Extreamly light, basic camper Idea

[kudzu]

You could perhaps buy the canvas tent portion & build and build the trailer to fit it.
http://www.canvasreplacements.com/index.php

[WizardOfOdds]

Now THIS is what I'm talking about. Light, easy build. Making the tent is the difficult part. I love it.

Glad you like it, so do I and that is why I posted it on my thread of unusual designs found on the internet
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495.

But a word of warning: The images I post are links to the original page (which I usually include as a separte link when it contains additional pictures and/or info). Those links are lost when the orginal page drops them. I lost the links to two pictures of one of my favorites, an end (side pivioting) A-Frame which was nearly identical to a design I put together decades ago but never built (although I did make a working cardboard model). So do not relie on my thread to forever store photos & info that you find important.

I like the fact that his pop-up design has a rather simple tent top, just straight seams that lend themselve to home fabrication. But he also has many other clever ideas that are visible in the extensive photos on the orginal listing. His trailer looks like it can be built a bit lighter with a little attention to the heavier items.

Let us all know what you decide to do.

[BigGoofyGuy]

Here is a light weight camper trailer from Time Out Trailers.
http://www.timeouttrailers.org/
http://www.timeouttrailers.org/Deluxe-p/camper_deluxe.htm

http://www.timeouttrailers.org/Time-Out-Camper-p/camper.htm

[Socal Tom]

I wonder... Would it be possible to build a fold out, hard sided trailer based off of foamy technology. I picture a box about 2 feet high, the bottom foot or so would have storage underneath. Then above that 4 two inch thick walls would lay until opened up. Once opened a canvas top would be stretched over the top,
?
Tom

Sent from my Lenovo A7600-F using Tapatalk

[WizardOfOdds]

I assume your vision is that the folding sides and ends hinge at the lower end allowing them to fold inward and flat parallel to the floor. At least that is how most that I’ve seen fold. If so, the problem I puzzle over is: how do you attach hinges to the foam?

Fixed geometry foam trailers seem to derive their strength from the skin glued to the outside walls that ‘turns the corner’ around the floor and roof seams. When this joint (seam) has to hinge, I’m not sure what holds them together. (Obviously the hinges do, but what holds the hinges to the foam?). Perhaps the hinges could attach to a wood (or metal) edge (frame) across the base of each wall, with the wood/metal attached to the foam by a ‘wrap-around’ skin over it and both sides of the foam. This would be the first issue I would address in designing such a folding trailer.

[mezmo]

Maybe a hard floor flip-over style, like these, would be an approach to take ?

http://www.rollahome.com/products/product-info

http://www.leesurelite.com/tent-trailers.asp

http://www.kamparoo.com/vacationer.htm

[Socal Tom]

I assume your vision is that the folding sides and ends hinge at the lower end allowing them to fold inward and flat parallel to the floor. At least that is how most that I’ve seen fold. If so, the problem I puzzle over is: how do you attach hinges to the foam?

Fixed geometry foam trailers seem to derive their strength from the skin glued to the outside walls that ‘turns the corner’ around the floor and roof seams. When this joint (seam) has to hinge, I’m not sure what holds them together. (Obviously the hinges do, but what holds the hinges to the foam?). Perhaps the hinges could attach to a wood (or metal) edge (frame) across the base of each wall, with the wood/metal attached to the foam by a ‘wrap-around’ skin over it and both sides of the foam. This would be the first issue I would address in designing such a folding trailer.

Actually, I thought the walls could fit into slots in the floor and then the corners could have a fabric velcro overlap to keep them tight.
Tom

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[WizardOfOdds]

Actually, I thought the walls could fit into slots in the floor and then the corners could have a fabric velcro overlap to keep them tight.

Interesting. I assume the velcro is used both to hold the walls to the slotted base and to join walls at the vertical corners. I suppose there could be slots (or shoulders) for the vertical seams similar to the base. Do you envision a pile of 'erector set' panels or do they hinge into place at the base? I can see a wide velcro strip being a pretty strong wrap around a 90 degree corner, but I am not sure how you plan to combine it with a slot. The saving grace here is the joints need not stand the stress of highway travel, just that of wind at a stationary setup.

I suggest you make a simple drawing or two of your ideas (a simple paint program is sufficient to convey basic concepts) and post them on the Foamie section of this site (but be prepared for a lot of ney-sayers and don't let them discourge you).

http://www.tnttt.com/viewforum.php?f=55

[Socal Tom]

Actually, I thought the walls could fit into slots in the floor and then the corners could have a fabric velcro overlap to keep them tight.

Interesting. I assume the velcro is used both to hold the walls to the slotted base and to join walls at the vertical corners. I suppose there could be slots (or shoulders) for the vertical seams similar to the base. Do you envision a pile of 'erector set' panels or do they hinge into place at the base? I can see a wide velcro strip being a pretty strong wrap around a 90 degree corner, but I am not sure how you plan to combine it with a slot. The saving grace here is the joints need not stand the stress of highway travel, just that of wind at a stationary setup.

I suggest you make a simple drawing or two of your ideas (a simple paint program is sufficient to convey basic concepts) and post them on the Foamie section of this site (but be prepared for a lot of ney-sayers and don't let them discourge you).

http://www.tnttt.com/viewforum.php?f=55

Picture a stakebed pickup truck, but instead of the "stakes" that reach down into the bed, there would be a slot a couple of inches deep that would help hold the panels in the right location until the 4 corners could be velcroed together. Velcro on the bottom is a good idea too. Once the 4 corners were hitched together it would be pretty stable, then canvas could be unrolled over the top, over lapped on the sides and sealed with velcro.
I've got no plans to build this, just throwing out an idea for the masses. I was just looking at where the foam idea could go next.
Tom

[beakman]

This thread has been "sleeping" for a while, but here's a simple DIY that's similar to the old Apaches:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-y ... /?ALLSTEPS