pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
Have you considered a constant force spring? https://www.centuryspring.com/products/constantforce.php
@Adrifters - F550 Surf Camper Build - Adrift Motorhome
- Thread starter S2DM
- Start date
Thanks on the spring rec. I will look into those. Id thought about some sort of spring mount hook and catch mechanism, that I could lower with a small hand crank. That could fit the bill.
Got the third articulating wall in place for a test fit and everything appears to work as it should.
Should be putting on primer in the next few days!
Got the third articulating wall in place for a test fit and everything appears to work as it should.
Should be putting on primer in the next few days!
Got the bed platform mostly done today, and part way into getting the new slider system in place.
The bed platform has two set of hinges. The front lifts on gas pistons to access the underbed storage, and the rear lifts manually and has a futon style mechanism built in that allows the back to stay up and function as a couch.
The doors turned out to be tons of work, more than expected. Getting the tolerances right has sent me back to fabrication several times already, but it feels like they are getting close.
The bed platform has two set of hinges. The front lifts on gas pistons to access the underbed storage, and the rear lifts manually and has a futon style mechanism built in that allows the back to stay up and function as a couch.
The doors turned out to be tons of work, more than expected. Getting the tolerances right has sent me back to fabrication several times already, but it feels like they are getting close.
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
^ great shot...with the truck there in the background.
Coming along nicely!
Coming along nicely!
Got primer on yesterday. It was exciting and depressing at the same time. Really showed off all the little areas that need to be fixed. But it does represent basically the end of glassing, which was worth toasting with a few margaritas last night 
The little pocket in the wall under the cab over is the air feed for the AC system, and the bigger pocket that gets covered when the top is down is where the outside unit of the split system lives. I have it set up with a magnetic sensor so the AC only can operate when the top is up to prevent the condenser from working in a closed box.
The pockets in the roof are for our longer surfboards and also act as a full length safari roof. I wanted a way to bring the longboards without covering the solar panels. The Panels sit down in a protected pocket, the little holes are drains for rain water. Debating setting up a catchment system off of that.
The little pocket in the wall under the cab over is the air feed for the AC system, and the bigger pocket that gets covered when the top is down is where the outside unit of the split system lives. I have it set up with a magnetic sensor so the AC only can operate when the top is up to prevent the condenser from working in a closed box.
The pockets in the roof are for our longer surfboards and also act as a full length safari roof. I wanted a way to bring the longboards without covering the solar panels. The Panels sit down in a protected pocket, the little holes are drains for rain water. Debating setting up a catchment system off of that.
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Basically yes. Instead of bondo, we've been using a vinyl ester based putty/filler that is safe for use above and below water line. $200 a gallon, but sands really nicely and impervious to water.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/3m--marine-premium-filler--P004_120_005_002
Same resin I used elsewhere, but catalyzes with standard bondo activator and cures in 20 minutes. For all the small stuff, its a catalyzed duratec marine sanding primer, and then glazing compound for the pin air holes. Hoping to be into paint late next week and then on into electrical.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/3m--marine-premium-filler--P004_120_005_002
Same resin I used elsewhere, but catalyzes with standard bondo activator and cures in 20 minutes. For all the small stuff, its a catalyzed duratec marine sanding primer, and then glazing compound for the pin air holes. Hoping to be into paint late next week and then on into electrical.
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justbecause
perpetually lost
:yikes:
I know, its nuts. Probably overkill, we were originally using evercoat rage gold which is ~ $75 a gallon, but for all the exterior fairing which is going to be parked next to a beach constantly, we decided it was worth biting the bullet to use marine fairing compounds.
sarconcepts
Adventurer
do the roof channels (for the surfboards) run the full length of the roof?
it's tough to tell from the side pics
& do you have a way to lock the surfboard into the channels? or do they stay in by friction & the goodwill of the people loitering around!
last question.. ... is there a front drain in those, for rainwater if you're pointing downhill?
the varying skills of everyone here amazes me
it's tough to tell from the side pics
& do you have a way to lock the surfboard into the channels? or do they stay in by friction & the goodwill of the people loitering around!
last question.. ... is there a front drain in those, for rainwater if you're pointing downhill?
the varying skills of everyone here amazes me
The roof is 14 feet long (the footprint is 8'10") and the longboard pockets are 10' long. The solar panels cover 11' of the roof and the complete side to side distance, leaving 3 feet for a large sunroof and a vent fan over the bed. The flange extends up 2" above the roof to create a little pocket for the solar panels to protect from side impact.
I'm building a Kamm tail, kind of similar to what you see on semi trucks. The tail will have cut outs for fins and lock in the up position with the fins in the cut outs when traveling with surfboards. It will lockdown such that the fins in the cutouts will hold the boards in place. When not carrying boards, it will lock in the down position and close those pockets which are just big enough to fit snowboards or fishing gear etc. Planning on kamms on the sides as well, which will close around the motorcycle and protect it, and house gear on the inside edge when open. Not sure if it will do much for mpg, but it won't hurt, and I think look kinda of trick having a molded tail that protects everything and makes aerodynamic improvements, as well a spot to store things on the inside.
I put another set of drains up front and the longboard pocket is open in front, so water can run straight through. The pockets are arched in the same rocker as our surfboards, so I would have to be parked at a pretty steep angle to get water to run over the hump in the pockets, but I left them open in front for that reason and to keep it easy to blow then out if they get debris in them. Hoping the combo of solar panels, second layer of composite roof, three foam longboards, and then the camper main roof, should keep us pretty well insulated.
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Nitromethane43
Observer
That's coming along nicely, did you finish the board pockets before putting it all together, or are the insides just going to be raw, those seem to be pretty tough to get to.