1973 LoveBug Love-in

[Robert Johans]

Sorry, don't know... the solar system was purchased directly from AM Solar by the client.

The "rat fur" is actually a marine-grade "Hull Liner." Cutouts were made only to accommodate the cabinet mounting blocks, which were epoxied directly to the FG shell. Otherwise, the fabric is behind the cabinets.

[Robert Johans]

Ooops! Sorry, I messed up. I rechecked my drawings and the bed is only 48" wide, and the vert cabinet is 16".

[john warren]

purddy

[melissab]

Thanks for clarifying, you do work magic with these little trailers! Love seeing your pix!

[kellyben]

Hi Robert,

I'm curious if you have any photos of the frame your fabricator came up with for you for the Lovebug. I'm considering a similar (though less beautiful) project and would love to see what he came up with for you.

Thanks,

Ben

[Robert Johans]

Sorry, I can't seem to find any photos of this particular frame Perhaps this schematic wil be of help.

[kellyben]

Thank you for the schematic, Robert. Just a couple of other questions for you, if you don't mind. I'm curious where you source the foam for your mattresses and where you picked up the "off road" trailer tires?

[Robert Johans]

As I recall, the owner/client for this LoveBug project sourced his own custom foam mattress from a place that specializes in such things somewhere in Seattle. Perhaps a Google search?

The tires were sourced and bought by the client as well. I believe they were Goodrich T/A to match his truck.

[FRED SMAILES]

Hey Robert, thanks for the pics.
I hope to build a rear overhead similar to the one here.
I hope to use a single piece of birch that will be the bottom of the overhead and the side shelves that come forward to the closet and kitchen cabinet.
I would appreciate any input you would care to offer.
Fred

[Robert Johans]

Fred,
A "single piece" as the bottom of all three components: rear, plus left and right shelves? Wow! Well, I guess that's do-able, if you can come up with a very accurate template. I spend a lot of time struggling with those rear corner curves to get a decent fit on just the rear component. With only two hands, not sure I could handle a single piece.

This is what I did for my latest project:

[Thomas G.]

My work doesn't hold a candle to Robert's, but having just completed an upper shelf project in my UHaul, I can say that making all three sides from a single piece would be a real challenge, given the highly irregular contours in 3 dimensions of an egg.

[FRED SMAILES]

Thanks for the imput!
Yes I believe it may be a big challenge.
I've been mulling it over sitting here in the RV park over a couple of cool days.
At this point my plan goes like this.
Mark out location.
Cut the ensolite along that line and peal it down,,, say 2inches.
Bond to the fiberglass wall a tapered ledge of about 1/2 inch and glue the ensolite back up so looks finished.
Working up from cardboard to pieces of plywood create a single piece.
Not only does the birch have to fit right but would have to be flexed to get up over the support ledge on the wall.
Well anyway over confidence has been a problem of mine in the past so expect to see an attempt and some sort of result,,,,,lol
Robert, please keep posting remarkable builds, they inspire alot of us.
Fred

[kellyben]

Robert,

Have you received any feedback on how the camper tows with the A/T truck tires on it?

Thanks,

Ben

[Robert Johans]

"Kellyben"
Sorry, no. As you are probably aware, truck or car tires are not recommended for trailers. But in this case, the client insisted and provided them to me for installation.