New camper by Phoenix Popup Campers

[JohnB007]

Have you guys heard of these guys before? Phoenix is building a camper for Cybertruck:

https://phoenixpopup.com/electrifying-adventures-phoenix-pop-up-campers-latest-ev-camper-builds/

Apparently, the first one is going out this Friday.

What do you guys think? I have zero experience in RVs, but desperately looking for a solution that is based on EV but without towing.

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[RoboTaxi]

Phoenix campers have been in business for awhile. They make nice slide in pop up campers. Will be cool to see there finished product.

 

[JohnB007]

They did mention that the first version will be heated using propane, which is probably the same as what they used for ICE trucks.

Really looking forward to see what they come up with, especially given that they do some customization.

 

[arodriguezfeo]

Really cool!

 

[Langestreet]

Do you have any idea of the price range?

 

[JohnB007]

Do you have any idea of the price range?

Their high end models for ICEs go US$40k+, so not cheap but well equipped. Their low end ones are far cheaper though, as per their website.

You can try building them on their website. Nothing available for Cybertruck yet though, and floorplan appears to be different.

 

[HaulingAss]

Don't be fooled into an impractical 'solution'. The only way to put a functional camper on a 6 foot bed is to make it so wide that it ruins the aerodynamics and hangs off the end so far you need to remove the tailgate. Even then it would questionable for camping unless you and your partner are both 4-foot 10 and 95 lbs.

In 1989 I bought a 1972 VW Transporter that had a camper conversion built into it for the American market. When you opened the sliding door there was a built-in cabinet containing a small sink (with its own pump faucet and 3 1/2 gallons of water storage) and an ice box 'refrigerator' below (resembling a dorm fridge). On the driver's side wall there was a flip up 'dining table' with a rear facing seat behind the driver's seat. The rear bench seat folded out into a double bed (you had to stow the table first).

I didn't buy the VW Transporter because it had a camper, I bought it inspite of the camper. Because it was in good mechanical condition and very low priced. And it didn't have the heavy Westfalia roof-top thingy on it, just the regular thin steel roof with good aerodynamics. I ripped out the dumb cabinet blocking the sliding door (behind the passenger seat) and just used a chest cooler on the floor and some water jugs. Much better for real camping. The people who design these things have probably never actually camped in their life.

 

[JohnB007]

Don't be fooled into an impractical 'solution'. The only way to put a functional camper on a 6 foot bed is to make it so wide that it ruins the aerodynamics and hangs off the end so far you need to remove the tailgate. Even then it would questionable for camping unless you and your partner are both 4-foot 10 and 95 lbs.

In 1989 I bought a 1972 VW Transporter that had a camper conversion built into it for the American market. When you opened the sliding door there was a built-in cabinet containing a small sink (with its own pump faucet and 3 1/2 gallons of water storage) and an ice box 'refrigerator' below (resembling a dorm fridge). On the driver's side wall there was a flip up 'dining table' with a rear facing seat behind the driver's seat. The rear bench seat folded out into a double bed (you had to stow the table first).

I didn't buy the VW Transporter because it had a camper, I bought it inspite of the camper. Because it was in good mechanical condition and very low priced. And it didn't have the heavy Westfalia roof-top thingy on it, just the regular thin steel roof with good aerodynamics. I ripped out the dumb cabinet blocking the sliding door (behind the passenger seat) and just used a chest cooler on the floor and some water jugs. Much better for real camping. The people who design these things have probably never actually camped in their life.

That could be the case.

I'm semi-serious with this, because I also saw another article that tested range on F150 Lightening using a similar pop-up camper design, and the range drop was only 10% despite the design that sticks out horizontally.

We'll see....

 

[HaulingAss]

That could be the case.

I'm semi-serious with this, because I also saw another article that tested range on F150 Lightening using a similar pop-up camper design, and the range drop was only 10% despite the design that sticks out horizontally.

We'll see....

If travelling at 70 mph, I guarantee the range drop will be more than 10%. What a lot of people don't understand is it's not just the range drop and the extra expense of more charging. A 15% range drop equates to something like 20-25% more charging time, because a shorter range requires charging higher into the charge curve where the power is reduced.

When I hit the open road, I want to be sleek and as aero as possible, because that's when it really matters. If you camp an hour away from home, it's not as big of a deal.

 

[JohnB007]

That makes sense for most people.

In our case, we are looking for a setup that allows us to travel far down south and west, once we retire which is coming up soon.

We have been traveling/camping quite a bit in our model y, and often charging time has been almost too fast, as that barely give us enough time to go for a break.

I cannot drive without taking a break of some sort every 1.5 to 2 hours now, so for now, charging time, although not convenient, is not very high up on our priority list.

Also, if you compare solutions like this vs towing, it is still far more economical and more convenient.

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