Getting the family stuff done. Had a few moments to look around and try and figure out a lift mechanism for the roof. I think I've talked myself into redoing the entire roof and making it like my brother's design. The advanted as I see it is that the pivot helps with the lift and then this could do the remainder of the work:
From the Lady Bug Build Thread:
jeep_bluetj wrote:
Simple small (surplus) hydraulics would work great too.
I built a prototype of a simple (read cheap) jackscrew setup that would work for your trailer.
1. Surplus/Junkyard power window motor connected to a chunk of 3/8" all thread. (Connected via a stout piece of fuel line hose for a bit of bendibility.)
2. The all thread runs up inside of a length of 3/4" PVC -- this is just to keep it clean, as I felt for 40-50lbs of lift the allthread would need to be well greased.
3. Press fit a 3/8" nut into some 1/2" EMT, and it fits inside the PVC, threaded onto the allthread. The other end of the EMT is the "pusher" end.
Put power on the motor, and it goes up/down. Had plenty of force too. All told maybe $20 or so worth of stuff.
OR, a boat winch crank with the cable running up and over the "inside" walls to lift up on the "outside" walls.
2 air springs are still the easiest thing to do.
I've bought the PVC to make a test lift. I am bidding on a motor from a power jack on ebay.
While searching the web for ideas on how to motorize the lif mechanism, I even found one done with a canabalized electric screw driver. So the design question up for discussion is:
If I make this lift and have it lift a board or support of some sort to lift the front part of the roof on the pivot, do you think one lift point would work with a 5' wide roof? I got this whole idea from looking at TV lifts. If I had hidden (and very light weight) shelves, say built into a stationay head board at the front of the trailer and then had the top most part lift to expose shelves and support the full width of the trailer lid, would that work? I guess I'd have to have some sort guide rails to aid the lift. Even though with 3500lbs of potential lift power, I think the motor will be overkill.
I'm thinking I may try and build the headboard frame and get the lift part ready too. Then when I go back to MI to pick up B.U.B. I can take it with me, Intall it and give it a try. Or not. I don't have a battery right now.