TacomaWillow's camper build, camper done! (for now) dog bonus

Made my first mod I guess, so I get to start my build thread. I just got my 22 SR5 V6 4x4 access cab. My use case is week long camping and rock hounding trips, usually just me and my dog, sometimes pulling a pop-up camper for my son's family. I occasionally drive on very steep gravel roads, desert dirt roads and logging trails, cross creeks, etc but by I don't go offroading unless by accident. And this is also my daily driver, replacing my farm truck and my Transit Connect. So! Here's me at the dealer trading in my 2002 F250 SuperDuty. Farewell old friend, you served me well. Good riddance to no AC, power windows or cruise control.

 

That's my baby Ella, she weighs 100 pounds and is very leggy. The back of the Access cab is big enough for her to sack out and move around, but not more than that. She just sleeps on long drives though so it's fine.

I adhered 3/8" high density poly foam top and bottom (where it rests on the storage compartments) and stapled plastic-backed canvas on it. Plus legs with foam on the feet to protect the rug. Not as fancy as some, but very sturdy for the drive home. I drove 300 miles to pick up the truck so I was working out of my daughter's condo instead of my workshop. Like her mom she's still fully equipped for projects, though.

 

Awesome!

welcome!

 

Looking ahead:
Going to elevate the platform. On one side underneath will be storage (possibly a little fridge on a slide-out) will be the lithium power build (DC-DC charger, 200 AH lithium battery, 1500 watt alternator, shore power charger, and maybe later solar MPPT controller. I'll run 110 volt to the cab, one outlet at the front and one near the tailgate, and 12 volt to a switch panel at the head of the cab controlling water pump, puck lights, a Maxaire fan, and plenty of 12volt and USB outlets.

I can't build the cab platform very high though because Ella needs room to stand and sit tall. I'll also need a way to stow a ramp for her. Space is really going to be a determining factor in every decision.

My current camper is a Transit Connect, and the living area is just slightly roomier than the 6' Tacoma bed. But I really have needed more power plus 4wd. Some suggested a full size van, but nope as a daily driver and nope as a go anywhere camping vehicle. Just nope to full size vans.

 

Tomorrow I order the Leer 122 camper shell.

Addl planned mods near term:

Black raised letter for the tailgate, black badge covers for Tacoma and 4x4 and 6 cyl. May remove the SR5 emblems because who cares.

Ordered the windshield sunshade everyone recommends and the in-channel vent visors. Soon getting the electronic tailgate lock, glass smash security sensor and in-console safe (hopefully the alarm scares them off before they can get the safe open - makes it less of a smash and grab situation).

Love this community and getting ideas from everyone!

 

Awesome truck and awesome pup! It’s always nice to see a good SR5 build

Welcome!

 

Ella and I on the drive back to Ohio from picking up the truck in Virginia!

 

A couple of minor upgrades: the glove box organizer and some fake leather seat covers that I freaking *love*. Also a cover for the center console because dog claws. Running boards arrived yesterday with the wrong brackets, so that waits for next week.

 

The house electrical system I'm putting together is significant, build around a 250 amp hour lithium battery with a 200 amp BMS. The components will go in the back of the access cab, and I will run a 110 volt 12 ga line as well as 12 volt power back to the bed, to keep living and storage space to the max. There will be a remote shut off switch for the inverter back there, and the 12 volt switch panel.

Charging for now is via the alternator and a shore power charger, but my dc-dc charge controller can also handle solar if I add panels later.

So today I made room for the system by taking out the storage units and center console. I took out the back panel first but now I think I could have skipped that step. Reassembled, minus the bins and console.

 

I need to run some wires into and out of the cab, and fortunately there are plenty of access holes. This one is perfectly positioned, and I was able to open it up with a flap that closes undetectably.

The battery weighs over 70 pounds, so it will go behind the passenger seat for better weight distribution. The alternator will be on the back ledge on the drivers side so three AC outlets can be accessed by opening the suicide door. The hardwired 110 output will be covered by a wooden box wall. The other components will also be on the floor behind the driver (charge controller, shore charger, bus bars and fuses, etc). There will be a main battery shutoff switch also, mounted on the box end for easy access. The whole thing will be enclosed as little as possible to allow good circulation. In particular, there wont be anything behind the inverter exhaust fans, because I will preserve access to the jack storage.

Then across the top, Ella's platform, six inches higher than before. But she prefers to enter the truck via the drivers footwell, so no ramp will be required.

Electrical components are trickling in now! So I'm figuring out building the boxes and how to mount everything for the most tidy and efficient wire routing.

 

It is LiFePO4, and its monstrous. Over 70 pounds, and 20" long x10x10", exactly the width of one of the rear access cab footwells - thank goodnes since I didn't think to check before I bought it. It's 250 ah actually. So much overkill but the price was under $900. I figure I can run a small AC unit enough to cool the rig down on terrible days. Don't know if I will but I'll certainly have power to spare. For grins today I hooked it to the inverter and ran a high power blowdrier for a while.

I'm in the process of securing plywood bases to the floors using existing threaded holes, then I'll lay out and secure the components and then run wires last. I'll post some pics along the way. The whole system will raise up my dog platform by about 10", and I will still be able to store the jack, a bag of tools, jump starter and other miscellaneous stuff down there too. Thanks for following my progress!

 

Looking forward to see your build come alive! That’s a nice doggie you got traveling with you!

 

Congratulations on the new truck.

 

Thanks! It was such a great decision, I worried it wouldn't be a practical daily driver but I'm getting 21-22 mph and I love every minute I'm driving it. I am replacing my farm truck and my minivan/camper, and it easily fills both those needs (or it will once the camper shell arrives).

 

She's my little buddy

 

Had to build a bracket to mount the shore power plug. I used an existing bolt in the frame. Looks pretty legit there I think.

 

Gratuitous picture of Ella who likes to sit in the truck in the driveway, just like I do. I added ABS 5" aluminum running boards, Deset Does it seat risers, and pretty black overlays for my badges.

 

Ran the power and control lines from the cab to the bed, sealed bedrails with butyl tape, taped up cables to wait for the cab to be installed.

Wires are:

110 volt from inverter in cab: pos, neg, grnd (10 awg silicone cable)
12 volt pos from pos bus bar in cab: (10 awg silicone cable)
Inverter remote control cable from inverter in cab
12 volt ground from bed to ground point by rear wheel (10 awg silicone cable)

 

Inverter and bus bars positioned. Main ground bolted to the frame and wired up. I'm making cables and doing the layout as I go, to make sure everything is the right length and routes efficiently. Double 1/0 cables are not very bendy.

Once the electrical system is finished, I have brackets for the back wall and a piano hinge. Ella's bed platform will hinge down from the brackets and rest on top of the wooden vertical mounting wall. I can lift it to access the electrical s as well as the jack and the tool bin.

 

Love your thought process on this build. Especially your LiFePo battery choice. Can I ask what brand you were going with? And which brand did you choose for your DC/DC -MPPT combo. charger.