THE WAGON CABIN

Over the course of 51 days in the summer of 2020, I built a cedar-wood truck camper for my 2007 long bed Toyota Tacoma. Without any prior woodworking experience, every process of this project was learned through trial and error along the way. These build plans and the accompanying YouTube series were created to help others do the same.

DIY TRUCK CAMPER

BUILD PLANS

This digital PDF download includes the exact schematics of my build, which can easily be adjusted to fit the dimensions/use case of your own truck bed.

Of the many who have purchased these plans, some have modified the design to make a cabover variation, and I have seen others which are fully-insulated with electrical and kitchen add-ons.

Think of these plans as a structurally sound skeleton. How you dress your camper will be up to you.

STEP 1: Assembling the tub

In this first video of my camper build series, I will walk you through the process for assembling the "tub" portion, or the bottom half of the camper which slides into my truck bed.

STEP 2: Sealing the tub

How to prep and line the slide-in portion of the camper, or "tub", with Herculiner, which seals the exterior for water-proofing.

STEP 3: Framing

Erecting the upper-portion of the truck camper structure, which sits above the truck bed rails.

STEP 4: Exterior siding

Burn, baby, burn! Using the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique to seal the cedar siding, followed by attachment to the frame, and finally getting a sense of what the camper feels like enclosed.

STEP 5: The roof

Bending half-inch plywood to the shape of compound curves.

STEP 6: Windows & trim

Installing windows and trim for the entire camper structure + priming the roof for paint.

STEP 7: The door. Onto the truck

Building a dutch door, finishing roof paint, and loading the camper onto my truck with a little help from my loved ones.

STEP 8: Interior details

Burn, baby, burn! Using the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique to seal the cedar siding, followed by attachment to the frame, and finally getting a sense of what the camper feels like enclosed.