Xpedition Camper out of Minnesota

[Hoefler]

We will have a completed unit at the Expo in Flagstaff. On the Lizard Skin-it is good stuff. We can tell that its working by feeling temperature on either side of the walls. One side being exposed to direct sunlight through the windows in our shop as compared to the inside wall temp. Its a big difference.
We appreciate your interest our progress.
Pete

 

[Hoefler]

Thought we would share a few progress pictures. This is taking a bit of time as we are making changes to design to make it more suitable for repeatability and production.
By the end of the week we will have the interior lined with a really neat product.
The dark framing members are a result of coating them with a ceramic heat transfer barrier.
Pete

 

[Crypto2k]

Looking good guys. Do you have a current mock up of what it's projected to look like, inside and out? We've seen a few but this is changing all the time, and getting better. Curious to see the evolution. Also, are you leaving capability for pass-through in the design?

 

[Hoefler]

We are now building the furniture based on the images shown. We have added a small pass through in front that lines up with typical sliding rear window in the cab of our truck. No cutting of cab and is intended only as an emergency exit from camper to cab in the event of bears messing around outside! Will be posting more pictures as we are gaining momentum on this build.
Pete

 

[Hoefler]

We now have our CNC up and running. Pictures show an experimental cut for back of cabinet for kitchen. We tried this on regular four ply plywood to find how well unit cuts. Second picture shows the inside of our kitchen being cut. One can see the cut outs and dados for drawers. Last pictures shows a drawer front. The material we are using is 9-ply baltic birch. Its beautiful material and lays flat on the CNC. We can produce custom layouts easily now.
The layout of our camper is suited to mix and match different sized modules for custom layouts without really being custom. With finished programs and proofed CNC programming, it does not take long to cut the pieces for, in this case our kitchen with drawers. We are producing several different modules and will be placing them in camper shell to get the right feel. What looks good on paper may not feel all that great once placed in camper shell. Modules make it easy to discover the right shape and placement of items.
Pete

 

[Crypto2k]

Drool... Just CNC your dreams to reality. Love the modular thought, the interior space is so personal to user and use case.

 

[waveslider]

Still watching your progress with great anticipation. We won't make it to the Expo this year but still can't wait to see you tackle a lifting roof to accommodate those of us that are, um, super-sized.

Keep the pictures flowing, they make for good spring fever fodder.

 

[Hoefler]

We have built a drawer. So exciting. We are building our cabinets from 9 ply Baltic Birch in 1/2" thickness. Its a very nice material to work with and lays very flat in our CNC. Its machined to perfect squareness and allows for endless customizing. Picture shows a drawer for main kitchen. The front face was machined from the front face of cabinet which results in a continuous grain that flows from the drawer to the face of kitchen. Our build is now picking up steam as we enter the fun stage.
Pete

 

[Hoefler]

Top piece is mounted up high in rear of camper. Extends the width of cabin. Lower cabinet is designed to house all the electrical. Top shelf for all solar, second for inverter and bottom for batteries. A single cover fits over the front. Holes in corner help to dissipate heat.
Close up shows the detail of plywood. We are using an extrusion to soften the corners that enhance ergonomics in areas that are subject to more close activity.
Pete

 

[wheelie]

Love it.


Can I come see the progress?

I am in MN (Excelsior)


Heath

 

[Hoefler]

How doers this Friday sound?
Pete

 

[Hoefler]

Exterior getting ready for finishing. Interior nearly lined.
Pete

 

[Hoefler]

Progress pictures. White coating is a white ceramic thermal insulation that claims to lower temps from one side to the other by as much as 30 degrees F. We have coated the interior walls, floor and inside of roof prior to insulating.
Pete

 

[IdaSHO]

Interesting.

I certainly didn't see the seamless aluminum coming.

How are you treating the seams? The nose looks to be a seamless nose-cone that us easy enough to fabricate off of the camper, but what about the rest of the pieces?


Also, did I read that right? .19" Aluminum? As in, 3/16" ?

What alloy? Depending upon the alloy that can be nearly 3# per square foot!

Certainly not going to be light.

 

[Hoefler]

There is one horizontal and one vertical seam on each side. The seams meet over the center of a flat internal frame member that secures the panel with Sika 252. Seams are tight and straight as an arrow and or completely sealed on the back side.
Planning on leaving the seam un-covered.
Our camper weighs 4,000 pounds plus wet and is intended for a minimum 3500 truck (7500 pound payload).
Pete