Truck Bed Tiny Home

The goal of this design was to create a truck bed camper that would maximize interior space while maintaining a compact footprint. This camper is specifically tailored to fit the beds of 1/2-ton short-bed trucks (less than 6 feet long), such as the Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Titan, with the tailgate closed. It may also fit smaller trucks with the tailgate down. Due to limited space, this camper does not include a toilet or shower, focusing instead on essential comfort and functionality.

This guide outlines the design constraints, construction methods, and features that make this camper practical, lightweight, and versatile.

Fusion 360

To ensure the design aligns with the goals, it’s important to work within the following constraints:

1. Rank Your Priorities
2. Decide which features are essential for your camper and prioritize them in the design phase. For example, I prioritized sleeping capacity, insulation, and compactness for this build.
3. Choose a Construction Method
4. Although construction details are not critical in the design phase, having a clear method in mind can influence design decisions.

When designing a small camper, it’s important to prioritize what features are most important. For this project, the goals were as follows:

1. Comfortably Sleep 3-4 People
2. Good Insulation for Winter Camping
3. Fits in Small Short-Bed Trucks
4. Low Profile for Durability
5. While a pop-up roof was initially considered, a solid shell was chosen for increased durability and easier construction.
6. Standing Room Inside
7. Functional Kitchenette
8. Passthrough Window
9. External Accessibility

For this camper, I plan to use foam insulation with fiberglass reinforcement—a popular choice for small campers like teardrops.

1. Why Foam and Fiberglass?
2. Lightweight: Essential for small trucks to maintain fuel efficiency and handling.
3. Strong: Fiberglass reinforces the foam, creating a durable shell.
4. Insulating: Excellent thermal properties keep the interior comfortable in various climates.

Here is an example of foam camper construction by josborne1: https://www.instructables.com/Foamie-Teardrop-Camper/

Using the constraints and goals, the design incorporates the following elements:

1. Efficient Shell Layout
2. The camper includes a slight overhang at the back, adding extra interior space and allowing one additional person to sleep comfortably (ideal for those under 6 feet tall).
3. Compact Entryway
4. A shorter door was retained from the original pop-top design. It provides additional counter space and creates an open feel inside the camper.
5. Large Windows
6. Big windows make the small space feel larger and provide natural light, enhancing the overall comfort of the interior.
7. Interior Layout Highlights
8. Bed: Folds away to free up space during the day.
9. Raised Floor: Central raised floor adds seating comfort and creates extra storage space.
10. Sink Cover: Allows the sink to double as counter space when not in use.
11. Dining Table: Converts to a bed support in the dining area for added functionality.
12. External Compartment
13. Provides easy access to additional storage from the outside.
14. Flexible Layout
15. The interior layout is designed to adapt based on the availability of windows, doors, and other components during construction.

The camper was modeled and rendered in Fusion 360.

1. Windows and Doors: All dimensions are approximate, based on commonly available parts.
2. Rendering Details: Renderings were done to at least 200 iterations. This was my first time using Fusion 360 for rendering purposes, and I was pleased with the results.