The Tent

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Oct 1, 2012

The tent we are using is the Mt. Shasta RTT from Cascadia Rooftop Tents.

The tent has plenty of sleeping area (56"W x 96"L) as well as ample floor space (56"W x 84"). Haven't used it yet but the sleeping pad seems comfortable enough. Only issue with mounting it on a trailer is lack of height to allow using all of the floor space. So, my challenge is to figure out a way to lift the tent while parked but lower it for travel. My target height is 65" floor to underside of bed, or 1" taller than Colleen so she wont hit her head.

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Oct 3, 2012

After running through several design ideas I have settled on a type of, for lack of a better term, leverage lift. It will consist of 2 rectangle frames with pivot points that attach to the trailer lid and tent base rails. When lifted, the frames will tilt from horizontal to vertical providing the lift required to "open" up the floor space.

Considerations:

• When stowed for travel tent must be positioned forward of axle.
• Should be a one person operation to lift and lower.
• Must be free from wobble in the lifted position.
• Must be high enough to "comfortably" sit/stand from a chair and retrieve items from a cooler.

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Oct 5, 2012

I started building the tent "frame". Started by cutting all the lengths of 3/4"x3/4" tubing.

Assembled them into rectangles and cut the pivot pins.

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Oct 6, 2012

Back to work on the lift/support. I welded the pins in place and bought some 5/8" bronze bushing used on minibikes.

For the rails I used 1"x1" angle iron. To that I mounted weld tabs I had cut by Eric at Relentless Fabrication.

On the opposing rail I mounted a bump stop to which I'll attach a latch on each corner.