pivoting frames and mounting campers
- Thread starter lehel1
- Start date
Yah sure I will give it a wash tommorow and take some pictures. Its currently covered in mud and you cant really tell whats what
jesusgatos
Explorer
This thread on Pirate4x4 just got revived, and those guys are talking about modified buggies, but I don't think it would be too difficult to build an expedition vehicle using a rollcage as the perimeter and foundation of the cab and box. Maybe it's a different conversation better-suited to another thread...
ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
I've no idea what they might have to say Jesse, I quit reading PoOR about the same time that I joined rdc.
A monocoque design approach to building the box would yield a stiffer unit at less weight to potentially a lot less weight, and with less objectionable intrusion into the human space than in trying to do it with a tube frame.
The key would be that the interior panels, and not just the inner skin of the outer walls, would need to be designed as box structure and not just as cabinets. Even though he framed in tube, Rob Gray appears to have had this in his mind when he built his two machines.
A monocoque design approach to building the box would yield a stiffer unit at less weight to potentially a lot less weight, and with less objectionable intrusion into the human space than in trying to do it with a tube frame.
The key would be that the interior panels, and not just the inner skin of the outer walls, would need to be designed as box structure and not just as cabinets. Even though he framed in tube, Rob Gray appears to have had this in his mind when he built his two machines.
dzzz
™
Anyone have these photos? This sounds like a simpler system
Longhaul, the scans you made from the magazine are lost.
However, here's the article from Australian 4WD Monthly
in web form:
http://www.4wdaction.com.au/customs_canter_p1.php
However, here's the article from Australian 4WD Monthly
in web form:
http://www.4wdaction.com.au/customs_canter_p1.php
I did some testing of my in-progress 4 point mounting system build. Here's a video:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iandraz/3517167547/
There's a lot of flex there, and this is with no load. I would be wary of traversing rough terrain without a design that allows for this twisting. Even if you can minimize the frame flex with a stiff camper box or reinforced frame, there would likely be stress concentrations created that could cause problems later.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iandraz/3517167547/
There's a lot of flex there, and this is with no load. I would be wary of traversing rough terrain without a design that allows for this twisting. Even if you can minimize the frame flex with a stiff camper box or reinforced frame, there would likely be stress concentrations created that could cause problems later.
jesusgatos
Explorer
Hah. Just like the rest of the forums; there's some good tech under all the layers of bullMMMM. What you're saying makes sense. I think you gave me the same input regarding the transmission tunnel/backbone of that 4WD buggy I was designing over on RDC. I'm going through the same thing right now with a cabover storage box that I need to build for mah deuce. Sheetmetal would probably be the best way to do it, but I think I might have to build out of tube and then skin it. I tend to think in terms of tubing because it's within my means (budget & ability) to build with.I've no idea what they might have to say Jesse, I quit reading PoOR about the same time that I joined rdc.
A monocoque design approach to building the box would yield a stiffer unit at less weight to potentially a lot less weight, and with less objectionable intrusion into the human space than in trying to do it with a tube frame.
The key would be that the interior panels, and not just the inner skin of the outer walls, would need to be designed as box structure and not just as cabinets. Even though he framed in tube, Rob Gray appears to have had this in his mind when he built his two machines.
boblynch
Adventurer
Very cool - thanks for posting. I'm looking at flatbed for a cabover truck camper and am trying to address flexibility without having a major gap between the bottom of the camper and top of the truck cab.
What are the dimensions of your materials (square tubing, rear pivot, etc.)? What is the approximate height from the top of the frame rails to the top of the cross members? In other words how tall is the overall system?
dzzz
™
Then the fixed points probably need to be in front.
dzzz
™
I'm not sure by you comment if you likes the result or not. I think that looked good for no load. Weight and walls will make it even better. The biggest camper stress point will be the door, which I assume you putting at the low middle.
Yes, I'm quite happy with the result so far. This is only tack-welded together at this point and as you say, the walls and interior components will stiffen things a lot. The frame flexes a bit more than even I was expecting but fortunately the pivots do allow for it. I will have to be careful mounting tanks and batteries to the frame to avoid interference with the camper.
I don't know if I mentioned it but I should note this design uses Trelleborg VP rubber bushings for the pivot points. Here's the link to the datasheet:
www.trelleborg.com/upload/IndAVS/Files/Industrial%20PDF/VP&UD.pdf
I don't know what other people are using, it seems some are using a simple bolt pivot?
The floor of the camper will only be about 2-3 inches above the truck frame which I think is unique for a 4 point mounting system. Most designs are quite a lot higher.
I don't know if I mentioned it but I should note this design uses Trelleborg VP rubber bushings for the pivot points. Here's the link to the datasheet:
www.trelleborg.com/upload/IndAVS/Files/Industrial%20PDF/VP&UD.pdf
I don't know what other people are using, it seems some are using a simple bolt pivot?
The floor of the camper will only be about 2-3 inches above the truck frame which I think is unique for a 4 point mounting system. Most designs are quite a lot higher.
Very good video.
dzzz
™
Could you take some close up shots of the bushing and pivot? I appreciate you pointing out the Trelleborg product.
