I'm not looking to have Phoenix build a camper that allows me to close the tailgate. I have sketched out several different custom designs, and think I've finally decided what I want.
My camper would have a 6' exterior floor length (would come to end of bumper), 80" outside width (edge of wheel-wells), and a 60" cabover for an almost standard queen in an east-west config to eliminate the sleeping extension. Basically it would be 2" longer than the Raven, with an extra 12" over the cab, and 3-4" taller as far as I can figure.
The setup I completed in google sketchup is a front dinette config (allows a 75" long, 33" wide single bed downstairs). I have it all drawn up with 2 deeps cycle batteries, 3.8 cuft DC fridge, two 20lb propane tanks, 30 gallons fresh water, 12k btu furnace, tankless water heater, and a couple of other things. Sounds like a lot, but the extra propane tank could be removed for storage/weight, a battery could be pulled, whatever. Having hauled around a hard side a lot, with the jacks installed, heavy frame mounted tie-downs etc, I'm not that concerned about what it will weigh. It should still be less than the hard side.
The hard side I had worked well, it was nice, but it wasn't for us. We spent a lot of time hiking, camping in tents, in the back of the truck under a canopy, et too. It had too much storage and room really, and was too much like RVing I guess...? I was amazed how much extra junk I had in the cabinets when I cleaned it out to sell. It was wide, the jacks stuck out, it was too tall to fit on trails around here, too tall to get any kayak or snowboard on top or anything. We bought a house that has no room for RV storage, so the camper sat at a storage lot, uncovered, for $55/mo. I worried about it rotting being uncovered in the NW rain. So a Phoenix camper would stay on 90-95% of the time. I work a 14 day on/off rotation, and fly to/from work so I only drive the truck 12 days a month at the most. My wife has a car anyway. I would also build a dolly to allow me to roll the camper into the garage when needed.
We just figured out our taxes today too, looks like I'll have the cash for a lift and 5 new wheels and tires! Having only four matching tires with a Detroit locker is never a good thing!
Sounds like a great camper design! I'd love to see pics of it when you get it! Your work schedule sounds like mine. It allows for a lot of camping time. I'll probably end up building another garage stall. Yes, we used our tax return on our camper.
