I am getting a little too old to be sleeping in a pup tent and the crawling around on the ground is hard on the old knees and back
Looking over the net, most that I find are rather expensive for my budget.
This one is from Leesurelite and retails for more than $5,000 dollars. I like the layout and the room as well as the low weight of the trailer [250 lbs].
So why can't I build one for less?
I started doodling and doing some planning and this is what I come up with.
It should be simple enough to build the box, bend a little conduit piping and manufacture the hardware needed, take it to an upholsterer and get them to sew up a tent. The box would be about 5 feet long-40 inches wide and 18 inches tall. Once opened up the whole thing sets up quickly. As you lift the top of the box it pulls the canvas and the tent poles into position. The tubing can be made adjustable and pushed upward to make the canvas taut. Then a small board is extended to make the sleeping area 6'6 feet long.
If all goes well it should end up looking something like this. Granted it will not have the sleek look of fiberglass like the retail model but it should be sufficient to keep one off the ground and have room to stand up in.
The tubing had me stumped for a little while but with a tubing bender and some additional hardware the whole thing could fold down into the box neatly.
Attach the box to the top of a trailer, stick a cooler on the front frame and away you go camping.
Anyhoo, this is as far as I have gotten, the tent tarp still has a few wrinkles left to be ironed out and I don't want to get started on a doomed project unless I am sure that I can finish it and have a decent looking trailer to haul behind the Wing.
I think I can keep the cost down as I already have the trailer, just need to add stabilizer jacks to the bottom of it, buy some plywood and piano hinge, get the tubing, tubing bender and then find some fabric for the tent.
12 comments:
Seems pretty cool and certainly doable...5K is pretty steep for it though, considering you can get a good set of used wheels for that doughs...No reason why you couldn't build one...Go for it and post some pictures when you're done.
I agree with Baron. I think you can build that tent on your own. 5K would be good for a used bike. LOL!
Regards coming from the Philippines
XL3 Riders Club
hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....
I think you have a great idea there. I agree seems like a camper could be built much less expensive. I think I would use regular aluminum tubing instead of conduit though, for weight savings. Let me know how your project goes, and id like to see pics..thanks chip
I was just looking over your blog, it's one of the best biking blogs I've seen so far on blogspot. I'm going to check out some of the blogs linked on your page though. Stop by and check mine out and let me know what your think. I haven't stayed focused on just motorcycling though..
vstarheaven.blogspot.com
It appears kind of narrow to me. Might be a sacrifice to gain packing room to loose sleeping space?
Ride on,
Torch
I think it's a good idea..cool.
5k is good.
I wish my Honda could pull this compact sleeping system. Sleeping on the ground is just not as cool as it used to be....
Question is...What are you doing with your trailer? I'll be riding your way soon. : -)
-Felix / fbaum@adobe.com
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You may want to add adjusters of some sort on top (bottom when open) to account for un-even ground. Nice design!
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