modern pop top

[aratman]

Out side of the fact that the tire is just to show a tire what do you think of this?

[Alfred]

Out side of the fact that the tire is just to show a tire what do you think of this?

I think it looks really cool! Would the top part be canvas?

AL

[aratman]

I am thinking about Lexan sides, corugated metal over foam top.

[myoung]

Take a good look at the build threads and the designs especially Andrew's collection and you'll see quite a few variants on the pop-up design concept, mine included.

[aratman]

that is exactly where the basics of this idea came from, but I am going to try and finish it so it looks like a mid century modern home .

[aratman]

I have the tent trailer donor nearly stripped. It has taken me almost a month to do on truck load at a time with the recycle centers hours matching my work hours......it is hard to tear down a trailer in a one car garage.

[StandUpGuy]

As seems often the case, the top is in my opinion much too big. It would be so heavy and difficult to get to work properly or easily. On the plus side is ther is no exposed seam on the hinge point on top, that would leak.

[myoung]

For reference, my pop-up is 4x8 on a plan of 6x11. There isn't much reason to have standing headroom around the perimeter except perhaps at the door. I've bumped my head once or twice.

If the top becomes heavy, which it may have to be for structural rigidity, you might wish to consider an electrically-driven actuator. The added advantage is a degree of coolness.

Happy planning and building.

[StandUpGuy]

that is exactly where the basics of this idea came from, but I am going to try and finish it so it looks like a mid century modern home .

Sounds like this is your trailer then. Are you thinking you will have hinged flip up side walls?

[aratman]

yes flip up. I was planning on a foam roof with steel sheet over the top of it. 1/8 ply for the inside and a hinge on the front rather than top. Air struts for lift assist on the outside for lift assist. Has anyone done a box hinge on one of these?

Don

[myoung]

I don't understand your hinge location comment. Isn't the hinge on the rear edge?

I used just two 4-inch hinges from Home Depot and a linear actuator on the front. The is no noticeable wobble from this simple three-point support.

[StandUpGuy]

I believe he is refering to using single square hinges as opposed to a continuous hinge or piano hinge.

My concern is that even when building in a lightweight manor, such a giant top as this will still be quite heavy. In addition with a completly open roof as proposed there is definitely a greatly reduced structural integrity. It is no longer a box in this idea and will be prone to much greater stresses.

[myoung]

I believe he is refering to using single square hinges as opposed to a continuous hinge or piano hinge.

My concern is that even when building in a lightweight manor, such a giant top as this will still be quite heavy. In addition with a completly open roof as proposed there is definitely a greatly reduced structural integrity. It is no longer a box in this idea and will be prone to much greater stresses.

Square hinges will work well if properly positioned and adequately supported. I too agree that while the weight is an issue, the far greater concern should be the rigidity of the four walls. Think topless cardboard box. Not a pleasant prospect. A better design would include a structural box beam-like construction all around the perimeter. A framed roof section a foot or so wide should suffice.

[aratman]

thank you both for your input, back to the drawing board I think will be better.

[mezmo]

Hi aratman,

You've got a nice straightforward design that should achieve your design
goals I think.

I'd suggest using an interior perimeter board 90 degrees/perpendicular
to the walls at their top. It would give stiffness to the top of the walls and
it could function as a shelf once the top is lifted and also help support the
folded down top wall sections during travel.

Here's a link to a Canadian TTT maker that has a teardrop shaped/styled
TTT with a lift top that uses tempered glass infill sided/walls under the
poptop. 'Not the same look or function of your idea, but it gives a hint of
the look of the "glass" between the top and the base body of the TTT.
Plexiglas or lexan or carbonate panels should result in the same.
http://www.safaricondo.com/altoTech/index-en.php

You could build the pop top out of foam like Cracker39/Dale did for his
recent Squidget PT build and save a lot of weight.

Also Google "Australian Pop Top Caravans" for web sites and also use
the Google images for it. They have a lot of them with full top pop tops.
Most use canvas for infill but some did use solid fold up wall infill too.

Here's a good link for them:
http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Caravan ... avans.aspx

The Europeans also did them with solid infill sides. Here's one current
French manufacturer: Trigano's "Silver" brand: Quite nice I think:
http://www.silver-pop-up-caravans.com/

Your idea is perfectly buildable - Have fun completing your design.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo