Custom camper build question regarding doors

[AUTO360]

So, I'm knocking around the idea of doing a camper for my R-cab Tacoma. First my original intention was to do a rear door. Then, after looking some pics of other builds I like the idea of a side door much better. Good to have the back clear so that I can mount things plus have a big window without a door interfering.
Anyway, I had a thought. Why should I put the side door on the passenger side? Yes, I know all campers have them on the passenger side (or rear) but for me I I would much prefer to have it on the driver side of the camper. It would be so much easier to go from camper to truck...literally a couple steps instead of walking to the back other side. Simply seems so much more efficient in everyway.
So, I ask, is it normally placed on the passenger side for saftey in case you pull over on the side of the road? If that is the reason, then for me, that really doesn't matter. I mean, if I break down on the side of the road I still have to get in and out of the driver side of the truck. Not to mention I have a Toyota so break downs never even happen But seriously, if thats the reason then I will no doubt put the door on the drivers side. If someone can give me a good reason not then I would reconsider. Keep in mind its just me and I normally go out alone though not all the time.

 

[monkeyshowpictures]

Go for it. I think what's great about building your own stuff is that you get you want not what someone things the most people want.

 

[riveroceanandmountain]

think parked on the side of a narrow street carrying 4 bags of groceries...... would you rather set them down on the street to open the door with traffic zipping past.... or would the other side be preferable...

If you don't care.... then go for the driver's side option.....

 

[AUTO360]

Ok, the grocery thing wouldn't be enough to make me think different but it did point out that it would be kinda neat to have a small outside door on P-side where you could put groceries into or anything else. Maybe it could go right under a cabinet or something. Like a 14 in x 14in door.

 

[pods8]

Its basically the parking issue for the most part.

 

[Pest]

There's also the option of putting the door on the passenger side, then pick up a right-hand drive truck. Probably way too much trouble and expense, but it would add so much "coolness" factor.

 

[bob91yj]

I think the door on the passenger side is just a "that's the way it's always been" thing as much as anything else. What drives me crazy is RV manufacturers that put the generator on the camp side of the camper/RV. Has the moron that designed that ever gone camping?

Good luck with your build!

 

[Goober]

Whether it matters or not depends if you go to regular campsites and want to back into or pull straight in. Utilities are always on the same side which would be the drivers side if you back in. I would consider changing the popup making it longer and put the hinge at the front. If your latches ever come undone while driving down the highway you could lose the top, other way around it would be no big deal. I know coming up with a seal for the hinge could be challenging. There's a guy selling plans for a popup on ebay, I bought a set of these but decided there wasn't enough construction detail, but he's got some interesting ideas on his popup and fold out designs. His camper ended up being around 800lbs and from photos on the disc he sent me it looks like he ended up mounting it on a utility trailer.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLANS-to-bu...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cd0225d48&vxp=mtr

 

[AUTO360]

Goober, very valid point about having it open the other way. But you hit the nail on the head. Harder to design it that way. Yes, it can be done I'm sure but the idea is to keep it simple. I will say this though...my jobs have entailed lots ofscenerios that require me to mae sure everything is correct before leaving (truck driver) on a trip. I have made checklist and follow them to a "T". So, in that regard my chances of it opening going down the road are not high. Yes, anything can happen but I am willing to take that risk. But, building myself involves other risks....even as mundane as monetary. But, I'm still in design phase now so I'm always open for options. Functional simplicity with good looks is my goal. Oh, not a campsite guy so utilities won't matter.
Pretty soon I want to do a small scale mock up of basic building materials.

 

[westyss]

Having the door on the passenger side is the way to go, for the sake of a few step around the truck it is not worth having it on the drivers side, scenario: flat tire on a busy two lane road, you pull over as far as you can but the truck is just off the road, now where are the tools, oh yeah inside the camper,,....... ever played frogger? Open door to camper, wait for the semi to pass......................whoooosh!!!!!!!!!!! after the dust settles open the door and get in and close the door right away or it will be a hood ornament........get some tools and a snack and wait for you time to get out...............whoosh................whoosh (dramatics here!) Ok a smart car passing.... whish... open door... jump out with tools. drop a few, ..... chase the socket across the road and hurry up around the safe side of the camper. phew......spend a few moments wishing the door was on the passenger side and change out the tire.


On a side note, in the 80's I saw an older VW westfalia that had the pop up part up driving down the freeway with the top flittering about, it was the older era where the top opened up like your drawing but didnt seem to slow the guy down Lol!

 

[AUTO360]

Westyss,
My truck doesn't get flat tires on driver side.....the VIN# for my truck means its exempt from driver side tires. Haha...Ok...yeah, I hear what your saying but tools will be in side boxes....not in the camper. I do understand about the traffic thing but in reality my time on the side of the road is, going by my past experience, is very limited. If broken down on the side of the road I just don't see myself going in and out of the camper that much.
Now, if I had kids there would be no question. Never would I risk that. Even if the chance was .001% of something happening... if I had kids it wouldn't be worth it. (I'm 99.99% I won't have any though
I think with the responses, I believe I will go driver side door. Since its just me 99% of the time and its not something I would use at camp grounds with very exceptions then it just makes more sense to me.
Actually, the more I think of the benefits, for my style of use, the driver side door makes total sense.
I do appreciate all the responses though and everyone was very polite.
Thanks!!

 

[AUTO360]

Oh, regarding the pop up part opening. I've had so many things like that happen to me in the past when I was a young trucker I am fanatic now about notes and checklists. Seriously, I have stories of my younger days where I did some really dumb stuff and was lucky nothing really bad happened. Oh the stories I could I tell.....
I'm 39 now...started driving 18 wheelers when I was 21 but I have things under control now...well, most things.LOL

 

[sarconcepts]

One more thing to consider about door placement, & why I chose the passenger side, (not only for the sidewalk or traffic aspects)
you can see fine all along the driver's side with just your eyeballs & the rear view mirror, but to be able to look back through the camper window & see if a car is along side your passenger side is handy for right hand turns or lane changes, (sometimes the passenger side mirror has blind spots)
I used this technique allot with my four wheel camper
if the window is on the passenger side, that usually means the couch wants to be below it,
making the opposite wall (drivers side) better suited for all the cabinet/appliances. (a wall you don't need holes in to see what's around you)

If convenience is really an issue, (& there's something to be said for that.. .. trust me)! put it on the driver's side up front right behind the drivers door, opening facing the drivers door, your roof is highest there, the bottom of the door doesn't mess with your departure angle at all, you can get out of the truck & go right in to the camper, plus locate your propane tank/valve right next to it, say, the tank under the driver's side couch, because you will flip that every time you stop to change your fridge from 12 volt to gas (if you plan on having a 3 way fridge)

With that said, it's your build, do whatever excites you enough to see it through to the end.

 

[AUTO360]

Sarconcept,

Hmm, very interested in the idea of having the door forward right behind cab instead of back. The way it is the departure angle isn't really affected but I will for sure investigate a forward door. My "fridge" is an ARB cooler. Right now its doing duty in my Van.
I was thinking of putting propane tank under the flat bed part but I haven't got that far yet with the design. I do plan on having several windows. I want as big as possible on both sides and the back so that way even when I'm inside I can easily still see outside.
Speaking of 4wheel campers....my friend just bought the Grandby for his 07' Tundra. I love the 4wc's but there is a somewhat annoying problem with it and my buddy complained about it. So, the large side window on the passenger side is too low. I mean, by design it looks like that is how it has to be because of where the awning is and probaley without the awning it needs to be where it is. Anyway, when sitting at the table you really can't see out. You can pretty much only see the ground. So, if your inside it feels a bit, well, isolated? So when your sitting there having lunch of updating your journal or whatever...to see out you have to bend over to look out. So, with that in mind, when I build mine I'm going to do my best to make it very airy inside. Don't take this as slamming the 4wc. Its awesome in virtually every aspect.

 

[hawks533]

The window was put in that location for you to see when your backing up . They where originally used on Chevy blazers or international scout , so you didn't have to put tow mirrors on your vehicle .