How to: DIY Wedge Camper

What weight would 1ft save you though? Is that compromise worth needing to remove a panel to get in and out? Just curious

 

Not worried about weight, just wondering if folks went shorter and didn't find it an issue. Also... there could be a pretty big cost savings with the extrusions being ~$1.50 per inch

 

My friend is making his along side me. He modified his to be a wedge only and changed the dimensions. He went shorter but wider because he will be mounting to bed bars on a Raptor. The extrusion came out considerably more in the end. For what it’s worth.

 

Anyone have close up photos on how the top wedge corners interact with the fabric? I am using the 4 hole corner bracket and wanted to see how others have mitigated the merge.

 

Fabric is on! Not too shabby for first time sewing machine user. By no means perfect, but it’s functional.

 

Sick! Mine is going on the truck this evening.

 

Looks sleek! Post more pictures of the modular floor please!

 

How many will that sleep?

 

will do tomorrow!

2


got it on the truck tonight, super stoked!

 

well done guys! Congrats on finishing the build

 

Has anyone made their own wedge strut brackets so there is downwards pressure on the roof when closed?

 

So went out today and gave it a drive. Canopy clamps did really well!

I drove through some pretty good driving rain and snow and have some leaks around the doors in some spots and then at the very front of the wedge.

I have some 1/4 in foam flat bar coming tomorrow that I am gonna put on the space frame that should create a tighter seal on the doors and solve that leak.

for the wedge, I think it’s just where my corners come together hopefully. So just gonna put some silicone in tomorrow and test again! Other than that, no other issues at this time. I expected some leaks to correct.

 

Im a dummy, the water likely came in because the bolts for the large outside corner brackets werent even close to tight Ran a little silicon anyways, so we will see. The roof was 100% watertight as were the sides, so it would be fishy if the seal between the floor and the extrusion at the front wasnt.

 

I had sealing issues on the top, front, and rear edges of my side panels - the bottom was fine. I stepped up to the next size in bulb seal on the 3 problem edges and it fixed my leaks.

https://www.mcmaster.com/93085K85/

EDIT: I forgot to mention I had visible gaps on those 3 edges with the bulb seal spec'd in the BOM. Taller seal fixed it right up.

I skipped the vents because with them being so small and the tent volume so large that I had a hard time seeing them doing much, I just crack the windows instead. I get alittle condensation on the hard roof panel but have yet to get any on the sides of the tent. I just wipe the roof off with a towel before closing it up.

 

Awesome! I am going to try my 1/4 inch thick foam strip that I have coming in today (since I ordered 50ft) and stick that to the space frame, should accomplish the same thing.

Yeah, I was seeing that the windows actually work quite well for a vent. I am thinking I might pick up a few yards of this for the ceiling and ill glue it to the roof to keep condensation from forming and adding some insulation.

 

I'd be concerned more about that stuff holding condensation. I've looked at that quilted insulation as well but I was looking at it to make an insulated tent liner for winter use.

In the end I got a diesel heater instead to avoid more sewing. Plus then I can crank the heater to dry gear out after a day of skiing or to dry things out before closing up the tent.

I might eventually add a roof vent but will wait till next summer if I do. I want to use the camper more before I decide. I like the idea of it for camping but not so keen on making things even taller for wheeling. The trails are already plenty tight around here.

 

Cutting Dibond question.
What did you guys use to cut aluminum composite panel? What would be better, a jigsaw or circular saw? Thanks!

 

Yeah I am concerned about the condensation getting behind it as well. But my roofnest tent had basically the same thing on the roof and it was always bone dry. I am also looking at a diesel heater in the future as well.

Table saw and/or circular saw will give you a straighter line. Can use a router too.

 

Thanks @Ripcord for the build thread, this thing looks incredible. i really like the accessibility of the truss frame you designed but im really liking the AT habitat top and how you can have full standing room for cooking, Photo/Video editing or whatever work you need to do inside the bed while still having the sleeping platform separate ready to crawl into. also you have the additional "awning" from the flipped over habitat on the back side of the vehicle. This is why ill be building the "base" or Camper set up and allowing the measurements of the top 2" x 1" square tubing to support the AT habitat "mid" and "top" sections to bolt on. I have a 2014 Tacoma Access Cab and will be adding a prinsu rack on top of the access cab section in a couple weeks. i am 6'4" so i need to have a bit of extra height to stand freely without hitting my head when the AT habitat is flipped back, so the prinsu rack allows me to build a taller "base" and raises the sleeping platform height. you can see in the Prinsu design studios image i photoshop edited to understand what i mean by raising the base. i have also created a 3D image of the truss frame im making to support the AT habitat. the blue members are all 1.5" x 2", the yellow members are 1.5" x 1.5" and the red members are 1" x 1", you can see that i have 2 separate yellow vertical supports in the back and that will be a solid fixed wall because i have to make room for the hydraulic struts on the AT habitat mid and top, so if i put a door rather than the fixed wall there i wouldnt be able to open the side doors unless the habiat was opened up.

please feel free to ask any questions about this build, ill be posting updates thoughout the build. i plan to pick up as many parts as i can throughout the next 2 months and then start welding the frame some time in February.

 

For those looking to step-up their hinge game

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/37677648?fromRR=Y

Definitely more expensive than the Stainless door hinges from HD/Lowes, but pretty cool!