Anticipation is building up even more for what has been dubbed the most tech-packed, revolutionary, and awesome electric pickup truck ever, the Tesla Cybertruck. If you think about it, anticipation has been building steadily for almost four years, even threatening to boil over at points.
The wait for the Cybertruck has been long and frustrating, but all those 1.9 million initial customers are now one small step to getting their dream e-truck: Tesla announced the start of production at Giga Texas, with deliveries expected to kick off in late August or early September 2023. With the e-truck, those customers are also one step closer to getting the perfect accessories for it.
Since the Cybertruck's introduction in November 2019, Tesla customers have been bombarded with countless options that would maximize its use and enhance its wow factor. It wasn't necessarily a good thing since all these options came from third-party companies, mostly startups, promising just-as-revolutionary products they couldn't even begin to start building because the Cybertruck wasn't there to work off on.
It was a typical Catch-22 situation, if you will. The good news is that it's coming to an organic solution as the Cybertruck starts deliveries. The even better piece of news is that we already have a first prototype for one of the most popular third-party add-ons for it, the Space Camper from startup Space Campers.
Photo: Space Campers
Presented in June 2022 as the "Swiss army knife" of pop-up campers for its ability to turn the Cybertruck into the RV of your dreams, the Space Camper proposed a modular interior for maximized functionality. Specifically, you'd order a pop-up tent that you could then accessorize with whatever you needed for whatever purpose you had in mind for the Cybertruck, whether that was a weekend offgrid camper or a mobile office.
Like with every other Cybertruck add-on, specifics and progress of the Space Camper were dependent on Cybertruck production. Now that the Cybertruck is almost here, it's time for updates.
Space Campers is now calling the Space Camper the Wedge because of the distinctive shape when it's deployed. A second model will also be made available: the Cap, a simpler and presumably more affordable solution to create a closed-in hard-walled area around the bed.
Photo: Space Campers
Details on the Cap remain scarce as of the time of press, as Space Campers is choosing to focus on the Wedge for now. A prototype has been shown in action for the first time, as you can see in the (rather poorly-lit) video available below.
The Space Camper Wedge aims for maximum functionality and versatility. At its core, it's a pop-up tent, but one that makes the most of the Cybertruck's unique features. For example, the actuators for the pop-up mechanism will use Tesla's onboard air compressor for instant deployment: within seconds, at the press of a single button, Space Campers promises.
Powerful integrated LED lights and appliances will draw on the e-truck's battery for juice, but the option of solar panels is also possible for extended autonomy. Space Campers is also working on compatibility with the keyless tailgate locking system of the Cybertruck for extra safety.
Photo: Space Campers
Though the plan is to have the Space Camper as the all-encompassing solution for whatever you need, the prototype only offers a look at how the highly versatile bed slash lounger might look in production form. To allow 8 feet (2.4 meters) of standing height inside the camper, the bed moves out of the way, upwards to the ceiling. We already know that this same bed will be able to serve as a bench if you fold it or as a sun lounger if you take it out completely. When you work with such a compact footprint, modular, multi-functional furniture is a must.
With the bed out of the space, you can turn the Cybertruck into a mobile tiny home or a working office: a modular kitchen, a desk, and an impressive amount of storage can be added inside, including in the hard sides under the bed. Future accessories like a solar package, insulation, outdoor shower and bathroom will make the space more comfortable on extended stays.
Space Camper will tip the scales at 470 lbs (213 kg) in basic spec, including the modular bed. Remove the bed, and you're looking at a lighter 430 lbs (195 kg); add the stainless steel armor for the Space Camper, and you get a heavier 600-lb (272 kg) add-on.
Photo: Space Campers
The video of the prototype also shows the weatherproof storm door that can double as an awning to offer protection from the elements and create an extra living space right outside the camper. If you think of how many awesome uses the company promised for the Space Camper, seeing the prototype in action might feel underwhelming. But it's a first step in the right direction, with the direction being that of turning the upcoming Cybertruck into the neatest and definitely coolest-looking RV out there.
The Space Camper Wedge prototype is set to make its debut at the Tesla Takeover in San Luis Obispo, CA, on the weekend starting July 29, and maybe more details will be released on the occasion. Pricing for the pop-up tent starts at $24,000 but doesn't include a single accessory from those mentioned above. It's worth noting here that Space Campers once described the product as "an investment" into your Cybertruck, which might read as a fancy way of saying a full spec will be on the expensive side.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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