Levelling the camper not the rig.

[Scott7022]

Ok. Yes this is a strange ponder for everyone but I am skunk works spitballing here. Light weight flat deck camper. Going down the road I5 is day to day. Driving off-road is like rolling in the Northridge earthquake. On a daily basis for us that choose to take the real remote path. Most don't know this but payload and tow ratings are for municipal roadways. I think it is only Land Rover that posts the half the posted amount rating for off-road. Some are getting bit by this in the overlanding world. Search Bent ZR2 Bison. 

What about airbags on four corners that lift the camper rig a little when off the big pavement? On pavement you use regular tie downs and off road, straps for safety and say firestone 5000 HD integral bump stop units on four corners recessed into the flat deck three inches and camper structure for the remaining? They can run zero pressure as they have internal bumps stops. 

Hit the trail 30 psi, hit the rubicon trail 60 psi! Need to level a perfect camping spot? No problem, push a button.  

Thoughts opinions, rocks, and sticky gum comments welcome. 

Let fly

And thanks 
Scott

[tx2sturgis]

Air ride cabs on class 8 trucks always have at least 2 shocks for dampening...you gotta have that.

There are usually a set of pivots up front, and the airbags are toward the rear, alongside the shocks.

In other words, you will need some way to brace and control the camping unit, (struts, cables, control arms, pivots, etc) cuz airbags will cushion it, but they wont 'control' it.

[RoamingRaven]

Slide-in Camper with equal overhangs (over the cab and over the bumper), I had tie-downs that ratcheted the camper to the truck bed frame.  The only option for airbags was under the truck bed to help support the springs and shocks. I had electric jacks that would level camper after the tie-downs were loosened or released 100%.

Or ... are you designing a new support suspension for different types of campers?  If so, cool beans.

[sternwake]

I think an independently suspensioned camper body, on a tall 4x4 rig with lots of suspension travel, could add significant instability to that rig, an dnot just because the camper weight would be 3 to 6 inches higher raising the CG of the whole vehicle

The camper would have a delayed momentum too. hard left turn the vehicle leans suspension compresses then the camper body leans and its suspension compresses putting more weight on the vehicle suspension......

annd then its two wheels and duke boys yeee hawwww antics

[RoamingRaven]

I think an independently suspensioned camper body<SNIP>

annd then its two wheels and duke boys yeee hawwww antics

Gives a whole new meaning to off-roading 

[sternwake]

You got a dirty mind.

please elaborate

;>

[Scott7022]

Thanks for the comments, keep them coming. Yes Roaming Raven new suspension system for a pop up camper shell. Weight of shell and gear is around 1000 pounds, (for those that like precision 983.5 full of water) CG is very low and forward. Truck is designed to carry 1966 in the box. Box delete, aluminum flatbed, is close to a wash weight wise but basically half the max weight. Looking to limit the earthquake effect and allow, one touch levelling of the cabin regardless of the truck position and suspension articulation.

Yes delayed response is something I missed. Past the design goal of letting the impact force of dropping on the front skid plate be less of a hard smack. Let us remember getting punched in the head doesn't knock you out. Your brain, floating happily, suddenly getting smashed by your skull is what does the trick.

The design of the class eight trucks is kind of what I was thinking about.

Regular down the road she locks down traditionally.

Off-road I let it loosen up. To various degrees, whoops on gravel road say 40mph x psi. Hard muddy trail say 15mph y psi. Rock crawling say 3mph is d psi.

Not a prerunner raptor flashing the sand at 110 mph or even half that.

Major design goal is to lessen vibrational damage to sensitive equipment. I have seen first hand some campers rolling the old original Alaska highway virtually fall apart. It is much better now but five hundred miles of bad road is still five hundred miles of bad road.

Delayed response. Super good engineering point. I wonder if a gel like membrane or mounting pad would offset this to an acceptable degree? Jello has a memory after all.

Shock mounts, yes great idea. I know earthcruiser and a few other companies came up with habitat mounting options better than drop it on and tie it down, add a chain for safety.

Awesome thinking cap excercise. Thanks

[rvpopeye]

I've bounced a fair amount of electronic devices in the back of a truck....that didn't have air ride.
Interesting idea !

[tx2sturgis]

If you want to get an idea about air ride systems used on class 8 trucks, here is a website with a variety of air ride assemblies:

http://www.stengelbros.com/air-ride-susp...spensions/

You can click on any of the model numbers to see the units.

Most of them incorporate the air bags, (duh) the shocks, and some type of control system such as control rods to stabilize the cab.

All of the ones that I am familiar with are mounted at the rear of the cab, and support that end of the cab with a pivot or cab body/frame mount up front.

This one looks simple and cheap, but you still need a way to maintain control of the cab, or the camper:

https://www.stengelbros.net/2909A000-iLi..._6716.html

It should be simple to adopt or modify this idea for a suspended camper unit.

Just FYI...this type of air bags (very thick rubber) take about 120 psi to fully inflate to a VERY firm setting, but they can be a lot softer with less PSI...and you can install leveling valves that set the air pressure depending on the desired ride height. All this stuff is mostly off-the-shelf components.

Just a matter of adopting these, or something similar.

[Scott7022]

Tx2sturgis I clicked the thank you button but wanted to write it down personally. Awesome help! You rock!