anyone seen this?

[aratman]

Has anyone seen one of these or is there a build?

Don

 

[doug hodder]

I haven't seen one of those, but do like the lines on it. Got a name for it? Doug

 

[ATXKJ]

I'm pretty sure someone posted a link in one of the Winter Warrior threads - but I can't find it now.

Google found this
http://atomicaddiction.blogspot.com/2009/07/best-pop-up-camper-ever.html

but if you search for 'Odyssey' travel trailers - you get Australia.

 

[aratman]

I was hoping for more info

 

[Shadow98258]

Ok so that blog does not exist anymore. Any other info on this trailer? It looks awesome and reminds me of a 50's era Corvette. I would like to see it set up. Where were these pics taken?

 

[Logman7777]

Should be able to emulate the lines with stick and ply construction. I did a search myself about a year ago when the wild goose profile was rambling around in my brain. Didnt come up with anything different than you did. Good Luck searching or building one!

 

[bgordon-TNT]

Hi,

It is called the "Odyssey". Was built in the late 1950's.

I have never seen the inside. I mailed the guy who's trailer that is (when the thread was still live), but he never opened the trailer up.

I have a few other photos of the trailer. I'll see if I can find it.....

 

[SuperiorBound]

I really like the loo, hope someone builds one someday

 

[bgordon-TNT]

Hi,

I found this image of the patent document in my album. Still looking for the other pics...

 

[bgordon-TNT]

Hi,

By the way, I wanted to build something like this, but on a smaller scale. I crunched the numbers, and realized that this design will only work if the trailer is as long as the original Odyssey (about 16 feet, if my memory serves me right). I tried to adapt the trailer for a ten footer, but if the length is shortened to ten feet, the roof will not lift high enough for a person to stand in.

The second problem is packing space. In the original Odyssey this wouldn't have been a problem, since it is huge. If it is scaled down, packing space becomes a problem.

If someone can adapt this to a smaller dimension, it would be cool. However, as far as practical and small designs are concerned, I think Mike's Rockhopper is probably a better design.

 

[bgordon-TNT]

Hi,

Okay, here it is, as promised...

I even did a mockup of this on SketchUp... (In 200.

Lastly, and probably most important: the patent number. 2,920,919. If you search the US Patent Office, you can see exactly how it worked...

 

[rmclarke]

Barrie,
Thanks for posting those pics....I have been looking for that design for some time. I think a design something like that could work rather well made of foam (at least the top lifting part) and if the front was hinged a lot lower down, ample headroom could probably be created with a shorter overall length if the front profile was changed enough......off to the drawing board.

 

[bgordon-TNT]

Hi,

I am glad I could help.

When you study the patent documents of the Odyssey, you will notice that the top of the trailer lifts at the back AND the front. . It does not simply hinge at the front, but lifts almost the entire height of the trailer. Doing something like this with a homebuild will certainly complicate the build considerably. That is why I believe that Mike's Rockhopper design is better suited to homebuilders. The front of the Rockhopper is much higher than the Odyssey, which allows for a simple hinge and not the more difficult pulley lifting mechanism (at the front).

 

[mezmo]

Hi Barrie,

Thanks for posting the pics. I always thought the Odyssey an
interesting TT, but had only seen about three pics of it.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

 

[bgordon-TNT]

By the way, the SketchUp picture of the Odyssey (above) is where I tried to shorten it. In that picture the trailer was shortened to 12 feet, or 3.6m.

The Odyssey design might work as a homebuilt if the front profile is heightened (made higher). Doing that will essentially transform the Odyssey into Mike's Rockhopper. Personally I would have hinged the Rockhopper more to the front, which would have given more headroom.

I would have hinged the Rockhopper something like this (notice the grey line):

 

[del-TNT]

Could one use the lifting mechanism out of a pop up tent trailer to raise the hinge?

 

[bgordon-TNT]

Could one use the lifting mechanism out of a pop up tent trailer to raise the hinge?

I suppose you could, since the lifting mechanism for the front part of the Odyssey is similar to those used in pop-ups. However, this will only work for the front of the trailer. The Odyssey used a different lifting mechanism for the back. There two huge springs (somewhat similar to washing pegs) were used to lift the back section. It can be seen on the one (old) photo where the back of the trailer is shown.

 

[bgordon-TNT]

Could one use the lifting mechanism out of a pop up tent trailer to raise the hinge?

I suppose you could, since the lifting mechanism for the front part of the Odyssey is similar to those used in pop-ups. However, this will only work for the front of the trailer. The Odyssey used a different lifting mechanism for the back. There two huge springs (somewhat similar to washing pegs) were used to lift the back section. It can be seen on the one (old) photo where the back of the trailer is shown.

Here is the photo, with the springs shown...

 

[Junkboy999]

Wow thanks for posting this info.


I have been looking in to this design as well. I was thinking the same thing that a smaller version of this
would look nice.


I never seen anything about “Odyssey Trailer Company, Santa Ana California” until you posted your info.


What I got is the company moved to Magnolia Arkansas around 61 with the help of the head of the First
National Bank. It appears this banker lured several companies to Magnolia and then foreclosed and
liquidated the companies if they had troubles. ( Sound like Trump )

The company only made 40 trailers before closing in 63.


The one you see in the magazine add and the one in the storage lot is a bit different then this one. Look
at this video Price is Right 1-1-1962 part 1. Starting about 8:46 min you’ll see the Odyssey convertible sports
trailer, Made by the Odyssey Trailer Company, Magnolia Arkansas. If you watch closely you see a guy in the
front has to manually raise the front maybe 1 1/2 foot to 2 foot. Also look at the tail lights. They are on the
top part. The side panels have a different hinge line as well. Maybe they redesigned it from 58 to 62

Price is Right Video

Sample of the 1964 video.

and my cad work.

 

[bgordon-TNT]

Terry,

Wow! You really uncovered a gem there! Thanks for the info.

This is undoubtedly the Odyssey version 2, which must be a much simplified version from the initial Odyssey. I noticed the entrance steps which have been omitted in the video version. In the video I see that they climb over and into the trailer.

It is great to finally see the interior!

The lifting mechanism must also have been greatly simplified. The original patent info shows the front part being cranked up by a pulley system. Now it is simply lifted (although I think it must still be fairly heavy)! The back section's lifting mechanism remains the same as the original Odyssey.

The side walls have also been simplified (as you mentioned). Now there is only one hinge line down the length of the trailer, which is opposed to the two hinge lines in the original Odyssey.

I personally like the original design better. The second simplified design may be better from a commercial perspective though. It is really a pity that only 40 was made....

Thanks again for sharing the video link!