A different approach to a standie...

[brian_bp]

Hi all,

Leonard, here is an interesting concept, which is somewhat similar to your design. Pity about the canvas front and back.

I saw this design last week on a show. In fact, I stood in the camper, and it is quite roomy - even for a tall fellow like me!

http://www.ahaweb.co.za/index.html

YouTube link showing how it is set up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVt4miVlI6c

I find it implausible that the whole thing could be set up in 45 seconds, and indeed their own video is over a minute in when the "Fully erected in just 45 seconds" message flashes up... and at that point the canvas is not properly attached in the back and not done in the front at all. Do they think we're idiots? Why not just claim 2 minutes, which would be honest and still pretty impressive.

[brian_bp]

Thank you for the YouTube link - it contains a trailer to the Jacques Tati film 'Traffic' (not one of his masterpieces, but the study of drivers nose-picking in traffic is superb!) and the multi-adaptable Renault 4 camping wagon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5nf-oplNL0

Folding down the radiator grille to use as a barbeque is just one of the highlights!

Andrew

IMDb link: Trafic

For those who are amused by this, here are the features which I noticed:

• hatch become roof, tent walls in hatch
• folding seats swing out of the bumper
• table slides out between the seats
• built-in coffee maker, plug doubles as cigarette lighter
• sugar dispenser (for the serious coffee-with-sugar drinker)
• front bumper pulls out as barbecue, with radiator grill as, well, the grill
• shower attaches to hatch, complete with curtain
• shaver under horn button
• oil squirter (I don't know why...)
• opening sunroof
• reverse lights pull out and magnetic mount as utility lights
• full galley
• suspenders hook on seatback (?!)
• air mattresses
• extending body, with porthole windows in the extension
• power-extended television

Sorry for the hijack... now back to folding camper designs!

[navigator]

Mike, I have simplified a bit, mainly by dropping the side walls on the roof sections. Now the inner roof has ends to seal to top of body, and the outer roof has an edge to lap the joint both when closed and open. This should be pretty simple to build, operate, and seal. I studied some pix of the Aliner Truck Cabin, and also found the patent with lots of diagrams. Did you have something else in mind?
--
Barrie, that is quite an impressive-looking outfit, but I agree that the canvas puts it out of the game. My design also provides lots of headroom, both in the standing portion and over the bed.
--
Andrew, an interesting car, indeed!
--
Cliff, you're right, it's a poor website. Found the patent for that design, too, but it's pretty short on details, just like the site.
--
Brian, you forgot the steamer above the headlight, for de-wrinkling your clothes (I guess...).

--
Keep in mind that all I'm after is weather-tight, fairly secure sleeping accomodations, and plenty of space for all the "stuff" that makes camping the joy it is. Most all camping time is spent outside, especially the cooking. I want a low-profile rig when towing (and storing), but plenty of height when in use. So here it is, again...





Here is Aliner's solution to more space (and a shower?), well worth copying...

[tjdale]

Navigator,
Instead of having the top open as you have in a folding fashion, which would be difficult to seal, why not have a box within a box configuration? The top box having a roof, and being smaller than the bottom box, fitting inside it. Or make it larger than the bottom box, covering it. Then you would simply have to crawl inside and lift the top box up, or come up with a crank assembly to do this for you. Like the Hi-Lo campers. http://www.hilotrailer.com/hilo.html
Or hinge it like this......http://www.hilomojo.com/mojo_index.html
I know the Hi-Lo's have a rather sophisticated canvas system that seals the top to the bottom, but I think the idea would work on a small camper where the top box fits inside the bottom. Then when lifted up, a canvas attached to the lower edge of the tops sides could be lapped/flapped over the top of the bottoms sides.......I don't have a way to illustrate what I mean, but I hope the thought comes through.

[navigator]

You mean like in this thread?
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=27809



Actually, I was just going over that design again, as it is much simpler...

[navigator]

Here's another take on the concept, this time with a shape that may please more of the 'drop fans, yet still has all the advantages of height and storage...

[tjdale]

How about something like this?

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... index.html