Plan for fold out aerodynamic camper

[Hersbird]

So I know I said I didn't want a pop up but after seeing the Australian style fold out, off road, campers, I think something similar is what I want to try and build. This would be built on a $500 Norther Tool 5'x8' utility trailer. The floor would be expanded to be 7' wide and enclose the wheels. I would also upgrade the wheels and tires to 24" OD. In the closed position the max height would be about 5.5' at the front, and then taper along the 10' top plate length to 4.5' high. Mostly built out of 2" thick insulated structural panels. The kitchen would slide out the side from a front 2'x4'x7' section with the propane and batteries enclosed in a thin walled bubble on the nose.
So here is a foam board concept, but I haven't added the canvas parts.

This picture uses a couple pieces of foam board to simulate where the rear canvas roof and back wall would be. My little guy is 6' tall.

here is what it would be 1/2 closed

and here fully closed
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/...5&d=1420344670

here is where the bed would be

side profile

[euromodder]

Dunno how tall / wide the towing vehicle is, but you might want to keep the trailer smaller than the TV's tail, so it rides in the shadow.

The nose cone will help, closing the gap with the towing vehicle will help as well.

Rounding off the edges will help as well - just don't add anything round (circular) at the rear as it'll induce instability.

Angling the top down helps, angling in the other sides will give better aero too.
(just don't make it too steep)

Plenty of threads on aero trailers to check out ;-)

[Grim]

Go check out expedition portal if you want some camper ideas.
coleman Built a rear entry pop up called the Colorado. They pop up regularly on Craig's, very light low profile camper.

[Ecky]

I'm a fan. Have you looked at some of the non-popup teardrop campers for ideas?

[BamZipPow]

Have you seen the Wacky Shack? Maybe it could give you some more ideas. They use their single wheel trailer as an elevated bed platform.

WACKY SHACK

[freebeard]

I like this a lot. I drew one years ago that opened the same but had a teardrop profile, and a bow and canvas top modeled on a Model T touring car.

In this case, how about a top piece that's on a 4-bar arrangement so it moves up and back while it stays level?

[Hersbird]

I have seen most of those other campers. I like my design because it is similar to the $50k Australian 4x4 styles but not built for off road, and with a nod to aero. (and without crazy levels of craftsmanship.) The Coleman or the Wackyshack are the basic idea but they can't hold any of the gear out of the rain like my plan has. The area above the folded bed will be enclosed and 2 1/2'x5'x6' along with all the side cabinets and front 4'x2'x7' kitchen area. Finally I think I can build this (trailer, building materials, canvas) with all RV appliances (A/C, furance, fridge, inverter, hot water, etc.) for under $6000. Maybe much less if I start with a damaged regular RV to get most of the parts.

We have 3 possible tow vehicles now, a 2008 Hemi Aspen, a 2002 Subaru Forester, and a 2009 Buick Enclave which I think is on it's way out for a minivan of some kind. Behind a minivan, Enclave, or the Aspen it will be out 4" on the sides, and they are about 6'-6.5' tall so this is about the same or a little lower. The Subie wouldn't be ideal, but at least that starts with much better economy and I have used it to pull a single Waverunner quite a bit with good results. I think this thing will be about 2000# loaded but that is hard to guess, why I may want to start with a camper with 5000# axle rather then the new trailer kit which is only rated 2000# or just build the whole thing from scratch.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I like this a lot. I drew one years ago that opened the same but had a teardrop profile, and a bow and canvas top modeled on a Model T touring car.

In this case, how about a top piece that's on a 4-bar arrangement so it moves up and back while it stays level?

I know what you are saying, we had a pontoon boat from Chinook that had that kind of fold down hardtop. Ours didn't but the newer models also had big springs that assisted in the lifting, sort of like this. That is a good idea too.