My Cybertruck camper design

[ThatOneOverlander]

Hey everyone

My use case is a bit different from most people as I plan to live full time in my Cybertruck, which is what I currently do with my Jeep Wrangler 4xe. I spend 6 months stealth camping in NYC and the other 6 months I go to warmer places like LA, Florida, Utah, Mexico and so on. So my vehicle needs to be both practical for long term overlanding and stealth enough to park in city streets and parking lots overnight. My jeep works perfectly and I suspect the Cybertruck will be even better. Here's the design I'm planning to build once I get the correct dimensions of the Cybertruck. I already have most of the gear in my jeep so I'd just swap everything over once I get the camper built. I'm debating the pop-top feature as I like the safety, privacy and cleanliness of having my vehicle fully sealed off from the outside world, currently the only time I wish for standing height is when I have to take a shower in my jeep, If I do build the camper with the pop-top, I'd probably only open it when taking showers so I can stand straight.

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[SolarWizard]

What do you intend to build the frame and shell out of?
Were it me id look for ways to make the leading edge the lowest drag possibly and consider hinging it so that can build in a better angle on the panels and add an additional bifacial panel that slides out in front of the windshield so when you put up your sunshade you get even more heat rejection and solar energy.

What battery system do you intend to run?

 

[ÆCIII]

While I'm uncertain of your power yields, I like the basic slide out concept because it gives additional shade or awning when parked at your site. But I don't think you need to merge the rear passenger compartment with the camper overhead; just make that a sleep area and leave the rear roof glass in. How many hours of sunlight per day, what size battery pack, and what campsite power consumption numbers were you using to calculate a 50 miles of added range per day?

 

[ThatOneOverlander]

What do you intend to build the frame and shell out of?
Were it me id look for ways to make the leading edge the lowest drag possibly and consider hinging it so that can build in a better angle on the panels and add an additional bifacial panel that slides out in front of the windshield so when you put up your sunshade you get even more heat rejection and solar energy.

What battery system do you intend to run?

I'm planning to build the shell out of welded aluminum and the solar slide mechanism out of 80/20

I could easily change the design so the camper shell lines up flush with the top cybertruck ridge. The reason I put it a bit higher is because I wanted a spot to mount a light bar on top (that's what that little bit of orange is supposed to be). My original design had a front slide also so that's always an option to re-add.

Currently on my jeep I use a 5.2kw Tesla model S battery module with ~1000 watts of solar and a 3000 watt inverter to charge the jeep battery. This setup is very inefficient because it goes from DC->AC then back to AC->DC again to charge the jeep battery. It still works great and I basically have unlimited Climate Controls and enough electric to run everything I own at all times without ever having to plug my car in to an outlet.

For the Cybertruck Elon mentioned that it would have a solar charge feature which would mean all the functionality for DC->DC is already in place so I'm hoping to tap directly into that. If that's not the case then I'd just use my current setup as a workaround.

 

[Gurule92]

Oh.

this is a thought provoking conversations starter..

I think we should all take a step back and consider the angle at which..

You should really..

 

[ThatOneOverlander]

While I'm uncertain of your power yields, I like the basic slide out concept because it gives additional shade or awning when parked at your site. But I don't think you need to merge the rear passenger compartment with the camper overhead; just make that a sleep area and leave the rear roof glass in. How many hours of sunlight per day, what size battery pack, and what campsite power consumption numbers were you using to calculate a 50 miles of added range per day?

For my needs it has to be stealth enough to sleep in cities without being noticed so I need to be able to access the camper without ever leaving my vehicle, so a passthrough is a must. Also the passthrough allows use of the vehicles stock climate and hepa air filtering to the camper so I'll have a sealed ecosystem of cleanliness from the outside world. When overlanding glass breaks all the time so removing / replacing glass is a normal occurrence so I know it can be easily and cheaply replaced if I decided to go back stock to sell the vehicle or something.


I plan to chase warm weather so I'll always have 8-10 hours of sun daily for solar outside of the rare rainy days. Based on my math with this much solar I should be able to put around 20 kWh into the cybertruck battery per day. That's what the 50 miles of range is based on. Elon mentioned that the cybertruck will have a solar charging option so hoping to tap into that to charge the vehicle battery directly from solar. My campsite power consumption is minimal, currently with my jeep my battery stays at 100% even when fully using all my systems while boondocked for days/weeks at a time. I suspect the Cybertruck will be better than the Jeep.

 

[ÆCIII]

For my needs it has to be stealth enough to sleep in cities without being noticed so I need to be able to access the camper without ever leaving my vehicle, so a passthrough is a must. Also the passthrough allows use of the vehicles stock climate and hepa air filtering to the camper so I'll have a sealed ecosystem of cleanliness from the outside world. When overloading glass breaks all the time so removing / replacing glass is a normal occurrence so I know it can be easily and cheaply replaced if I decided to go back stock to sell the vehicle or something.

I plan to chase warm weather so I'll always have 8-10 hours of sun daily for solar outside of the rare rainy days. Based on my math with this much solar I should be able to put around 20 kWh into the cybertruck battery per day. That's what the 50 miles of range is based on. Elon mentioned that the cybertruck will have a solar charging option so hoping to tap into that to charge the vehicle battery directly from solar. My campsite power consumption is minimal, currently with my jeep my battery stays at 100% even when fully using all my systems while boondocked for days/weeks at a time. I suspect the Cybertruck will be better than the Jeep.

I understand your rationale for pass through (and being able to use the Cybertruck's hepa filter and climate control).

But your point about glass breakage is likely not applicable due to the attachment points being in the frame structure on the edge areas and the glass at those locations isn't providing the primary support. Also the glass used in the Cybertruck is supposedly going to be an extremely strong materal (possibly Alon) or a tough "Armour Glass", so it likely won't break easily. But it also may not be easily removable and cheaply replaceable either.

Your calculations of 20 kWh solar providing 50 miles of range equates to around 400 wh/mi (watt hours per mile), which seems reasonable to me for a dual motor, but the tri-motor or quad-motor may consume a little more energy, considering the Cybertruck's weight and then the weight of your camper added on top of it. Your camper with all it's panels, slide mechanisms, structure, and amenities could likely add an additional 1000 lbs.

- ÆCIII

 

[ThatOneOverlander]

Oh.

this is a thought provoking conversations starter..

I think we should all take a step back and consider the angle at which..

You should really..

My plan with this build is for it to basically be self sustaining, meaning that I can drive hundreds of miles outside of civilization and park next to a river or lake and live there indefinitely if I wanted to. With my high end water filtration system I'll be able to use the river water for all my needs and for food I can fish/farm. If things ever get bad I can drive out to areas where very few people can reach because of fuel/power grid/4x4 capability and other such limitations. With the solar power and electric vehicle I'll never have to worry about range and I'll basically be driving for free. I also have starlink so I'll have access to internet everywhere. I have a similar setup now in my jeep so I can technically do the same thing now but the jeep only has 30 miles of electric range and much less solar so it's not great for getting far out of civilization.

I'll never actually do something like that, but it's nice to know that I have the option if there's ever another serious global event...like covid or war. For now my main use will be stealth camping in large cities and the occasional overland trip.

 

[Crissa]

Staying aimed at the sun for ten hours is difficult, though.

But I'd love to see you do it! ^-^

-Crissa

 

[Space monkey]

For my needs it has to be stealth enough to sleep in cities without being noticed so I need to be able to access the camper without ever leaving my vehicle, so a passthrough is a must. Also the passthrough allows use of the vehicles stock climate and hepa air filtering to the camper so I'll have a sealed ecosystem of cleanliness from the outside world. When overlanding glass breaks all the time so removing / replacing glass is a normal occurrence so I know it can be easily and cheaply replaced if I decided to go back stock to sell the vehicle or something.


I plan to chase warm weather so I'll always have 8-10 hours of sun daily for solar outside of the rare rainy days. Based on my math with this much solar I should be able to put around 20 kWh into the cybertruck battery per day. That's what the 50 miles of range is based on. Elon mentioned that the cybertruck will have a solar charging option so hoping to tap into that to charge the vehicle battery directly from solar. My campsite power consumption is minimal, currently with my jeep my battery stays at 100% even when fully using all my systems while boondocked for days/weeks at a time. I suspect the Cybertruck will be better than the Jeep.

From many of the more recent photos, it looks like instead of roof glass there’s a solar panel. I wonder if that’s the solar option that has been mentioned. I like your concept and have long planned to do something similar, but I’m leaning away from that if there’s an option for an indigenous solar roof.
Instead I’m thinking about making a foamy camper that’s skinned in aluminum. It would extend all the way to the end of the tailgate, but only as high as the roof top, not adding to the aero cross section. With full continuous foam insulation, efficient and modest windows and an energy recovery ventilator with integrated evaporative cooler, the camper would require way less energy to heat or cool.
The drawback would be only kneeling headroom, kinda like a teardrop, but with a fold out couch/bed.

 

[TheLastStarfighter]

Your life sounds fascinating.

 

[CyberGus]

Hey everyone

My use case is a bit different from most people as I plan to live full time in my Cybertruck, which is what I currently do with my Jeep Wrangler 4xe. I spend 6 months stealth camping in NYC and the other 6 months I go to warmer places like LA, Florida, Utah, Mexico and so on. So my vehicle needs to be both practical for long term overlanding and stealth enough to park in city streets and parking lots overnight. My jeep works perfectly and I suspect the Cybertruck will be even better. Here's the design I'm planning to build once I get the correct dimensions of the Cybertruck. I already have most of the gear in my jeep so I'd just swap everything over once I get the camper built. I'm debating the pop-top feature as I like the safety, privacy and cleanliness of having my vehicle fully sealed off from the outside world, currently the only time I wish for standing height is when I have to take a shower in my jeep, If I do build the camper with the pop-top, I'd probably only open it when taking showers so I can stand straight.

Your design looks like a Cyberlandr.

https://cyberlandr.com/

 

[JBee]

Your design looks like a Cyberlandr.

https://cyberlandr.com/

Not at all. Cyberlander is only using the bed length, whereas Space Camper and the OP design uses the full rear roof length. Which is much simpler and less troublesome to seal. Cyberlander also essentially uses the whole bed storage area, whereas the others don't, and still allow you to use the bed.

 

[ThatOneOverlander]

Your design looks like a Cyberlandr.

https://cyberlandr.com/

Nah My design is nothing like that.

1. My build is designed to be a fully functional camper with all the amenities of a house while the top is closed, opening it is just a bonus for full standing height.
2. My build is designed around having the option to be stealth in cities/towns.
3. I have a ton of solar integrated into my build so the vehicle can be self sufficient
4. Most importantly, I design everything around the idea of having a pass through between the vehicle and camper for climate control, air filtering and stealth.

The design you posted is very different from mine and would never fit my needs.

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