go99s
Active member
- First Name
- Go99s
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2021
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 25
- Reaction score
- 42
- Location
- UK / Thailand
- Vehicles
- Cybertruck
- Thread starter
- #1
My Primary objectives for a CT Camper:
- Does not require towing
- Fits entirely inside the vault when travelling for ‘stealth’
- Breathable canvas camping experience
- Affordable cost for what it is
- Quality materials despite low cost - e.g. Tencate CampShield canvas, Stainless Steel poles...
- Robust and simple, like CT itself
- Design style compatible with CT, especially triangles
- Quick and easy to deploy - and re-pack
- Easy to remove in its entirety and store when not required
- Protection from elements/ shelter, some storage, 2 person sleeping
- Some optional accessories - e.g. Awning, Induction cooker, Mattress, Weather cover...
My observation of the existing CT camper options are that each one has features or foibles that would prevent me from wanting them for some reason or other. Whether it be cost, complexity, aero-drag, size, ventilation, even spoiling the CT aesthetic (I really do like how CT looks) and more. I want to picture myself and companion touring a country in a CT, not a Winnebago - although I do like the PolyDrop trailer! This has led me to spend quite a significant amount of time and effort to develop my own ideal of a CT camper over the last few months as I believe that there is room for multiple CT based camping solutions.
My vision for a CT camper tries to follow the objectives that I set myself above and, as its starting point, uses the concept of a fold-out hard-standing floor that lies on the ground once deployed with the tent concertina-ing out from the vault behind it and then extending the internal poles to make the resulting structure taut. (The attached image should give you an idea.) I also have an idea for a secondary usage mode which I will flesh-out if there is enough interest?
Packing-up is simply this process in reverse - shorten the poles, lift the floor onto the tailgate, neatly fold in the tent fabric and finally fold the floor over the top. Fitting into the Vault so that the tonneau cover can be closed over the top and the tailgate raised & locked. A set of storage/ steps, a table-top w/ induction hob unit and a double mattress (not shown) would be the ‘standard’ camper package which I think can be made for a reasonable price. If you already enjoy camping, you probably already have much of the other stuff you might want.
Areas that require more attention include, but are not limited to: sleeping 4, carrying water/ food/ clothing, toilet, fridge, washing, bringing toys such as surf boards, etc.. (A solution for a pair of bicycles is under development!) The removal of the rear bench seat, if it is possible, may address some of these but adversely impacts others and a midgate/ pass-through would also change priorities but these are both unknown for the time being. Also, the storage area under the vault bed really suits a combination fresh/grey water bladder where, as the fresh side empties, the other fills - once the volumes/ dimensions can be identified - and is another focus of my attention.
However, my wife and I toured around New Zealand for 3+ months in an impossibly small, late ‘80’s Bedford Rascal van we nicknamed ‘Flims’ and had a whale-of-a-time. The CT is a vastly better starting point and not being loaded down bringing everything should enable more, not less. Sadly, my idea of ‘everything including the kitchen sink’... is to bring a plastic bowl, so I might need your help here!
For a Crowd-Sourced camper design, I think this addresses most basic needs and leaves plenty of scope for personal customization. At this point, the design is sufficiently fluid for others to suggest improvements and changes. Ideally such that enough people are then sufficiently interested to help me fund the creation of a couple of prototypes and help me make this a real product. The prototypes could then be raffled off as a thank you!
If you are interested, drop me an email to [email protected] - if CTOC allows - and if enough people come forward, I will set up a payment process to fund the prototypes.
I’m not so proud that I think that this is perfect, however, I would be grateful if your criticism could remain courteous please.
Kind regards, Go99s.
(Models of Cybertruck and Manekins courtesy of GrabCAD.)
Sponsored
Last edited: