Shortbed Slide-out Camper Build / Ski Lodge

Last summer I needed a quarantine project, so I converted my shortbed into a camper/ski lodge for ski bumming around the northeast this winter. Big shout out to Off-grid Backcountry Adventures and Drenalin Adventures on Youtube for the inspiration on the slide out extension.

Here is my version...










From the inside...









The Build
First, I snagged a bedrug from Tacomaworld marketplace and found a topper on Craigslist. Used some other great threads on here to add insulation, carpeting, and rails to the topper.







Then the construction could begin...













Still working on best solution for closing in those gaps, but a heavy duty bed sheet or canvas seems to do the trick.

I ended up using plexiglass for the roof. Probably doesn't help insulate very well, but thought it was necessary to not feel like a coffin. When it's real cold I just throw some reflectix under it anyway. Added a window too. Although, I wish I made it bigger to see out the back better while driving, but I ran out of plexiglass.











Considering I used plexiglass for the roof, I probably went overboard on the insulation in the interior. Added two layers of a 4x6' roll of denim insulation from Home depot. Then used some cheap cedar planking to cover that up.








I needed to add an extra support to the frame so I had something to nail the cedar planks to. Glad I did too. It feels sturdy.












For the flooring, I have some plywood panels with gym floor mats that fill out the rest of the bed. Glued them together with 3M adhesive spray leftover from insulating the roof.











Bought a 40" wide trifold mattress on Amazon and it fills the entire bed and tailgate once unfolded. It also has different positions—can be a lounge or sofa style as well...if I only had a high-rise.







Finally, I added some shelving to organize the sleeping bag and other camping gear.

 

You, sir, have just won Tacomaworld!!!


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This is so good.... I was thinking of doing this but framing mine out with aluminum

 

Very creative! Great job on the build quality !

 

That should be a good alternative. If I were to do it over I might have chosen lighter materials. Maybe thinner plywood at least.

 

Dang!

That is awesome work!!!

Creative/ingenuitive. What a MOD for sure!!!

 

That is sweet! Never thought of something like that.

 

Funny thing is that I slept in the back but have to lower tailgate and I was thinking of how I could make it closed with my gate down.... That day I came across a Pic of this build and thought this would be perfect

 

I see your Heady Topper. I'm trying to figure out a system for ski lot camping in my short bed under a softopper. I cut a 3 piece plywood platform to sleep diagonally on but that was very coffin like. I then tried tailgate down with an insta-canopy over and tailgate down with a tarp over the end. This looks sweet. I was thinking of buying the softop tent extension for next season, but now I'll be thinking about the beer shelves I don't have.

 

this is genius

 

Looks like you improved on Brian's. I haven't watched his channel in a while (just glanced at it and I see Sierra is still alive and he doesn't look as frail as he was looking) but I recall after a couple of years living in it he was planning on doing some repairs or upgrading it (guess I ought to give him some views). He was using pool noodles as the fill between the extension and the truck at one point, not sure if he still does that. The only thing I'd be leery of with the pop up hatch like you have is water running down and dripping through the hinge- the way my luck goes I'd wake up with wet feet. On my last Tacoma, my ghetto "fix" for that issue with the camper shell window was to initially use contact cement to put a piece of rubber over the hinge (an old mt bike tube that I split open). I'd thought about using some of that stick on rubber gutter like they use on RVs but the old tube was free.

 

thanks! Yea I watched his channel a lot when I was building for ideas. I can confirm there is no leaking with the door the way it is. However the plexiglass roof hangs over the hinge which is probably why there no leaking. I’ve also added a small awning off the roof rack to block out rain/snow too.

I’ll admit though, if I did it all over I might do a normal door like Brian or a 50/50 split. it would have more functionality to hang things or add shelving. Would be easier to close too

 

Awesome Job! Very cool idea

 

Last fall I found a leer 180 mid rise cap on Craigslist and swapped it for the cab height leer 100r. The colors don’t match but totally worth it for the new head room. Then I had to adjust the roof line of the extension to match the new height of the track cap.

Added new shelving too but need to get more pics of the latest set up.

 

Great slide-out build; thanks for posting pics. I recently switched from a 1994 6ft bed to a 2022 5ft bed, and I've been mulling over ideas. My biggest question with this build is, how does it fare against skeeters?