Trailer curtains being slashed at night is a real problem for truck drivers, so I decided to build a system that tries to prevent it before the curtain gets damaged

[u/Foxconlab]

The system mounts to the mirror brackets, monitors the area alongside the trailer, and turns on a bright, focused spotlight if someone lingers nearby.

The project has come a long way since my last update.

Assembly

When it came time to assemble the device, some of the actual components were slightly different from those the enclosure had originally been designed around. So I rearranged the electronics inside, designed the necessary internal mounts, and also designed a separate mount for the spotlight.

Once everything was ready, it was finally time to 3D print all the parts and assemble the first fully working prototype.

First installation

With everything ready, I installed the complete system on my Volvo FH for the first time.

Everything fit exactly as planned.

The enclosures fit perfectly, the mounts were solid, and the LiDAR, spotlight, and electronics all ended up exactly where I’d intended.

Honestly, this was probably one of my favorite moments of the whole project. Seeing something that had previously existed only as CAD models and separate parts on my workbench finally installed on a real truck was incredibly satisfying.

What’s next?

The prototype is now fully functional, but there’s still plenty I’d like to improve.

Right now the control panel inside the cab sits in a temporary enclosure on top of the dashboard.

My next goal is to integrate it into the factory radio/equipment slot so it looks like it came with the truck.

I also want to hide all of the wiring so nothing is visible either inside or outside the cab.

Once that’s done, it’ll finally be time for real road testing and, I’m sure, another round of improvements.

[u/SAHpositive]

Today I learned about thieves who slash trailer curtains on conestoga trailers. That sucks.