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anyone done this on here and got real world results?
need to make a structure for our van conversion.. i have an idea to make the bed in the rear a sliding affair, but in length rather than width.. so its got to go from 900mm to 1800mm when in use.
ideally out of square or round tubing.
had a class of composites when at uni but have never used it in anger..
Why carbon? Lots of modular aluminium alloy extrusions with connectors available e.g. Kanya
Well, I've done the first bed in wood and it was too heavy and cumbersome to deploy..
the second is currently in Alu but I'm trying to make it lighter and a better design...
just trying to to find an easy way to join the tubes..
Can't edit the last one...
also to reduce the bare metal in the van with regards to condensation..
also to reduce the bare metal in the van with regards to condensation...
Honestly, would alloy tubing of the sort of size needed, make [i]any[/i] significant difference to any possible condensation issues?
Maybe not but weight is an issue I'm trying to 'fix' and it is lighter.
I've made a few bike frames from home made carbon tubes. I guess you're talking about buying ready made tubes?
How are you going to join them together? You can cut them fairly easily and mitre them, then glue them together with carbon fibre and epoxy.
It's doable, but I think I'd use Al tubes or extrusions.
The problem with joining / bonding composites is needing to jig it to make sure it stays straight - RK Rose+Kreiger - might find something that works with standard size carbon tubes. Also, if you're clamping carbon tubes to take a load e.g. cantilever, you really need an alloy insert (found out the hard way with medical prosthetics many years ago).
Reducing condensation in a camper is down to ventilation IME, or having efficient heating such that all the interior fittings warm-up so condensation doesn't form - you'll still get it on the windows though
yeah ok forget i mentioned the condesnsation! stupid idea..
i was looking here: https://dragonplate.com/
and here: https://www.rockwestcomposites.com/connector-accessories/carbonnect
for inspiration. clamping carbon tubes? I wasnt going to clamp them as such. If using the rock west type solution there is an alu insert - i thought it looked quite neat solution..
As said joining would be the issue.
Can’t the wooden idea be refined/lightened?
Plenty of people opt for slats that separate (usually sideways) but no reason you couldn’t do that lengthways. It’s not particularly heavy and always easy enough to use IME
Can it be square tubed?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Square-25mm-Tube-1-Tube-Connectors-Speed-Construction-Frame-3-Meter/111293175718?hash=item19e99717a6:m:m0T9ETTPG0IWqDmp4zfScUw
Or you can 'internally' jig butted tubes and wrap joints with CF cloth or tow a la 'bamboo' bike. ( I wonder what a bamboo frame would weigh? )
or something like these - but would soon get weighty?
or light riggers must have something...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rhino-Mini-Clamp/122141142671?epid=24012039124&hash=item1c702dee8f:g:Gu4AAOSwHYpaCb8z
??
<edit> -Rockwest stuff looks great - but spendy 😉
How much load are you putting on them?
we weigh 65 and 58kg so not much..! the rear satic frame is fully supported but the sliding part would rest upon the end of the static frame and then have front feet to support it.
refining the wooden one i had done - no - it was a copy of the amdro bed and it was a faff to deploy and cut out the rear view mirror. My wife couldnt put the bed out and when i did it meant going from in the van to the outside. With the sliding bed, it can be made up from inside.
ive been trying to design a wooden one with slats and i probably should stay with that idea.. cheapest and relatively easy to construct. I just need to get round the guidance for the sliding parts...havent had the lightbulb moment for that. Ideally i need to be able to prevent the sliding part from lifting out and be able to lock it in position as well when its open.
i'll see - thanks for the ideas/suggestions.
[img] 
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This is the sliding style I’ve seen/used. This is sideways but easy enough for it to be lengthways instead.
Bamboo
Holy cow https://www.rockwestcomposites.com/connector-accessories/carbonnect/carbonnect-projects $2500 for a foot square shelf unit...
FuzzyWuzzy,
When I looked at the website I guessed at about £30-40 per joint. I think I underestimated!
yikes! i hadnt seen the prices.
ok wood it'll be. i have the basframe made for the back, will just fix the wood slats onto that.
thnaks!
I'd get one of those LIDL welders and have a go myself. Would be an interesting project.
My experience is that making wooden structures sufficiently stiff makes them weigh about the same as a steel one anyway.
If you make a sliding frame on the length, I can't see how you will avoid having a hard point in the middle.
Just a thought. There was a bike frame made of stock carbon tube with custom made joints that were 3D printed to suit. Could be worth getting a cheap 3D printer and having a go at something similar 🙂
Wasn't that metal 3D printed lugs though (as in not something you could do on a cheap 3D printer :p )?
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12.8px;">If you make a sliding frame on the length, I can’t see how you will avoid having a hard point in the middle.</span>
well the current proto works, and is comfy so i dint see the issue in that really. i see the point but i cant get around that really. camping is of course a compromise. just need a comfy mattress..