Who has the widest Tear?

[NightCap]

I am building my Tear 5x8 (to change now is not an option for me) but have seen some that have made there queen size bed fit in sideways. This would be a great solution for some that like to optimize space. I'm guessing a tear would have to be at least 6 1/2 feet wide to do this. Maybe on my next tear project..... I have a big family and would like to see all of them have tears as well.

[dhazard]

NightCap, Food for thought. For a 6 ½ foot wide tear you will have to extend your mirrors to see around it…

[angib]

For a 6 ½ foot wide tear you will have to extend your mirrors to see around it…

And you'll have to build the wheels in/under the body, unless you use small wheels, as anything larger won't fit within the 8 foot wide limit of many states.

If you build the wheels in/under the body, you either can't use that part of the body for a bed, or you have to raise it above the wheel boxes.

Like life, design is just a compromise....

Andrew

[asianflava]

8ft wide? Sounds like more trouble than it's worth. You want/need a TTT instead of a tear.

[Peter Chilman]

Hi Nightcap,
My tear is 6'6" wide I have the wheels placed back a bit so that I can get a queen size bed in without going over the wheel wells, but that make the front a bit heavy,I do need to have clip on mirrors so that I can see around the thing.If I was to build another , I would go 5 ' wide and put the bed in length ways because the galley space is huge which makes it very easy to overload with stuff that you dont really need .

[Miriam C.]

Can I suggest before anyone builds wider than 5 ft they go to a gathering and really look at a t/ttt. Mine is going to be great but it is so tall and wide (6' 4") that I couldn't reach the center to put in screws. Hubby had to lay on the top to get to them. There are some drawbacks.

We put extended shakles on to raise it off the wheels so it won't be going to my favorite fishing hole.

[mikeschn]

I've built 4' wide, 5' wide, 6' wide and 5 1/2' wide...

I've decided that 5 1/2' wide is the optimum width... both for the queen sized bed and for being able to see around the trailer in a medium sized car.

Mike...

[jdarkoregon]

NightCap, I'm with the rest of the group, real wide isn't all that great, I've towed several types of trailers that were 8 foot wide, and man, what a hassle.

Your avatar is driving me CRAZY, Is your personality like that too?

[Big DE]

Mikeschn,
when you say 5 1/2 wide is that "OD" or "ID"????
Thanks Big De

[jimqpublic]

I'm sort of with Mike- 5-1/2' exterior seems about right for smallish cars. Our Chalet has a total width of 6'6" and it requires me to use an extended towing mirror for our Subarus. It would sure be nice to avoid that. But I do get used to the width- it still tracks right behind the car so as long as my mirrors fit then the trailer will. In fact with inboard wheel wells 6'6" is about the same overall width as a 5' tear with outboard wheels.

Wind resistance most likely goes way up too as the trailer gets wider than the car.

Still there's a big difference between a "just wide enough to sleep crosswise" 6'6" TTT and the standard travel trailer width of 8'. In fact many trailers are now built on the new interstate maximum of 8'6". Fine until you cross a narrow bridge that hasn't heard of the wider limits!

Many mattress companies make innerspring beds in "RV length" which is 75". So going with 76" inside you can use off-the-shelf bedding. I think crosswise sleeping is the only practical way to build a TTT that comfortably sleeps more than two. Even little children grow up!

[NightCap]

All very good input. Thanks. I will have to look at all the TTT's in the group. I have to admit that it would be nice to have some family join us in the trailer sometimes. I think I will have to rely on clever alteritives instead of going wider. I have seen some real unique things here. I like the canvas Hammocks, can't remember who had that with the canvas and closet rods. Very cool.