A folding wooden camper

[TimC]

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Will do. I don’t see them right at first online. What is their website?

Search "Wiley window" on tnttt and you'll get some hits. I'll admit there are better built examples out there but mine worked well.

[TimC]

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Maybe like this.
With a winch at one end, the line goes up a post to a pulley, down to the roof and across to another pulley, then up to fixed point. Posts store in camper. About 7 ft long.

I think the raising mechanism is clever. I'm no engineer, so maybe some engineer types can chime in here...

I am wondering if you will need a simple cross brace to go from the top of one lifting pole to the other? Something simple that is notched to fit between the top of those poles to make the pole more secure. Looking at your drawing you note a 2x2 lifting pole. That seems light for that purpose but adding a brace at the top could make it work smoothly. A brace might also help keep material weight down by allowing the 2x2 instead of something beefier. Also, consider a foam/PMF roof structure. That'd keep you dry and make the roof very light. Maybe secure the roof to the walls with something like this semi hood latch...



The floor plan looks very similar to a trailer I have contemplated building for years. The Compact III, and its older design, the Compact II by Andrew Gibbens. Those drawings used to be in the tnttt Design Library. They can be found on the "way back machine" or I have PDFs of the drawings by Andrew saved on my PC. The roof lifting design is different but the floor plans are very similar to your drawings. I just finished salvaging another pop-up chassis to build on, but I don't know right now if I'll use that chassis or sell it. Depends on if I get a crazy price for it on my wife's FB Marketplace. If there is no interest at my crazy price I'll think about creating something similar to your or Andrew's Compact III. Maybe I just exposed the real reason for asking so much for this chassis. Maybe, just maybe I really don't want to sell it

Said chassis all cleaned up, rust treated and epoxy painted. She's a beaut!...

[Paintsalot]

Here’s a video update on the folding camper build. I had all kinds of trouble getting the insulated plywood floor to line up with the metal trailer holes. Somehow my measurements were a little bit off and I couldn’t get the bolts to go through. So I had to drill at an angle, and then the carriage bolts started spinning. Anyhow, I think I’ve got it to work now.
I have the 1/4” ACX plywood walls cut and primed.
[youtube] https://youtube.com/shorts/nFK_w0INJho? ... h2oiDcNLL4[/youtube]

[Paintsalot]

...
Maybe like this.
With a winch at one end, the line goes up a post to a pulley, down to the roof and across to another pulley, then up to fixed point. Posts store in camper. About 7 ft long.

I think the raising mechanism is clever. I'm no engineer, so maybe some engineer types can chime in here...

I am wondering if you will need a simple cross brace to go from the top of one lifting pole to the other? Something simple that is notched to fit between the top of those poles to make the pole more secure. Looking at your drawing you note a 2x2 lifting pole. That seems light for that purpose but adding a brace at the top could make it work smoothly. A brace might also help keep material weight down by allowing the 2x2 instead of something beefier. Also, consider a foam/PMF roof structure. That'd keep you dry and make the roof very light. Maybe secure the roof to the walls with something like this semi hood latch...



The floor plan looks very similar to a trailer I have contemplated building for years. The Compact III, and its older design, the Compact II by Andrew Gibbens. Those drawings used to be in the tnttt Design Library. They can be found on the "way back machine" or I have PDFs of the drawings by Andrew saved on my PC. The roof lifting design is different but the floor plans are very similar to your drawings. I just finished salvaging another pop-up chassis to build on, but I don't know right now if I'll use that chassis or sell it. Depends on if I get a crazy price for it on my wife's FB Marketplace. If there is no interest at my crazy price I'll think about creating something similar to your or Andrew's Compact III. Maybe I just exposed the real reason for asking so much for this chassis. Maybe, just maybe I really don't want to sell it

Said chassis all cleaned up, rust treated and epoxy painted. She's a beaut!...

Thanks Tim. I just saw your comment.
I appreciate the feedback because I’m doing something that hasn’t been done before… lots of self-doubt creeping in. I keep wondering if I should do something simpler, but I’m plowing ahead.

My sense about the 2 x 2 posts to support the roof lifting mechanism is that they will be OK because they are primarily in compression and not in bending. The load goes straight down to the pulley on the roof. But a brace across could help for sure- worth considering.
I’m hoping the roof will be less than 60 pounds, so only 30 pounds to lift at each end. Chances are I will not need a lift at all- maybe just something temporary to hold up one end- but the lift might be helpful if there’s wind.

Roof construction- I’m planning to use 1/8th inch plywood for the roof, cork underlayment insulation, maybe a fabric headliner and laminated cedar arches, around 3/4” deep and 1.5” wide. I’m thinking of taking a cedar 2 x 6 and ripping quarter inch strips off of it, then gluing them together on a curved jig.

I’m not sure how to waterproof the roof. There are lots of options. Fiberglass, PMF, waterproof PVC fabric, sheet metal. Open to suggestions.


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[Paintsalot]

Here are some ideas on the roof construction.
I have some cork underlayment that I plan to use to line most of the camper walls and roof.
If I try to put the cork underneath the plywood could separate eventually. It seems better to put the cork on top of the plywood, I just need a way to have a roofing material over the top of the cork.
Purlins are laminated, cedar, or pine.

[Paintsalot]

Maybe, just maybe I really don't want to sell it

Said chassis all cleaned up, rust treated and epoxy painted. She's a beaut!...

Yep, that sounds like you’re not quite ready to sell!!

[Simple_Abound]

I like the design. I built a folding fish house modeled after the michiani shanty many years ago. All the walls were different lengths and folded flat onto each other. The biggest problem is nothing protected it from rain. I'd make the roof with sides to go cover the side walls when down and to protect everything during driving and from rain and dust.

[Paintsalot]

I like the design. I built a folding fish house modeled after the michiani shanty many years ago. All the walls were different lengths and folded flat onto each other. The biggest problem is nothing protected it from rain. I'd make the roof with sides to go cover the side walls when down and to protect everything during driving and from rain and dust.

Cool. Thanks ! Yes- roof will have sides or fascia boards that cover everything from rain. The roof will strap down to a ledge on lower wall.
Here: .
Its changed a bit at this point, but you can kind of see how the roof sits on a ledge.
I will have to weatherstrip the back door.
Lots to learn.

[Simple_Abound]

Here: .
Its changed a bit at this point, but you can kind of see how the roof sits on a ledge.
I will have to weatherstrip the back door.
Lots to learn.

My pop up has a pretty basic seal on the back door. It's window weatherstrip with a metal edge. Over 7,000 miles with pouring rain, snow and dust with no problems. Good luck, I like unusual designs.

[Paintsalot]

Update, today am building laminated arches for the roof out of quarter inch cedar strips that I cut with a circular saw. I read about how to cut the strips here on a canoe forum: https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/s ... er.123822/
Above the cedar arches will be 8 inch Baltic birch, then cork insulation above that, and then a waterproof fabric or PMF roof.

The trailer floor is done, more or less, except I may need to add some washers to hex bolts.
I looked at corrugated, plastic and metal roofing, that could be an alternate roof material.

[Paintsalot]

Update since last post.
I built another Model, 1”=1’-0” scale- this one is more accurate based on what I’m actually building. I wanted to play with roof lifting ideas.


I’ve started making one of the walls. I used 1x4 at door frame- allowing room for hinges and door locks- but wall is a bit heavier than expected.


Built a cedar window. I used V-joint boards that have a rabbet ripped down to 2-3/8”. 1/4” acrylic. Mitered corners was simplest. Miters reinforced with long screw going cross grain more or less. 2 more to build.


When I told my wife, I was posting on the tnttt forum just now, she said, aren’t you too terribly terrific. Haha.

[Paintsalot]

Here are some progress pics. I’m watching the weight and weighing parts as I go. My goal is to stay under 800 lbs. So far I’m on track.

I’ve been working a lot on the front wall or entry wall at the back of the camper. It’s roughly 6 feet tall, so I will have to duck a little bit when I go in the door. The trim is cedar and the plywood is quarter inch ACX. I’m using Viking linseed oil paint. I ordered a quart of green and a quart of white and I’m mixing my own colors. I got it here: https://www.earthandflax.com
I primed the walls, but this paint could’ve gone directly on the plywood.


The hinges are stainless steel.

I built the door twice. At first I had 1x4 framing on the back, but I decided it was too heavy, and I would just use the cedar on the front as the framing. I will still trim out the glass on the inside, which is plexiglass.

Earlier door.


New door:

Just plywood on the back now there’s no framing.

The plexiglass is the same thickness as the plywood, so it sits flush . I drilled some of my screw holes for the plexiglass a little too close to the window opening and you can just barely see them. It’s not going to be a perfect project!

Staining cedar windows below. I’m just using deck stain. It’s semi transparent. The windows are made from tongue and groove cedar. The glass goes in the groove. I am accustomed to making picture frames. See earlier post. There are reinforcing screws in the corners to keep the miters from pulling apart.
These windows will only be exposed when the camper is set up. 5 pounds each. Not bad!


Low side wall construction:
1x2 frame with Kreg jig-


1/4” ply glued, screwed and clamped

Plywood hangs over to cover trailer floor.



I’m not sure what I will do about venting the camper. I’m debating about putting a 12v exhaust fan in a sidewall instead of the roof.

I have some ideas on how I will lift the roof. I can share those later. Have a great day everybody.


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[tony.latham]

I’m not sure what I will do about venting the camper.

While looking through your photos, I was wondering about that issue since you aren't using screened windows. I assume you've got a concept to allow air in?

We hardly ever turn our ceiling vent fan on, but it's always at least cracked open, and sometimes all the way open. With the screened windows open, convection keeps the air moving without the fan being turned on. Even when it's cold, we keep the ceiling lid cracked and at least one window cracked or it gets stuffy.

Tony

[Paintsalot]

I’m not sure what I will do about venting the camper.

While looking through your photos, I was wondering about that issue since you aren't using screened windows. I assume you've got a concept to allow air in?

We hardly ever turn our ceiling vent fan on, but it's always at least cracked open, and sometimes all the way open. With the screened windows open, convection keeps the air moving without the fan being turned on. Even when it's cold, we keep the ceiling lid cracked and at least one window cracked or it gets stuffy.

Tony

Thanks Tony. I will have a separate window screen on the inside. It will either be in a simple wood frame, probably hinged. Or insect screen could be Velcro’d to the inside. I will open the screen to get to the awning window.
The windows are awnings, surface hinge at top. I have some hold-open hardware that I purchased so they can be left open to ventilate.
I will probably use very simple weatherstripping. These windows are only going to be exposed when the camper is set up.

Here’s a very rough sketch of where I’m going


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[Paintsalot]

The quarter inch plywood serves as the stop for the window and the screen.


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