Building my own roof top tent/ halling box

[joejo]

I found a willys kit truck bed .I am planning to make a trailer out of it. Just as I pick it up. It got winter time. So now it's to cold to work on it..

I will be putting a roof top tent on it.

So as I spent many days beseeching the web to tell what be the best way to go. No luck. So I will build my own. All in put will be great. Good bad what would you do.

I want a clamshell . I like how fast they go up and down.

# 1 I have found none that have good insulation

. It will set on top of a car. So finding shade to park under will be hard.

# 2.I have no place to park and open up when it is wet I like to have the cloth come out to dry and to use as a storage box..

# 3 must have a shelf/cot that folds down for a kid are just a table.

#4, 5, 6, not cost $3000 are more.

 

[binrat]

Good luck, have fun and most importantly post up some pictures.

 

[joejo]

Binrat will do .
Wow time goes past fast.
I looked in to using wood are plywood. But that will become twisted and out of shape .In a few years. So look in to PVC. , ABS pipe. That gets out of shape in the heat also.
So why to try to reinvent the wheel?
The higher costing clamshell tents are made from fiber glass. I have seen some web sites that have posted fiber glass and plywood builds. The fiberglass being used as a frame.
I have look at a few suppliers but found only one that I could use.
They make ice houses and shooting stands and such.
The shape of what they have is a 90 with a 3/8 reset with a 2 “lip.
It‘s only 4 X4 inches .So if I make two boxes to from the clamshell. On the bottom one leaving the lip on. Trimming the lip on the top box I could make a clamshell 8.5 to 9 inches deep.
After adding 1” of foam on the top and 3” mattress that dose not levee a lot of room
After call them and talking to the owner about some thing deeper
I was told there just resellers. He would look in to some thing deeper and get back to me Sunday.

 

[joejo]

After reading http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/79283-Roost-Tents .I change my plan as how to attach the fabric to the roof of the box. I had planed to use double-sided stick-on Velcro strips. So I could remove the fabric to dry are use as a roof top box.Looks like heat makes it not hold
It has to have lots of air going though to stop rot.Will have to find away to work in some vents.

 

[joejo]

hinges

As I wait to see if they will be doing deeper section. For the top box
I need to decide what I will do for hinges. If I use a long body.
I can use hinges with removable pins. IT can be made to open back to front are side ways. Using two set of hinges.
If I using VW bus hinges the body can be shorter .It would only open front to back .

 

[joejo]

Trying to find hinges

Trying for some VW hinges no real luck . At this time I plan just to go longer with the box.
I call a few dealers of clamshell tent's to see how they are put together . It funny how many made in the U.S are held up at west coast ports When did China become made in the U.S?
I am stop on the fiberglass part . There to be here in April. The bottom box will be four deep , Top will be ten So I'll Start to do all the sewing. Will start taking picture .Any input would help.

 

[joejo]

I better get moving if I plan to use this summer.I'll be biding for what I plan to use as the bottom box. That way I can start my sewing.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Modular-Chuck-wagon-fiberglass-component-kit-Generator-cover-teardrop-trailer-/251842942011?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3aa302543b&vxp=mtr
What do you think?