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Spunk Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2017 Posts: 6 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 5:31 pm Post subject: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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So I have this crazy custom build that I bring out to Burning Man ever year with some issues that I thought the esteemed members of this forum might be able to address!
My project is a mobile bar that has a custom frame using golf cart axles and an electric motor. The first year I had it out I didn't have any suspension and needless to say, every little bump knocked liquor bottles all over the place. I didn't have much clearance to get up friends' driveways in the off season and also wanted to be able to slam it to the ground so it would be more stable. So I installed sort of a 4-link with Firestone airbags run off of a compressed nitrogen tank. Took it out the next year to find that the airbags worked great for raising/lowering but when people leaned on a side, it would flop over to that side, maybe from not enough pressure in the bags due to the light weight of the bar.
What I want to know is how to fix this. I have several options. The one I'm leaning towards because it is cheap is to completely take out the Firestones and install Monroe or Gabriel air shocks. Would this be stiff enough to keep it from flopping to one side and support it? The bar weighs about 1000 lbs and only travels short distances at less than 10 mph. No need for a performance setup. Has anybody used these without bags or coils? I heard VW's are light enough that this may be possible.
A second option is to install regular shocks along side the air bags. What kind of shocks do I use? It needs to be able to drop/raise 6-8”. I would need shocks that could be compressed by the 1000 lb bar.
Third is to remove the airbags and go with one of those airbag/shock combos but they seem pretty pricey and very overkill.
Any ideas would be great. I included a few pics. Thanks!
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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Interesting, the first simple fix that comes to mind is sway bars.
Option two is have it squat down every time it stops, or legs that extend to stabilize, but either of those could involve crushed toes and lawsuits and require lots of nitrogen and complex mechanics. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8689 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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Do all of the airbags work off of one valve or do you have multiple valves? _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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Another slightly more complex solution that doesn't waste air is telescoping tubes (like shocks) on each wheel with a solenoid activated lock pin or brake that engaged whenever motor power stopped, dust sealing will be the challenge with that. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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Cali_Army_Guy Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2015 Posts: 2094 Location: Stockton, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 8:09 pm Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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I'd install a linear actuator at each corner. When you set up the bar just have the actuators extend down to the ground and act as a stabilizer to prevent it from tilting. You can find them on Amazon for like $60 each. _________________ 2015 VW Passat Wolfsburg Edition
1966 VW Beetle - Sold |
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Spunk Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2017 Posts: 6 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:21 am Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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Brian, I have a Slam Specialties 4-corner manifold so I can do FBSS. |
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Spunk Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2017 Posts: 6 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:23 am Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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I don't have a problem lowering and raising the bar, the airbags work great for that. The problem is there isn't any stiffness when it is raised off the ground. |
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ROCKOROD71 Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012 Posts: 2770 Location: Boston, MA
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:39 am Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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I feel like the shocks and suspension aren't going to help your problem of bottles being knocked over. Better solution would be some kind of holes in the bar to hold the bottles, or holsters, or something like this:
My buddy took an old harpsichord and rigged up with a spring loaded shelf so when you open the hood the bottles rise up and are held in place by another board that has the appropriate sized holes in it, and you can wheel that sucker around a room and not even get a rattle out of the bottles. Its pretty cool and surprisingly lightweight when you strip the innards from the harpsichord. _________________ 1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI
79SuperVert wrote: |
30 years from now, the next guy may not want your girlfriend, but he may want your classic car, depending on how nice you were to it. |
asiab3 wrote: |
Careful guys, a petulant child can grow up to be president these days. |
**winter drivers: no survivors!**rust warrior**#keepbodyshopsbusy** |
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obus Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2001 Posts: 11044 Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
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Spunk Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2017 Posts: 6 Location: Reno, NV
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Spunk Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2017 Posts: 6 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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obus, you have to hop over the bar. |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12818 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 3:48 am Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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Spunk wrote: |
Brian, I have a Slam Specialties 4-corner manifold so I can do FBSS. |
As mentioned above, it sounds like you don't have individual control of air to all corners. When you raise the vehicle, air is evenly distributed to all four corners, when a load is applied to one side/end, the air travels from the side with a load to the side with less, thus your tilt/ flopping over.
What you need to correct this is a controller that separates the corner bags from each other known as the FBSS (front, back, side, side). Install one of these & you can keep your bar from getting tipsy.
The other/cheaper option is to install a mechanical valve in the airline to each airbag that you can close to isolate each corner once the pressure has built up and the vehicle is at it's desired height. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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TrulyVintage Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2008 Posts: 207 Location: Direct Enclosed Transporter
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oakman Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2014 Posts: 1712 Location: Edge of the Desert, Ca
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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Cool project! I would love to see some photos of the bar in action.
TrulyVintage wrote: |
Ground clearance ?
That is going to get beat to hell if you drive it aywhere off a paved surface ...
Jim |
This festival takes place on a huge dry lake bed, ground clearance most likely won't be too much of an issue out there. _________________ Brandon |
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Spunk Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2017 Posts: 6 Location: Reno, NV
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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TDCTDI,
I thought that might be the problem. I have a Slam Specialties FBSS controller so that shouldn't be an issue. My friend thought that with the light weight, around 1000#, I might not have enough pressure in the bags to be stiff enough. I'm getting down to the wire so I decided to pull out the airbags angel go with some Gabriel Hijackers. I'll let everyone know how that goes!
Will post pics too.
Spunk |
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Ksprague Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2015 Posts: 42 Location: Finger Lakes Region Upstate NY
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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This is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time! _________________ Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")
"The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began."
~ Bob Weir |
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2true Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2004 Posts: 1218
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Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 10:37 am Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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Are you going to serve Flaming Moes? _________________ AKA Destroyer of the Rants...... |
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Major Woody Samba Enigma
Joined: December 04, 2002 Posts: 9010 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: Mobile Burning Man Bar Project Help |
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Alright alright alright!
I don't have any ideas about how you should solve your problem, but I want to party with you, man. |
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