, this pair doesn’t know how to quit.
My first truck, a cherry-red 1996 Ford F-250 single cab, had roll-up windows, a simple bench seat, and no warning chime if you weren’t buckled after putting it in gear. Best of all were those little triangular vent windows that pushed air exactly where you needed it. Can someone please bring those back?
As much as I loved that truck, it was light-years away from the cooled bucket seats, 360-degree cameras, and lane-keeping assist found in today’s models. Modern trucks are packed with computer chips and sensors creating an overwhelming amount of complexity. Let’s just say the days of cracking an egg into the radiator or topping off the coolant with cold water are long gone.
For those of us—myself included—who enjoy truck camping far from the reaches of civilization and cell towers, there’s often a number ticking in the back of your mind while you’re on the road. It’s the miles between where you are and where you can get help. The farther we roam, the higher that number climbs. It’s the bargain of the lifestyle: go anywhere, camp anywhere freedom in exchange for vulnerability.
Ognen Duzlevski wasn’t willing to make that bargain. He began feeling uneasy about bringing his wife, Dacia, and their two horses through the backcountry in a truck he couldn’t fix himself. With this focus, he went looking for a different kind of truck entirely. He didn’t browse dealer lots or search classifieds online. The answer was sitting in his neighbor’s backyard.
Driven by sheer determination and a willingness to learn, Ognen went from never having changed his own oil to restoring every nut, bolt, and wire on a 1994 GMC TopKick. Paired with his Palomino HS-2910 on a custom flatbed deck, this truck camper restoration is sure to impress even a seasoned mechanic. Without question, it stands as one of the most ambitious owner-built rigs we’ve ever featured. Here’s how it all came together.
What inspired you to restore and build a TopKick truck?
We already owned a 2013 Palomino HS-2910, which I renovated and hauled with a dual-rear-wheel 2021 Chevy 3500 cab and chassis with a flatbed. The Chevy 3500 handled the camper well on its own, but we often tow a horse trailer. Combined, the camper and the trailer added more weight than the truck could comfortably manage.
I started searching for an older, larger truck. My goal was to find something fully mechanical, with no computers, and learn it from the inside out. Being miles away from home, in a truck I couldn’t fix, weighed on me. The TopKick wasn’t on my radar until I mentioned my search to my neighbor.
How did your neighbor help you find the TopKick truck?
He owned it. We live in a very rural area where nearly every property has acres of farmland. It’s common to see tractors, trailers, and trucks scattered across the land in all conditions. My neighbor acquired the 1994 GMC TopKick through a trade, planning to use it to haul hay or move equipment around the farm.
The TopKick had about seven previous owners and was formerly used by a septic service company. When I got it, the odometer was stuck at 238,000 miles. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating was 22,000 pounds, so I knew it could easily handle our camper while hauling the horse trailer.
What did you need to do to make the TopKick roadworthy?
Everything. The truck wouldn’t start when I first got it. The ignition needed replacing. The transmission was shot. And one of the calipers was so seized that it nearly caught fire on a test drive. There was a significant amount of electrical and safety work to be done.
I installed all new ignition wiring, brake lines, and replaced the seats. I also added gauges to monitor engine and turbo temperatures, fluid levels, RPMs, and fuel pressure.
I installed a rebuilt transmission with an overdrive gear in order to maintain highway speeds at low RPMs. I also added a trailer brake controller and a rear view camera for when we’re pulling the trailer.
I immediately realized I would go deaf if I didn’t make the cab quieter. I installed Kilmat sound-dampening material throughout the cab and doors, which made a huge difference.
Being on the shorter side, I had to replace the original bench seat with bucket seats to reach the pedals and shift into gear. I sourced seats and fabricated mounts to raise them up to the proper height.
The truck now has air conditioning, heating, and a stereo. It’s very comfortable.
There isn’t a single part of this truck that I haven’t touched. If I broke down today, I’m confident I could fix it.
That’s an enormous project. What experience did you have working on vehicles?
Before this, I had only changed my own oil. With help from YouTube, Facebook groups, and my neighbor, I was able to figure it out.
“Before this, I had only changed my own oil.”
Wow. Not the answer I was expecting! How long did the TopKick restoration take?
It took me about two years in total—eight months to pass inspection and another sixteen months to make the improvements needed for comfort. I wanted it to feel as comfortable as a modern truck, and I succeeded.
Take us through building and installing the flatbed deck.
I found a military flatbed for sale about three hours from my house for $500. It needed a complete overhaul. It was full of rust and missing sections of lumber.
At the time, I was building a temporary shelter for my animals. After some modifications, I used this shelter to hoist the flatbed for repairs and installation. I spent weeks grinding and spot-welding to fix the rust and add supports for the camper. For the deck, I sourced locally milled oak and stained it with WeatherSeal.
I had to lift the flatbed about three feet before backing the truck up and bolting it to the frame. I secured the tray with heavy-duty U-bolts. Mounting the flatbed ended up being one of the easiest parts of that project.
Did you run into any challenges installing your Palomino onto the flatbed?
Not at all. The flatbed sits relatively low—about forty-five inches off the ground. I used my Rieco-Titan jacks to raise and load the camper just like you would for a standard truck and camper set-up. The overall height with the camper installed is under twelve feet.
The flatbed looks quite a bit longer than the camper. What do you do with the extra space?
The flatbed measures twelve feet long and eight feet wide. That leaves nearly three feet of space between the cab and the camper. I installed an eighteen-inch fuel tank in this location and still have over a foot of room for tools, camp chairs, and other gear.
Why is the Palomino HS-2910 the right camper for you?
Dacia and I used to have a live-in horse trailer, but we wanted something more compact. We were amazed at how much space the slide-out design of the Palomino HS-2910 offered. It had everything—a comfortable living area, a stove, an oven, a full-size refrigerator, and a bathroom. The only major modification we made was removing the built-in toilet and replacing it with a removable cassette to open up the shower space. We preferred this setup for the way we travel.
Between the price, comfort, and weight, the Palomino HS-2910 is the perfect camper for us.
“Between the price, comfort, and weight, the Palomino HS-2910 is the perfect camper for us.”
Where have you taken your TopKick and Palomino?
Our horses go where we go, so we plan our adventures around the best horse campgrounds and riding trails we can find. Most of our travel stays within a few hours of our home in Virginia, usually heading into North or South Carolina. Later this year, we’ll go down to Florida. Next summer we hope to explore out west.
I’m curious, how does the entire setup drive when fully loaded?
It’s very stable. You can’t even tell the camper and trailer are behind you. Being a mechanical diesel, the TopKick doesn’t have the horsepower or torque of modern trucks. It’s slow to accelerate and climb hills, but we keep up with traffic just fine. I love being high above the road with a full view of everything. We’re not in a hurry when we go camping.
“I love being high above the road with a full view of everything.”
Would you ever attempt a project like this again?
My new project is a 1996 Ford F-350 with a 460 gas engine. This was my first engine rebuild that required repairing a leaking head gasket. I actually finished it yesterday and went on a test drive before this call. It drove great!
My goal is to build a DIY truck camper for a lighter setup. The big TopKick will serve as our cross-country rig and the lighter setup will be for more local adventures. I also like having a second truck as a recovery vehicle for the TopKick, if we ever need it.
My first truck was the same year Ford with the same engine! I should’ve never sold it. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
There are a lot of misconceptions about TopKick trucks. People assume the ride is too rough, a special license is required, or registration will be a headache. None of that is true. I replaced the shocks and it made a night-and-day difference in the ride. Because it’s a recreational vehicle, no commercial license is needed, and registration was straightforward. My insurance is actually cheaper on this truck than on my Chevy.
My only piece of advice is to start with a truck in better shape than mine [Laughs]. It was a huge project, especially for someone without mechanical experience. With enough determination, it can absolutely be done.
Ognen’s Rig:
Truck: 1994 GMC TopKick LoPro
Camper: 2013 Palomino HS-2910
