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How to: DIY Wedge Camper

Discussion in 'Tonneau Covers, Caps and Shells' started by Ripcord, Apr 15, 2019.

  1. May 17, 2022 at 6:36 PM
    #2881
    glove3390

    glove3390 Member

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    The slow way would be to mount your doors, open them as high as you want and then measure the length between where you'd mount to frame (~6" from the bottom) and where you'd mount on door.
     
    Newlife[QUOTED] likes this.
  2. May 17, 2022 at 7:15 PM
    #2882
    HMITCHR

    HMITCHR Member

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    I used 36” struts which seem to be the most common. But I honestly think the exact length doesn’t matter all that much. With sufficiently powered struts, you can just tweak the mounting points on the top and bottom frames to get the opening size you want. Just draw some triangles!
     
  3. May 17, 2022 at 9:55 PM
    #2883
    .劉煒

    .劉煒 Well-Known Member

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    Hrm. Has anyone tried this with linear actuators?
     
  4. May 17, 2022 at 10:06 PM
    #2884
    Dubiousveracity

    Dubiousveracity Well-Known Member

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    the weight you save not doing keder rail will be minimal…less sealed means mosquitoes an no-see-ums can get in easily.
     
  5. May 18, 2022 at 8:08 AM
    #2885
    Labbi85

    Labbi85 Well-Known Member

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    Don’t think the little more ease of use is worth the cost and weight of linear actuators. An latest when putting it back together and having to tuck away the fabric it might not make to big of a difference. Also there are more things to break then
     
  6. May 22, 2022 at 8:58 AM
    #2886
    Bkm82

    Bkm82 New Member

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    Success!

    Of course there will always be tweaks until my next obsession comes along but this was a really fun buildDSC03147.jpg IMG_20220522_094855.jpg IMG_20220522_094846.jpg DSC01118 (1).jpg
     
  7. May 22, 2022 at 10:46 PM
    #2887
    nanserb

    nanserb Well-Known Member

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    Looks great @Bkm82

    Hows that fan working for you?
     
  8. May 23, 2022 at 1:16 PM
    #2888
    Bkm82

    Bkm82 New Member

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    I am still thinking about how I want to run all of the wiring so it isn't hooked up yet. So no thoughts on the fan either way yet:)
     
  9. May 30, 2022 at 6:29 AM
    #2889
    Sub_Par

    Sub_Par Well-Known Member

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    Steve
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    Just bumping this thread. I’m still making progress but it’s been slow. Hoping to get the lower portion of my tent frame mounted on the ARE shell today. Once it’s on I can measure and start working on the tent. I’m pretty lucky that my mother in law can sew, so while she’s doing the tent I can work on all the little shit like lighting and what not. Getting pretty excited to use this thing and wish I had done for spring and not summer.
     
    demo243 likes this.
  10. May 30, 2022 at 11:58 AM
    #2890
    Newlife

    Newlife Well-Known Member

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    This is essentially what I came up with but the issue im having now is my doors open perfectly. But closing they get to a certain point and slam down the rest of the way. Im wondering if I need to reposition the strut a little further out and up. I did 3” in from hinge and 3” up from bottom. 17” gas struts.
     
  11. May 30, 2022 at 4:19 PM
    #2891
    Sub_Par

    Sub_Par Well-Known Member

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    The doors on my ARE aluminum shell does the same thing. I don’t know that they could work any other way because of the downward pressure on the gas strut once you reach a certain point.
     
  12. May 30, 2022 at 4:22 PM
    #2892
    Sub_Par

    Sub_Par Well-Known Member

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    For anyone looking at the megamat but hesitating because price, check this qomotop out. I bought one because of the cheap price tag (sub 150$) and it’s actually pretty comfortable. It works the same way as the megamat minus the cost. I will state that I have never seen a megamat in person to compare, but this mattress is more comfortable than any blow up I’ve ever used.

    Double Self-Inflating Camping Mattress, 80”×52” Sleeping Pad, Ultra Comfortable Side Sleep Friendly 4 Inches Thick PU Foam, Portable Roll-Up Floor Guest Bed, TPU Material… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q6226BR
     
    M61guru and BaywatchDV like this.
  13. May 30, 2022 at 7:43 PM
    #2893
    HMITCHR

    HMITCHR Member

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    Had my first trip in the finished RTT this weekend and it was perfect! Slept amazing, I am using a 3in thick high density foam mattress I sourced from Foambymail, and find it incredibly comfy. It is also only 14lbs, for some reason Ripcord mentions foam options being ~40lbs in his write up, which is def not the case. For 1/3rd the cost of the Megamat, it is worth a look.

    I also just finished installing the EPDM rubber skirt along the perimeter as a few others have done in this thread previously. I am very happy with it and feel like it is as weatherproof as it could possibly be.

    0EEFDB2C-94D9-4F64-B6A6-D380121E9D2B.jpg
    201FF232-CE41-4303-B0A6-918C23804EA0.jpg
    FA0D1DBE-1D75-454E-BF29-276DD5AADCCA.jpg
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    32328A17-4E07-4E36-A10B-C2DD9977350D.jpg
    9FE1F209-DF9D-44F6-A50B-9A844E6B5DD6.jpg
     
    Bedawson, royfra, codyjphoto and 7 others like this.
  14. May 31, 2022 at 8:27 PM
    #2894
    glove3390

    glove3390 Member

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    Making progress over here....doors and bulbs are on so it's finally a functioning topper now.

    On the canvas front, went with 600d Ottertex like a lot of people here. As it is I'm not planning windows since we mainly trailhead camp anyway, plus I have a maxxair fan to be installed. That said, I settled on 5/16 vinyl tubing wrapped similar to what @HMITCHR did. 5/16 fits perfectly in 15-series extrusion. I'm welding the fabric rathe than sewing as well; it just didn't feel right to immediately start stitching into expensive waterproof fabric. Using one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0998VRH8F?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

    And following the method from here: https://www.diypackraft.com/proper-heat-sealing-technique/

    If you don't already sew, the learning curve is really smooth on this stuff, practice with some scrap and then just go. Managed one full perimeter in ~2 hours while watching Netflix one night.
     
    Taco Camper and M61guru like this.
  15. Jun 3, 2022 at 5:05 PM
    #2895
    tnutt

    tnutt New Member

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    Howdy, long-time reader of this post, first-time poster. I built this into a RTT last year using the info here and never got around to posting, so mega thanks to this community for this massive thread of info. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, but time to move on to something else. Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but I would love to find it a new home, so hoping someone here is interested. Mostly hoping to get back what I put into it, and I'm sure material costs have only gone up since then. I can provide more photos/pricing for those interested.
    • (Optional) Exped Mattress
    • (Optional) 2 105w solar panels attached to the wedge with 3m tape
    • Thule anti-condensation mat
    • Includes locks to keep everything inside safe
    • A zip-on awning that covers the back door zone and still allows access into the tent
    • Poles to pop out the back panel on the back for quick shade coverage (awning zips into this)
    • 3 crossbars on top for carrying things
    • Custom attachment for holding Maxtrax boards inside 2 of the crossbars
    • Amber LED’s that wire into a goal zero, but can be adapted to other 12v power options
    • Detachable shower/bathroom setup
    • Requires a way to attach a base made of 8020 for mounting, can provide standoffs for a GX470
    • Everything uses torx security bolts, have had added peace of mind with street parking in SF

    TNUT7533.jpg
    328BE89A-B988-4D7E-8AE7-0F578A3B4036.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2022
  16. Jun 5, 2022 at 6:54 AM
    #2896
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

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    So I tried this and it doesn’t work at all. Which 80/20 are you using? I think this isn’t working for me b/c you might be using smaller 80/20 than me people due to you making a RTT, not a wedge camper.
     
  17. Jun 5, 2022 at 7:57 PM
    #2897
    nanserb

    nanserb Well-Known Member

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    Where did you get the poles/rods from for the back window?
     
  18. Jun 6, 2022 at 8:52 AM
    #2898
    tnutt

    tnutt New Member

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  19. Jun 6, 2022 at 9:16 AM
    #2899
    jp_flynavy

    jp_flynavy IG: @TrailLimoOverland

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    I made the same mistake making mine lol.
     
  20. Jun 6, 2022 at 9:22 AM
    #2900
    jp_flynavy

    jp_flynavy IG: @TrailLimoOverland

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    do you h
    Do you have drawings for this? I could use new brackets for mine.
     

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