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freebeard · 02-07-2016, 09:13 PM

A headache rack with a 4-bar linkage so the whole thing alligators up, with an L-shaped hatch like a Dodge Magnum. Best of both worlds.

There's lots of options until you start. Then the quantum vector collapses. And it's foam or plywood. Or not...

With fiberglass to get any kind of smooth surface requires a female mold. aerohead recommends a concrete form, for rigidity. If you're going to make a 'foamie', squeegeeing out resin under sheet mylar, and then peeling that off is supposed to work. Repeated applications might give a presentable surface.

Alternatively, mock up the front, bottom and back and sew up a fiberglass 'sock' to fit, then inflate with a vacuum cleaner and spray the first layers of resin on the outside. Then roller resin or foam on the inside. Once again aerohead has been there, but I don't think he rigidified one with resin.

You can put up to five bends in a sheet of thin plywood.

http://www.buckminster.info/Index/P/Plydome.htm

Patent US2905113 - Self-strutted geodesic plydome - Google Patents

As you can see in the hatching in Fig.1. If you don't see how it would be possible to put a geodesic dome on a pickup bed, please—just ask.

Edit: I see we posted within a minute of each other. I mentioned the Dodge Magnum, here's a pic:

You could widen the gray area and have it be an L-shaped piece of thick clear plastic hinged on a weather-stripped ledge.

Take the red line at the cab and rotate the sides inward until the angle matches the orange line, then the red side lines up halfway to the pink line for more height at the tailgate. The intermediate lines would adjust upward and the added area would be minimal because it's narrow.

Did I mention the side pieces would be rectangles?

02-07-2016, 09:13 PM	#50 (permalink)
freebeard Master EcoModder Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: northwest of normal Posts: 28,557 Thanks: 8,092 Thanked 8,882 Times in 7,329 Posts	A headache rack with a 4-bar linkage so the whole thing alligators up, with an L-shaped hatch like a Dodge Magnum. Best of both worlds. There's lots of options until you start. Then the quantum vector collapses. And it's foam or plywood. Or not... With fiberglass to get any kind of smooth surface requires a female mold. aerohead recommends a concrete form, for rigidity. If you're going to make a 'foamie', squeegeeing out resin under sheet mylar, and then peeling that off is supposed to work. Repeated applications might give a presentable surface. Alternatively, mock up the front, bottom and back and sew up a fiberglass 'sock' to fit, then inflate with a vacuum cleaner and spray the first layers of resin on the outside. Then roller resin or foam on the inside. Once again aerohead has been there, but I don't think he rigidified one with resin. You can put up to five bends in a sheet of thin plywood. http://www.buckminster.info/Index/P/Plydome.htm Patent US2905113 - Self-strutted geodesic plydome - Google Patents As you can see in the hatching in Fig.1. If you don't see how it would be possible to put a geodesic dome on a pickup bed, please—just ask. Edit: I see we posted within a minute of each other. I mentioned the Dodge Magnum, here's a pic: You could widen the gray area and have it be an L-shaped piece of thick clear plastic hinged on a weather-stripped ledge. Take the red line at the cab and rotate the sides inward until the angle matches the orange line, then the red side lines up halfway to the pink line for more height at the tailgate. The intermediate lines would adjust upward and the added area would be minimal because it's narrow. Did I mention the side pieces would be rectangles? Last edited by freebeard; 02-08-2016 at 04:03 AM..