foamie with bunks

[couponjnp]

I have seen a design for 2 adults + 2 kids but not exactly sure where it was.

Okay, little search and found it in Sketch up design section of website. It basically points to this link and design from Andrew:

http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/teardrop/tear47.htm

I hope link will show up correctly as posting first link.

Cheers,

JNP

[debo0126]

I had seen that one in the designs gallery. I am having issues fitting a queen bed and two separate bunks into a 10x6.5 space. I may have to go larger or make it a pop top. Has anyone done a poptop (solid sided) in foam?

[couponjnp]

I had similar thought and trying to come up with design for pop top and/or expandable solid walls. Water tightness, weight capacity are some of the important considerations I am working on. Roughly thought a design with a lot of complexity. I will start discussing the design soon after my present committments. Meanwhile, if someone can give some suggestions, that will be great to include in my design.

JNP

[KCStudly]

There have been a couple of tilt up tops that were built traditionally, including Sharon's great build, and Mike Young's version. It shouldn't be hard at all to convert either of these styles to a foamie.

I also seem to recall another lift top that the lifting roof was later redone in foamie fashion in order to make it lighter so that the owner could lift it more easily.

If it were me, I would probably edge all of the folding panels, lift roof, and raised coaming with wood to keep things rigid and resist dents while handling.

[mezmo]

PopTops with hard sides are done in Europe.
I think it'd be worth the effort to do. Look at
bdosborn's Boxcar build on here too. That has them:
viewtopic.php?t=21234

Here's a pic of a French one from 1999:


Here's a link to a current mfr over there:
http://www.silver-pop-up-caravans.com/

In a Foamie, I'd do a perimeter 1x wood or
aluminum square tube frame around the infill
panels so that you have an easy way to attach
the hinges and latches etc..

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[GPW]

Maybe the logical thing is, to start with the bunks (firmly establish those parameters) and than design/build “around” that... The inside dimensions/needs dictate the outside shape . Once you establish the inner ”box" , especially with Foam , it’s easy to add on the bits to get the outside look and function you expect. And ( I just have to say this ) Simpler IS always Better ... Less IS more !!!

[kudzu]

Norm showed an Aussie caravan with a power pop top in the theme of what I was going to suggest. Perhaps you could get ideas from the Squidget PT. http://www.thesquidget.com/

[Junkboy999]

Escape Pod (2x2) sleeps 4 Not foam but could be. Mybe?
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=38663

[ghcoe]

If you want to go 3 feet longer you could go with the Burro design. It has a dinette that folds to a double and a sofa that converts to bunks (like described earlier). Also you get a small inside kitchen and closet inside.

[Bogo]

I had seen that one in the designs gallery. I am having issues fitting a queen bed and two separate bunks into a 10x6.5 space. I may have to go larger or make it a pop top. Has anyone done a poptop (solid sided) in foam?

I'm looking at doing it. My plan is to make a set of SIP panels that have wood borders and then gluing them together into a box. The mating joint I plan to use between the panels is shown at minute three in the video at this page: http://www.caravantimes.co.uk/video/industry/video-what-makes-elddis-solid-construction-a-revolution-in-caravan-building--$21381771.htm Elddis has some further videos out on Youtube. Along the top edges of my bottom box, and top lifting box I'll be using Aluminum angle to provide some rigidity against warping. The SIP panels should be fairly warp free, but I'm not taking chances. The SIP panels will also have wood embedded in them where stuff needs to be attached to them. The skins will likely be Filon (FRP), but aluminum is a close second.

To solve the streamlining issue for making it easy to tow, I'm planning on adding storage areas to the front and rear of the lifting top. They will make the front and rear of the box more aerodynamic while providing much needed storage.

Design wise the biggest issue I've run across is the door. It needs to open and close as one unit, but it also has to work with the top raising and lowering. I'm still working on it.

These are a couple potentials I have been working on. My space requirement is for a long double or queen bed, kitchen and bathroom with toilet and shower. I also want my TTT to be full winterized so they both have at least 2" of insulation, even for the basement area. I've had some designs that are more compact, but I decided I wanted the kitchen and bathroom to be useable without folding the bed up. Both designs have basement areas for the water, gray water, and black water tanks, heater, water heater, water pump, etc..

Three tier for the ultimate in lowness while towing. With regular trailer tires this one would be under 48" tall for towing, but has over a 6' 6" high interior. As shown it has 31x10.5x15 off road tires and is 50" high. With a later design I now have chopped a full 6" off of it's lowered height, but that comes with a price. Storage is seriously reduced. There is no under bed storage during transport.



This one is about 5' tall when towed and was designed to maximize streamlining. For scale, the lady is 5' 7" tall. It also lifts more at the front than at the rear. This is to allow for greater streamlining and still provide full standing height where it is needed in the kitchen and bathroom area. At the bed/couch end it won't provide full standing height. For sleeping 4 it could be stretched a couple feet, the bunks placed along the road side wall, and a bathroom/shower stall placed in the curbside corner. Stretching has an advantage over going wider as the frontal area is smaller and more tucked in behind the tow vehicle. Using a long double bed it easily tucks in behind a standard SUV. With a queen bed it ends up being a few inches wider.