I want something comfortable that I can park at work without people thinking I'm a crazy red neck. I need something light weight to ease the stress on my 33 year old truck. Insulation is going to be a problem. The layout of all the cabinetry is going to be mind boggling. There are so many problems to face, but conquering them will give me the skills and a home I can truly be proud of.

The Shell:

The frame has to be very strong, but light weight and rigid. I am considering framing the walls like a house, then screwing corrugated metal sheeting to the frame. This should be pretty light and look half way decent. I would have to insulate the walls, then run an internal all of some sort. I am thinking about using a thin plywood. The part that will ha g over top of the cab will be my bed room. I think I will cut big arches out of plywood, then make a frame out of them, then simply bend the metal sheeting around the curve to make it look nice. I can cut and install all the window glass myself.

Electronics:

I will be running a 3000 watt or higher inverter with wiring run to code for a home. I will have a few outlets for things such as a projector and some chargers. My truck would be upgraded to a high performance alternator to handle the extra draw. I already installed an Optima battery for starting the engine. I plan on installing at least 1 Optima deep cycle battery to run my camper. All camper electronics will run off the deep cycle battery to ensure the starting battery can never be depleted.

Heating:

I will explore the idea of adding a second heater core to the camper, which would route engine coolant to it, then blow that hot air into the camper to warm it up as a drive. I will likely also install a 20 pound propane tank and small furnace if needed. The entire camper will also be insulated, with insulated cover panels for all windows. I also have a sleeping bag rated for -25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cooling:

My truck doesn't have AC and probably never will. I am going to very carefully lay out all windows and vents to ensure the best airflow at any given time. Just like my truck, the camper will have vents that draw in air while moving, so I can keep fresh air in the camper. I will be using blower fans to keep air moving as well. I can always sleep with a wet tank top on if needed.