2013 Taco Shell Sleeping deck with solar

Inspired by all the creative builds here, i have my own now and hope someone is inspired by this version! This first pic shows the 3/4" plywood half done with partial outdoor carpet covering and recessed piano hinge hatches.

Here the side boxes are finished (waiting on my shell!). that is very cheap indoor outdoor carpet from HD. Be sure to get adhesive with low VOC.

One deck in place to show how you could use it to stow up top and sleep below or as a desk/table.

Second deck installed with pvc legs screwed in showing the rainy weather table (and my cap is now installed!). Note the rear has only one leg to allow access. They are sched 80 screwed into floor flanges attached to the deck bottom.

Showing the bottom and legs together.That long thing now slips into the side bin beside the wheel well very neatly.

 

^^ That's great! Well done!

 

Oooh that's a nice setup. Been wondering what do to with a deck here. Solar coming soon?

 

Velcro on the shell clamps holds the hatches open when needed.

One hatch open. Temp cord handle until i find the flush latches i want.

Here is the inverter velcro to side over the hatch holding the house batteries. I ended up going with the CTEK D250S so i can charge off the alternator (10 ga wire) and/or the solar on top. It charges the starter battery once the house batteries are full.

Four of these bins fit snugly under the decks - more storage in side bins accessed from the windoors of the shell.

Showing 65 watt mono crystal mounted below rack bars so i can still use them. From the ground you cannot tell it is a panel - almost stealth...

solar cable penetration - the tabs holding it are velcro with the sticky side covered with fibers from the carpet. Later i will do the entire run to hide it.

exterior penetration gland next to rack rail - need painting to match. Manana...

 

That's it. I'm coming over

 

And finally my futon - very very comfortable!


Home made mosquito netting velcro attached



and cheap $10 curtains also with velcro


Hope this helps someone else!

 

Tuesday i get my heated futon pad - should run at least 6 hours as it is 165 watt. Then it wont be such a crispy taco shell!

 

I'm definitely building in the same setup into my shell. What sort of house battery are you using?

 

two 35 amp hour sealed AGM with a 65 watt panel (panel was $99 from Home Depot). I wanted to start cheap to see if it was the way i wanted to go. Doing it again i would get one 150 AH and watch for a 100 watt mono-crystaline panel on sale.

 

Great, great job OP!

 

Thanks! Replaced the futon with this spring/inflatable (link below) because it will roll up better than futon and added a 12 volt electric blanket. Ran all night at 23F - cozy even with solid ice on camper windows. So far so good!

I had a chance to test the conversion back to truck when i hauled (4) 6 foot pine trees for a landscape i am working on, then converted back to camper. 15 minutes to truck, but 45 minutes back to camper because of the dirt to clean!
https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/AirDream-Sleeper-Sofa-Bed-Mattress/4750780/product.html

 

Awesome Shell thread, keep up the good work!! @Kestrel2013

 

UPDATE: Found a 100 watt mono solar panel for $129 that will fit the shell rack to replace the 65 watt. Inheriting a used 190 aH battery to replace the (2) 35 aH batteries. Before i could make it through a 23F night with an electric blanket, so now i should be able to cook a brisket!
Also added a blue sea fuse block and eliminated all those in line fuse holders. Provides a central point should there be problems. Now that the battery weight is becoming a factor, next build the battery will be on the passenger side.

 

Go Lithium Ion maybe?

 

Now you've done it! You put Lithium Ion in my weak brain, but my budget is even weaker. Now i have to sell a family member...

 

Lithium Ion - still too expensive and my CTEK Dual source controller wont work with them either. Oh well - nothing left to do but go camping...

 

https://smartercharger.com/products/batterychargers/ctek-lithium-us/

https://greenlifebattery.com/product/greenlife-gl100-12v-100a-lithium-ion-battery/

 

A little update - in light of electronics needing pure sine wave, i upgraded to a psw inverter and added this rear power center. Has a switch for upper cabin led lights and under deck led lights (under deck lights inspired by moonless night when the temps dropped and i couldnt see the wool blanket underneath!).

 

Today i finally settled on a no-drill, no-cut mount for my Bearcat CB. Its not perfect but its the best i can figure out to do.