1st Gen Camper Shell Build

Hey there, just wanted to share my recent camper shell sleeping platform build. Nothing too crazy, but it did turn out really nice and works well.

I bought this 02 Tacoma in January from the original owner. Very clean, garage kept, all service records (Toyota Dealership), only 100k miles. A few weeks later we found a perfectly matched Snugtop Xtravision camper shell w screened sliding windows on Craigslist, so we went ahead and built a nice low sleeping platform with storage.

Frame is all 1x2 lumber and the plywood is 1/2". It's very lightweight and one person can easily remove it from the truck, as we have when we needed the space for cargo/errands. It's light but it doesn't rattle around at all because it has two modes--sleep mode, and cargo mode. In cargo mode, the middle piece flips and slides underneath which keeps everything tight.

All the way in, closest to the cab of the truck, each side has a hinged flap to access items stored underneath.



*other upgrades include four new Bilstein 4600 shocks, new General leaf springs, five new 265/75/16 Duratracs, and a new stereo/speakers.

 

nice job & truck. looks like a versatile set-up.

I always chuckle when I see 2" x 10" framing to support a sheet of plywood.

 

Same, haha. I only weigh about 160lbs and my partner weighs even less. I knew right away I didn't want to use big heavy lumber for this (like so many have). The finished product is in the perfect weight range where it stays put while driving, yet one person of average strength can easily remove it.

We bought the storage bins first, then built it around those for maximum headroom. Our camper shell is only the same height as the truck cab, so we didn't have a lot of room to work with. I wanted to be sure we weren't sleeping with the ceiling all up in our face, and it worked out very well. Not enough room to sit up, of course, but plenty of wiggle room to crawl in and out.

The only complaint I have is that I'm 6'4" and the bed is only 6'2" haha, but that's only an issue when camping in the winter when we have to close the tailgate and rear hatch for max warmth/insulation. If we lay slightly diagonal it works out well enough. Here in California our "winter" is pretty short, so usually we keep the tailgate/hatch open and drape a large mosquito net.

 

i'm waiting for some enterprising soul to market a bump-out rear hatch like the sprinter guys have for their rear panels so they can sleep crossways.

remember, folks: you heard it here first!

 

My '08 , 4x4 Base has pockets for cross members moulded into the "bed "front & rear for which I cut 2x4 to fit across. Then I added a 1x6 across the wheel wells. Utilizing 2x lumber in the pockets raised the plywood 3/4" , creating space for the 1x6 brace across the center.

The pockets were designed to facilitate a the physical size of a 4x8 panel of sheet goods on 1x lumber and the weight of several 4x8 sheets, however; for a safe secure sleeping platform for 2 people I thought We needed more support, so I utilized the 2x on the ends.

I just cut a 4x8 sheet to a 6' length and centered it between the wheel wells. It slides right out if necessary for access underneath or to acquire the full size of the truck bed for other uses.

I made a simple "T" brace to prop under the tail gate end o the plywood sheet to hold the extra weight at the center fof access to the bed.

Using only one single 4x8 sheet left gaps between the edges of the sheet and the bed rails that got covered by the 54" (4'-6"+) air mattress.

This was just a "Quick" easy solution for an impromptu camping trip, that was go be an experiment for future improvements.

We used 3 cardboard Strawberry flats from the supermarket produce for slide out drawers underneath the platform that ironically fit perfectly.

I've had this a few years now, for our infrequent use has served well for both camping, hunting and utility; so far there has been no need to improve it (yet) .

It does raise everything up 10 inches and makes access to things like portable hunting blinds more difficult, but basically we just utilize the tail gate end as much as possible. Unless I'm required to spike the brakes extremely hard, like to avoid a bear in the road; this works quite well.

 

You could do a slide out like the dude from Colorado Backcountry has. It's a neat idea since he has sliders for it (1:20 in the video). I'm still not sure how he keeps water out in a storm since it's wood and vinyl stick on "diamond plate".


I have seen a couple of canvas tent-like affairs that slide out the side windows of camper shells like some of the pop-up campers use. I don't think I saved any pictures of them though.

 

reminds me of a 'take-away' from Stewart Brand's book How Buildings Learn

basically, temporary is permanent, and permanent is temporary. much more meaningful in context, but you get the drift.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvEqfg2sIH0

 

I've seen that. good idea/ shaky execution.

 

@ s e Charles:

Thanks for the "like" ... !

I have an 20 year old raised rear portion fiberglass Cap (local terminology) originally from a [ ??? ] fitted to my taco that I acquired for $ 50 and painted with "Rustoleum" that makes entry from the tail gate easier for my old bones.

I had a very nice Leer 300 [?] Boat tail hard fiberglass tonneau cover since my truck was new, however; when hunting out of state I required more weatherproof storage and a place to stretch out when the weather got bad, as a standard cab doesn't give much room.

Again, the "plan" became to remove the cap in summer and replace it with my "lid" in summer, but because of the weight/work involved ; that's only happened a couple times.

 

Yeah I'm with you on that (I think we're both trying to be nice). It works for him though and that's all that matters. There is definitely a, shall we say, variety of various self built campers out there.

 

Does the center piece just slide in and out? I see it flipped on the bottom. Does it just rest on a 1/2 inch or so lip when in sleeping position?

 

Yes.

Been using it for 2 years now and still working great. I applied a coat of polyurethane for extra protection.

 

This exactly what I'm looking to do on my '96. Thanks for sharing!

 

Hello!

I'm new here. I have a 1998 Taco extended cab I want to do a camper conversion on.

Do you folks know of any Topper manufacturers that make aluminum caps for my truck that are taller than cab height? I just can't find any in Albuquerque, but I know they exist. I've seen them!!!

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks
Joe

 

Not trying to be mean here but did you look at the major manufacturer's websites? Yeah, most still make some version of them- look under the commercial or classic headings.

I'd search for a used one since they're ridiculously overpriced new but that may take a while. If you order a new one, price it out the way you want it- don't do like several of us and get sliding windows then decide windoors would have been better (they're really, really proud of those things $$$$).