AmboEvo

[Abitibi]

Thanks!

So far planning on leaving from Vancouver on March 12th and make our way to Utah in 3-5 days. Once we get to Utah it's pretty open, I'm sure will head toward Zion, maybe valley of the God's...

[Abitibi]

How about some major surgery?

It's not finished yet, still need to install the canvass tomorrow and later the actuators but coming together for sure!

First, I built a frame to support the upper bunk along with wooden sleeping platform. Sounds easy but I was getting fancy and took longer then I could afford, lol. The bed platform has 3 positions, low (5'7" clearance), medium (5'10" clearance) and high where it will be attached to the poptop ceiling for maximum clearance when the top is opened up. It can also be easily removed if I don't need the bed which yields 6'4" of clearance.

Then I cut a giant hole in a perfect roof. Always a bit nerve wrecking but been there done that before

I followed by welding a custom frame to reinforce the ambo roof and sealed that inner frame with Sikaflex.

[Abitibi]

Next I needed to bribe a couple good friends to help me move that heavy (guessing 250lbs) poptop roof onto the ambo. Went really well actually.

Then, 62" stainless piano hinge with over 70 stainless bolts and nylocks, later covered with a 3" wide strip of Ethernabound tape. Also installed a seal along the upper edge. On the picture with the roof opened it isn't fully opened, once the canvass is installed I'll have a better idea how wide it will open up but for now it shows which way it opens...

So, canvass tomorrow, reinstall solar panels if I have time and down the road interior lights, solar fan and actuators instead of gas struts.

Getting there!!!

[marret]

Nice, well done.

[Abitibi]

Thanks. Here's a better look at this 90% completed project

The roof doesn't look very large from the outside but as a reference, the interior frame is 50" wide by 96" long...

The outer box is 62"x108"

Also pretty happy how the fabric hides neatly behind the frame!

Attachment 43203Attachment 43204

[Abitibi]

Quick update as I'm heading out on a roadtrip tomorrow...

The poptop and extra bed are now useable! Not fully finished yet but good enough for this trip.

Here you can see the bed platform in 3 positions. 1st position is fully down to get more sleeping room and extra storage when the top is down.

2nd position is 3" higher. Mattress (and blankets...) are now against the ceiling when the roof is down and we get extra headroom down below.

And 3rd position, way up!

The wood piece in the corner holding the top is temporarily. Can't wait to install the actuators as it is not easy for one person to open and close the roof now. I can manage but it will be nice to just push a switch to get it done!




Cheers

David

[KDB]

looks great!

[Abitibi]

Thanks!

Works great but glad I made an option for bunk beds when the weather isn't cooperating or when in a noisy area (rest areas...)

I'm using my outdoor table as a base for the bed (double duty) and it's been working awesome!