Camper shell finishing?

[Bobzdar]

How big is the bed of the truck? I have a full size truck with 6.5' bed and hard plastic bedliner. I just throw a full sized air mattress on the floor of the bed and the plastic floor combined with the air in the mattress provide pretty good insulation and a very comfortable night's sleep - it's been down to about 45-50 deg at night and I didn't even need to sleep inside the sleeping bag, just unzipped as a heavy comforter. My camper shell is also lined on the inside so may make a difference in heat retention/condensation as I've had no issue with either. With a smaller truck bed that may not work as length wise it just fits at 6.5' - I think it may improve the heat insulation as it's a tight fit all the way around so doesn't let much cold from the bottom up. If you don't have a full sized truck, a twin sized mattress might work better width-wise. It's nice as I don't have to carry anything other than the air mattress, sleeping bag and a stuff-sack with my clothes (that I can use as a pillow) which take up almost no room under the back seats in the pickup (extended cab). I usually bring a separate pillow, but if space were really tight I wouldn't really need to.

Platform would be good if you needed dedicated space for carrying things that you didn't want to have to take out of the back of the truck every night. Otherwise I don't see the point, you just lose headroom.

For lighting a have an led flashlight that also can be used as a lantern if you pull the end out and it hangs from a hanger built into the top of the shell so no need to wire anything.

I should add, all I do in the back is sleep, so not much need for shelves or much lighting other than what I need to get myself into bed. If you plan to spend time in there other than sleeping I could see it.

 

[rayra]

problem with the mylar stuff - and it's also misunderstood in the 'emergency blanket' usage - is it is not much of an insulator in contact. It works best as a radiant and vapor barrier. As it is used in attics. And proper use of it as an emergency blanket is to to wrap it around you loosely. If you hold it tight to you or sit or lay on it, it does almost nothing for heat retention.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

its a 6.5' bed. not as wide as a full size though, but its 6.5' long.

 

[Pascual]

Thought I'd just share for some inspiration. This is my little surf mobile / forest road cruiser. Camper shell is a high rise with interior carpet. Gives me roughly 3 feet of headroom. A little patience on craigslist is all it takes. I'm using a weather stripping I got from summit racing called metro molded or something like that. Laid it all around where the shell sits and I have not had a single leak of water.

The sleeping platform and drawers are made up from cheap compressed wood and 2x4s I had laying around. Each drawer slide on x8 5/8 in. roller ball bearings. You can find them at harbor freight for 79 cents. You can always add more for a smoother slide. In general the whole thing is exactly the size of the truck bed, which keeps the drawers from banging around front to back while moving, and stengel brothers heavy duty leaf springs and bilstein 5100s keep it all together back there.

Anyway, everything goes in there besides the cooler and personals, my girlfriend and I sleep very comfortably (Well she does because I'm 6'1"). We lay down a wool blanket and sleeping pads/bags over it.

 

[Bobzdar]

its a 6.5' bed. not as wide as a full size though, but its 6.5' long.

How much time do you plan to spend in there? If it's just for sleeping, the lip at the edge of the cap is plenty for your wallet/phone/keys and you don't really need much light, so I would skip the extra wiring/shelving. Ditto for the platform if you don't plan to carry stuff in the bed on your trips (other than your bedding). You can get away with just a decent air mattress and bedding and sleep more comfortably than if you have a platform with a thin mattress.

I use my truck as a truck most of the time so it'd just be a bunch of stuff I'd have to install/remove. I have a dopp kit, air mattress and sleeping bag in my closet along with a waterproof hockey bag with all of my camping equipment so I can pack for a solo 3-4 day camping trip in about 5 minutes (provided I have enough clean clothes . Then I can take my time loading my cooler up at the beer store and butcher . All of that will easily fit in the back seat of the truck, so the only setup I have when I get to where I'm going is to inflate the air mattress, put the bedding down and unfold my camp chair. I can also drive around all I want with the bed setup in the back as I don't need the space for anything and don't have to go into the bed for any equipment. My truck has the suicide rear doors so access to all of my camping equipment and food/drink is easy (and lockable if necessary).

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

How much time do you plan to spend in there? If it's just for sleeping, the lip at the edge of the cap is plenty for your wallet/phone/keys and you don't really need much light, so I would skip the extra wiring/shelving. Ditto for the platform if you don't plan to carry stuff in the bed on your trips (other than your bedding). You can get away with just a decent air mattress and bedding and sleep more comfortably than if you have a platform with a thin mattress.

I use my truck as a truck most of the time so it'd just be a bunch of stuff I'd have to install/remove. I have a dopp kit, air mattress and sleeping bag in my closet along with a waterproof hockey bag with all of my camping equipment so I can pack for a solo 3-4 day camping trip in about 5 minutes (provided I have enough clean clothes . Then I can take my time loading my cooler up at the beer store and butcher . All of that will easily fit in the back seat of the truck, so the only setup I have when I get to where I'm going is to inflate the air mattress, put the bedding down and unfold my camp chair. I can also drive around all I want with the bed setup in the back as I don't need the space for anything and don't have to go into the bed for any equipment. My truck has the suicide rear doors so access to all of my camping equipment and food/drink is easy (and lockable if necessary).

Yeah, honestly, very little time will be spent sleeping or camping in it, a few nights a year perhaps. Normally i will have wife with me in which situation we will have the pop up, or be in a different vehicle.

The shelving would end up being a "down the road" type mod if necessary, but i really dont think it will be. you're right though that the lip on the shell is pretty deep. All of this is why i intend to make a sleeping pad out of the foam sections like above. will still provide ample room when on a trip, and can come out in about 30 seconds for storage in the garage or shed.

I do intend to insulate and or simply carpet the top, along with LED lights (useful for being used as a truck too) and a single power outlet or something in the back. That'll keep it simple and useful.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

Well, i have the lights wired up, switch installed. I intend to install a 12v outlet as well, right near the switch. As i was installing it, it was raining so I identified several small leaking areas which i will caulk or RTV before going any further.




I have decided not to insulate it in any formal fashion. Oh well. I don't believe using something like reflectix would really achieve what I want. I think I am just going to use some super 90 and mount some heavy fabric or even just like a fleece fabric up there to cover the wiring and the fiberglass and call it done.

 

[DodgeFan]

Easy Sleeping Platform Tacoma

http://s941.photobucket.com/albums/ad254/phlyphishers/sleeping platform/

I posted this in 2010 and its gotten better with age.

It can sleep 1 single size or 2 full size.
It self wedges itself into the bed and doesnt/ cant budge or rattle.
Comes apart and stores flat in about 3 minutes.
$100 Ikea futon mattress is so dang comfy i never want to leave.
My SO and I weigh about 250# and are both over 6' and neither of us has ever felt like it was flimsy or under built.

BTW
Gonna QD mount a HF trailer jack on each corner cuz im tired of stacking rocks!

 

[drewactual]

dang, Dodgefan- all the clever woodwork, metal fab, and imagination, and you solved the riddle using the most logical thing in the world... reminds me of the tale of the empty soap wrappers in the chinese factory as opposed to the empty candy wrappers in the (then) US owned factory- or the ruskies figuring out cosmonauts could use a pencil as opposed to NASA spending a boat load of cash to develop a pen that would work in space... go figure...

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

my main concern was not wanting to be raised off of the bed because then one cannot sit upright in the camper shell.

I know some of this is a repeat, but here's the full story that I posted over on another site.

Hi! Not really sure where else to place this, as my truck isnt going to be used heavily for camping or overlanding, more like just the occasional "on a whim" camping trip or fishing trip, etc.

I have a 2004 dakota 4x4. It's lifted about an inch and on 32's. Nothing special at all, but it's my daily (well, i daily a company vehicle, but its my "real" or "normal" vehicle). The truck is from NH originally (my dad bought it new) has had alot of rust repaired and was resprayed by my brother back in Rhode Island, then it made its way to me. It;s nothing special, but i plan to keep it as long as it holds together and lasts.

I used to run a tonneau cover but wanted something more useful. As mentioned I'd like the ability to sleep in it with SOME comfort, as well as make it useful, but not purely dedicated to camping. I needed to still maintain the same utility as a truck with a camper shell, because it'll still be used as a truck. I shall chronicle my little project below:

I picked up a camper shell for a couple hundred bucks


i plasti dipped it black so i dont look like a banana or yellow pages delivery service.



then in installed some inexpensive LED's as general utility lights not just for camping. should he helpful just for loading/unloading on regular camping trips and with plain cargo.



Now here's where things get ugly. apparently i suck at upholstery. I wanted to cover the wires and was considering some insulation for the top of the shell. In the end I decided against any actual insulation since i figure it cant be any different than sleeping in a tent and will rely on my sleeping bag for warmth. I bought a giant fleece blanket and foolishly attempted to glue it to the top.
The actual top came out okay, but then i didnt get everything straight and had to make a bunch of random seams in the back and got some wrinkles. I'm not proud.....but it'll do. I havent gone back through yet with contact cement and glued down the edges around the windows. I've got a bit of "touch up" to do, but it likely wont make much of an improvement. please dont laugh at me lol.



So, one of the big issues about sleeping in a pickup bed is the cold floor, being that air is under you. Again i dont plan on any arctic expeditions in this thing, but at least wanted SOME insulation from the sheet metal.

I picked up a 4x8 of 1 1/2" insulation sheathing, and a 4x8 of luan underlayment. I cut to fit, and glued the luan to the top of the foam so that I can move around on top of it without crushing and denting the foam. this should at least keep the bed from sucking my warmth away. I made it 3 separate panels that can be removed or stacked at the front of the bed for easy storage. Or they can just hang out in there as long as im not doing any heavy materials moving


Next, i picked up a cheap ($19) 5x7 rug at walmart to be installed either with or without the insulation panels. Cut it to fit the wheel wells and cover the floor. I went around the cut edges with a hot glue gun to prevent it from fraying. Why anybody would pay $400 for a "bed rug" kit is beyond me!



Lastly, i know this is only good for warm weather camping, I picked up a twin sized air mattress for $7 at walmart. This will work and be more comfortable than a thermarest or similar thin pad for the majority of camping that I do in the truck. If i do have to camp in the cold, I'll bring one of my thin insulated pads rather than this one which will not keep me insulated at all.


As you can see in a few of the pictures, i also wired in a 12v socket near the switch for the lights. This will run my phone charger or whatever I need back there. All the wiring for the lights and the outlet was done on a quick disconnect spade connector so i can just pop it off when necessary to remove the shell, and everything will go with the shell except 1 wire running in the bed from the 12v on my 7 pin trailer harness.

Anyway, fits well, i can sit up without hitting the top of the shell, and it should be fairly comfy!


Fiture mods may include cutting out some panels for the windows to keep it darker inside, probably just using cloth and velcro, or maybe some of the mylar bubble wrap. if it DOES get used for cold weather camping on a regular basis I may make some removable panels for the top out of the mylar bubble wrap radiant barrier to help keep the heat in.

No real plan to spend any more money on it though.

Not counting the shell itself, I spent about $125 doing all of the interior items, the insulation, the fabric, the lights, the outlet, the rug, including the cost of adhesive spray and wire and all that jazz. So, its not super pretty, but I think it'll do for my needs.