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Feature: Rear Hinged Wall

A project log for DIY Truck Camper

Open source truck bed camper for the masses.

dustinDustin 08/20/2017 at 21:440 Comments

I moved again recently, so this project has been on hold. New job as well. The hours of my new job, plus the significantly shorter commute leave me with far more resources towards my truck camper project. My new neighbor is an awesome gentleman with tons of life experience and decades of building experience. He has been helping me brainstorm and sort out some of the details. It goes well. I even have access to a local makerspace or two.

New feature: Top hinged rear wall.

The rear wall of my camper is going to be hinged along the top edge to allow it to swing up, and be propped up like an awning. This will allow the creation of an outdoor room, in addition to the space inside the camper. This new back porch could have a selection of different wall panels as well. The panels would include a rear, two sides, and a panel to seal off the underside of the truck from the room. The under-truck panel could be created to form a large bag that would sit under the truck for water proof outdoor storage. A set of screen panels could create a screened in sun room. A set of waterproof, sealed tarp panels could create a darkened outdoor theater room. Window panels could be sewn into these panels as well. All panels could be neatly rolled up, and stored in a hallow compartment inside the rear wall itself. All panels would have reinforced stake points at the bottom to seal to the ground, and a zip on tarp floor could be created to seal off the rear porch room entirely from the elements. A portable shower could even be set up inside the rear room when the tarp walls are in use. The shower could even be a permanent fixture of the rear wall. A shower head, knobs, and fixed curtain could be recessed into the wall, with flexible water lines running to it through the back wall. A simple shower curtain could attach to the rear wall, in a circle to form the shower walls. This would allow you to prop open the rear wall. slide open a panel that reveals the shower head, knobs, and the folded up curtain. The curtain could be staked to the ground as well. For more privacy, the tarp walls could be put up to create a full shower room. The prop rods could have hooks mounted to them for use as coat, clothing, and towel holders. The tarp wall panels could even be elevated outwards to create 3 large awnings, creating a very large shaded hangout. This would be ideal for summer parties, and even vending events, such as automotive swap meets.

This requires all wiring to be run from the roof down into the rear wall, with slack and strain reliefs built in. The 2 prop rods will be stored inside the walls somewhere. 

Instead of a TV, I will be mounting a small, 1080p, 3D projector I own to the ceiling, on a track that runs front to back. This will allow me to mount a custom made projector screen to the rear wall of the camper, either above, or below the door, depending on whether the wall is propped open or not. The sliding track for the projector will allow it to be easily moved to account for the distance from the screen. I am considering mounting the projector, speakers, WiFi router, and Playstation3 in a long, thin, horizontal box that mounts to this ceiling track. This would let me take the entire assembly out of the camper, set it up on a table or some adjustable legs, and project onto the back side of the screen for all to see, or onto any other surface. 

For the audio system, I plan to install a home theater surround sound system for movies, and a separate car stereo system with subwoofer for party music and such. A few of these car speakers may be mounted to the rear wall to act as overhead speakers when the wall is propped up. These speakers could even be mounted to a hinged panel that drops down to allow the speakers to be pointed out at any direction desired, for things such as blasting music out at parties.

I plan on having lots of lighting in this camper. Along the inside edges of the rear wall could go small LED flood lights, angled down to light up the area outside of and around the propped up rear wall. Surrounding the door on the rear wall would LED rope lighting that would act as overhead lighting when the rear wall is propped up. 

These are all random thoughts that I feel should be possible and desirable to implement. 

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