Slidacab

Specifications:

Four berths

Overall length 350 cm (approx) (11.5')

Height of Slidacab in road mode (on vehicle): 260 cm (approx) (8.5')

Height of Slidacab in camping mode (on vehicle): 295 cm (approx) (9.7')

Unladen weight: 300 kilos (approx) (660lbs)

Max headroom: 220 cm (7.2')

Bunk length: 195 cm (6.4')

Single bunk width 50 cm (approx) (1.7')

Double bunk width 140 cm (approx) (4.6')

About Slidacab

	The Slidacab is a lightweight 4 berth telescopic camper designed to fit on a pick-up truck. It only weighs about 300 kilos unladen and so can easily be carried by even the smallest of trucks. The Slidacab in these pictures has been fitted to a Nissan Navara but the plans explain how to make a Slidacab fit your particular vehicle. The Slidacab is fully insulated and has well over six foot of headroom throughout. It has one full sized double bunk and two single bunks which can also become a large double if required.
	The step by step illustrated instructions walk you through the entire build process. They include a lot of further information on all aspects of the build, from the materials you need and how to find and modify them. Unlike a traditional camper, the Slidacab is constructed using the insulating layer as a structural element. This creates an extremely light but very strong structure. No specialist tools are needed to make a Slidacab but you will need one good flat work surface to construct the panels on.
	The Slidacab plans are metric but allow for the use of Imperial materials. No special materials or skills are needed to build a Slidacab but it will take about 300 hours to make one. If you buy all new parts to build your Slidacab it may cost about 5000 Euros which is a fraction of the cost of other small campers available to buy today. The costs can be brought down considerably by using second hand parts.
	The bright and spacious interior consists of two settee bunks wide enough to sleep on or by simply dropping in the seat backs, a very wide double bed can quickly be made. There is a good sized table which bolts to the front panel. Above the settee bunks is a full sized double berth which can folded away in moments when not in use. There is a huge amount of storage under the bunks and even a small gas hob and sink hidden under one of the bunks.
	The telescopic roof raises on four gas struts in seconds. When down it reduces the area of the Slidacab so you don't have to drag a huge shape through the air. Thanks to its light weight, small frontal area and a wind deflector you won't notice the Slidacab as much as some other larger campers you can buy. Most of the weight of the Slidacab is low down and in front of the rear axle making it very stable and safe. It is held down with ratchet straps and is very secure.
	The Slidacab is raised to pick-up height using a couple of simple car jacks, a pair of step ladders and two simple wooden stands. It can be fitted to the vehicle by one person. Woodenwidget will plant 5 trees on your behalf if you buy any of our plans.

Frequiently Asked Questions:

Q: How long will it take to build my Slidacab?
It will take about 300 hours to build a Slidavan. It is not a quick build. There are a lot of materials in it, 30 sheets of ply, 1000 screws and 15 litres of glue for example but it would make a great winter project.

Q: How much will a Slidacab cost to build?
Always a very subjective question but if you bought only new parts and materials you might expect a Slidacab to cost about 5000 Euros to build but the cost could be reduced dramatically using reclaimed materials and parts.

Q: Do you sell a Slidacab kit?
Sorry no, the Slidacab is only available in plan form. But don't let this stop you! All you need is easily available and no special skills are required.

Q: How much does a Slidacab weigh?
Expect a Slidavan to weigh about 300 kilos (660 lbs.) unladen so even with a small pick-up truck you should still be well within limits.

Q: The plans are metric can I build a Slidacab using Imperial materials?
Yes you can! The Slidacab will still have to be built using metric measurements but all the info you need is in the plans.

Q: How does the lifting mechanism work?
Four gas struts lift the roof and a simple rope block and tackle brings it down again

Q: How do I get it on to my truck?
Thanks to the Slidacab's light weight it's not hard to lift it up to pick-up bed height using no more than a couple of simple scissor jacks, two step ladders and a pair of simple wooden stands

Q: Will it fit on my pick-up?
The plans show how to make a Slidacab to fit on a 2004 Nissan Navara pick-up but they also explain how to measure up and modify the plans to make it fit on just about any pick up, even a small one.

Q: I don't have any woodwork experience, can I still build a Slidacab?
Yes. If you can follow instructions, have a few basic tools and are willing to 'have a go' the plans will walk you through every single step of the build. From wood selection to the finished caravan. There is nothing difficult about building a Slidavan. It just takes some time. You will need a good sized flat bench and lots of clamps!

Q: Tell me more about the plans
The metric Slidavan plans have over 150 pages and more than 250 photos and even bonus sections full of useful information. The plans come as a PDF file and are about 15 mb in size. The plans can be downloaded immediately from this site after you check out. You  can pay with your credit card or with a PayPal account. 

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