Deciding. BenRender or TorPender?

[fartblossom]

Well I've saved my pennies and I've saved my dimes, (gitty up gitty up 409), and I'm getting close to launch on this thing.

I've decided for my first build I'll keep it simple, and acquire the tools I need and the skills I need to build a true classic teardrop down the road. Big fan of Mike's Weekender, particularly the large kitchen area that is available by hanging out a little over the back. I've been tweeking some profiles in sketchup for weeks now. I've narrowed it down to two profiles I like.

The first is a round front weekender with some mods to the backend. I call it a TorPender.



The second is a Benroy front end, kinda.. I call it a BenRender.



Advantage to the torpender is I like the style of a rounded front.
Advantage to the Benrender is more room on the tongue for a storage box.

Since my wife's idea of roughing it is room service, this will only be a 4' wide. As I'm 5'10", I'm thinking 6-1/2' should be enough for sleeping area.

Does anyone see anything else I should be considering? Since I'm a total newb, I appreciate your insight.

Thanks.

[Vedette]

I vote for the Torpender!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Woodbutcher]

I vote the Benrender. The flat front is more pleasing looking with the flat rear end. The rounded front in my opinion should have a rounded back like a traditional teardrop. But you know what they say about opinions, right?

[S. Heisley]

TORPENDER!

The design looks better with your TV; and, because of the front-end shape, you'll get less wind resistance for that little sports car to deal with. (Is it rated to tow?)

The first is a round front weekender with some mods to the backend. I call it a TorPender.




Advantage to the torpender is I like the style of a rounded front.

[NebraskaTeachr]

I just like the looks of the Torpender better. However, as Sloe said, you have two nice designs, so pick the one than makes you happy.

Tim

[mikeschn]

I like the Torpender better too!

But I would get rid of the sharp lines in the back...

The other option is to leave the sharp lines in the back and add sharp lines in the front!

Mike...

[jeff0520]

+1 on the BenRender here. I think the flat front looks better with the flat rear. Both designs look good though.

[les45]

I vote for a true weekender with flat lines front and rear (but then I'm a little biased). If you do go with the weekender style of rear end, check out my journal for some slightly different ideas on the galley and hatch.

[fartblossom]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your feedback.

GM never bothered to rate my car's towing, as I doubt anyone but me has ever wanted to. , but it has a german made rear differential used in the 400hp cadillac cts-v, a transmission from the colorado pickup rated to pull 3300 lbs., and 177 hp/ 166 ft/lbs torque, so I anticipate no problems as long as I keep the weight down under 750 or so. The hitch is rated for 2000 lbs and 200 lb. tongue weight.

Yeah, I know it's a mongrel looking camper with the square back and rounded front, but I really want to maximize the kitchen area, as cooking is one of my main joys in life.

I probably won't make up my mind as to which front to put on it till I actually start cutting plywood. In the meantime, will someone slap me and make me stop tinkering in sketchup??