Been lurking around, reading everything, and am enjoying all the ideas I'm finding here. I'm in Phoenix where it gets hot, and not cold. Don't camp much anymore, because that whole pack, drive, unpack, setup tents, tear down tents, pack, drive, unpack thing is BS. But thinking that I'm 55, it's a good time to rethink things. The idea of a small, light trailer I can load, and mostly LEAVE LOADED really appeals to me. I recently found myself enjoying a "Mad Max" themed camp event in the desert, and will be going again this fall. This time I'm going to bring a teardrop (although it may be at least temporarily "distressed" to fit in the theme) towed behind my jeep.
After reading some of the posts of the foamie folks, I'm thinking I may put together a small, very light, 4x6 to 4x8 foamie on an old utility trailer with no kitchen as my first one, while building a 8', off-roadable, aluminum framed, custom framed, 5x8, queen bed, rear kitchen in the hatch model for my "good one".
One of the things about always making stuff, is you develop all sorts of skills. Sewing, woodworking, welding, cabinetry, electrical. All those will get used in the "big" teardrop. The first little foamie (an ice chest on wheels) will be a good practice piece, and I can even get "creative" with the foam if I want. Spikes, sawtooth ridges, whatever I want for the post apocalyptic RV camper! The only real "special feature" I have to have is a place to mount my solar panel, a small deep cycle battery (preferably vented to the outside) and a 12v venting fan. Now to find trailer parts for the first one. Such fun!