Roninjiro aluminum Nissan D40 camper
- Thread starter roninjiro
- Start date
Expedition.Report
Explorer
Looking great!! Always impressed by your work!
riveroceanandmountain
Adventurer
I hunted and hunted for a waxed poly-cotton.... but it seems that it is only available in Australia... nowhere could I find it in North America.
I believe eezi-awn roof top tents use it... and many Australian tent manufacturers. I have no personal experience with it but..... for a few years I worked in the bush and the best coat for the job was a waxed cotton australian outback coat. I tried everything from high tech goretex to low tech rubber coated coats... the waxed cotton coat got heavy when wet but it kept me dry from the outside and breathed amazingly well.
So.... I would have loved to try an australian fabric for my pop-up build.... there is one American manufacturer of pop up sleeping units that orders material from Australia... I begged them to sell me some but I understand why they could not.
I completely relate to getting stalled by a step in the build... you definitely have a challenge ahead of you with your tent design. I just did a test tent wall for my build out of a heavy poly cotton fabric.. that I bought super cheap just for the prototype.... I plan to use it when I make the insulating liner some day in the future.
I highly recommend doing a test design/build out of cheap fabric... yours is definitely not going to be simple to sew!
I believe eezi-awn roof top tents use it... and many Australian tent manufacturers. I have no personal experience with it but..... for a few years I worked in the bush and the best coat for the job was a waxed cotton australian outback coat. I tried everything from high tech goretex to low tech rubber coated coats... the waxed cotton coat got heavy when wet but it kept me dry from the outside and breathed amazingly well.
So.... I would have loved to try an australian fabric for my pop-up build.... there is one American manufacturer of pop up sleeping units that orders material from Australia... I begged them to sell me some but I understand why they could not.
I completely relate to getting stalled by a step in the build... you definitely have a challenge ahead of you with your tent design. I just did a test tent wall for my build out of a heavy poly cotton fabric.. that I bought super cheap just for the prototype.... I plan to use it when I make the insulating liner some day in the future.
I highly recommend doing a test design/build out of cheap fabric... yours is definitely not going to be simple to sew!
GCecchetto
Adventurer
I would highly recommend that you talk to FWC about buying some of the rubberized fabric they use for their softwalls. Great stuff made in Germany.
Cheers
Cheers
roninjiro
Explorer
Guys just so you know I am live and well, I just have been looking into and taking advice given here about the fabrics and requesting samples. A few issues I have come to with some of the fabric samples received so far, is weight, resistance properties, price, and flexibility. With a few fabrics I have received, I wanted to use them but ended up finding out that they are not UV resistant, or not fire resistant.
Here is what I have sampled so far and any issues:
Sunbrella - Great stuff, just $$$
2.2oz coated nylon ripstop - Seems too thin/light
Coated Oxford - Not UV resistant
Packcloth - definitely too "loose" of a weave
Cordura - Seems much to heavy and hard to fold for tucking.
Waiting for samples of:
Odyssey III
Surlast
Haven't tried yet:
PolyCotton
Waxed Cotton
FWC fabric
Heavy Canvas (seems to be compare with Cordura?)
Update on the Camper shell. I cut it. Well to be more precise, I had to cut a portion of the main shell to add 0.75x1.75 solid aluminum 6061 bar. This is for the overhang above the cab. I could see it sagging just enough after putting all my weight on it to annoy me.
Here is what I have sampled so far and any issues:
Sunbrella - Great stuff, just $$$
2.2oz coated nylon ripstop - Seems too thin/light
Coated Oxford - Not UV resistant
Packcloth - definitely too "loose" of a weave
Cordura - Seems much to heavy and hard to fold for tucking.
Waiting for samples of:
Odyssey III
Surlast
Haven't tried yet:
PolyCotton
Waxed Cotton
FWC fabric
Heavy Canvas (seems to be compare with Cordura?)
Update on the Camper shell. I cut it. Well to be more precise, I had to cut a portion of the main shell to add 0.75x1.75 solid aluminum 6061 bar. This is for the overhang above the cab. I could see it sagging just enough after putting all my weight on it to annoy me.
bajajoaquin
Adventurer
I really like the concept you have. When you started building, I couldn't visualize how you were going to do the pop-up part either. But it seems like a very simple, elegant design solution. I have a suggestion, though: if you put two diagonal braces out at 45* from the central support pillar, that would give you a lot more head room out at the sides of the tent. It would keep the person sleeping outboard from getting a face-full of tent, and would provide better separation for the stove (presumably) on the other side.
roninjiro
Explorer
Thank you Baja! The concept of the camper is just like how you are suggesting. There will be intermediate tent supports (2) coming off of either the main support beam or off the Camper frame. They may be at different angles though, as over the bed I would like it to create a lower head room height, but over the main area I would like the tent to be higher. I still have not nailed down the exact locations, or angles of those tent supports yet.
Because I have made the overhang with 6063, there is way too much flex and bending going on. Today as the pictures kind of tell you, I have been trying to reinforce the overhand without adding height and welding on the outside or inside of the camper. Once I get this done, i would expect the fabric samples to be here for evaluation.
Because I have made the overhang with 6063, there is way too much flex and bending going on. Today as the pictures kind of tell you, I have been trying to reinforce the overhand without adding height and welding on the outside or inside of the camper. Once I get this done, i would expect the fabric samples to be here for evaluation.
DesertDrifter
Observer
More pop top fabric ideas here: http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_category.php?id=135
Maybe they could supply raw material too?
Maybe they could supply raw material too?
monkeyshowpictures
Observer
I got Outdura fabric for my popup but have not tested it yet. It is similar to Sunbrella I believe and was slightly cheaper.
UK4X4
Expedition Leader
I have a stash of materials for my "tent" project - never started
For the roof I have stashed vinyl type UV proof material off of military truck covers but a lighter version
for the sides I went with a boat type breathable fabric of similar weight -uncoated
Both stored in the garage presently for my project to materialise
The note being you can use diferent materials for the diferent parts- does not need to be all the same
I was concidering wet camping to be the biggest pain- hence the 100% rain proof upper and then breathable sides and good size weather protected windows for breathability
UV wise- if its made with a petrochem - it will eventually fade/ get damaged- but 90% of its time will be out of the way of sunlight
Think along the lines of this
http://www.fabricscentral.com/mm5/m...t_Code=960200&Category_Code=industrial-fabric
http://www.fabricscentral.com/mm5/m...C&Product_Code=973080&Category_Code=architent
For the roof I have stashed vinyl type UV proof material off of military truck covers but a lighter version
for the sides I went with a boat type breathable fabric of similar weight -uncoated
Both stored in the garage presently for my project to materialise
The note being you can use diferent materials for the diferent parts- does not need to be all the same
I was concidering wet camping to be the biggest pain- hence the 100% rain proof upper and then breathable sides and good size weather protected windows for breathability
UV wise- if its made with a petrochem - it will eventually fade/ get damaged- but 90% of its time will be out of the way of sunlight
Think along the lines of this
http://www.fabricscentral.com/mm5/m...t_Code=960200&Category_Code=industrial-fabric
http://www.fabricscentral.com/mm5/m...C&Product_Code=973080&Category_Code=architent
roninjiro
Explorer
Guys I really do appreciate the knowledge and suggestions you have brought to my attention!!! This is easing the pain of finding the proper fabric, and giving me more options. I also have good news, and that is funding is back up on the camper spending account! Once I narrow down on the fabric(s) I will use, the order will go in ASAP. I would like to get the entire tent portion done before I dive into the insulation and interior.
Again thank all of you for your support and assistance!
Again thank all of you for your support and assistance!
roninjiro
Explorer
Ok found the perfect fabric for my purpose. I will be using Surlast by the makers of Sunbrella. It is the perfect weight, flex, UV resistant, strength, water beads the way I want, and have the colors I want. I just got to find a good deal on the fabric, then I can this tent portion done and post up pictures.