How to: DIY Wedge Camper

I’m not seeing any exped duos on Amazon.

 

they're also 350 at REI new.

 

For anti condensation mat...I'm thinking corrugated plastic (election sign material) then hit it with a perforating roller.

 

Keep in mind you need your latches to apply pressure to the bulb seals to keep out water when closed. That’s the beauty of the southco latches is that they apply this pressure when closed. Rotary latches you will have to push in on the panel while rotating the handle to seal and electronically actuated ones would be even more problematic to do this. The southco lever latches pull the panel in and compress the seal when closed just by the actuation of the latch.

I bought authentic southco latches and I think they were totally worth it. Especially after reading about everyone’s problems. You’re already spending ~$3k on materials, what’s an extra $150?

 

It's getting so close! Thank you everyone for being helpful!

 

Hey y'all. I'm planning to make a removable floor panel that, when removed, basically leaves the entire bed (short bed) of my truck open to the tent for bad weather hangout times. One slight concern I have is that this removes a ton of the regular floor panel, which I imagine will impact the stiffness to the wedge itself. It also will remove the center cross support of the space frame. In a long bed I wouldn't be as concerned since less of the wedge remains unsupported, but since a fair bit of mine will be hanging over the cab, I'm wondering if I'm going to have a problem with deflection.

Any thoughts here? Has anyone with a 5ft bed truck done this? Thanks as always!

 

I absolutely agree with you, especially in regards of the pressure for sealing .
With the rotary latch I was hoping that I can install the deadbolt this way that you have to apply pressure on the panel to actually lock it.

I guess I will try the remote electric variant with trunk release for the main panel and then get back here and update how it went for me.
But first I will get everything mounted and ready to go (beside painting the frame), before I work out in detail on how to install the lock system

 

Eh, I would buy at REI solely for their return policy alone.

 

Exped Megamat 10 Insulated Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad (Single & Duo)

Exped MegaMat 10 Duo - Self Inflating Foam Sleeping Pad, 4" Thickness Camping Bed, Compact and Lightweight, Mini Pump Included, Green, Long Wide Plus - Past Season

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2AVWUL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_464XQRCFJ1NJEV13HKGS

@JMcFly

 

Oh shoot my b! I thought they said 429 new on the used section

 

the one in the used section is the exped mega mat max tropical punch blast flavor or w/e ....Its a bit more than the regular exped duo 10. I'm buying mine from REI anyways... gotta use those dividends....

 

Isn’t their return policy only a year now?

 

I'm taking a somewhat similar approach, so I can let you know if it breaks. I'm confident that it will be alright, especially since I don't plan on doing any hardcore wheeling.

I'm leaving a square hole (X by X) in mine with a rectangular floor panel (X by X/2). This panel will sit on some welded-on angle iron that will run the perimeter of the hole.

When I sleep, I'll put the panel at the front, leaving an egress (or I-need-to-pee) hole at the back. When hanging out, eating, or maybe even working I can position the panel on the side or at the rear, making it an impromptu table/desk.



(Edited to remove poorly formatted pictures)

 

Can you, or anyone who did just the tent wedge, let me know how you supported the bottom, and where you got the mounting rails?

Thanks!

 

I think it’s 1 year for any reason, and longer (maybe lifetime still?) for defects, breakage, etc.

 

Nice! Yeah that makes perfect sense to me, a bit similar to what GFC does but with the full-time exit hatch and without the complication of three removable panels.

It looks like you're leaving a cross support in the spaceframe about about 12in or so from the cab end, is that correct? So I assume the permanent tent floor will extend to there? I'm hoping to have the full bed of the truck open when the panel is removed, which basically means I can't have a cross support on the space frame. Hoping to get it welded up this weekend so we'll see how sturdy it seems without it...

 

Yup, but thats better than 30 days from Amazon lol

 

makes sense. I got a used one for 240 and still have a 30 return policy on it.

haven’t checked today, but there was one left yesterday.

 

Looked like there was one or two left today

 

Stupid question but the floor and roof panels are 53” by 103” correct? My sign shop is asking and don’t want to have em messed up lol