How to: DIY Wedge Camper

I'm starting the design piece to have a removable RTT. Honestly shouldn't be difficult since the way this thread has it built the RTT portion already bolts to the space frame. "Should" be as easy as making a bolt-on lid for the cap when RTT is removed. Unbolt RTT, lift away, replace with cap, easy peasey.

 

has anybody made the tent part out of aluminum tubing instead of the 8020? looking for a cheaper alternative to the 8020.

 

@gixxerphil

 

This guy has built exactly what it looks like you want to do. He built his own camper shell and added extra aluminum extrusion and then was able to take on/off the RTT and then replace it with a "topper" to turn it into just a bed shell. Here's his YouTube channel, videos are a little lengthy so might have to skip around a bit, but thought it might help!

https://www.youtube.com/@bobsadventuretime/videos

 

Does anyone have ideas on how I could mount an aluminum tubing tent to the steel frame as opposed to using the 8020?

 

Long shot here but is anyone selling their completed tent (just the tent material itself)? I tried my hand at it and it ended up not fitting. Before I buy new fabric and try again I figured I'd ask here. Thanks!

 

What size do you need?

 

I am about to embark on this process with a friend, we will be building two. Are there any better ways to order the long lengths of 80/20? TnutZ will ship lengths over 96" but only freight, but they say it's risky for damage. I can easily ship freight to my work, but I am in Colorado and LTL shippers are always damaging things.

 

I had 80/20 send mine to Alaska with no problems at all but I paid for a few day option for shipping just to keep the warehouse time to a minimum.
Just so you are aware 80/20 & tnutz uses different aluminum for the extrusion. 80/20 being a more structural grade & tnutz is a ornamental grade & it shows in the tensile strength.
If I could recommend something, I would not go that long just for the added weight of the materials and honestly aesthetics. Mine is 93" overall and if I do it again it'll be in the low 80s. Instead of having a open area in the back the floor will be all panels with a removable one but it's only me & the dog so I don't need to worry about waking someone up

 

What do mean. You’ll wake up the dog.

 

Dog sleeps in the downstairs I don't need a wet dog in the bed area

 

I built mine per the original plans. So 100" x 50"

 

Hi in the middle of building the space frame and can’t figure out how to cut both angles for the uprights? Anyone have tips or a way to cut both angles on the same piece?

 

What does that mean? What are you cutting with? Single bevel or compound? Set up a stop block if making a compound cut

 

I'm selling the 'cap' portion of my camper (no wedge), fits a Gen 2 long bed - will not work with an antenna as the clearance is minimal. I modified mine a bit, so this is for a 57" wide wedge (Ripcord's is 54"), and I used continuous gear hinges. It does not have the upper crossbars, as I made the bed modular with gas struts, but those would be easy to weld in. I replaced my OEM bed rail caps with KB VooDoo's but that shouldn't made any difference in fitment. You can see more pics on this post of mine.

Will come with doors, hinges, custom bed mounts, and seals, but I'm removing the southco latches, gas struts and brake light. Could use some touch-up paint in a couple areas and doors have some abrasions from 3 years of use.


$200, Denver area.

 

Like Akguy said, use a block and vise/clamp to set the second angle in a simple miter chop saw. If you have a compound miter saw this is even easier. If you have neither (like me), then you can scribe the line by hand and cut with a cutoff wheel or hacksaw.

See this image for a visual of what I am describing:


Start with a corner, measure your first angle and scribe the line. Using the end point of the first line, measure your second angle from a normal line tangent with this point. Next, measure your first angle again (opposite direction), then finally, scribe the last line to connect the start point.

 

Recently completed my DIY Camper build, thanks to inspiration from this thread, this thread, and this thread. All of you guys had great ideas.


I made a several modifications to fit our needs, including configurable bed platform panels (GFC Style), a Leer Latch for the rear door (1 single lockable latch with easy opening from the inside while locked + locks with the key fob electronically). I will probably do a more in-depth writeup and videos for anyone interested, but happy to provide advice and answer any questions to anyone that is currently in the process of building.

 

Really really nice! Just curious the distance between the sharkfin and the ACM above it

 

Thanks! My truck doesn't have the sharkfin antenna, so this wasn't an issue. There are a few inches of clearance between the roof and the camper. In one of the threads I linked, OP did shave down his sharkfin antenna for better clearance. To note, I also removed my bed caps to seal the camper/bed interface better. Adding those back would add more clearance, or simply adding height to the metal frame during the initial fab.

 

Looks really good. I'm digging the Jeep hood latches and he green canvas! haha I have the same latches on the back of mine and the green canvas as well!