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auto centering
camper floor frame
Here's an idea for
holding down the floor without having to peg into the ground.
what you need
The framework is
made of 16mm x 1.2mm gal tube and four sliders of 19mm tube around
150mm long and a sliding fit over the 16mm tube.
how to do it
Measure the
floor area and cut two pieces of 16mm tube the length of the
shortest side of the floor, plus around 600mm for the bends and
returns. Block one end of 16mm tube with a piece of wood, fill tube
with sand, compact and block the other end with another piece of
wood.
Bend around a
jig of approximately 70-100mm diameter, leaving a straight section
at least 100mm after the bend. Do the same at the other end so that
the finished article fits inside and along the shortest side of the
floor. Repeat process so that you have two identical pieces with
bends at either end. Place these on floor inside the camper and
measure between ends of frames, then cut two pieces of 16mm tube to
fit between.
Cut four pieces
of 19mm tube around 150mm long, file the inside seam off and slide
two onto each length of the straight 16mm tube.
putting it
together
To assemble, butt the
straight tubes up to the returns on the bent frames and slide the
sliders over the joins. For the floor covering you can use canvas,
light carpet or the commercially available caravan matting. Just sew
an open ended hem at either end and slide over the framework with
the bends at each end. The entire frame and floor can be
disassembled, rolled up and placed under the mattress for storage.
conclusion
The framework is
lightweight, quicker than pegging and will automatically centre and
hold your floor flat and square regardless of the terrain. It will
also hold the walls of the tent out straight. Only very strong wind
gusts will lift it. Aluminium tube can also be used, but lifts quite
easily in moderate winds.
thanks to for sharing this idea
january 2009
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