Roninjiro aluminum Nissan D40 camper

[roninjiro]

Hey guys, I have spend a few days physically building this camper but about a month or two planning. After the diesel xterra, I was due for a new project geared more for my family, so this is it. The plan was and being followed through as all metal in the structure as aluminum. The canopy will be tent like in execution similar to a Trayon camper. The cabinetry material is still up in the air, but the basic design is finished. The beds will be a full time queen size, and a fold away almost full size bed for the kids. This camper started as a thought, then a vague drawing, geometric drawing, miniature model, CAD drawing, Full size model and finally the build. This camper represents the best of all the campers I have physically looked at as well as campers I have seen on the net. Without delay... some pictures.

Target cost >$2,000

some placement mock up of already owned hardware



CAD (purple=main shell, blue=cabinets, Green=bed platforms)




This shows the fold out aux bed


Full scale model





HOW IT LOOKS NOW
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[roninjiro]

Arrive aluminum order..



Start cuts..


Piecing it all together




Fitting...

 

[roninjiro]

Starting to look like a camper...




Starting on the main bed platform/roof

 

[Valkyrie Voyages]

Interesting

Looking forward to the finished product, could do something similar with my Navara if I was mechanically inclined. Good luck

 

[4xdog]

Nice thinking. This will be fun to watch.

The clearance from the front extension to the cab looks really tight. Do you think it will stay clear during off-road or unimproved road flex?

 

[Overland Hadley]

Nice thinking. This will be fun to watch.

Yes. This is looking good.

 

[riveroceanandmountain]

Cool

Another aluminum home built! I'll be watching for good ideas... the tent will be challenging I am sure!

 

[roninjiro]

Nice thinking. This will be fun to watch.

The clearance from the front extension to the cab looks really tight. Do you think it will stay clear during off-road or unimproved road flex?

The clearance is a bit tight, but I will be trail testing it with a bit of foam tape in between to see if the camper wants to get personal with the cab. I think I may end up raising it a 1/2", but the lower I can keep the camper the better.

Cool

Another aluminum home built! I'll be watching for good ideas... the tent will be challenging I am sure!

Of everything, I think that the tent portion will be the hardest to do and everything else up to that point will be easy for my wife and I.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Of everything, I think that the tent portion will be the hardest to do and everything else up to that point will be easy for my wife and I.

How are you planning on doing the pop top with such a low profile?

 

[roninjiro]

How are you planning on doing the pop top with such a low profile?

Well the concept of my camper is similar to a Trayon camper, but utilizing the original truck bed. Keeping the ability to park in parking garages or or garage, or ease travel through thick/low brush.

I actually have a few different ideas in my head on the soft top supporting poles, but that will have to go through trial and error. The soft top fabric will of course tuck in when compacted back together. The effect will appear as if it were not a recreational camper at all when closed up. Between designs of the RTT, flippac, trayon, and xv-jp I may end up doing my own design (fabric support system) assure my profile stays on the ultra low path. As far as pictures (best way to show what will happen) they are not ready yet.

I am not sure this really answered your question, but I hope the coming pictures do.

 

[Expedition.Report]

Cool! Keep the project and pic's rolling!

 

[roninjiro]

My wife wanted to see how far out the platform would be so we threw it up there and opened it up. It was not sitting on the truck properly but you get the idea. Still have to get the lift struts, suspension cable/poles, and a whole lot more until I finish.

Oh yeah, right now it only weighs 93lbs.

 

[Roaming Robertsons]

I think what Overland Hadley was concerned about is most pop overs like the Wildernest and Flippac have more space for the mattress and folded tent. Perhaps you've got this sorted out already such as having them drop into the shell more than the brand names do. It's not immediately evident from your photos thus far where they will fit when closed. Looks like a great project though. Much beyond my ability I'm sad to say.

 

[roninjiro]

Ok, I thought that is what Hadley was talking about. The the main mattress will compress down to around 3/4" from it's normal 3' thickness. The mattress, soft top, and soft top supports will all be an extremely tight fit together. The mattress will have 2 inches dead space on all sides until the actual frame. In this 2 inch void will be the tuck area for the poles and the bulk of the canopy fabric. When the top is down I will have 1.75" (of sandwiched space) after the the actual platform is complete. If I can't get it to shut properly, I will just fold the mattress toward the back of the camper with unlimited space, strap it and close the top. The folding is worst case scenario.

The aux bed can be thrown around anywhere. This bed will also be 3" thick. These mattresses are similar to the ones used in RTTs.

 

[Mc Taco]

Cool looking project! Subsrcibing.