Looking for advice or tips to making your own micro cabin with a popup tent for space in the bed of a pickup truck. Looking for something surf specific, do it yourself or available for purchase. I drive a GMC sierra. Thanks. P.S. the "micro" cabin part is emphasized because I'm trying to get/design something that won't hurt the gas mileage too bad.
Don't go cheap on the air mattress. Build your floor up and store stuff in compartments below it. Make compartments otherwise everything will conglomerate in the back corner. Pack light. Get a small stove. Buy a big battery with a solar trickle charge dedicated to cabin electronics. Get an electric heater for winter and vents and fan for summer. Lock it up and look inconspicuous. Don't want to get ripped off.
windows advised? best materials for frame? pop up attachable tent systems available or whats the solution to expand space for standing and changing?
I think you have some more research ahead of you as to what's out there and what you want. If I were doing it I'd have a hard shell over my head instead if a tent. You should be sleeping or resting only in here so the bare minimum of comfort is necessary. You don't need to be vertical to get in your wetsuit. Frame up the floor with 2x4s and plywood then you can cut your compartment out at a 45 degree angle and hinge one side. Look into how sailors pack for long distance trips, there shouldn't be any wasted space.
I might want some metal or fiberglass between me and the weather. Im sure they have aluminum windows that you can buy especially for campers. If you price all the materials it might be cheaper to go to one of those camper places and have one installed. They have those used car magazines that are free at grocery stores and I always see a couple of those in there. Just a few of my ideas, I am no expert.
trevor gordon built one for a jeep renegade. Search it, its a pretty cool simple set up, steel frame, plywood panels
I have a pick up camper that fits into the back of my truck but I actually took it off and put it on a trailor and I pull it now. It is way more convenient as you can leave it in place with camp all set up and then go surf or wherever without breaking down camp. Here are some ideas though http://www.pinterest.com/sherylleeb/truck-campers/
just bought a new cap for my truck. the fiberglass cap is lighter than it ever was and offers some protection from theft and weather. also sometimes used caps easy to find if one looks in the right places.
you can get a canvas one made by a boat guy, a lot of guys are running them around me on there open bed pickups to protect there tools. I think best top makes one too.
http://www.cascadiatents.com Something along these lines is what I will be getting at some point. They're pricey, but man are they completely phvking awesome!
Seems like a pretty good reason to travel to Australia and pick one up. [video=youtube;XxvfDTaUVAo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxvfDTaUVAo[/video]
