Easy Lift System

First and foremost;
I'm new here, From Ft. Lauderdale Florida area.
I'm looking for Ideas on how to build a Hi-Lo camper, to tow behind my motorcycle
4' wide X 7' Long, Wheels under the trailer, with a Max weight of 275 Lbs.
I have the trailer picked out, and the frame and insulation picked out, I just need to find the easiest lift system.
Be it pulley cables, crank up, like the old scampers. This is going to be a One person sleeper (2) if she thin enough LOL....

and help would be appreciated

Brake Pad said:

First and foremost;
I'm new here, From Ft. Lauderdale Florida area.
I'm looking for Ideas on how to build a Hi-Lo camper, to tow behind my motorcycle
4' wide X 7' Long, Wheels under the trailer, with a Max weight of 275 Lbs.
I have the trailer picked out, and the frame and insulation picked out, I just need to find the easiest lift system.
Be it pulley cables, crank up, like the old scampers. This is going to be a One person sleeper (2) if she thin enough LOL....

and help would be appreciated

Click to expand...

Look at Home - The Official HiLo Trailer Parts & Service or JR Repair for parts and good luck!

I was thinking something more down the line as a hand crank system
or a compressed air arms, something like a mini air compressure attached to two lines, that will lift the top up, and to release, it, just open the valve, to lower the top

Break Pad

It sounds like you are building a 4'x7' Velveeta box on wheels in which you plan to sleep/carry stuff. At 275# it is going to have to be made of very light material ... maybe foam core board glassed over or aluminum sandwiched to foam. I will keep my eyes pealed while on my daily surfing journeys for ideas ... meanwhile check out this site for ready-made tent units Scarab RV or this EVO-POD RV

Gas shocks

Trailer top should not be any more then 50 Lbs so I was thinking of using screen doors shocks, adding a fitting, at the base, and running a supply line down the side to the rear. pump it with a small air compressor, then climb inside and lock the struts in place

Brake pad,,,Coleman has that new system on there 2011 pop up campers, check them out.

mikenchell.com did have the plans for this on their site not long ago

Here is a commercially built motorcycle trailer we saw in Stockholm in 2007. Have no idea what it had for a gross weight or hitch weight, but it was well designed and well made!

Sometimes it is cheaper to by something already made than to build from scratch, inventing along the way. Prototypes are seldom cheap.

Jim

I would think....

Since you are a handy man, I would look for a salvagable (cheap) tent trailer that colman made in the 70's, it would provide you a LOT of the hardware you need including running gear that you would reduce in size of course.

mine, had a lift/pole system that used cables to lift the roof off the bottom all connected to the "poles" on each corner, and the winch on the tongue. might be lucky to use other parts. I would send ya my parts, but mine was turned into a lawnmower trailer after the tent part rotted BR (beyond repair). Plus I guess dad let someone who needed the trailer more than we did, have it.

you would be looking for old, 70's style, it was tan in color, if I find time and find a pic, they made jillions of them, see them behind a lot of houses, and the tent will be trash, unless covered, so they should be cheap enough to buy,

How about using a 12V electric winch - the kind you can mount on a bumper? They can be had for a pretty minimal cost at Harbor Freight.

- Jack