Looking for advice...

[Kelly]

I'm not finding what I want on the market, which has got me considering building one myself. Here's the concept...

A 4x8 trailer simular to this...



But instead of a roof, cut the bottom our of one of these...



and use it as the roof. The idea being, you could still sleep in it with the top down (stealth), but stand up in it when the top is popped.

Has anyone seen one built like this? I want it narrow, lightweight, and simple (not a lot of accessories).

 

[Teague]

That's a pretty cool idea, I wonder if you could find a westfalia poptop in a junk yard and use that instead of cannibalizing a RTT.

 

[Roger352]

What about finding a roof box not sure if you have the in the US then work out some sort of fixing for canvas.

 

[Boort]

@Reconnoiter
For the size you're looking for You might check out the Honda Element pop tops, My neighbors have one I think is is called E-camper.
The older Westy popups (50's - 67 that popped straight up instead of hinging like this http://www.bustopia.com/Images/vw-camper-bus24 1966 westfalia.jpg ) I know that you can still get the replacement canvas from Wolfsburg west http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=231067983

You could then make your own pop top mechanism. It's been a number of years but the mechanism design on these was fairly simple. Basically a sliding X brace with end stop notch at full height.

Boort

 

[Kelly]

What about finding a roof box not sure if you have the in the US then work out some sort of fixing for canvas.

I'm hoping I can find a used one. Wouldn't know where to start building the canvas and lifting hardware.

 

[Roger352]

Thinking about it several caravans and offroad caravans use a pop up section in the roof to give more space. Look at camping shops they my be able to point you to someone that could make the canvas section. Like Boort said a simple sliding x frame should work as the mechanism. Just thought of a roof box because its a fraction of the price for a pop up RTT.

 

[Steve]

This is certainly a cool idea! Maybe contact some of the importers of the rigid RTT companies and see if they have any with a damaged shell for cheap. That would work great on my Hiker trailer I have ordered, too!

 

[Boort]

@Reconnoiter

I remembered the of the X-Brace. St. Peter's Cross. It is used as a parallel on Wood working Leg vises. Here is an example for that purpose https://benchcrafted.com/hivise.htm https://benchcrafted.com/PDF Files/BC_ CC_Glide_Ins_Jun15.pdf
Either of these would be way overkill and likely too short, for popping the top on a camper, but the site has some drawings that show how it works.

Boort

 

[Teague]

@Reconnoiter looks like someone had a similar idea. Found while cruising craigslist Link

 

[jimiwebb]

@Reconnoiter
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/116806-Off-road-cargo-trailer-for-sale-SOLD

Originally I wanted to do something similar. Starting with a 5x8 cargo trailer like the one above and finding a westfalia top to fit to it. Budget and time constraints and finding room for 2 kiddos to sleep led me to the 6x12 you saw me pulling in Utah. It's a little restrictive but I have plans to shave some pounds off and spring over the axles.

 

[Kelly]

@Reconnoiter
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/116806-Off-road-cargo-trailer-for-sale-SOLD

Originally I wanted to do something similar. Starting with a 5x8 cargo trailer like the one above and finding a westfalia top to fit to it. Budget and time constraints and finding room for 2 kiddos to sleep led me to the 6x12 you saw me pulling in Utah. It's a little restrictive but I have plans to shave some pounds off and spring over the axles.

I had something very similar to that, and it was awesome, but I want my next one to have a better departure angle.

 

[1Louder]

Looks a lot like a Hiker Trailer to me. Have you looked at those? I'm sure you could mount a hard top rtt to it.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk

 

[jscusmcvet]

I'm not finding what I want on the market, which has got me considering building one myself. Here's the concept...

A 4x8 trailer simular to this...

View attachment 25952

But instead of a roof, cut the bottom our of one of these...

View attachment 25953

and use it as the roof. The idea being, you could still sleep in it with the top down (stealth), but stand up in it when the top is popped.

Has anyone seen one built like this? I want it narrow, lightweight, and simple (not a lot of accessories).

I saw a trailer made by a small company and the designer was discussing his plans to do that exact thing. Here is a link: http://www.terrapod.us/

I have no affiliation with he company, but the designer/owner was a nice guy and his little trailer was awesome.

 

[Dixie1865]

This trailer from VMI is just a bit larger than what you specified, but is the closest thing I know of.

http://www.vmioffroad.com/products/xtender-adventure-offroad-trailers/xtender-adventure-offroad-trailers-3.html