Boxy pop-up camper design and HELP

[ciberguenzza]

Hello I'm planning to build a camper trailer. The plan is a wooden cage on top of a 5x10 trailer, with another smaller wooden cage on top that will sandwich together.
The idea is you can fold it down for towing reducing air drag, and unfold it once in the camp site most like a pop-up camper would do.
For the rolling/unfolding system I'm still not sure how to make it, all I know is if it needs an army of people, or it takes me the whole afternoon to unfold is an automatic NO-GO.
So for 1 person doing it in 5 minutes or less without sweating a single drop (I'm a lazy guy), I'm thinking some pulleys, some garage rollers, some cables and a winch.

The trailer also have some wings that will either fold out (hinges and cables) or roll out (think a big drawer slider) to increase the sleeping people capacity.

If you have any suggestions, or you think this is a bad idea PLEASE DO tell me and explain why.
Ii'm attaching the sketch up model for your review.
Thank you for your time

 

[lthomas987]

Have you considered reversing which the larger section is? If you have a small top pop out of the larger bottom you have to make that seam super water tight vs falling rain. If you make the top larger than the bottom gravity is with you.

That would also guarantee your sleeping extension fold outs couldn't open accidentally while towing.

 

[lthomas987]

Here is a pop-up that reminds me a bit of your drawings. But done with the bigger part on top.

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=59418

 

[TeriL]

by ciberguenzza » 11 Apr 2014, 09:38
Hello I'm planning to build a camper trailer. The plan is a wooden cage on top of a 5x10 trailer, with another smaller wooden cage on top that will sandwich together.
The idea is you can fold it down for towing reducing air drag, and unfold it once in the camp site most like a pop-up camper would do.
For the rolling/unfolding system I'm still not sure how to make it, all I know is if it needs an army of people, or it takes me the whole afternoon to unfold is an automatic NO-GO.
So for 1 person doing it in 5 minutes or less without sweating a single drop (I'm a lazy guy), I'm thinking some pulleys, some garage rollers, some cables and a winch.

The trailer also have some wings that will either fold out (hinges and cables) or roll out (think a big drawer slider) to increase the sleeping people capacity.

If you have any suggestions, or you think this is a bad idea PLEASE DO tell me and explain why.
Ii'm attaching the sketch up model for your review.
Thank you for your time

Attachments

Trailer.skp
Please open the model and give sggestions
(1.04 Mi Downloaded 42 times

Hi Ciberguenzza,

Could you save your Sketchup design in version 7 if possible? I have stopped at version 7 for a number of reasons. I do have version 8 for another reason.

I have designed a origami travel trailer with a fold out room. It wasn't low in it's folded towing mode. However, it was very roomy.

-- Teri