I just wanted to share another little ditty I made for the cross member. I can’t remember if I shared it here so here it is lol I weight tested it with a 6lb kettle bell, so it seems strong, but I only use it to hold my lantern
I have been feverishly working on designs for a lightweight no tools mounted awning setup pre-emptively called SwitchBlade. I hope to have prototyped before Xmas. I really want to share the preliminary designs, but I have to hold off to make sure it’s going to work completely. If anyone here has used any of the accessories I designed, I would really like to hear your feedback, good bad and indifferent.
ETA: Thank you to everyone that has bought my designs, you really have helped a man’s dream come true.
I purchased the extrusion alien twist in hangers. They work perfect. I put together a simple tarp awning that allows me to twist in the tarp to the extrusion without tools using the Lumbering Bear hangers. Full disclosure… My design remains untested in the wild, but the alien hangers are solid and I couldn’t be happier with them. Don’t know if I’ll make it out for a camp this winter, but ill definitely report back after my design is tested.
Oh and I am working on an awning here’s the prototype for it. The pvc pipe will be a 3 section aluminum tent pole with shock chord. the awning material is a quick temporary test piece to get the concept but if modified with hitch points it could work.
The U-joints have SS barrel nuts that fit snug and the joint is strong for it’s size. I am still concerned that the 3d printed mount might need hardware behind it but I can still make it tool less which is the goal. The elbows where the poles intersect need some updating too but they function well and are super stable.
The goal is to create this as a lightweight modular alternative for an awning. It’s easy to mount and just as easy to remove. I set it up in about 2 minutes taking my time it can all go into a bag the size of a folded camp chair. I’m thinking 5 poles in total which seems like a lot to me but stability-wise it works. The final design of the awning itself will mount tightly and even to the camper. Please excuse the poor video quality, no excuse other than just unskilled. Lumbering Bear GoFast Camper lightweight Awning test - YouTube
Alright one more step in the awning prototype. After doing this one I think I am going to redesign the union brackets and the t-slot mounting I may remove the hinge idea and add a pivot setup. Awning Setup Fun fact finding mission - YouTube
