Search results

Howdy! I'm still working my way out of hibernation up here in wintery Wyoming, but there's been a lot of activity underfoot finishing up the flagship camper and starting into the next production unit. The camper design's progress from prototype to production model shows immediate improvements in...

Thank you @jwiereng and @RDinNHand AZ for your encouragement and questions. It's easy to get stuck down the rabbit hole when chasing little design or production details, and I appreciate being able to step back and engage folks' ideas. 2020 has certainly been a wild year, but I'm grateful for...

Good on you for digging in and starting to put together ideas for your next build! I think you could be well suited considering the standard aluminum extrusions and t-slots. Many of these framing systems were developed for use in manufacturing and industrial environments where they see variable...

Ahoy, friends! My sincerest apologies for not catching this bump earlier. I was playing host to a couple groups of out-of-town family escaping to the outdoors of Wyoming, then we got evacuated due to wildfires (thankfully) right after everyone left. We and our neighbors are fortunate to not have...

@86scotty, we're on the same page. I installed a solid window in the door of the prototype to test the gasket and installation method, but an operable back window would enable a person to reach through and unlatch the tailgate if/when the need arises. That makes sense as a baseline feature for...

Y'all are onto something! Thank you @PHeller for the thoughtful post about the opportunities and challenges associated with developing a high value camper. I just got off the road after a week driving the rig cross country to spend time with my in-laws, and I'm looking forward to putting...

@PHeller, DIY retrofitting existing soft-sided campers with hard walls is absolutely something that could be tackled with the right amount of testing and elbow grease. I can't speak specifically to Hiatus's design, but I've been developing a wedge style hard-sided pop-up that takes inspiration...

Hello again, folks! Between Wyoming's temperamental spring weather and a measured re-opening, I've been doing more daydreaming about camping adventures than actual adventuring. With a little determination, though, we've taken advantage of recent good weather to put some miles on the prototype...

Thank you for the interest and questions! You hit on two items that have occupied a lot of my thoughts on design and usability of the product. Fundamentally, I want this camper to provide a platform that enhances folks' day-to-day use of their vehicle and enables a seamless transition between...

Hello world! I've been absent the thread for a handful of weeks, but this community has frequently been on my mind during these trying times. (2MB limit on GIFs. Please, excuse the low resolution.) The hard-sided wedge pop-up successfully made it onto my truck on Feb 29th, and I immediately...

There have certainly been times the past month that I felt like a human jack-in-the-box, but the efforts have been rewarded with a functional prototype! Here are another couple of GIFs to show the collapsing motion of the completed prototype unit. This time with gas struts to make life easier...

That's a great idea of developing a dutch door style upper half for the pop-up back wall. I have seen some examples of this being done with pop-up camping trailers, so there's definitely room to play with it in pop-up truck campers. I love that your mind went immediately to the shoebox shape...

I started with 4 different origami models that were made following the principles outlined in the 1968 patent for the original Snap and Nap feature on the Amerigo campers. The model that I decided to turn into the full size prototype most closely resembles the 1968 design. All origami concepts...

Awesome to see the first full size unit and a happy customer. The unit looks great, and there can't be enough said about doing business with nice people. Go Hiatus!

I can't say if they've looked at carbon fiber kevlar, but the folks at GFC have a couple years under their belt now and a big commitment to R&D. I'm confident they're covering all the bases. I lived in Bozeman for 5 years before moving back down to WY, so I'm a huge fan of the resourceful...

I've thought about scratch building my take on a flat top version of an Alaskan in the past, but I had no idea the Siesta existed. Great work on the restoration! Love the old school hard sided pop-ups.

Fiberglass is a good option and potentially easier to source. I'll also look into the phenolics suppliers in GA and elsewhere. Thank you for the tip! I've had great experience in the past contracting with steel suppliers and fabricators in GA, and I'd gladly work with more folks there in the...

Thanks for the encouragement! More pics and a substantive update coming later this next week. I've been heads down working on the final layup of all of the framing + panels, experimenting with different hinging / sliding mechanisms, and I just made the cuts for the collapsing sidewalls...

This is great insight and something that I will investigate in more detail. What thicknesses did you find were used for the phenolic strips? Also, was the phenolic strip method typically employed with bolted/riveted assemblies, or were structural adhesives ever employed as well? Thank you!

Great questions, and I think you’re getting right to the heart of the matter with campers in winter. There are lots of techniques you see employed to deal with thermal bridging and condensation issues, and I plan to take an iterative approach to find the best balance of performance and...