8' Grasshopper... it grew to 9'6" --> Build progress

[bve]

I've been toying with the idea of a Grasshopper profile in an 8' length. I find the profile suits Jeeps well and it seems there is a bit more storage available over what a traditional 8' tear profile offers.

I'm still learning to work with Sketch-Up so most of the dimensions are out a bit and interior elements are bleeding through the exterior wall, but it should give a basic sense of size and what I am shooting for.

I do have a full size Benroy profile template cut, but still find myself leaning towards the GH profile. As a first build I don't think I am ready to be creating oversized ply sheets (ala Steve Frederick). Sticking to 8' only has me giving up some things I consider 'nice to have' vs need to have as well as keeping the budget reasonable.

Anyhow, I would appreciate any feedback or insight anyone has to offer up, it's still too cold up here for sawdust, but as soon as spring arrives I want to begin a build of some sort.









Thanks in advance,
Burke

[tinksdad]

You may want to widen your door if possible. The door on my Itty-Bitty is 24" wide and it's just marginally acceptable to get in and out.


Edit: Ooops.... on second look, I mistook the window width on your design as the door width. My bad.

[aggie79]

The grasshopper profile really looks good!

In my teardrop (still under construction) I too have about 19" clearance between the floor and the bottom of the interior cabinet. With a 6" mattress, I think that clearance may be a little tight. It's probably okay for feet, but if the interior cabinet has much depth, it is probably too tight around the legs and knees, especially if you toss and turn while sleeping like I do.

[mikeschn]

Can you email me the grasshopper file? I'd like to see if I can import it into my CAD program.

Thanks,

Mike...

[bve]

You may want to widen your door if possible. The door on my Itty-Bitty is 24" wide and it's just marginally acceptable to get in and out.


Edit: Ooops.... on second look, I mistook the window width on your design as the door width. My bad.

Well you made me look. I thought crap did I overlook that, do you think 28" should be ok?

The grasshopper profile really looks good!

In my teardrop (still under construction) I too have about 19" clearance between the floor and the bottom of the interior cabinet. With a 6" mattress, I think that clearance may be a little tight. It's probably okay for feet, but if the interior cabinet has much depth, it is probably too tight around the legs and knees, especially if you toss and turn while sleeping like I do.

Thanks, you have an epic build going btw, I've been watching all the way.

I agree I don't think the interior cabinet clearance is going to be enough, I took a tape to the Benroy profile set up beside the matress for the tear and 1' will be toe touching I think.

Can you email me the grasshopper file? I'd like to see if I can import it into my CAD program.

Thanks,

Mike...

Absolutely - sent.

I kind of have this idea of doing the GH as a woodie too, I don't recall seeing another GH done as a woodie. I figure if I start out with that mindset and mess it up I can still cover it up with marine paint

Thanks for looking
Burke

[Greg M]

The only piece of advice I'd add is to be careful of the tight front radius. I went a bit too tight on my Grasshopper inspired design and had to use that special bendy ply to get around the curve.

-Greg

[bve]

The only piece of advice I'd add is to be careful of the tight front radius. I went a bit too tight on my Grasshopper inspired design and had to use that special bendy ply to get around the curve.

-Greg

Thanks Greg, just checked your album - man you went really tight on your front.

That does bring up a question - how tight is too tight for 1/8th to bend? Probably already answered somewhere else - I guess I'll fire up the search engine.

[High Desert]

any updates or new thoughts on this one Burke? I like your thinking on the 8' length.

[aggie79]

The only piece of advice I'd add is to be careful of the tight front radius. I went a bit too tight on my Grasshopper inspired design and had to use that special bendy ply to get around the curve.

-Greg

Thanks Greg, just checked your album - man you went really tight on your front.

That does bring up a question - how tight is too tight for 1/8th to bend? Probably already answered somewhere else - I guess I'll fire up the search engine.

The lower rear curve on my hatch has a 10" radius. With good plywood - 1/8" baltic birch - a 10" radius is pretty easy:



There is a 6" radius on the bottom front "roll pan" of my teardrop. The 1/8" plywood conformed to this radius, but it required a little "persuasion".

Tom

[bve]

any updates or new thoughts on this one Burke? I like your thinking on the 8' length.

Not too much in terms of updates, I paid a visit to the local boat builders' shop where I intend to get my ply and epoxy from and discovered he has a CNC machine and is willing to cut for me if I provide a dxf.... that got me thinking about all kinds of possibilities (i.e. daydreaming).

I did toy with a 9' version a bit to see what it could offer over and above 8' - but the added complexity and cost keep me coming back to 8'. About all I would change in the 8' is smaller cabinetry inside (more foot room between the bed and bottom of cabinets).

[bve]

how tight is too tight for 1/8th to bend? Probably already answered somewhere else - I guess I'll fire up the search engine.

The lower rear curve on my hatch has a 10" radius. With good plywood - 1/8" baltic birch - a 10" radius is pretty easy:

There is a 6" radius on the bottom front "roll pan" of my teardrop. The 1/8" plywood conformed to this radius, but it required a little "persuasion".

Tom

The top radius on this GH is 8" and is slightly less than 90* from the front face to the roof top (anyone know how to use the protractor in Sketch-up?). I figure the 8" radius should be doable with bendy ply and / or steam if needed, the bendy will almost do it on it's own without too much persuasion.

[bve]

After finding the 8' wouldn't hold a 'decent' sized cooler I took another look at going longer, 9'6" is where I am at now. As much $$$ as I'd save with an 8' I think I'd end up paying for in satisfaction - cutting an 8' Benroy profile and laying it along size a queen mattress was revealing in that respect.

Going 9'6" in addition to allowing room for a real cooler also should accommodate some storage in the nose.

I need to be weight conscious given the 2000# tow restriction of my Jeep. The walls are planned for glass & epoxy over 3mm outer and 3mm inner skins with a 3/4" frame. I'd double up the outer roof skin though.












The idea behind the maple leaf is that it's an inlay of different woods/stains - or more likely an overlay of veneers. There is a name for the tear lingering behind the maple leaf, but I'll reserve mentioning it for now.

I don't know as I have the skills or patience to build this unit as a woodie, but I do know if I don't try I'll never know so...


Burke

[High Desert]

Looks sharp Burke. Since seeing your 8' idea I'd been playing with the sizing too and coming up with similar results lol. Things would allllllmost fit. I also like your thoughts on wall construction. Should be light and still have some R value.

I didn't see mention of it but from the shallow recessed wheel wells I'm guessing your design is five wide on a 4' frame?

[bve]

Thanks for the compliment Shaun.

It's too bad 8' is not quite enough room, before considering an 8' design I had looked into over-sized ply - the thinest I can get is 1/2" and the cost is not worth it at about $150 a sheet. I tried 8' to see what it would allow for, but when all is said and done it just isn't quite enough.

The frame I will be using is 47" wide on the rails, I do have flex-ride stubs so I don't have to recess the wheels, but I also don't really want the track to be much wider than the TV - so yeah 5' wide on 4'

[mikeschn]

Burke,

It looks good, but you'll have a hard time bending plywood around a 9" Radius. Make that radius bigger, and you'll be much happier...

Mike...