Finally going a lil more public with Project FireBeetle!

[Socal Tom]

Here's another way to park that provides a perimeter and a wind brake

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1422402321.292141.jpg (88.38 KiB) Viewed 2165 times

Tom

[Socal Tom]

Thanks Tom, I wanted to understand your words around the teardrop configurations that seem to work best clearer, could you post a simple sketch and snap it/upload it with a camera phone?
I am wanting to ad these thoughts to the designs and am quite the visual learner.

Also finding a way of breaking electric breaks while pushing a TD on uneven ground sounds good and not sure how to engage electric breaks once you have unhitched? Any ideas out there on that?
Thomas

For the brakes, most TDs that boondock have an on board battery. A means to use that to activate the electric brakes could do it. I would install a female ( Tow vehicle) receptacle on the trailer, then when I disconnect the trailer I would plug the male end into that female end. Then I would hook up a momemtary switch that would provide battery power to the brake curcuit when pushed. It would be full on or full off, but that would probably work for this purpose.
Tom

[GreenViking]

Thanks Again Tom,

Wondering if disc brakes can be actuated by a dual setting (both the tow and some form of hand lever as well?) That way maybe they could also be able to bleed the application of pressure on the brake?

[dales133]

Thanks Again Tom,

Wondering if disc brakes can be actuated by a dual setting (both the tow and some form of hand lever as well?) That way maybe they could also be able to bleed the application of pressure on the brake?

I have disc brakes on mine that also has a handbrake leaver on the hitch

[GreenViking]

Thanks dales133,
Got any names or links to how to set that up for the inexperienced? Also if there might be a way to lock the breaks to prevent theft?

ANTI THEFT DEVICES:
I have seen locks for the hitch, as well as tire/wheel locks.
Concern about the added bulk/weight and storage of all those items. The trailer starts to take on a clunky look with all the extra parts then as well as making it less urban friendly and more things that can get messed with on the exterior.

???HAS ANYONE CREATED a axle locking device?

Thanks for your replies!

[Socal Tom]

Thanks dales133,
Got any names or links to how to set that up for the inexperienced? Also if there might be a way to lock the breaks to prevent theft?

ANTI THEFT DEVICES:
I have seen locks for the hitch, as well as tire/wheel locks.
Concern about the added bulk/weight and storage of all those items. The trailer starts to take on a clunky look with all the extra parts then as well as making it less urban friendly and more things that can get messed with on the exterior.

???HAS ANYONE CREATED a axle locking device?

Thanks for your replies!

An option that might work well your design is a removable hitch. The coupler slides into a reciever on the tongue of the trailer the same way a tow hitch slides into the back of your tow vehicle. If you are really worried about it, you can block the hole with a locking mechanism so no one can stick something else in the hole.
Alternatively, instead of an axle lock, what about a means to lock the stabilizer legs down? If you lock them down, it would be pretty tough to move the trailer somewhere else.
Tom

[dales133]

I'm in Australia so you'd need to find a biff erect supplier but they are mechanical disc's and it's actuated by the hitch.
There is a handbrake leaver attached to it that works on a ratchet.
You could quite easily lock it with minor modifications.ill post a link of the parts I used
http://www.huntsmanproducts.com.au/gal- ... rts-4.html
That's the brake set up except I've used this hitch type.
http://www.huntsmanproducts.com.au/coup ... shaft.html

[GreenViking]

Thanks Dales & Tom! Noted and added to the design builds growing list of tweaks!
Just back from a hot-springs weekend in the rain. Even with the rain it was so hard to drive myself back into the city... so craving the nature time.
Slept in my car and have the sore neck to prove it.

How do you folks deal with high humidity: when you are off grid? I tried using some Damprid, but with the rain outside it did not help much.

[Socal Tom]

Thanks Dales & Tom! Noted and added to the design builds growing list of tweaks!
Just back from a hot-springs weekend in the rain. Even with the rain it was so hard to drive myself back into the city... so craving the nature time.
Slept in my car and have the sore neck to prove it.

How do you folks deal with high humidity: when you are off grid? I tried using some Damprid, but with the rain outside it did not help much.

I usually go to the desert, so humidity isn't a problem. Many people have AC for the hot humid areas. It dehumidifies if sized correctly.
Tom

[S. Heisley]

Moisture build up? You open a vent or window just a crack. In these small units, you just about have to.

Insulation helps a lot, too.

[tony.latham]

Thanks Dales & Tom! Noted and added to the design builds growing list of tweaks!
Just back from a hot-springs weekend in the rain. Even with the rain it was so hard to drive myself back into the city... so craving the nature time.
Slept in my car and have the sore neck to prove it.

How do you folks deal with high humidity: when you are off grid? I tried using some Damprid, but with the rain outside it did not help much.

I'm one of those religious zealots that bows in reverence to my Fantastic fan. Three speeds, reversible. Draws 2-4 amps. Sweeeeeet. (That and two big screened windows on the doors.)

T

[dales133]

Thanks Dales & Tom! Noted and added to the design builds growing list of tweaks!
Just back from a hot-springs weekend in the rain. Even with the rain it was so hard to drive myself back into the city... so craving the nature time.
Slept in my car and have the sore neck to prove it.

How do you folks deal with high humidity: when you are off grid? I tried using some Damprid, but with the rain outside it did not help much.

I'm one of those religious zealots that bows in reverence to my Fantastic fan. Three speeds, reversible. Draws 2-4 amps. Sweeeeeet. (That and two big screened windows on the doors.)

T

Mines sitting in waiting and I got the thermostatic controlled guy too.

[Plainsgirl]

I love your series of drawings..a bit like watching an opera in another language. There are two issues here: one is your amazing imagination and vision and the other is the reality that you need to set all that aside and just build a little shelter to take about with you. That will satisfy your burning drive to build. (and oh my yes it is about the camping.) My other suggestion is that you write to David Walsh at MONA in Hobart, Tasmania. Maybe he will sponsor you to build the mulit-one..the futuristic masterpiece.. because that is actually a separate, and stunning bit of innovation which must be brought into this dimension. But you will need a team with you for that. I feel so blessed to have seen and read this. Thank you.

[GreenViking]

Thank you all for your comments and postings, I am in the process of adding a few more pages of images and notes in my development book on this project. Will share with you all next week some of that.

In the mean time happy Valentines weekend!

I am wanting to get a virtual team of co-creators and ad-visors to approach this project with abit more professional documentations as well as being able to create a small scale model in March with my last month of membership at TechShop. The model is intended to show most the functional parts at 1/12th scale. Will use Laser/router and 3d Printing to produce parts.

Would love a handfull of you to help with any technical or measurments that I might need to model all this in 3d. Let me know if you would like to help out by being a technical adviser and I will create an online work in progress PDF file that allows markups and multiuser editing through my Adobe CC Membership page.

I really am seeking to advance a strong, ultra light + insulated chassis that is hack-able for many uses, not just camping.

Have a great weekend!!

[GreenViking]

OK... just one image b4 weekend!