Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Design & Construction of anything that's not a teardrop e.g. Grasshoppers or Sunspots

Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sat Jun 04, 2016 10:04 am

Gotta love the bottom hinged A-frames

Image
WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby S. Heisley » Sat Jun 04, 2016 6:26 pm

WizardOfOdds wrote:Gotta love the bottom hinged A-frames

Image


Oh, that's cute! It looks like it's a 'home-modified' trailer of some sort.
User avatar
S. Heisley
Super Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 8769
Images: 495
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:02 am
Location: No. California

DualCraft bottom hinge A-frame Chalet

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sat Jun 04, 2016 7:08 pm

Oh, that's cute! It looks like it's a 'home-modified' trailer of some sort.

Sharon,
Thanks for the reply, nice to know it did not go unnoticed.
It is actually an old commercial trailer, but it looks like very few were ever produced.
Try this link http://www.starling-travel.com/2012/10/13/the-dualcraft-chalet-the-first-a-frame-trailer/
and this one http://www.starling-travel.com/page/22/
I like bottom hinging because it gives the largest increase in height (over the closed height) at the floor edge while also allowing the hinge to be attached to the strongest part of the base - directly to the metal frame rails! That is why I gave that considerable thought and did some paper/computer designs many years ago. I decided to use middle front hinging on the Tip Top Tier Drop for other technical reasons. Never thought I would see a commercial trailer actually making use of the idea!
WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby S. Heisley » Sun Jun 05, 2016 6:00 pm

Don't think that your posts go unnoticed. Even though there are only about 32 posts on this thread, you have almost 5,900 looks/views at the time of this posting.

Keep posting and we'll keep watching! :SG
User avatar
S. Heisley
Super Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 8769
Images: 495
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:02 am
Location: No. California
Top

Fold - N- Roll & similar DIYs

Postby WizardOfOdds » Wed Jun 08, 2016 3:35 am

Several 'Foamie' threads are discussing pop-up designs to which I will be adding some comments, but I decided to also post the referenced pictures here for the benefit of my readers. They illustrate a roof rise technique I used in several of my designs that avoids telescoping struts but requires the a lateral movement of the roof by an amount equal to the roof rise. It can be used with both Tier Drop (telescoping upper tier) or folding side panel schemes (like that below and most A-frames). It has been used in several other DIY builds (including a pickup camper - I'll add a link if I re-encounter it), as well as in this commercial trailer (Fold-N-Roll):

Image
Image
Notice in this trailer the lateral movement of the roof is used to create an overhang above the entry door in the open configuration.

OK, I have seen better photos, but here is at least one of the DIY builds I spoke of.
Image
and here are two pickup versions
Image
Image
Image
(If the dog can drive that truck, he probably can erect the top too). :lol:
which you can read about here
http://poptopcamper.freehostia.com/
Last edited by WizardOfOdds on Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby kudzu » Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:15 am

Fold-n-roll roof going up:


Upper side walls going into place:
kudzu
Donating Member
 
Posts: 439
Images: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:20 pm
Top

Fold-n Roll videos

Postby WizardOfOdds » Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:44 am

Great pair of videos! Thanks for the post.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, and a video is worth a hundred pictures, then imagine how many words you just saved me trying to describe this gem.

Oh, let me add this: Notice the elevation is actually propelled by the two black struts on each side. The rear panel pivots at both ends while the front panel pivots at the bottom and slides at the top. The black struts just rotate (pivot) with no sliding or telescoping required.
Last edited by WizardOfOdds on Thu Jun 09, 2016 6:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

DIY roof lift

Postby WizardOfOdds » Wed Jun 08, 2016 11:48 am

WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby greygoos » Fri Jun 10, 2016 8:56 pm

gypsy camper.jpg
The Gypsy Camper
gypsy camper.jpg (30.84 KiB) Viewed 8547 times
http://ithaca.craigslist.org/rvs/5600748675.html
greygoos
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 630
Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2015 6:15 am
Location: Syracuse NY
Top

Light weight Bifold popup video

Postby WizardOfOdds » Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:04 pm

WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sun Jun 12, 2016 10:39 pm

greygoos:

That is a very one-of-a-kind build. Very interesting, I like the (etched?) glass and other unique features. Thanks for the post.
WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

Nestegg rough road

Postby WizardOfOdds » Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:11 pm

Ok, it really is not a non-traditional design, and it's not quite an off-road (maybe let's call it a rough road trailer), but it still is interesting for a traditional tear drop
WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

Refurb of PopUp - unusaual lift system

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sun Jun 19, 2016 10:47 pm

The video below is a slide show of a refurb of a rare slick popup (1957 Ranger).
The trailer is interesting, but watch for the fleeting shots of the lift system, especially at the 2:40 time mark
Image


WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby Ned B » Fri Jun 24, 2016 11:55 am

WizardOfOdds wrote:Like to just browse pictures, try Photobucket. Here are some that I found interesting.
woodbox clamshell
Image

a fabric top A-frame
Image

a hi-lo vardo?
Image

VW style pop top on Honda Element
Image

mini-chuckwagon
Image

drop-floor camper
Image

hatch-foor clam-shell
Image

ZigZag truck top
Image
zig-zag tent top
Image


Really great Thread! I especially like the zigzag roof RV, very similar to a foamie that I've got plans for. Thanks for sharing!
User avatar
Ned B
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1036
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2011 10:25 am
Location: Syracuse NY (ish)
Top

Zig Zag Configurations

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sat Jun 25, 2016 8:50 pm

Ned B wrote
I especially like the zigzag roof RV, very similar to a foamie that I've got plans for.

I like the Zigzag configuration too. While building the (first version of ) Tip Top Tier Drop, I considered the half roof dormer configuration, like this one
Image
because it reduced the effort needed to lift the combined roofs from the rear, but it also shifted too much of the weight forward of the axle. I also worried about highway lift, wind and rain the front edge of the top roof had to deal with when closed. In the end the gains did not seem to warrant the added complexity.

Notice the commercial trailer

Image

has a solid roof and fabric sides. I prefer the exact opposite. But if you are OK with fabric sides, I think it would not be hard to build. For one, the fabric sides have no complex pattern to sew.

How are your plans progressing?
WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

PreviousNext

Return to Non-traditional Designs

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests