M101A2 Pop-Up Concept (1 Viewer)

[nat]

I designed this for my M101A2 trailer. Closed, it adds 7" to the height of the trailer (26" of usable space) and open, it is 73" tall, enough so I can stand I want to sleep in it and also be able to cook in it during bad weather.

You first lift it with the scissor mechanism then bolt in the struts to add rigidity. It will either have a metal skin or a cover that I will make. Either way, after securing the structure, The canvas panels can be put on.

I haven't decided how to actuate the scissor mechanism
-electric actuator
-double acting air cylinder
-gas shock assist

What do you think?

 

[photogod]

Looks doable. Nice design. good luck. I'll be watching.

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

I like it Brother! The lift mechanism has been a dilema for me as well on my trailer build. My goals are as simple mechanism as possible that still employs a mechanical advantage. I estimate top weight of 60-80 lbs. Plus roof rack & gear. Too heavy to just lift by myself. I though about a scissor lift like your idea but i couldnt figure out how to work in the mechanical advantage. Maybe a strut connected horizontaly to the sliding arm? My trailer is too compact though I just dont have the room for that. What I am most iterested in now is a spring assisted lift system like Atoyot1031's off road pop up trailer. Except putting the scissors on the inside.

 

[1ststatecruiser]

I like the idea of being able to access the inside of the trailer when tent is deployed. Nice plan

 

[nat]

I like it Brother! The lift mechanism has been a dilema for me as well on my trailer build. My goals are as simple mechanism as possible that still employs a mechanical advantage. I estimate top weight of 60-80 lbs. Plus roof rack & gear. Too heavy to just lift by myself. I though about a scissor lift like your idea but i couldnt figure out how to work in the mechanical advantage. Maybe a strut connected horizontaly to the sliding arm? My trailer is too compact though I just dont have the room for that. What I am most iterested in now is a spring assisted lift system like Atoyot1031's off road pop up trailer. Except putting the scissors on the inside.

I was looking at gas springs:
McMaster-Carr

or an air cylinder:
McMaster-Carr

I was going to mount my assist horizontally. I am going to look at Atoyot's thread again.

 

[Atoyot1031]

nat,

I love th concept. Here's where I got the lift arms:

C&R LIFT ARM KIT - COMPLETE

Here's a couple thoughts. You could put glides on the top rails and easily make a slide out bed like a popup. I doubt the additional canvas would be significant. I'd go with a replacement canvas supplier for campers, they can easily add screen/windows wherever you want and utilize lightweight, waterproof, and long lasting material.

Good luck! Let me know if I can help with any hardware questions. I know you've got the engineering part down.

Nick

 

[titanpat57]

Looks good Natster...

I have two different things going on here...

I like the lift top idea, maybe mechanical with miter boxes and threaded rod. I see it cranking up with a cordless drill with a fitting centered on the front. I'm guesssing you're going to need a boat rack for the top also...or.....

How about a flip top...kinda like a big RTT on roids'.

Ifyou flip it open towards the hitch, it leaves the entire trailer area for living space.


Just thinking out loud, but you already have substansial metal sides...

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

nat,

I love th concept. Here's where I got the lift arms:

C&R LIFT ARM KIT - COMPLETE

Here's a couple thoughts. You could put glides on the top rails and easily make a slide out bed like a popup. I doubt the additional canvas would be significant. I'd go with a replacement canvas supplier for campers, they can easily add screen/windows wherever you want and utilize lightweight, waterproof, and long lasting material.

Good luck! Let me know if I can help with any hardware questions. I know you've got the engineering part down.

Nick

Not to hijack, cause i think this question is relavent to this thread as well. - Atoto1031 do you know how fully those arms collapse on each other? will they do 180 deg.? I know in the pop up trailer application they remain open at like 30 deg. with the top down. I want to put them on the inside of my trailer and dont have the volume for them to stay open. I need something that fully colapses.

 

[nat]

I was wondering the same thing about the arms. Is there a torsion spring inside? How much weight will they lift?

 

[nat]

Looks good Natster...

I have two different things going on here...

I like the lift top idea, maybe mechanical with miter boxes and threaded rod. I see it cranking up with a cordless drill with a fitting centered on the front. I'm guesssing you're going to need a boat rack for the top also...or.....

How about a flip top...kinda like a big RTT on roids'.

Ifyou flip it open towards the hitch, it leaves the entire trailer area for living space.


Just thinking out loud, but you already have substansial metal sides...

Thanks man! I had given some thought to a clamshell approach.

The top weighs 85 pounds as it is designed. That is using carbon steel.

 

[Atoyot1031]

Not to hijack, cause i think this question is relavent to this thread as well. - Atoto1031 do you know how fully those arms collapse on each other? will they do 180 deg.? I know in the pop up trailer application they remain open at like 30 deg. with the top down. I want to put them on the inside of my trailer and dont have the volume for them to stay open. I need something that fully colapses.

I was wondering the same thing about the arms. Is there a torsion spring inside? How much weight will they lift?

There is a torsion spring. I'm not sure how far they can collapse. I know they can collapse further than I have utilized them. On the lift assist specs, again I don't have details. I know it lifts my top with all of the heavy canvas attached requiring little effort. My little wife can handle it. If you give those folks a call, they are really knowledgeable, and helped me decided to go with those arms rather than the OEM aluminum lift arms which are more expensive and they also sell. They said that the steel ones have less parts, more lift assist, and hold up better. So far this has been true for me as we've been in some gnarly weather with the camper and it's help up fine.

 

[titanpat57]

just a thought.....

 

[swampman]

why not look for a lifting mechanism from an old pop up camper, it would prolly be very easy to do, crank it up crank it down, if you wanted to get fancy , you could add an atv winch,

 

[nat]

just a thought.....

You like that sketch up

I like the idea and doing the canvas wouldn't be bad. Both my Mom and my Sister have sewing machines big enough to do whatever I want. Plus they will help

I like the idea of a taller cover for the trailer. I could store the wifes motorcycles inside and use the tounge for a bigger bike if needed. Unfortunately I would need an interior height of almost 42 inches. That adds more wind resistance. Fuel economy isn't great already, maybe it wouldn't be too bad.

 

[se2000]

Why not just duplicate the stock canvas? It looks like you are going for about the same size. I have traveled with mine with canvas at 75mph no problem.

If there are other reasons, why not just lift it manually? A 100lbs should be doable and cheap. without strong tracks, the scissor will collapse.

 

[titanpat57]

Maybe an extended tongue to hold the bike(s)?

My thoughts on the flip top is it would save trailer for a kitchen on one side, and a couch/pullout bunk on the other

Let me know if you want to tweek it, or head the other direction...always here to help!

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

That is a really neat concept. makes me think about MY M101A1. You would have to have a deep top though. Otherwize your cabinets would be what? 18"? Or you could rob the hardware from an old coleman pop up and do a swing level galley. That would double your hight bringing you up to standard counter top hieght.

 

[se2000]

What about getting an existing popup and transfering it to the m101 frame? For those that can only wish we had titans skill and time, it is a quick alternative. You could even use the m101 box on the popup frame as a utility trailer. or sell it to recoup some cash.

 

[nat]

That is a really neat concept. makes me think about MY M101A1. You would have to have a deep top though. Otherwize your cabinets would be what? 18"? Or you could rob the hardware from an old coleman pop up and do a swing level galley. That would double your hight bringing you up to standard counter top hieght.

I was considering putting stuff on 4 bar linkages to move it up and down to the correct height. My kitchen box I build will be stackable and fairly modest. I want to be able to set up outside the trailer too.

 

[nat]

Maybe an extended tongue to hold the bike(s)?

My thoughts on the flip top is it would save trailer for a kitchen on one side, and a couch/pullout bunk on the other

Let me know if you want to tweek it, or head the other direction...always here to help!

Hey Pat, I just noticed the change you made, "I'm Nat's trailer bitch."



Good stuff!

I like that latest concept you posted up. Its doable that's for sure. I need to e-mail this thread to the wifey, since it will ultimately be the "Love Shack"