camper trailers tech tips

Alan's Loo Lift

 

 

 

 

port-a-loo lift
 for limited space

Here's a great idea to lift your portable toilet without taking up valuable room in your camper trailer

                   

1.  Even before buying the material I was chanting "Measure twice, cut once"

2.  The Loo Lift was made from a 600 x 900 piece of 19 mm outdoor ply (cost approx $25) and I bought a cheap jigsaw ($15) and some blades ($8) so total cost less than $50 including buying a jigsaw.

 
3. The critical measurements were:
    a)    length of storage space into which the support will fit (540 mm)
    b)    max diagonal across base (440 mm)
    c)    amount of lift required (200 - 250 mm)
    d)    max width of support board (320 mm)
 
4.  3 a) less 3 b) gave me 50 mm / 2" each end - a good hunk of meat left behind.
 
5.  Board height (900 mm) less 3 d) divided by two said each of my base boards could be up to 290 mm high, again 50 mm to 'cup' the loo to save it sliding forward or back or sideways.
 
I next cut the sheet of ply into one of 600 x 320 mm and two of 600 x 290 mm, and then trimmed these to two of 540 x 290 mm. 
 
Carefully measuring the middle of each I marked where the notches would be, allowed for the fact that the board would not be crossing at right angles but more at 120 / 60 degrees and used a set square to mark the channel 20 mm wide (remember board is 19 mm thick).  I cut the notches with the jigsaw base slightly rotated to give the required angle.
 
I then measured the size of the trough to be cut into the top of each board keeping it snug so that the loo won't slide.
 
I cut the base board over size so that I could cut locator notches into each corner. These were cut freehand with the jigsaw. It worked perfectly first time.
 
I then took it apart and had trouble re-assembling it.  There are now large letter "A" on the three surfaces that need to go together.
 
Next weekend I will stain it with some decking oil to preserve the wood and hide any mud or dirt. The finishing touch will be some rubber feet in case the ground isn't smooth or level. The off cut from the base board will make a great jack plate for soft ground.

                 

Thanks to Alan for sharing his great idea with us.