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Teardrop trailer with a slide out?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:07 pm
by cabsplus
I have a 5x8 Teardrop with a queen size bed in the main area and a 2'x5' bunk that cuts across at your feet for a kid or small adult. I would like to build a "slide out" that would extend the bunk to 6' long when someone is sleeping on it. I want it to be flush when the camper is in tow. Should it be a sliding unit or should I cut a door in the extension area and build a box that will attach to the opening when setting up camp? It seems like a simple build but I get stumped and don't want to make any mistakes. Your input is appreciated. Image

Re: Teardrop trailer with a slide out?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:01 pm
by IndyTom
There are those here who have built slide outs, and there are those who have either built or designed tip outs. The search function at the top is your friend.

Tom

Re: Teardrop trailer with a slide out?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:04 pm
by cabsplus
Thanks, this is what I want it to look like.
Image

Re: Teardrop trailer with a slide out?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:25 pm
by IndyTom
Take a look at this thread. It is similar to what you want to do.

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=48429&p=905085&hilit=+tip+out+#p905085


Tom

Re: Teardrop trailer with a slide out?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:25 am
by TJinPgh
The tip-out I drew up in that thread was based on the premise of the whole 6' of the bed being adapted for sideways sleeping. But, it could certainly be altered for a 2' area.

What you need to consider is how high your interior is going to be as well as how wide the trailer is going to be. And how much height you have along the curve in the bunk is going to be in the rear.

If you're looking at a 5' wide trailer, your opening for your tip-out needs to be 1' high to give you 6' in length when opened. Assuming you want at least 1' of foot room underneath the bunk, you can't be back any further than a point where there is less than 2' high along the curve of the roof.

It's one of the things I needed to consider when figuring out what profile to use. I couldn't do a 6' wide, 2' high tip-out with a lot profiles. There simply wasn't enough height with some of them to do it.

A slide-out would also be 1' high, but the downside is that you pretty much have to have the slide out pulled out to make the camper usable. Where, with the tip-out, if you do the collapsible sides like I drew up there you can still use the bunk for kids or even for storage with it closed.

It's all a trade-off of one type or another.

I had considered a slide-out but could never really figure out how to seal it properly without the top of the slide-out sloping down. Others have done it, so, obviously it can be done.