Roof tent frame pivot / elbow questions

[Psimpson7]

Was going to post this in the camping forum but it may get more traffic in here.

I have a Hannibal 1.4m roof tent with the extended fly option which is about a year old or so now. The tent itself is excellent, however the add on frame work for the extended fly looks a bit like it was developed by a kid with a blunt crayon.

It was supplied with the following plastic ball sockets

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/08/427.jpg

Which I had to drill and fit onto the frame of the edge of the tent floor (and the holes are slightly too far apart to make it a nice fit)

There is then a framework of small tube joined with plastic elbows and male ball joint to suit the above socket. seen here.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/08/428.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/563.jpg

One of the elbows is curently held together with some strong tape, and the whole thing annoys me!

Does anyone know where I can get some better products to do this. I have looked round all the camping websites I can find but havent had much luck. Some nice metal fitttings / pivots would be nice!!

Cheers
Pete

[Xtreme]

Have you tried the boating/marine outlets? They have an amazing array of fittings to suit canopy frames etc.

[Psimpson7]

No I haven't thats a good idea. Will see if I can find one.

cheers.

[Newbs-IIA]

Head over to your local BCF mate, we should have something to do the job (I work at a store in Brisbane). To fix that elbow joint I would get a clip which inserts into the end of one pole and clips over the other pole however this may alter the overall shape of the structure - will depend on your specific setup as to what will work. Unfortunatly I am not aware of a product we stock which will replace the ball joint, I would suggest trying to find a stainless steel replacement possibly available from a good chandlery or boating store. I definatly reccomend giving Whitworths a go - they are a HUGE boating retail store.

[Psimpson7]

Just an update on this.

In the end I designed up a suitable pivot, and handily a mate of mine has his own rapid prototyping business so that solved that!

Design:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/08/429.jpg

produced item:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/08/430.jpg

I then went to Whitworths, and got some nice stainless end bits,also seen in the pic above. I then drilled and tapped them and fitted them with an M6 bolt and some contact adhesive.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/08/431.jpg

Still havent got the elbows yet but I will try and go to BCF tommorow

[LandyAndy]

Could you replace the elbows with those stainless ends(or similar) and bolt together???.Looks like they may be too long.Also,check the plumbing section at bunnings,you can get pre-bent brass pipe fittings,may work.
Andrew

[Outlaw]

good work ;)

[Col.Coleman]

Pete,

Would you have 2 more? My ball joint snapped on mine.

CC