What would be a good basis for this thing?
Mr Whippy - 21/9/11 at 10:34 AM
Hi,
Although I'm sure many of you will disagree, I think this motor home is just so super cool 
I love it!
Unfortunately there were only two of these ever built 
so the chance of owning one is zero, but then it looks a very simple machine to build!
What do you think would be a good chassis to base one on, apart from sticking 4 wheels on a caravan...
I think the body would be better made in steel for strength and crash safety rather than aluminium (ever seen a caravan after a crash!) but since the
body is just simple curves that should be a doddle. I was thinking that given it's overall simplicity, low speed, easy lights & huge windows
that a flat platform space frame chassis and IVA route would be possable, put it down as a 2 seater car/van thing, would this be a good route?
I'm just struggling to think of a chassis (if I went with that option) that would be good with this layout, any idea's/suggestions???
Cheers
Daddylonglegs - 21/9/11 at 10:40 AM
Don't you think you need to finish the Beetle first chap? 
big_wasa - 21/9/11 at 10:41 AM
Made of steel 
so thats a tank with windows 
blakep82 - 21/9/11 at 10:46 AM
a sort of backbone chassis with roll cage making the shape of the main outside shape, i'd say. yes it does mean a high floor, but thats what
you'd get in a motor home anyway.
i like it! i want one now...
like this for starters
Description
with a bit more work to the front and back cages. mmm audi V8 with transaxle in the back, under the bed ha ha.
edit, oops ki did the roof the wrong way round, that'll be why i couldn't work out the front and back then!
[Edited on 21/9/11 by blakep82]
Benzine - 21/9/11 at 10:46 AM
are these the ones based on saab 95s (or 96s?) If so they are awesome. Not sure what you could base them on but they are awesome ^_^
liam.mccaffrey - 21/9/11 at 10:52 AM
i love that!!
Myke 2463 - 21/9/11 at 10:56 AM
Land Rover chassis from the 101-inch Forward Control models, 109-inch (2,800 mm) FV18067 ambulances built by Marshall Aerospace of Cambridge.
Looks like a powered tear drop caravan with windows and steering.
TimC - 21/9/11 at 10:58 AM
I'll take mine in white over brown please.
I really like that!
Mr Whippy - 21/9/11 at 11:03 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
are these the ones based on saab 95s (or 96s?) If so they are awesome. Not sure what you could base them on but they are awesome ^_^
you are totally correct, 95 saab based which seems an odd choice of donor tbh
Yeah Daddylonglegs I'm working on the bug just now but that's to be finished before spring, so looking at the next possible project and I
have a thing for classic streamlined machines
I can't weld aluminium anyway so steel is my obvious choice and there's no compound curves. I wouldn't trust an aluminium bodyshell
anyway in a crash or for mounting seatbelts to. Really it's just a panel van in the shape of a caravan, simple.
Was thinking of using a subaru flat 4 2ltr mounted in the floor! & dual wishbone suspension like a 7, why not?!
[Edited on 21/9/11 by Mr Whippy]
Benzine - 21/9/11 at 11:13 AM
lol vid
Volvorsport - 21/9/11 at 11:40 AM
transit , or a 4x4 .
if youre prepared to pay , you order new cab off chassis from fiat and ford for modern motorhomes .
Mr Whippy - 21/9/11 at 12:01 PM
yikes the originals were just a plywood sheet body skinned with aluminium think I'd want to build something way stronger than that! Also look
a bit half baked design wise, I'm sure I could do way better.
I love the way it looks like a runaway caravan
have you seen this? - vid
[Edited on 21/9/11 by Mr Whippy]
JF - 21/9/11 at 12:49 PM
Well the original is just what it looks to be. A caravan on a car/van chassis. And I think that would be what I'd do. Get a ladder chassis from
an old van, 4x4 or make my own and drop an old caravan on top of it. Then construct a rollcage from steel inside and strengthen the front and rear
ends.
You don't need to weld alu when working on a caravan. about the only thing welded on them is the steel chassis. The rest is screwed and/or
glued.
Might be though to get such a contraption through IVA though...
mookaloid - 21/9/11 at 01:10 PM
Surely the way forward would be a beetle chassis or Landrover or a transit pickup or the like chassis would be the answer?
As long as the chassis isn't modified you wouldn't need to IVA it
gottabedone - 21/9/11 at 01:14 PM
Whippy, try this for inspiration......................
Steve
Daddylonglegs - 21/9/11 at 01:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gottabedone
Whippy, try this for inspiration......................
Steve
Gotta love the upstairs driving option
Mr Whippy - 21/9/11 at 02:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gottabedone
Whippy, try this for inspiration......................
Steve
wow this is well built hats off to him for the balls to do something so complex 
Confused but excited. - 21/9/11 at 02:34 PM
Like a guy that plans ahead.
If you are going to make your own chassis, why not make it with a giant roll cage to fix the steel body panel to? It's an ideal shape for
that.
Can't wait to see the pics of the build progress.
YODI - 21/9/11 at 02:53 PM
Wow can't believe some of the video lol, must admit I've never seen anything like it but I think it looks wicked.. You'd want to get
the c of g pretty accurate though or it would drive like a pig.
Badger_McLetcher - 21/9/11 at 03:46 PM
Personally I'd make a ladder chassis and roll cage, bodywork could then be fibreglass, ally or steel. As mentioned above a landy, van or
something of that ilk may make a decent donor.
ettore bugatti - 21/9/11 at 08:31 PM
You could also look for the Boonie bug or Brubaker Box, these use a grp on a foam to create a sandwich.
I think you could take any front wheel drive drivetrain, bolt the subframe to a simple ladder frame 100x50x3mm and put 1 or 2 trailer axle with
brakes.
Mr Whippy - 22/9/11 at 11:08 AM
cheers guys plenty off good ideas there, think I'll do some plans on solidworks
ta
