Leveling leg design feedback sought

Anything to do with mechanical, construction etc

Leveling leg design feedback sought

Postby Kampereen » Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:37 pm

I created a lightweight set of leveling legs for my motorcycle camper because the existing Atwood-style product is clunky and heavy. For the most part I really like how they work, but I’d like to improve on the design and I thought maybe some here might have some ideas. I would appreciate your input.

The sliding leg is a length of 1” aluminum U-channel. The channel has an insert made of ¾ marine plywood. A 20” length of t-track is mounted to each corner of the camper box. Each leg is attached to the t-track with two T-track bolts. The bolts are tightened/loosened using star knobs. When deployed, the star knobs are loosened and the leg is allowed to drop. The knobs are retightened, pulling the wood face of the slider leg against the T-track.

I would like to find a way to simplify the design and improve usability. When I first built these, I wanted to find some way to replicate the jam-locking action of the Atwood-style leg extensions. I do like that part of the Atwood leg design. It is very simple to drop the leg extension.

Tightening the star knobs and using the friction between the leg’s wood face and the t-track works, but the process of loosening/tightening the knobs takes longer than I’d like, and you have to have some good hand strength to get the knobs tight enough to hold. I have that strength, but if I build one of these for someone else, they might not.

I have included some pics in this post, and I also shot a short demo at this link: https://youtu.be/xTRZykX62Lw

Any thought? Ideas? Are there other simple, super light pre-made leveling leg options on the market I've overlooked?
Attachments
IMG_2993.jpeg
IMG_2993.jpeg (202.15 KiB) Viewed 224 times
IMG_2990.jpeg
IMG_2990.jpeg (233.38 KiB) Viewed 224 times
IMG_2991.jpeg
IMG_2991.jpeg (177.57 KiB) Viewed 224 times
The Kampereen: A Build Journal
http://www.kampereen.com
User avatar
Kampereen
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 31
Images: 18
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 3:20 am

Re: Leveling leg design feedback sought

Postby JasenC » Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:52 am

Some cam clamps would be quick, once you have them set it's pretty much just a flip of the lever to lock them down, these come in 5/16-18 and 1/4-20
Check the woodworking stores, Amazon probably carries some as well.

168655
I'll be done when I'm finished, if that's not fast enough, take a number.

Build Thread https://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74269
User avatar
JasenC
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 420
Images: 122
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:05 am
Location: Snohomish county Wa

Re: Leveling leg design feedback sought

Postby Kampereen » Sat Apr 02, 2022 7:35 am

JasenC wrote:Some cam clamps would be quick, once you have them set it's pretty much just a flip of the lever to lock them down, these come in 5/16-18 and 1/4-20
Check the woodworking stores, Amazon probably carries some as well.

168655


thanks, I will try experimenting with those.
The Kampereen: A Build Journal
http://www.kampereen.com
User avatar
Kampereen
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 31
Images: 18
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 3:20 am
Top


Return to Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests