Popup lift more than 1m?

[M.Bas]

I've been somewhat stumped at how to do a hardsided popup more than a meter or so - lets say 48" - to 52". Straight piston, or double pistons, don't seem to be that long. The issue isn't strength, it's the torques that occur in real word use. I can use compound movements, but all of these I've considered are either weak or complicated. How would you do a large 48" popup? How would you do a 2m one side popup (The other end is just a hinge). How would you deal with the side loads caused by wind?

I did a quick search and found a Dutch supplier (manufacturer is German)

Technical highlights

-stroke up to 9 m
-linear speed up to 17 m/s
-linear thrust to 20,000 N
-positioning accuracy up to 0.08 mm
-no energy consumption at stop

Should be enough to lift a poptop :drool:

They probably aren't cheap since it are heavy duty industrial actuators (which introduces a whole lot of other problems).

So I think the problem is not finding an actuator that extends 1 meter, but finding an actuator that does that using a 12V or 24V DC motor and you are able to mount on you vehicle.

And a 2 meter one side pop up? If the actuator is strong enough it doesn't need to be the full in length.
From the same manufacturer as above, they have a 24V DC actuator that has a 500mm stroke, has a trust of 3000N, speed of 20mm/sec, a 0.1kW motor and weighs 5kg's. 2 of them should be able to lift almost any one sided pop top I guess.

ps. they to customs actuators so maybe they are willing to do a 1 meter stroke with a DC motor (24V) if you ask them.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Hey Mick. Found this.
http://www.customcylindersintinc.com/camper_trailer_roof_lift_system.htm

Know you'll find that interesting but I saw something really cool last week. >>> A super cheap and simple airbag system that stitches to pop top soft sides and inflates with a mini compressor. You still need scissors but the airbags do the actual lifting. Only new so I don't think he has a website yet. I'll see if I can get some pics.

 

[michaelgroves]

Not much technical information about this, but here are a couple of pics of a Unimog belong to a Belgian couple we met while travelling. IIRC, he had a small electric winch mounted on the cab roof for doing the raising. We really admired the design! Did it all himself, too.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Michael, That truck is amazing. And the mog looks OK too. Haha.

Actually the mog reminds me a little of the Innovan system here in Oz. See the Queensland Caravan & Camping Show thread.

I found the website for the Airlifter too >>> rvairlifter.com.au See the pic below.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Oh Yeah Michael, How does he get the bike up and down from the roof of that mog?

 

[michaelgroves]

Oh Yeah Michael, How does he get the bike up and down from the roof of that mog?

I was wondering that myself!

 

[Mickldo]

Oh Yeah Michael, How does he get the bike up and down from the roof of that mog?

I was wondering that myself!

Is that a davit crane hanging off the RHF corner of the camper?

At least I hope there is a crane, I'd hate to ride it up there.:Wow1:

 

[michaelgroves]

Is that a davit crane hanging off the RHF corner of the camper?

Well spotted!

 

[Bogo]

Lifting mechanisms. Popup trailer campers often use a cable and pully system. Not perfect as the cable sometimes comes off the pulleys. That can be solved with captive style pulleys. A bicycle chain and sprockets can be used in place of the cable and pulleys.

The mechanism is usually made out of a sliding c section tube inside a fixed one. The cable is attached to the bottom of the sliding tube and the popup top is attached to the other end. There is a pulley at the top of the fixed tube. Then the cable is pulled on the top lifts. One of these at each corner and you can evenly lift a top.

The neat thing about this design is it is possible to make one that will lift much higher than the length of the fixed tube. It is done with multiple sliding tubes. The meshing of the sliding tubes can be a bit tricky, but it can be done.

When the top is lifted, a u channel is placed over each of the lifts and the top is lowered onto it. This supports it so it doesn't fall if the cable breaks.

The cables are usually gathered and clamped together to provide only one cable to pull at the winch. Some routing may be needed to provide enough length of draw between pulleys for the cable clamp. A simple hand winch, much like those used for trailering a boat, is used for raising and lowering the top.

http://www.customcylindersintinc.com/camper_trailer_roof_lift_system.htm
Has hydraulic systems that replace the cable systems in many popups. Powered by a battery operated drill. Prices for kits are under $800US.


Coleman cable operated. They do the combining of the cables differently than Jayco does.

There appears to be a method I didn't know about. Goshen Stamping Co. makes a system where heavy springs are pushed through tubes. Looks neat, I'd be worried about water crossings.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Two gas struts, one each side.
Put up and down and locked from inside.
Bed runs N-S.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome.