Unusual Designs Found on Internet

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

Awesome PU camper build

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:25 pm

This is among the most impressive builds I've seen anywhere.
All aluminum (frame & skin) pop-up with bed over cab and bifolding insulated sides.
62 photos show build start to finish https://imgur.com/gallery/RokIb
review at https://gearjunkie.com/custom-pop-up-camper-build
https://i.imgur.com/n8nzkL7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0kJAik2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NY0XZ3x.jpg
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I saw no info on weight or pictures of erection procedure (but the video which I was unable to view might include it).
Entry/exit door does not elevate. Us older folks might find getting in/out of the cab over bed a challenge too.
Attractive interior, no toilet or shower.
Not sure how well sealed all those folds hold up against blowing rain, or what it cost, but if this becomes a popular build, buy stock in whoever manufacturers those long piano hinges!
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
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Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby Louisd75 » Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:48 pm

Here's one that popped up for sale near me. It looks like a 4x8 or smaller built offset on the trailer deck. The space leftover on the deck will fit a motorcycle:

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Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby OP827 » Sat Nov 16, 2019 9:47 pm



This trailer is a another re-iteration of the folding walls trailer. Second home build from the same builder, Valentine.
New ideas here:
1. A new idea of gas struts being fixed with a flat extending bracket that allows simpler roof design and a better roof seal during transport mode. This appears as an improvement over UK factory made "Gobur caravan" similar trailer gas struts arrangement.
2. Trailer seems to be removable from the flat bed trailer.
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Folding Panelized tent shed

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sat Dec 07, 2019 10:47 pm

I was a bit lost in writing a title for this one, not sure if it should be called a shed, tent, shanty, or kool aid stand. Very clever folding, reminds me of the folding ice shanty designs I covered in earlier posts. I like the large roof overhangs and large windows (I would prefer transparent window doors). No info on weight or construction (in english anyway). Not sure how much of the center wall is required for stability, I would prefer one large room over 2 half sized ones. Also, I think they built the door to open inward in order to avoid the roof overhang slope. It might be a better trade to shorten the door height and have it open outward. In any case lots of ideas here to think about.

Update 12/9/2019
Well it seems this is a commercial product. See reply by BallaratDragon in the comments section of the You Tube page. He notes:
open 2.1m x 3.1m, closed 2.1m x 0.6m 100 KGm (220#)
See https://www.utiltermo.com.br/
They sell a 'Thermal Floor Tent' and a thermal trailer (photos show 2 different ones??)
Tent data from site:
open 2.5m x 4m x 2m ht
closed 2.5m x 0.6m x 2m ht
Trailer data: open 3m x 5m x 1.9m internal ht
closed 3.7 x 2.1 x 2.85m ext ht
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Interestingly, these seem to be polyethylene (think pool noodles) covered with vinyl canvas. I started collecting LDPE packaging leftovers years ago, used it for a foam door. Did not like that: LDPE is not rigid, and the white variety passes a lot of light - headlights passed thru my 2 inch thick uncovered door! Thick sheets are made with layers about 1/2 inch thick, not sure how they bond them but if you could do it at home, it would make curved surfaces easy. Interesting stuff (not cheap), but details better saved for a separate 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
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Flat Panel Tear Drop without the Tears

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sun Dec 29, 2019 10:36 am

Are you OK with crawling into a Tear Drop but not part of the Curve Cult? Then maybe the Polydrop offers some ideas worth consideration. No curved surfaces to deal with, and might be a good match to those flat foam panel ideas you have been toying with. So far the gallery is heavy on CAD and light on real pictures, but worth a look.
Image
Details from https://www.trailerlife.com/rv-gear/rvs/tiny-trailer-polydrop-limited-edition/
2019 Polydrop Limited Edition
Exterior Length: 12’ 5”
Exterior Width: 5’ 6”
Exterior Height: 5’ 4”
Freshwater Cap.: N/A
Black-/Gray-Water Cap.: N/A
LP-Gas Cap.: N/A
UVW: 760 lbs.
Hitch Weight: 80 lbs.
Axle Weight: 1,200 lbs.
GVWR: 1,200 lbs.
MSRP, Base: $9,000
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
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Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby mallymal » Wed Jan 01, 2020 8:51 am

Loving the polydrop!
Look how the front wall gently slopes, so you get a comfy angle for sitting up in bed.
I would love to build something inspired by this!
78EFA4FB-6BCF-4B99-A2EE-DB2D0F3EA3EC.jpeg
78EFA4FB-6BCF-4B99-A2EE-DB2D0F3EA3EC.jpeg (557.13 KiB) Viewed 10351 times
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New video of 10 Unusual trailer

Postby WizardOfOdds » Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:47 pm

This recent video include ten trailers, including the PolyDrop (see recent post above).
Most interesing to me is the Earth Traveller, a 300 pound long tear drop made with a chicken feather composite. It has a pop up hatch-like roof with fabric sidewalls at both ends, and lateral expansion tents. Minimalist with lots of windows!
This video also some interesting views from overseas.
The Earth Traveller is also covered at the end of the 2nd video
https://youtu.be/RKSKs2tQqWs


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
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Self powered camp trailer

Postby alaska teardrop » Mon Jan 20, 2020 6:24 pm

Northern Lite Traveler design: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991
Minimalist torsion axle frame: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12220
Alaska Teardrop photo gallery: http://tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2014
Glampette photo gallery; gallery/album.php?album_id=2983&sk=t&sd=d&st=0
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Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby tony.latham » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:22 pm



No doors or windows. Hmmmm...

It's obvious they are trying to market their camper mobility product and not a camper.

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Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby alaska teardrop » Mon Feb 03, 2020 1:24 pm

It's obvious they are trying to market their camper mobility product and not a camper.


Yes, but it may be part of the future.

Featherstone imagines: "Here's an Airstream vehicle, it's autonomous, it powers itself, you go to bed at night and you wake up and you're at Yosemite."


Link: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/airs ... ure-plans/

8)
Northern Lite Traveler design: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991
Minimalist torsion axle frame: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12220
Alaska Teardrop photo gallery: http://tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2014
Glampette photo gallery; gallery/album.php?album_id=2983&sk=t&sd=d&st=0
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Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby aggie79 » Tue Feb 18, 2020 11:41 am

While camping this weekend, one of these Opus folding/inflatable pop-up tent campers pulled into the site next to ours:

https://www.opuscamper.us/off-road/



This was a brand new camper and the owners were setting it up for the first time. I was amazed at how quickly it set up. The camper had the optional annex/side tent. It too had the inflatable structure.

There was a pretty wind good blowing and it didn't seem to affect the camper.

Take care,
Tom
Tom (& Linda)
For build info on our former Silver Beatle teardrop:
Build Thread

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Re: Unusual Designs Found on Internet

Postby OP827 » Sun Apr 12, 2020 5:44 pm

Came across "Tipoon the travel machine" French video of a real trailer, not a 3D model. I could switch on subtitles and translate them to English.
The guy said they received a first batch of orders and renting a 1000m2 hangar and hiring people to start production. This is a pretty complicated build and I am not surprised to see a lot of metal panels and parts because it needs to work more like a rigid mechanism with very little distortions possible.

They mentioned 20-25k Euros ($27k+) as a price at the end. The video is from 2017.

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VERY unusual build

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sat Jul 25, 2020 5:45 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
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Sheep Wagon type Pickup PopUp

Postby WizardOfOdds » Mon Aug 31, 2020 8:43 pm

This one folds a bit like some of the ice fishing shanty units I posted some time ago. Like them, I can see it being adapted to a trailer frame for a very light weight camper for 4 cylinder tow vehicles, giving you great head room when opened, yet low enough to "see over the top" while towing.

In the builders own words
" ... sort of a slideshow tutorial on how I made my sheepherder's wagon-style folding/pop-up truck camper. I wanted something lightweight, aerodynamic, stealthy and that folded down flat so that I could get the same gas mileage, haul my canoe over top, and be able to get into those more remote locations."



Update: Sadly, the video is no longer available, :cry: so here is a description based on my (not totally reliable) memory:

The entire unit sits atop (not inside) the bed of his pickup truck and folds much like the “Hickery Boo” (featured in the July 9, 2019 append in the section on ice fishing shanties). It consists of two wooden ends with bowed tops and a permanently attached tarp roof/sides. The two ends hinge at the bottom toward each other, one over the other with the tarp squeezed between them. The tarp is permanently attached along the top and sides of each wooden end panel, and along the sides of the floor.

To open, you pull the two ends vertical and lock them together with a internal beam down the center between them. I can not remember if there are any additional horizontal beams (as I recall the Hickery Boo uses 2 either side of center) or any other interior support elements. Entry is through a door in the rear panel. Windows are limited to the end panels, but they could be added to the sides with a little engineering.

When folded, the entire unit lies flat, elevating the bed height only a few inches (so you can see over it through the cab rear window). I do not recall if he uses a cover over the closed unit. As I recall, it was built with an open floor, so you stand on the truck bed.

All in all, a great example of what I suggested in the July 9 append, and why I included several folding ice shanties in this thread.

added 3/31/2022: The below two videos are of ice fishing shelters, but they illustrate the folding and basic nature of the build above

Last edited by WizardOfOdds on Thu Mar 31, 2022 12:12 am, edited 2 times 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
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3-Tier Alum PopUp Built for Truck moved to Trailer

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sat Nov 28, 2020 1:19 am

Here is a very well done three-tier (double popup) aluminum build originally built for a truck, but moved to a trailer.
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
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