A-Frame Camper for Pickup Trucks
I love this ingenious design for an A-frame camper that I found on Google Patents.
The description is HORRIBLE.
A folding camper for mounting in a pick-up truck, which camper includes a base frame shaped to mount in the bed of the pick-up truck, a pair of roof panels hinged to the sides of the base frame and adapted to fold inwardly, one upon another and a pair of triangular-shaped front and rear panels hinged to the front and rear ends of the base frame, respectively, and also adapted to fold inwardly, one upon the other.
What they are trying to describe was more aptly shown in their drawings. Folded up, the camper looks like this.
Here it is from another angle.
The passenger side wall opens up like this.
Then the driver side wall opens and the two connect at the top.
Then the triangle-shaped cab side wall folds up.
Finally, the back wall folds up.
I’ve talked about A-Frame campers before here:
I have never seen an A-frame style camper on a pickup, however. The closest I’ve see is this Quickup Camper.
This foldable camper design is a great idea and I’m surprised that none of the truck camper companies have made one that looks like this.
I have a picture of a unit like the drawings above. I saved the picture off the internet in May 2015 because it was interesting, now a friend is looking for something like this. Something that can stay on the pickup while in the garage. The name is hard to read but something like “Tent Cabin Free????”. I will email you the picture if I get an email address. I would really like help finding it. Thank’s, Jerry
Comment by Jerry Elzea — September 25, 2016 @ 8:14 am
This is a great concept and can be used on a truck or utility trailer. It can be a slide in or not. Somebody should make these. I think I will.
Comment by Jim — February 6, 2018 @ 9:24 am
Actually you want the back wall to fold up first. If we did it as you suggest of cab wall first, then you will be tripping over the back end wall. Where &F shows the back wall raised giving the owner the ability to the raise the front wall.
A issue that I see with the drawing is that the front and back walls will when folded down need a flap from the forward edge of the lower roof section to cover the elevation difference created by the rear wall holding the roof off of the front wall. If not a flap, then a protruding ledge should be mounted to the front wall going the width of the roof so as to keep debris and critters from entering the folded camper.
Also, in 7A the drawing is in error. Each of the walls (sides and ends) are on different levels. The front wall is the lowest. The back wall is next up being the thickness of the wall plus the thickness of the front folded wall. The side on vehicle left is the next layer with side to vehicle right on the top of the pile.
The roof sections on the front and rear ends should have a lip for the end walls to stop against.
When the roof section is brought to the upright position, a groove should be at the peak. The groove would allow side left to lock into the roof section side right. Then it is basically like assembling an A-Liner Camper. There should be a adjustable block that attaches to the roof that when expanded pushes the end walls out ward as to lock the walls in place.
I have yet to build a concept model. Yet with the roof sections at different levels. The end walls are not simple triangles. As there will need to be offset sections for the various hinge points in the fabrication.
It appears as if this is intended for a full size pickup with a 8 foot box. A drawing I have done seems to suggest that the roof sides are also 8 feet long.
For creature comfort, the owner will want some canvas to cover the hinges, that when erected stops wind like airflow from entering the compartment.
A google search has no relevant listings for either a “Gene Kottke” or a “Eugene Kottke”. A search was also done using Facebook. Search intended to see if rights to build for personal use is allowed. Or to be published in ungainful and free of use.
Comment by Willy — April 18, 2018 @ 8:38 pm
Yes it is on the google patent database.
Comment by Ken Hetherwick — June 27, 2018 @ 10:50 am
I owned an A-frame truck camper that was made in Indiana that was like the drawings above. sure wished they were still in business.
Comment by bill servies — March 22, 2020 @ 3:17 pm