Outdoors

"Swiss Army knife" camper squares and domesticates Tesla Cybertruck

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Color-matched Space Camper
Space Campers
Space Campers goes with a simple Cybertruck camper that simply adapts the design of the topper to the truck's unique geometry
Space Campers
The Space Camper has a high-rising roof that offers up to 8 feet of standing room
Space Campers
Coordinate or contrast your Space Camper
Space Campers
Space Camper goes after the "Swiss Army" designation with various multifunctional furnishings, including a removable upper bed that becomes an outdoor lounge and sleeping platforms that doubles as tables or desks
Space Campers
Other planned Space Camper accessories include a thermal tent liner for cold weather and a projection system (nice choice for movie night!)
Space Campers
We were at first unsure of what the hovering box over the Cybertruck was, but it's the mounted shower box before the accordion-like privacy enclosure drops over the portable toilet below; the rooftop bed removes to become a daybed
Space Campers
The Space Campers kitchen area set up and ready to cook
Space Campers
We hope Space Campers offers a fixed-roof version with this ultra-basic low-rider configuration for a much lower price than the pop-top model
Space Campers
A potential work or dining option
Space Campers
Available mobile workstation
Space Campers
Space Camper's planned modular rack design lets users add crossbars, side rails, platform modules and solar panels
Space Campers
A particularly interesting accessory, this solar setup uses three separate panels that store over top each other, with the top two deploying to the sides to triple the amount of available charging
Space Campers
Like the typical pickup shell or topper, the Space Camper leaves the bed empty and available for cargo, securing the contents
Space Campers
Color-matched Space Camper
Space Campers
View gallery - 14 images

The simplest, most straightforward Cybertruck camping solution yet, the Space Camper turns Tesla's pickup bed into a micro-home and simultaneously makes the Cybertruck look like a normal pickup ... well, almost. Not only does the fully electric camper run on Tesla's battery pack, it also taps into the onboard air compressor to pop its roof in seconds and relies on the height-adjustable suspension for easy removal. A modular ecosystem with add-ons like a kitchen, outdoor bathroom and solar-tripling rooftop charging system promise to fulfill the creator's vision of Swiss Army-knife levels of multifunctional performance.

From flimsy-looking accordion huts to over-the-top amphibious contraptions, the sharp, unconventional angles of the Cybertruck's bed have inspired some truly weird campers ... or camper renderings, at least. Space Campers simplifies things with an uncomplicated design more similar to existing products made for traditional pickups.

Space Campers starts by going the topper route, designing a wedge-shaped bed cap for a wedge-shaped truck. The Space Camper will mount to the pickup bed walls, just like other toppers, turning the pickup box floor into the camper floor. As a bonus, the level camper roof makes the Cybertruck look slightly less like a post-apocalyptic B-movie prop.

The Space Camper has a high-rising roof that offers up to 8 feet of standing room
Space Campers

To create space beyond what a fixed-roof cap can offer, Space Campers adds a wedge-style pop-up roof, much like Tesla did in quick-rendering a potential Cybercamper. Space Campers' roof rises much higher than Tesla's, though, with the intent of clearing up to 8 feet (2.4 m) of standing room when the 50 x 80-in (127 x 203-cm) roof bed is lifted out of the way. Space Campers plans to make that bed removable so it can mount atop a frame and serve as an outdoor daybed, the smaller sleeping platform panels and cushions working as other furniture, such as a mobile workstation desktop/table and cushioned bench.

The basic Space Camper design leaves the Cybertruck bed wide open, meaning that owners could use it just like a pickup shell to secure cargo stored inside the bed. They could also easily remove the camper shell by backing the open door over a stand that Space Campers plans to offer as both a product and set of DIY instructions, undoing the clamp mounts and lowering the truck's adjustable air suspension so that the camper lifts right off.

Like the typical pickup shell or topper, the Space Camper leaves the bed empty and available for cargo, securing the contents
Space Campers

Future buyers looking to build their Space Camper into a more complete mobile home will be able to select from a full lineup of modular components — or Swiss Army-style implements, if you prefer. One option sure to be popular is the kitchen block that secures neatly up against the pickup box front wall. It will include a sink with hot/cold water and storage for dishes and cookware. The initial renderings show bed platform panels doubling as side worktops for holding the portable induction cooktop and providing prep space. A standalone cooler-style fridge/freezer box finds its home on the pickup floor.

The Space Campers kitchen area set up and ready to cook
Space Campers

Outside, an available shower enclosure would deploy from a rack-mounted case and provide privacy for the hot/cold shower and portable toilet.

Space Campers intends for its camper to integrate more fully and cleanly with its base truck than the average pickup topper or camper by relying on existing Cybertruck equipment. All available electrical equipment, including the induction cooktop, fridge/freezer, water heater, interior and exterior lighting, and power outlets, will run off the truck's hefty battery pack, which Tesla aims to give a range up to 500 miles (805 km). So there will be no need for an LPG tank or separate leisure battery.

The plan for the pop-up roof, meanwhile, calls for it to operate via pneumatic struts fed by the Cybertruck's onboard air compressor. The system would work at the push of a button, raising the roof in about 30 seconds. Closing the roof would also require a mere push of a button and would take roughly two minutes. A basic strut-assisted manual opening/closing would probably be faster and simpler, but it might prove difficult to operate given how high and angled Space's roof design is.

Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, Space Campers plans to assemble its campers on the Central California Coast out of "aerospace-grade composites." It estimates base weight at 470 lb (213 kg) but is ultimately waiting on final Cybertruck specs to finalize its own design and spec sheet.

A particularly interesting accessory, this solar setup uses three separate panels that store over top each other, with the top two deploying to the sides to triple the amount of available charging
Space Campers

Space Campers starts pricing at US$24,000, and reservations are available now at various refundable deposit levels between $100 and $10,000, each with its own production priority tier and perks (or lack thereof). Accessories like the kitchen and bathroom will be specced and priced closer to launch.

The Space Camper does promise some standard features that not all toppers do, such as sidewall storage cubbies and rooftop L-track for mounting crossbars, racks and other accessories, but it's priced at quite a premium over others. Camper-related hardware prices have been rising quickly based on the current state of supply/demand, but other pickup toppers still tend to fall from under $10K to $16,000 to start. We imagine Cybertruck owners will have to deal with that kind of premium for a while ... perhaps always, since they'll be shopping products specially developed for the Cybertruck that don't play nicely with other pickups.

Source: Space Campers

View gallery - 14 images
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6 comments
Jinpa
Flat windshield and windows on the Tesla truck are going to cause some awful glare problems for other drivers. DOT should not have approved that. Musk obviously doesn't care.
Glen Hillier
The squaring off of the cyber truck with this add-on greatly improves the look of the cyber truck, IMO.
Kpar
Pressurize this and we have a MarsCar! Great for picking up chicks... this IS a "pickup" truck, right?
jerryd
They missed the chance to add 30 miles of range or more if they had just made the leading edge rounded and the top a very gentle curve. It would be stronger, lighter too.
The windshield has a slight curve in it to not blind people has been mentioned. And nearly every truck is flat yet no real problem even if flat.
ljaques
That's a big NOPE. Egad! It makes it look just like $65,000 worth of your old lady's minivan.
The Glamping will buy these for renting out their Tesla Pickups, no doubt.
MadMaxx
still one of the ugliest things to hit the road.