electric/pneumatic

[surfenstein]

right this question is possibly in the wrong place and should be in the tech section but im hoping for a quick answer.i have a dilema.when ive cut the back off of stein i want to fit an alloy load cover over the top of the pick up bed.but i want the cover to lift at the touch of a button and go down again at the touch of a button.so it will need a pair of air /hydraulic rams.do i go for an electric pump to feed the rams or fit on board air and get pneumatic rams.also if there are any hydraulic experts on the forum what is the best way to do it and what parts will i need.i have though about gas struts but im going to fit a 35"tyre and wheel on top of the load cover so i need something with a bit of ooooomph.

[KERRSURF]

air is less messy when it leaks.

[darkdezigns]

hyd is best but not cheap!,plus if u go for air u can do other stuff to,ie have the first dancing/jumping surf with airbags on the suspension lol

[Albannach]

I'd use air too. Pressurise it to go up, depressurise it to let it down.

Probably use some kind of damper to slow down the closing, would be easier than controlling the air release.

[surfenstein]

air is less messy when it leaks.

actually thinking about it i would need to regulate the air pressure to the rams or it will be used as a catapult,could be interesting.especially if someone was standing on it at the time.

[plumb bob]

What about electric window motors geared to do the job, probably not man enough, but maybe off an old elecric wheelchair, like on robot wars.

[surfenstein]

What about electric window motors geared to do the job, probably not man enough, but maybe off an old elecric wheelchair, like on robot wars.

i like your thinking.mmmmmmm.

[gwh200]

or in the same vein a mobility scooter. leccy wheel chairs can be dear,but you can quite often see a cheap mobility scooter in the fre ads(well round here in old people land anyway)

[darkdezigns]

or in the same vein a mobility scooter. leccy wheel chairs can be dear,but you can quite often see a cheap mobility scooter in the fre ads(well round here in old people land anyway)

u said it lol

[nero279]

air could prove slow, hydraulic would be quicker. If it was air though you could use the same supply for on board air etc. electric motors would need to be pretty substantial to do the job, you'd be more in the realms of a small winch motor i reckon rather than electric chair motors. That's only at a guess though, i'm not really sure.

[LURCH]

I could probably get hold of hyd pipes and fittings but only a large-ish size, rams may be a bit more difficult, they would have the power but not a long enough stroke for what you need. Can also get hold of a range of air fittings and pipes, but only up to about 8mm pipe i think, and again for the cylinders/rams. Trouble is most of the stuff where i work is only just working (unlike me ) and will only get repaired/ replaced if it dies completely.

[Chillitt]

Got a scapper local? see if you can find one that has an ambulance or minibus with an electric tail lift, then you can hook out all the switches relays and the motors to save having to work it all out from scratch.

[The Lovely Boyo]

Mark - you are being overly complex.

Just get a pair of gas struts off the tailgate of a big estate or truck and use them. They will lift a lot.

If you do a search for 4x4 bling for pick up trucks

http://www.vangadgets.co.uk/aluminiu...eau-covers.htm

http://www.4x4x4.com/accessories/ton...d_tonneau1.htm

[Woodzie]

Onboard air would have other uses if you install a resevoir and outlets , as well as air tools you could carry air bags for recovery
don't forget that the spare will live on the cover and will have to move as not to hit the rad

[Apache]

air is less messy when it leaks.

Never known electric leak to be honest...

(Matt F - yes I know - dont be so f*ckin pedantic!)