GrandWillys Project

[Marc Bourget]

Marcus,


Watched "Texas Metal" last night featuring a project paralleling (but not duplicating) yours. Spent the program talking to myself, "Marcus did it better" or as a point was raised, "What Would Marcus Do?" (WWMD)


Given a choice, I'd take yours!


Does Santa do his deliveries to OZ in beach attire?

[Gojeep]

Originally Posted by Marc Bourget

Marcus,


Watched "Texas Metal" last night featuring a project paralleling (but not duplicating) yours. Spent the program talking to myself, "Marcus did it better" or as a point was raised, "What Would Marcus Do?" (WWMD)


Given a choice, I'd take yours!


Does Santa do his deliveries to OZ in beach attire?

That is awesome. Thanks for the kudos.

Santa would melt in his suit here as been over a 100*F most of the day!

[Gojeep]

Originally Posted by DarkLightning

Sickening to see dents like that on a finished piece! I certainly don't have those skills. Nicely done- the whole thing!

It was just so much more slick once it was finished and it caught me off guard!

[Gojeep]

First time on there so finally get a chance to see what it looks like. Not once was the cover on until finished!


Very happy with the profile and it's everything I hoped it would be. Suits the proportions of the whole truck.


Now you can see too why I wanted the type of hinges I used. Look how easy it is to fill the tank and put things in and out at this end of the bed. Will build a custom box later to fit in there.


I used this calculator to see how the different angles changed the load requirements on the actuator. Linear Actuator Calculator | FIRGELLI Automations You enter the size of the box and lid angle and weight, (mine came out to 24.8kg-55lbs), and work out the position and capacity of the actuators. Basically the further from the hinge and the more vertical the actuator is mounted, the less force you need. If you had a fixed pivot, (which I don't), you can plot the exact spot to mount it.


As you can see, 40* is more than enough. What is great using actuators over gas struts is it is not trying to push it upwards, breaking the seal against the bed, when closed. I adjusted it to put some tension on holding the lid down before it shuts off. A drive on poor roads into the country showed it didn't bang or flutter at all at speed, so really pleased with the outcome. No lift handle or locks penetrating the skin are also needed for a better, cleaner and more waterproof result.


To fully raise it takes just 14 seconds and 10 seconds to go back down. Speed ratings are for unloaded and these came out at 45mm, (1.75") a second. Others I see are only between 3 and 8mm, (0.1-0.3") a second! So with 350mm of travel these have it would take over 2 minutes to raise it with the slower actuators.


I just took it to the service station to fill the tank and it is up before you get around to taking the cap off. You just let it go down as you walk off to pay.

[Steve Hamilton]

Wow sure looks and works perfect! I love it when the plan works as imagined.

[Marc Bourget]

Have you operated the bed cover in any wind?


wondering about "wiggle" scratching the eventual paint, etc

[123pugsy]

Hot damn, that is fantastic. I guess you can fuel up in front of the cover. I didn't see that coming.

[Gojeep]

Originally Posted by Steve Hamilton

Wow sure looks and works perfect! I love it when the plan works as imagined.

Thank you so much! Last of the panel work done and am shocked at how well it all came out.

Originally Posted by Marc Bourget

Have you operated the bed cover in any wind?


wondering about "wiggle" scratching the eventual paint, etc

Not sure what you mean? The cover does touch the sides when up at all.

Originally Posted by 123pugsy

Hot damn, that is fantastic. I guess you can fuel up in front of the cover. I didn't see that coming.

All started when I found a pair of sofa bed hinges thrown out and it got me thinking.

[Marc Bourget]

Marcus,


Lots of curved surface area in that "wing", the cover.


Wondering how well the hinges would control the cover in a strong wind if it was open. The actuators will help but I was just wondering it you had thunk about it!



FWIW

[Jaroslav]

Great job Marcus. Is it possible to send an emergency signal to the desert? As a remote resonator? Or it's quiet. After tilting, I see another function...