My DIY Insulated Geometric Cybertruck Camper Shell. Seeking Honest Feedback & Suggestions Wanted!

[bswiftho]

Hey Cybertruck fam! I dove headfirst into my first-ever fiberglass/carbon/epoxy project and built my own insulated camper shell for sleeping in because nothing on the market matched the Cybertruck’s sharp geometric vibe, had real insulation, or wasn’t crazy expensive.


Mine keeps the angular theme, has a huge 33x22” RV roof window with bug screen for epic stargazing and ventilation, and is super well-insulated. I can duplicate it way cheaper. This was just my first version. Next version will be thicker, harder shell with a much smoother finish.


Be honest—what would you have done differently in the design or build? How? Fire away with questions or suggestions!


Also, if anyone knows a pro (or company) who could help turn this into a repeatable, pro-finished product, hit me up. Let’s make this a fun discussion!

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[MCraft99]

Nice work.

 

[hemiarch]

I think it’s awesome work. Super impressed. What’s the advantage over something like a urander or Cybertruckco bed cap? Weight?

 

[bswiftho]

Nice work.

Thank you!

I think it’s awesome work. Super impressed. What’s the advantage over something like a urander or Cybertruckco bed cap? Weight?

Hi hemiarch,
Thanks for the praise! I’m fairly happy with how it turned out. It sure took a lot of work and a lot of learning! As I mentioned in my initial post, I think the biggest advantages are insulation and the fact that the styling keeping with the geometric styling that the cyber truck came with. That’s also why I went with the geometric wrap that I put on it. It’s also pretty light even with that large RV window in the top. Do you have a bed cap on your truck? Are you shopping for a shell?
Brian

 

[hemiarch]

Thank you!

Hi hemiarch,
Thanks for the praise! I’m fairly happy with how it turned out. It sure took a lot of work and a lot of learning! As I mentioned in my initial post, I think the biggest advantages are insulation and the fact that the styling keeping with the geometric styling that the cyber truck came with. That’s also why I went with the geometric wrap that I put on it. It’s also pretty light even with that large RV window in the top. Do you have a bed cap on your truck? Are you shopping for a shell?
Brian

I don’t have a bed cap on cyberbandit. Currently using the cybertent as the principal camping apparatus but looking into either Cybertruckco or Urander top to be set up camper style so I can put the kids on one level and us on the other. I can’t imagine fiberglass is ideal for weight bearing in the same way.
love your design though.

 

[bswiftho]

Forgot to add these shots too

 

[RustyEdges]

Cool setup! It's interesting how so many people and companies find ways to customize this space.

 

[TyPope]

Forgot to add these shots too

Nice! Great first iteration.
Considerations for others wanting to do this - I would follow the windshield line up a couple inches (or actually, just come straight back from my light bar) to give some more headroom. At 6'3", I'd want to be able to sit up without hitting my head. That would make the lift gate a little longer and I would consider a double fold there so that it would fold up a little more than level and then unfold to make a small awning over the tailgate a bit further than yours does and it would be a bit higher. This flip out part (think sun visor type of set up) doesn't have to be insulated.

Last thing, some kind of closure for that back part - mosquito netting at the least, something rainproof would be better. It could hang around the extended lift gate. That way, you wouldn't need to close the tailgate and lift gate to keep out noxious insects.

Why not put that flange to the inside? It would increase interior volume while making the outside flush with the side of the CT rather than being a step in.

For keeping it "simple", you nailed it though. Kudos. I award you 2 Schrute Bucks.

 

[DeBergo]

Overall, I really like the height and angle of the cap. The triangle side windows need to be proportional length/width/angle though as that’s what makes it look home made vs commercial. Not knocking it, just my opinion. Great idea on the vented skylight, lots of people won’t camp in there if it feels closed in and the vented window makes it very usable. I like the mount lip, that was thinking outside the box and works well. Moire aesthetic mounting fasteners would do wonders for the look there. Maybe a full length snap on cap for both sides? Mad respect for taking this on !

 

[Eka]

Cool!

In the past I've thought of using structured insulation panels to make a small off road trailer. My plan was to lay them up using vacuum bagging on a large glass sheet. That is to get them flat. I then would use high bond strength glue plus screws to hold the panels together. When I laid up the panes, they would have all the framing in place when vacuum bag glued together.

I've been thinking of making my own CT back, but in stainless steel. I want to incorporate lots of solar. Possibly even 2 awning drawers with solar on them. I'd like to get over 3kW when fully deployed so I can charge some every day when boondock camping.

 

[Beetlebug62]

If you could incorporate the wrap with the cap, that could be cool. Okay, I asked grok and this is what it came up with.

So, I tried again:
Better, but it still made your cap too tall.

 

[Pulaski]

The angles you chose really do make this look like a better fit for the truck. Nice DIY!

 

[bswiftho]

Nice! Great first iteration.
Considerations for others wanting to do this - I would follow the windshield line up a couple inches (or actually, just come straight back from my light bar) to give some more headroom. At 6'3", I'd want to be able to sit up without hitting my head. That would make the lift gate a little longer and I would consider a double fold there so that it would fold up a little more than level and then unfold to make a small awning over the tailgate a bit further than yours does and it would be a bit higher. This flip out part (think sun visor type of set up) doesn't have to be insulated.

Last thing, some kind of closure for that back part - mosquito netting at the least, something rainproof would be better. It could hang around the extended lift gate. That way, you wouldn't need to close the tailgate and lift gate to keep out noxious insects.

Why not put that flange to the inside? It would increase interior volume while making the outside flush with the side of the CT rather than being a step in.

For keeping it "simple", you nailed it though. Kudos. I award you 2 Schrute Bucks.

Hey TyPope,
Thanks for the feedback! I thought it would be fun to put the pictures out there and let the community chop it up.
couple of things:
The height inside for my son and I actually works really well. We don’t really sit up in it, we do that inside if we’re watching a movie need more space to change close. We literally just go back there when it’s time to lay down for sleep. I wanted it to be sloped like that so that I goes with the design of the truck.
The other thing was about the back door and tailgate, we close that when we’re sleeping. It does t really require the mosquito net. It has a large screen on the top window.
You said, “Why not put that flange to the inside?” I was struggling with a method to mount it to the truck. I really don’t need more interior space and the insulation on the inside sort of complicated putting the nuts on the inside. I’ll look at that some more before I make another one. Thanks!
To be honest this shell has been fantastic and comfortable down to the mid thirties at night, is nice and dark to sleep in with good ventilation coming in from the top, even in the rain!
I really appreciate reading your feedback! Thanks!

Overall, I really like the height and angle of the cap. The triangle side windows need to be proportional length/width/angle though as that’s what makes it look home made vs commercial. Not knocking it, just my opinion. Great idea on the vented skylight, lots of people won’t camp in there if it feels closed in and the vented window makes it very usable. I like the mount lip, that was thinking outside the box and works well. Moire aesthetic mounting fasteners would do wonders for the look there. Maybe a full length snap on cap for both sides? Mad respect for taking this on !

Hi DeBergo!

Thanks for the praise and points. Something I wasn’t able to picture in my mind was you said, “triangle side windows need to be proportional length/width/angle”
Are you able to elaborate or draw something? I’d be very interested in some design ideas like what you and some others are talking about.

Thanks!

 

[bswiftho]

If you could incorporate the wrap with the cap, that could be cool. Okay, I asked grok and this is what it came up with.

So, I tried again:
Better, but it still made your cap too tall.

Hey battlebug,
Having the camper shell wrapped was my first thought too! It was my 14 year old son’s idea to leave the carbon fiber exposed once he saw how glossy it was. I’ll keep trying to sell him on the idea. I thought if I wrapped the shell the same as the truck it would make concealment of the shell windows easier too! Thanks for you feedback and the attempted Grok assist.

 

[bswiftho]

Cool!

In the past I've thought of using structured insulation panels to make a small off road trailer. My plan was to lay them up using vacuum bagging on a large glass sheet. That is to get them flat. I then would use high bond strength glue plus screws to hold the panels together. When I laid up the panes, they would have all the framing in place when vacuum bag glued together.

I've been thinking of making my own CT back, but in stainless steel. I want to incorporate lots of solar. Possibly even 2 awning drawers with solar on them. I'd like to get over 3kW when fully deployed so I can charge some every day when boondock camping.

Hey Eka,
A stainless bed cap sounds awesome. If it’s that strong then the solar panel addition becomes a nice option. I’d love to see what you come up with. Would you make the bed cap for sleeping too? If so, the insulation inside is going to be a big factor.
I’d love to see a concept drawing and definitely the finished product when you’re done. Even some “in process” pics would be cool to see!

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