pdxmotorhead
Active Member
- First Name
- Dave
- Joined
- May 24, 2026
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 39
- Reaction score
- 47
- Location
- Portland OR
- Vehicles
- Tesla Y, Chevy Bolt, 1994 Jeep WranglerV8 swapped) , 2003 911/C4 cabriolet.
Would love some feedback on a hard sided camper design I created for the Slate truck. In the spirit of keeping prices low, I’m using all CNC cut engineered plywood that weighs around 250lbs for the outer shell and slide out. I highly recommend sealing the shell system with an ⅛ in coating of Line-X to keep the water out. It also adds ding protection, insulation, and strength to the shell system. This adds about 50-60lbs bringing total empty weight to just over 300lbs. I do have a nose over the cab model that you can see on my website, but I was trying to keep this design as aerodynamic as possible while still offering more space than a fiberglass cap. One of the pictures shows how you could place a 4 inch thick queen mattress (60 by 80 in) on top of the bed rail. There are several other interior build ideas I have that can work with the slide. There are a lot of options for windows, and I’m showing cut outs for the ones I like which are 30 by 20 in exit windows that can be left open in the rain. A cut out for a roof top fan and a very large hatch door over the tailgate. You could do an annex room like the rooftop tents under the large hatch door to have a nice covered stand up space for cooking.
I would use Foam core FRP sheets, similar weight to plywood, water proof no rot issues, use extruded aluminum for the frame, All the materials are compatible with a table saw and a chop saw. They even make FRP joiner bits that would be the exterior corner joints. It could all glue together no fasters to offer leak opportunities.. Waterproof joints.Would love some feedback on a hard sided camper design I created for the Slate truck. In the spirit of keeping prices low, I’m using all CNC cut engineered plywood that weighs around 250lbs for the outer shell and slide out. I highly recommend sealing the shell system with an ⅛ in coating of Line-X to keep the water out. It also adds ding protection, insulation, and strength to the shell system. This adds about 50-60lbs bringing total empty weight to just over 300lbs. I do have a nose over the cab model that you can see on my website, but I was trying to keep this design as aerodynamic as possible while still offering more space than a fiberglass cap. One of the pictures shows how you could place a 4 inch thick queen mattress (60 by 80 in) on top of the bed rail. There are several other interior build ideas I have that can work with the slide. There are a lot of options for windows, and I’m showing cut outs for the ones I like which are 30 by 20 in exit windows that can be left open in the rain. A cut out for a roof top fan and a very large hatch door over the tailgate. You could do an annex room like the rooftop tents under the large hatch door to have a nice covered stand up space for cooking.
Cheers the design is cool..
