Modified design question

[Danno-TNT]

My first post here, but i had to register finally because I've been reading for days now and have decided I need to take the plung and start building something.

I have a 1980 Fiat Spider Convertible that I'd love to be a TV for a TD. I also have a 40x48 trailer that I'd like to use as my base.

with minor mods to the trailer to increase length (not width) I'd like to build something that looks appropriate and tows appropriately behind a small 4cyl and teensy sized car (the Spider is about the same size as a Miata for those who are unfamiliar)

Question: Has anyone built a 40"wide x 96"long x < 40" tall Teardrop? (sits between the tires, axle flipped to other side of springs)

I just want a dry place to sleep, with a very small galley out and maybe a place to throw a couple of things in cabinets inside. I think the Benroy is the basic TD I want, but just modified to those specs above.

I'm 6'2" and young, so I don't need lot's of extra sleeping space, but would like to be able to lay flat with head and toes not touching. I need just under 40" to sit up straight, so i think slouched sitting could work in about 36-38". I want to keep it as flat as possible because the roof of the car with the top up is like 50" and I plan on dropping it a couple more in the near future.

This will be the stepping stone into TTT building because that's what originally brought me to the site. I'd like to make all my mistakes on this and figure out what works for me and what doesn't. then I'm off to build a standie similar to donutboy's or the puffin (took me several days to read that 50something page thread, lol)

Thanks in advance for any leads, wisdom, advice, etc you may impart!

 

[mikeschn]

Awsome tow vehicle!!!

I had a friend who had one of those, an older model though. It was loads of fun!

Mike...

 

[Danno-TNT]

Thanks, Mike. I love my little car (doesn't look near as nice as the new one in that ad!). It's amazing what 100hp can do when your car doesn't weigh much!!!!!!

 

[tinksdad]

There are several trailers here built on that trailer base, mine included. Itty-Bitty isn't quite the profile you are looking for; but at 7' cabin length it works for me. (The floor is the exact size of a twin mattress.) The major change I had to make to the trailer was to replace the stock tongue with one that was 2' longer. I haven't measured it to be exact; but I have about 43" headroom inside. Fully loaded to go camping the way I prefer, it weighs in about 450 pounds. I flipped the axle to the top of the springs and it comes about shoulder high on me (I'm 5'10").

Side note: Didn't think about it when I built mine; but the spring perches can be moved back about 9" and possibly get the extra foot of length that you are looking for and still give a good overall weight balance with a properly built floor structure.

 

[Danno-TNT]

There are several trailers here built on that trailer base, mine included. Itty-Bitty isn't quite the profile you are looking for; but at 7' cabin length it works for me. (The floor is the exact size of a twin mattress.) The major change I had to make to the trailer was to replace the stock tongue with one that was 2' longer. I haven't measured it to be exact; but I have about 43" headroom inside. Fully loaded to go camping the way I prefer, it weighs in about 450 pounds. I flipped the axle to the top of the springs and it comes about shoulder high on me (I'm 5'10").

Side note: Didn't think about it when I built mine; but the spring perches can be moved back about 9" and possibly get the extra foot of length that you are looking for and still give a good overall weight balance with a properly built floor structure.

I just browsed your album and you have almost exactly what I'm looking to build, just a little tall and I think a little short. I probably could go minimalistic and keep your length (I'll have to sketch it out to see what profiles look best), but I know i'm loosing out on storage above my feet by chopping height off of the thing. I see lots of overbuilt frames here. I've been using my 40x48 trailer to haul a LOT of firewood for the past few years and I've built out in front by >1ft and <1ft in the back (it's 6ft exactly) with wood and it's held up fine. I can't imagine my skinny rear or my camping stuff being nearly as heavy as 1000lbs of firewood.

Your weight numbers sound about what I'd expect, but I think I'm aiming to be down around 350 when loaded for a trip. If my wife goes with me that may triple....

 

[Rooky]

Welcome to the forum! Have you checked out the design library yet? The Pico-Light sounds like the perfect design for your needs.

 

[Danno-TNT]

Welcome to the forum! Have you checked out the design library yet? The Pico-Light sounds like the perfect design for your needs.

It's close, but it's built 48" wide. Otherwise it's the right height and could be the right length, but I was hoping to be more than a sleeping pod by adding a little length to the thing for some storage space (even if limited)

 

[satch-TNT]

Piglet was built on a frame that size. She's built on a seperate frame and bolted to the trailer for removal. I built a new axle carrage so I could move it back for balance. I'm only 5'11" and I sleep fine in it, though, it's abit cramped!

 

[Danno-TNT]

Rick,
I'm digging the looks of that TD. I went to your album, but the pictures are all approximately 10 pixels x 12 pixels, lol. YOU NEED BIGGER PICS!!!

looks like that is just over 40 inches or right at that height, no? Did you just go at the build, or did you use some plans?

 

[satch-TNT]

Sorry about the pics, I downloaded that way.
She's 82"long, 41 1/2 wide, and 46 tall (75 x 39 1/2 sleeping area)
I went with a benroy front for space and free lanced the butt. After I was done, I realized she looked like a baby "Lil' Guy"!
She works good for when I solo, but the deck is abit low for a 8" air matress, I hit my knees when I turn at night.

 

[Danno-TNT]

I've decided upon a profile design. I'm not entirely sure about the cabinet and galley layout. It's sure gonna be cramped in this thing, but I don't plan on doing more than a couple of days at a time in this, and it should almost always correspond with decent lawn-chair weather. The wheel isn't exactly to scale, but I went out and measured, so after I flip the axle, the line you see across the bottom should correspond with ground, then the side skirts will ride lower and total height inside should be around 40" at the highest point (which currently corresponds with the cabinet face, so actually less than 40" wherever I'll be sitting, lol.....

doh, just realized this forum doesn't have the "attach image" option whilst posting. I'll get them uploaded and posted in a minute......

 

[Danno-TNT]

here:

 

[Aaron Coffee]

I am buidling #2 on what used to be a 40 x 48 trialer, I stretched the frame out to 80 inchs.

I will also be stretching the tongue an additional 2 foot.

 

[Danno-TNT]

I like it. How tall is it? do you have more pictures, or a build thread on it?

 

[Danno-TNT]

new TV might require a change in design....I just bought a 1976 Fiat 128 sedan. The car can hold the whole family, but can I still tow and build a TD that can hold us all? do I even want to try. I'm just not sure at this point, lol.

 

[teardrop_focus]

I just bought a 1976 Fiat 128 sedan. The car can hold the whole family, but can I still tow and build a TD that can hold us all?

Welcome!



A teardrop light enough to tow well (and stop safely) behind a 4-banger is a two-up affair.

Building a tear stretched the other way, larger to accomodate two adults and two children, would dictate the use of a Tow Vehicle with at least a 1500-lb tow capacity. General rule of thumb otherwise would be to keep the fully-loaded teardrop to within one-third the curb weight of the TV.

 

[Danno-TNT]

I'm still around. Still in the planning stages. Car isn't driving, yet, so I still have time, lol. BTW, curb weight as listed online for the 1976 128 is 1653-1697 lbs...

 

[Danno-TNT]

So, I'm still around. I have been deliberating between this design and a "Puffin" standee that could fit us all. I finally have decided to go ahead with this smaller one first and if that build goes well, then I might start to acquire what i need for the larger one.

So, I might start building in the next month, or I might get caught up with other things (I'm in the middle of about 30 projects, lol), but In case I make a trip to the big box store to get supplies for another project I thought I'd at least get a better understanding of what I need for plywood on this thing.

Since I want it to be fairly lightweight and simple to build, would it be appropriate to use 3/4 floor, 1/2 walls and 1/4 roof?

How about 1/2 floor and 1/4 walls/roof?

I want to keep the floor as low as possible because I'm trying to keep overall height low. any bracing or thickness I put between the trailer frame and the floor will reduce headroom.

 

[Catherine+twins]

I am
looking at a very light canned ham. If you look in the vintage plans area at the Wanderpup and the Wanderbug, you will see they were built with 1/4" walls, 1/2"-5/8" floor, and 1/8"-3/16" roof, single wall construction. I think the Wanderpup estimates the finished weight at 700 pounds, and the Wanderbug says "under 1000 pounds." A tear should be able to be built with those plywood sizes if a canned ham can be.

Catherine

 

[Danno-TNT]

Thanks for that, Catherine. I think maybe I'll do 1/2" floor, 1/4" walls. If I can get by with a single sheet of 1/8" on the roof, that's what I'll do for weight reasons.

I need to make a trip to a couple of places to see what they carry, but I think that should be fairly cheap. I just need to decide how I'm going to finish the wood so I know what grade I need to get on the faces.