Leveling leg design feedback sought
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:37 pmI created a lightweight set of leveling legs for my motorcycle camper because the existing Atwood-style product is clunky and heavy. For the most part I really like how they work, but I’d like to improve on the design and I thought maybe some here might have some ideas. I would appreciate your input.
The sliding leg is a length of 1” aluminum U-channel. The channel has an insert made of ¾ marine plywood. A 20” length of t-track is mounted to each corner of the camper box. Each leg is attached to the t-track with two T-track bolts. The bolts are tightened/loosened using star knobs. When deployed, the star knobs are loosened and the leg is allowed to drop. The knobs are retightened, pulling the wood face of the slider leg against the T-track.
I would like to find a way to simplify the design and improve usability. When I first built these, I wanted to find some way to replicate the jam-locking action of the Atwood-style leg extensions. I do like that part of the Atwood leg design. It is very simple to drop the leg extension.
Tightening the star knobs and using the friction between the leg’s wood face and the t-track works, but the process of loosening/tightening the knobs takes longer than I’d like, and you have to have some good hand strength to get the knobs tight enough to hold. I have that strength, but if I build one of these for someone else, they might not.
I have included some pics in this post, and I also shot a short demo at this link: https://youtu.be/xTRZykX62Lw
Any thought? Ideas? Are there other simple, super light pre-made leveling leg options on the market I've overlooked?
The sliding leg is a length of 1” aluminum U-channel. The channel has an insert made of ¾ marine plywood. A 20” length of t-track is mounted to each corner of the camper box. Each leg is attached to the t-track with two T-track bolts. The bolts are tightened/loosened using star knobs. When deployed, the star knobs are loosened and the leg is allowed to drop. The knobs are retightened, pulling the wood face of the slider leg against the T-track.
I would like to find a way to simplify the design and improve usability. When I first built these, I wanted to find some way to replicate the jam-locking action of the Atwood-style leg extensions. I do like that part of the Atwood leg design. It is very simple to drop the leg extension.
Tightening the star knobs and using the friction between the leg’s wood face and the t-track works, but the process of loosening/tightening the knobs takes longer than I’d like, and you have to have some good hand strength to get the knobs tight enough to hold. I have that strength, but if I build one of these for someone else, they might not.
I have included some pics in this post, and I also shot a short demo at this link: https://youtu.be/xTRZykX62Lw
Any thought? Ideas? Are there other simple, super light pre-made leveling leg options on the market I've overlooked?