EarthRoamer XV-JP "Northwest Edition"

[mhiscox]

Wow!

Well done, guys!

Thanks. Just keepin' it warm 'til you're ready for it, Chris.

[mhiscox]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gear
If you look closely at this photograph you will see in the bottom right corner the winch that is being used to close the top.

Thanks!

how does it open?

In the ER photo above of the tent when deployed, on streetside, you can see a silver "strut" going pretty much straight up to connect with the big "hoop" in the center of the tent, with the fixed end of the strut coming from behind the far rear part of the shelving, where it was bolted to a sturdy framework.

The pressurized strut raised the tent. You let the winch cable out to open the tent. The shortening of the winch cable pulls against the strut to close it. The tent would be considered "normally open" in the sense of the strut being always pressurized and busy holding up the tent whenever the winch cable doesn't exert enough force on the hoop to pull it closed against the strut pressure.

[adventureduo]

Awesome! Bout time you spill it I dig the graphics.. i need to do a desert version of that on our setup.

[alosix]

Looks great.

James, do you have any info on the air struts you used? I'm throwing some ideas around on a build and I keep going back between air and electric..

Thanks
Jason

[1leglance]

wow truley amazing build guys....
great quality and I am sure it will stand the test of time...

[mhiscox]

James, do you have any info on the air struts you used? I'm throwing some ideas around on a build and I keep going back between air and electric. Thanks, Jason

Also, really like the idea of using pneumatic rams, rather than hydraulics (one leaky seal and oil everywhere ). I previously had a google around, but could not find ones similar. Would you mind to share where such ones could be found, please?

With the help of the fabrication team at Upscale Automotive in Tualatin, OR (where I have my Sprinter work done), we got the roof, rear step, roof rack and several of the other modifications done last year before it went to James.

The cylinders used are from Peninsular Cylinders in Roseville, Michigan. They have a two inch bore and a 45 inch stroke. There's much information at http://www.peninsularcylinders.com/.

And, FWIW, I very much agree with Frank about the advantages of pneumatic over hydraulic, especially for an overlanderer where an on-board air source is going to be valuable for many reasons. On the Jeep, the struts are proving to be great . . . smooth and lightning quick.

[adventureduo]

Here's a video clip of Mike's air assist i shot last time i was up there visiting..
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFlKN43gTvQ"]YouTube - ER Westy Style[/ame]

[jrueppel]

Ok that's the coolest thing I've seen all day.

[mhiscox]

Here's a video clip of Mike's air assist i shot last time i was up there visiting.

Why, thank you, Cecil B. DeDruck. I'd forgotten that was around.

Fastest than the old roof-raising method by an order of magnitude or two.

[Overland Hadley]

Mike, I have been thinking about this build/rebuild all day. Looks like you are making some good improvements. I look forward to seeing your ideas when it comes to the interior.

But I must say, I am astounded by the glaring shortcoming of the factory XV-JP. I can not even comprehend the fact that the tent is not 100% waterproof.