Feedback on a prototype camper for the Slate

[truckcamperhybrid]

OP specifically says "4 inch foam mattress", so foldable/rollable.

I'm a big fan of the tri-fold memory foam mattresses you can get in multiple sizes on Amazon.

 

[truckcamperhybrid]

A good solution for that is a hub tent that simplifies and speeds up the process..

Just want to emphasize, if you can pull of tents by all means make it happen. I know the tent vs. RV is always going to be a debate. This is just my own personal experience as a tent camper before marriage/kids. It got challenging for our family camp trips, but I have seen families pull it off. We've used the newer Coleman instant tents which are super fast as well to set up and far less expensive. The challenge is getting all the bedding set up for everyone. Then pack up usually involves all the stuff that was moved into the tent. Climate control is an issue for families. I personally can handle 80 degree humid nights in a tent with a small fan. Wife and kids not so much. Put in a 10spd maxxair fan that can either push air in or out, coupled with large side windows with screens and you will be far more comfortable than a tent. In regards to nights under 40.....and don't think you can escape those in the summer time. We were in the Colorado mountains for the 4th of July with sleet and a fire ban. Small kids can be hard to keep in sleeping bags and it's miserable once they get shoes/clothes wet from playing outside. A hard sided shell is going to be far more insulated and there are many off-grid heater options.

 

[truckcamperhybrid]

However it's made, when closed up it's got to be able to hold the mattress and whatever else is going in. I do wonder if aluminum and/or composites would get better weight and strength numbers.

aluminum, composites, fiberglass and plywood all have very similar strength to weight ratios. Plywood has a bad name because of poor building practices in the RV industry. It must be sealed correctly like a house and then it can last longer than the truck. Plywood is the cheapest of all the options and the easiest to manufacture.

 

[truckcamperhybrid]

I’ll just keep my 5th wheel

If I could have afforded a high quality fifth wheel, a reliable truck to pull it, and a place at the house to store it I'd have one as well.

 

[truckcamperhybrid]

I'm interested in a camper shell for the Slate.

While I'm impressed with your design and ingenuity, this design seems too complex & heavy. I see problems with the sliding part such as water leaks and wear. Overall it goes against the Slate ethos of reliable simplicity. But that's just me.

What other materials have you considered for the panels? Some travel trailer manufacturers will use polystyrene foam boards laminated with aluminum and/or vinyl.

I have a nose over design as well that would work for the Slate, and the slide is optional. I was just trying to brainstorm some ways to make the 5ft bed work, while staying lightweight and aerodynamic. Attached a pic of nose over on a ford maverick.

 

[truckcamperhybrid]

Personally I'd Make it as close to the slates design but I know that can be a headache I love it but what about a pop up type that could lay in the bed and extend out into that design

My design is full parametric so I could get pretty close to the slate bed cap if that's what you want. I just know from experience the extra headroom is important for camping.

 

[truckcamperhybrid]

I’ve never owned a camper, so sorry if I sound stupid, but wouldn’t an inflatable camper make more sense? Something like those jump houses. Less weight, less volume when packed, more volume when expanded, less drag, less cost, no?
Inflatables don't make sense on ICE cars, but EVs have tons of power on demand.

Don't have experience with the Flated, but it would be challenging to build out and you wouldn't have that nice roof top fan which you really need in the summer. I wonder if the Flated would count as an air bag with the roll bar...lol.

 

[AZFox]

Just want to emphasize, if you can pull of tents by all means make it happen. I know the tent vs. RV is always going to be a debate.

Horses for courses, I suppose.

The hub tent has twice the square footage, of area I think. You can use cots for sleeping and a Buddy heater for warmth. The tent is well-ventilated, and the rainfly is optional.

As with all outdoor activities (e.g. boating, backpacking, you name it..) the way to make it easier is through practice. With some repetition and refinement it gets easier.

Of course the ideal solution is to have both a camper and a hub tent.

 

[smack daddy]

If I could have afforded a high quality fifth wheel, a reliable truck to pull it, and a place at the house to store it I'd have one as well.

There is no such thing as high quality campers and my truck is 2016 it has been reliable so far wouldn’t trade it for new now if they offered even to trade me even

 

[truckcamperhybrid]

Horses for courses, I suppose.

The hub tent has twice the square footage, of area I think. You can use cots for sleeping and a Buddy heater for warmth. The tent is well-ventilated, and the rainfly is optional.

As with all outdoor activities (e.g. boating, backpacking, you name it..) the way to make it easier is through practice. With some repetition and refinement it gets easier.

Of course the ideal solution is to have both a camper and a hub tent.

I like the kit for the tent that allows you to put in the woodburning stove. I'm not sure I would do the buddy heater inside the tent, but they did have a diesel heater in the pictures. I wonder if the quality is similar to a rooftop tent. We got a couple years of use with a rooftop tent on a trailer but the zipper on the door eventually went out. I haven't tried the Fixnzip slider yet, and not sure I'd go to the trouble of taking it to a specialized gear shop.

 

[truckcamperhybrid]

I believe there are restrictions on camper shells extending onto the tailgate. Has to do with visibility of the tail lights. There are, of course, ways to get around that with kits that extend the tail light structure further back.

I see plenty of slide-in truck campers that are driven with the tailgate down and extending out. I think people remove the tailgate so they can access the spare tire underneath