How to: DIY Wedge Camper

Amazing thread... so much inspiration, ideas and innovation. Looking forward to getting started on my own version.

Does anyone happen to know the weight or weight savings of using the composite aluminum panels over just 100% aluminum panels? Perhaps a SqFt weight on the 3mm and 6mm composite panels for comparison?

Any guesses or knowledge whether the composite panel is stiffer than a standard aluminum panel?

Thanks...

 

Maxmetal lists the weight per sq meter on their website. It’s about 1/2 the weight of the equivalent aluminum panel of the same thickness.

 

Yes very little. See posts on page 135.

 

Taco camper -- thanks for the reference.

 

well that was less than interesting for me. They just made a canopy shell basically.

 

Haha. How much are they charging for that?

 

It starts at 4k!

 

Dang. I’m too cheap for this world. I bought my contractor cap for $200 off Craigslist.

 

Selling my ripcord camper
See buy sell area
$2800

 

Can anyone comment on how their exped megamat fits in the sleeping area? I am getting ready to do this build and noticed the width dimensions of the extrusion is 50" wide, but the megamat duo lw is 52" wide.

 

I made my sleeping area 51” wide and the Exped duo is very tight. It has to be squished down into place. I’m kinda surprised people are making it work at 50".

 

for that reason I actually made mine 52” wides however I used 3” extrusion on top and bottom. I didn’t like how it fit still(4.5” might work better than 3”). Ended up buying a custom mattress in pieces which I think is more comfortable, cheaper, and don’t have to worry about adding air

I wanted to use the bed area for day use as well so I have movable panels on top, having the full exped would not be as convenient than the mattress I got as it is removable in two pieces.

 

That is the great thing about this, you can make the small modifications you want to. However it starts getting more expensive if you do

 

Thanks for the info, this is exactly what my worry was. Thinking of going 52" wide.

Can you explain a bit more what you didn't like about the fit? Was it because the exped was taller than the sidewall of the extrusion? I noticed you said 4.5 might be better than 3". Appreciate the response and insight.

 

yeah since the mattress was just as tall or taller than the extrusion it was hard to pull the tent sides int. 4.5” will pry be better in that regard. It was still a tight fit with 52” wide I.e no wiggle room but I imagine a lot better than 50”

 

@nanserb how is your diesel heater working with the hose being higher up on your shell? I’m trying to figure out placement because I want the bed heated as well as the upper tent. Kiddos are sleeping downstairs with the parents upstairs. Well that’s the plan but it will probably be me alone downstairs haha.

 

Thats pretty much what happened with my setup. It’s just easier for me to be downstairs by myself. I don’t have to reconfigure as much stuff downstairs for myself cause I don’t mind being a little uncomfortable. The kids are much more obnoxious about it.

 

Has anyone put kayaks ontop of this? Im thinking this needs to be my next setup.

 

Yes, I made a simple rack so I can hold my kayaks

 

Did you change the design or gas struts at all?