UK-Corlett New design New build

[UK-Corlett]

Well its been an age.

Many moons ago (late 2006) I trawled this web site and built a UK version of a Cub (see design library). We can only get 8'x4' sheets of wood and no gorilla glue, anyway it turned out to OK. It was conceived as a way to camp cheaply and eat lavishly in France in the summer. As this photo shows its done a few miles now, this is us crossing the Pyrenees last summer.



I was chastised for not sharing my build diary last time so to make a mends here is TD2. It's not going to be blow by blow but I will keep you informed. I guess I will be on the road Easter 2016.

Well I am older slower and more prone to the cold. The Tear as it is is not conducive to camping in the cold and wet ie. Britain. SO! I need a new one.

Design specification.
Same wheel track. (to fit my garage) but wider inside.
Somewhere to sit. Under cover out of the wind.
More storage. My wife hates dressing out of the boot of the car.
Tall enough to stand and put my pants on. (fortunately I am not very tall)

Obviously if I can't resolve the design issues then I will not build it. But I think its time to throw this out to the lions and seen what you think. Please be cruel and picky.





Design features

1. Raised bed above the wheel arches, allows the bed to be full width and creates a storage volume under it.
2. the Green curve will be made in 4 flat sections. Bonding layers of 1/8” ply round a former. This will allow the Tear to curve on all 5 sides (base will be flat).
3. The kitchen will be a pull out design, I hope you can seen that from the photo.
4. A Small side door to give more access to the storage area, side windows to see out of the sleeping space, lowered floor to achieve standing area, panoramic windows on each seated corner.

Its 3m long 2m high and 1.7 wide.
Its 9'-10” x 6'-7” x 5'-7” (I think-come on boys the rest of the world is metric)

Well let me know what you think.

Clive

PS Please visit my other photos to see how much fun owning a TD can be. If you don't have a TD BUILT ONE!

[dales133]

Realy like your new design, similar to mine in some respects.
The extra curves will make it look great

[wagondude]

I like it. The pull out kitchen is what I will be watching the most.

The only concern I see is that you have to sit up, pull your legs up into a fetal position and turn around to exit the bed. Unless you are planning side doors for night time excursions, that is.

[UK-Corlett]

Hi Wagondude

As I get older (56) those night excursions become clockwork, there's something about the out doors which makes it worse.

Yes I had seen that as an issue. It's on my compromise list.
At least with this design I can get my pants on in the dry.

I will have enough work to do without adding more doors.

Clive

[Vedette]

Welcome Clive
Love the design! And I am not into Standies???
Sandy said "I want that" when she saw your standing/sitting room up front.
I too think you need a side door or two, and we have under bed storage(8" deep in Miss Piggy) and are planning for 9" in our new build "Kermit". Found that that is more than adequate for our large clothing storage bins (the type they make for linens to roll under your bed at home). You can have these below your torsion axle as you probably don't need all the ground clearance you show?? That would help to keep your overall height down.
We will keep watching to see how this evolves !
Remember how water tight you need to make that front entrance door!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[UK-Corlett]

Hi Vedette

I think the need more doors thread will run and run.
Waterproof front door; yes that's on the compromise list too. But ideas well in hand for that. I am a seasoned TD builder owner so I know all about rain getting in.

The main technical problem ahead is that I plan for corner windows, heat formed perspex over an aluminium former. I have seen it done on the this forum before but these will be big and handed. So a lot of work in the male mold.

A lot of inspiration (copying) comes from paddlehead.


Clive

[Patti]

The seated area with standing room up front is innovative and awesome. I really like the way you're thinking here.

[wagondude]

Just a thought, but if you took the rear cabinet and split it into two cabinets, You could move them forward to your seating bulkhead and sleep with your head to the rear. That would make getting out easier.

[UK-Corlett]

Hi wagondude

My current bed is only 1.2m 3`-11 wide and this will be a full 1.6m 5`-3" . Also my current TD only has one door' so that evening outing requires that one of use climbs over the top of the other. So just having to turn round seems just now to be a luxuary.

I like the idea though, I will look at it in the morning.

Clive

[Chuckles]

I have to agree with the others... I spent lots of time drawing standies/slouchies with standing room at the head of the bed but all it took was a few times actually climbing into a bed from the head and turning around with another person already lying down to cause me to drop that line of thought.

I put the standing room at the foot of the bed like the following design. Crawling into and out of bed from the foot is no problem. Either way, making the bed is somewhat of a chore without side doors. In the end I dropped the rounded corners for more of a giant weekender look.

That said, I do like your design... its very unique. Perhaps you could still sleep with your head to the back if you make the overhead storage a little smaller. You could also put storage under the seats and under the bed behind the slide out kitchen. You could have a hinged lid under the foot of the mattress. It wouldn't be too difficult to lift the back to or three feet of the mattress to access the under-bed storage from above.

Just my two cents... I'll be watching this build.

Chuck

[Gunguy05]

Will be following! I have bow front as well, and I too borrowed ideas from the paddlehead design, along with the campinn 560. Keep us posted on your progress and best of luck.

[Vedette]

Clive
I am a car guy!
So if I wanted corner window in a TD I would just use corner windows out of a 1949 to 54 Chev or GMC deluxe cab PU.
I might even have some up in the barn ( I know I have the rubber seals!)
Hell, I would use the entire rear and roof of the cab for my front.....nice curved top corners, corner windows, and a window in case you don't follow thru with your front door.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[mezmo]

How about making the rear more straight down from the rear curve's
inflection point? [Unless you MUST have both upper and lower
curves for "style" reasons.] It'd be a bit easier to build, but more
importantly, you'd gain more, and better shaped, pull-out kitchen
storage space. Also, aero-wise a kammback would be better for
towing and would also give more upper cabinet [and/or allow it
to be raised upwards - thus giving more bed area headroom] and
galley storage room, as well. The kammback would also mesh well
with the side's and roof's tapers [Use a 15 degree taper or less,
per angib, is the best for aero benefits.]

[UK-Corlett]

Gunguy05

What a fantastic design you have. I will take time tonight and check out your build in detail. In isolation I have come up with the same shape, there is nothing new, eh!

Clive

Mezmo

Good points

Many moons ago I had the idea of a towing camper that was just a bed and then I found you lot who had been making them for years. However the game changer for me and particularly my wife was the fantastic shape.

This incarnation goes further (thanks to paddlehead), its Mobius Band like with the added feature of curves on all sides. The front door is the only concession to anything flat. I must also declare an influence; the Air Stream Base Camp Trailer http://www.gizmag.com/go/4279/ if I can get close to that I will be happy.

You are absolutely correct
1. It would be easer to build - but building it is the point I think
2. It would hold more - but it will hold enough
3. it could be taller - but my wife is small and I do these things for her.


I think if I was designing for practicality I would follow your advice. I have a problem; I am a professional engineer and I am committed 'to sufficient is enough' and 'design by function' but there is a great deal of beauty and grace in a TD shape and that deserves to survive.

Despite 127 posts I hadn't picked up in the word "standies" thanks 'Chuckles'
and disgrace I know but I don't know what a "kammback' is. You say I need a [Use a 15 degree taper or less, per angib, is the best for aero benefits.] where, what, how?

I know about Volkswagen caravan stability tests of the 70's which has lead to all new caravans having a slanted leading face, (is this the taper).


Clive

[UK-Corlett]

I have just got this delivered, I think I am committed to the build.