Collapsable Hard Tent?

[scottyp]

Has anyone ever experimented with building a collapsable camping shelter that had a hard shell (possibly insulated) that would keep you dry and out of the weather? I like the idea of basically having a "Hard top tent" that I could collapse and fold into a box of some sort and stow away in the back of my hatchback and take with me anywhere I like. Ideas?

[hiker chick]

Sounds like an Aliner, minus the wheels.

http://www.aliner.com/design/products_d ... 6?sectid=5

[SuperTroll]

Expand on the requirements a little...how wide? how tall?, just for sleeping? for how many?

...think a cardboard xerox paper box, built from luan, put together with piano hinges....but if you can forgo the hard sides for soft...think tent cot.....folds flat, sets up up off the ground, it comes single full or double, and when utilizing the rain fly, it has a dead airspace insulation approx 2" thick that rawks...(Tunnel vents so you don't suffocate, and think of the possibilities if you rig a petcool ac/heater to it.....





http://www.kamprite.com/pages/home

[scottyp]

yep that's exactly the point, I'd like to build a smaller version of an Alite 400 on some level. Basically delete the trailer, cut down some of the length and width, and basically ends up looking like one of those storage boxes for the top of a car, anyone have more than just the floor plans? I'd love to get some good ideas on how it could fold down. I need dimensions of the basic box, any ideas of what materials I could use? Obviously weight is the biggest issue.

[scottyp]

I'd like at least 2 people so probably the minimum dimensions would be something like 4 x 6.5, I figure I could play with the height of the box, maybe 1.5' ???? anyone have an Alite 400 that can give me some ideas of the dimensions of that puppy? or better yet draw it up?

[navigator]

Maybe something like this? (It folds down...)



Full details on the Car Top Camper here: http://www.bobsteardrop.com/Other_designs.htm

[scottyp]

that's kinda cool, problem is i don't see how it would fold down? and I also don't want to keep it on my roof, I'd take it off the roof after I arrived at my destination

[bgordon]

Hi,

Interesting concept... Although if it has to have hard sides, then it's sure to take up some space. So putting it any other place than on the roof (like in the trunk) will probably not work.

So, what about a TINY trailer. And I mean TINY!! Look at this. It might give you ideas to work with (and plans are available).

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=20032

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... 214#295214

[bgordon]

Hi,

If you think about building, then the Esterel could also provide inspiration... Delete the trailer, and keep the top part for a car rooftop box (although I think it will be too heavy to remove from the top of a car).

[angib]

I think you're asking for the impossible (or at least impossible without a NASA budget) - the combination of being light enough for two people to lift, small enough (folded) to fit in a hatchback and large enough (unfolded) to fit people inside is a very tall order.

The folder carried on the roof is a viable option though you'll need two strong people to lift it on and off. With something like this, you would need to look carefully at the sealing arrangements - most things like this seem to seal well enough to keep out rain when they're unfolded, but actually keeping them sealed when folded and on the roof of a car in a thunderstorm is harder - all that suction at speed can drag water a long way. No point arriving with your hard sided tent to find that it's got a soaking wet mattress inside it, eh?

Realistically, an A-liner style box containing space for two is going to be 7-8ft long, 4.5-5ft wide, about 18-24in high when folded and weight around 200lb if built really lightly, so it's not some little thing.

Andrew

[PaulC]

Scotty, Have a look at "The Folding Bedroom" here
http://www.mikenchell.com/VintagePlans/vintageplans.html

Just modify it to suit your purposes. The only problem I can see you having is the weight of your idea. Damned if I would want to be lugging something that converts into a bed for two with hard sides.
Cheers
Paul

[bgordon]

Thanks for the confirmation Andrew. That's what I thought also...

I think you're asking for the impossible (or at least impossible without a NASA budget) - the combination of being light enough for two people to lift, small enough (folded) to fit in a hatchback and large enough (unfolded) to fit people inside is a very tall order.

The folder carried on the roof is a viable option though you'll need two strong people to lift it on and off. With something like this, you would need to look carefully at the sealing arrangements - most things like this seem to seal well enough to keep out rain when they're unfolded, but actually keeping them sealed when folded and on the roof of a car in a thunderstorm is harder - all that suction at speed can drag water a long way. No point arriving with your hard sided tent to find that it's got a soaking wet mattress inside it, eh?

Realistically, an A-liner style box containing space for two is going to be 7-8ft long, 4.5-5ft wide, about 18-24in high when folded and weight around 200lb if built really lightly, so it's not some little thing.

Andrew

[scottyp]

Nearly impossible to make it small enough to fold into the hatch of my car (Suzuki SX4) but definately not impossible to make the roof mounted Idea. Just difficult to make it light, 200 lbs is probably a little heavy to place on the roof of your car no?

[angib]

I've been playing with this idea - firstly in my head, while grouting tiles! Here's a first shot which shows my 18-24" depth was excessive, as it's 12" deep when folded.



This is a bit too long at nearly 8ft - I'm assuming an interior height of 12" is needed over a 72" length, which means that the 'tent' has to be around 90" long as the ends taper to nothing - but that would be good overnight storage space.

This design depends very much on how solid you would want it to be - I think this would be the perfect application for some super-light techniques, like making your own wafer-thin fiberglass and bonding it either side of foam sheets to make home-made sandwich panels - this could easily cut the weight by half or more, though you could kick a hole through it if you tried.

The first practical problem is finding a door latch that is no thicker than the door on either side, otherwise the side panels won't fold right down.

Andrew

[scottyp]

this is what I've come up w/ so far