What do you think of this galley design?

[Nicolathecat]

I am going to be working with a builder who is happy to help me customize my teardrop.

I am not going to have a built in sink, water or propane stove...I figure those are all things that could break or need maintenance I don't know how to provide and can easily be worked around not having...it would also really add to the cost and budget is something I need to keep in mind. I figure I will bring in water, have a few plastic tubs to use as a sink and have a portable stove. That said I do want good counter space, storage and a pretty galley.

Oh the shelf with a lip is to hold plastic containers my protein powder came in...the are a great size for food storage. I thought I would do one with spices, teas, maybe oatmeal...that sort of thing. I like the idea of having a place for the cooler in the galley. Has anyone had problems with bears trying to get into their galley? Would having my cooler there be safe?

Any suggestions for something really useful that I am missing?

[les45]

Some things to consider:
1. Provide positive latching of the upper cabinet doors so they don't come open while traveling (don't depend on magnets or gravity).
2. Maybe provide pass through to cabin area in one or both of the outer upper cabinets. I have this on one of mine and it is quite useful.
3. Where will your electrical control system be located? Drivers side upper cabinet is good location (standard location for campground power inlet).
4. Make sure that upper cabinet doors don't interfere with hatch supports or galley AC electrical outlets.
5. If you plan to have a lot of larger things like stove, coffee pot, etc. sitting on the counter, your upper doors will be banging into them. Think about using pads under the appliances so they can be moved around easily. I use the cheap mouse pads from Big Lots for this purpose.
6. Check the sizes of the containers for the top shelf to make sure you can close your hatch without hitting them.
7. Will one cooler be enough? You might consider making two cooler bays at the bottom and, if you don't need both, then store stuff in the other with plastic containers, maybe even some portable shelves. Make these spaces more multi-purpose.
Looking good so far; good luck on your build..............
Larry S.

[Mary C]

What he said!!!! Just consider your wants and remember that everything in the back will get jostled around, bumps and lots of sliding (last car on roller coaster) . my suggestion go to a td outing, campout or just visit some of the people on here. Check out the build sights and perhaps someone can tell you how to get to the galley picture website.

Mary C.

[Midget]

When we built our Midget, we purposely didn't finish the galley. We camped a couple times with just a big counter top and planned our galley later. We decided not to have any doors on our storage areas as something is always in the way of opening them. We put wood slats across the openings to keep everything in place. We also put a sliding bread board on the counter to help add more counter space. The problem with the Midget design is the bottom rear of the trailer curves back under the trailer so there is no lower area to access unless you go in from the sides or through the top of the counter. I cut a lid in the counter top to access the pantry below and it's a pain if you have stuff on the counter. Everything must be cleared off to open it.

[tony.latham]

My thoughts:

1. Have the cooler space built for the cooler you want to use. I bought my first teardrop and it was quite the hunt to find the biggest cooler to fill the space. That's a 48 Quart Rubbermaid in the photo below. Fairly small but good for about three nights with some ice. I thought about putting my cooler on a slider on this build but it would cause me to lose space that I wanted for a drawer above it. It's easy to just slide out without one since a cooler of this size doesn't weigh much.
2. Don't be afraid of a propane stove. My first teardrop had a Coleman in it and it never blinked after hundreds (?) of meals were cooked over it. Theyr'e simple, safe, and bulletproof. I LIKE my coffee in the morning. My lady and I both enjoy cooking from the galley. Spices? There for cooking!
3. Both of my tears utilize a seven gallon water jug in the galley. The containers are built by Reliance and cost $20-25 –Amazon, Walmart or any large outdoor store will have them. They've got a spigot (they make two vent types, a plug and a screw on, make sure you get the screw on vent). Once the galley lid is open, I slide the jug out over the rear edge and can use it to rinse my hands, fill the dog dish or add water to the coffeepot. It's simple, cheap and damn handy to have. I think a sink (and hidden plumbing) is wasted space in a teardop –others probably can't live without one!

Below is a photo of my galley that's seen it's first meal. It looks suspicously identical to my first tear, but a foot wider. You can see there's an open storage area behind the counter. The area to the left has dedicated oraginzers for the coffee/tea pot, two insualed cups (that function as French presses), and a spice rack. To the right is open for condiments, crackers etc.



Black furry visitors? I rarely camp anywhere that isn't inhabited by black and/or grizzly bears. I've never had a bear issue (while tear camping –I lifted my tent fly edge up one Alakan morning to find a clawed-bearing foot inches from my hand) but a can of bear spray lives inside the teardop! Great for two and four legged unfriendlys.

Next summer is going to be a great adventure for you three (counting your pooch).

Tony

[GuitarPhotog]

Consider sliding doors, or barrister bookcase style doors for those cabinets behind the counter. That way you don't have to move stuff on the counter to get to the cabinets. Also remember if you are using a Coleman-style stove that the stove's lid will block access to space behind it while you're cooking.

<Chas>

[les45]

Another thing that will affect your galley design is how you set up camp around it. A lot of people use an EZ-Up with additional tables, chairs, etc. I use a 6' folding table on the end of my EZ-Up to place the camp stove and food. Coffee pot and electric griddle go on the galley countertop. Ice chests and other plastic storage containers go under the table. Most of my galley storage is in large plastic bins that can be moved around as needed. Anything with food goes back in the galley with the hatch closed or in the TV at night. We don't see a lot of bears but the raccoons can be bothersome.

[Nicolathecat]

Thank you all for the advice and suggestions. I really like the idea of sliding doors on the cabinets in the galley...good point about having to move stuff. Hmmm...will need to think about a place to keep the propane stove.

Lots of food for thought...thank you!

[Shadow Catcher]

Have more outlets than you think you need both 12V and 120AC. Consider not wasting precious cabinet space on a cooler. We have a Waeco refrigerator that travels in the back of our Outback and is powered by a plug there and another in the galley. On extended trips i.e. our eight days in Canada we took a cooler for stuff to be used early in the week.

[GuitarPhotog]

I don't have space in my galley for the cooler, it sits on a side table next to the trailer. Under a cooler cozy.

On my 3 week "Tour of the Great Northwet" in June, I kept two coolers, one for meat and dairy that stayed closed and covered as much as possible, and one for drinks and produce that was opened more frequently. They traveled in the back of the tow vehicle. Since I was on the road longer than I could provision for, I had to replenish supplies and ice while traveling.

Since I love to cook, even when camping, I carry a complete set (10 pcs) of pots and pans. They require more storage than expected, but it's nice to always have enough pans.

<Chas>

[Nicolathecat]

Most of our camping trips will be limited to two or three days...so we will not need to pack heavy. We have pets and have to arrange pet care whenever we leave overnight. I am budgeting things so we can go at least one weekend a month April - October....I figure November-March will be a bit cold for us...though I may very well plan at home sleep ins for those months...just for fun.

[Woodbutcher]

You may also consider an exterior 110V outlet. It is handy to plug in lights or other things without having to leave the hatch open. My teardrop has rope lights attached to the perimeter of the underside. It makes a nice night light. Helps me find my trailer in the dark and keeps the bugs away from the door.
When I design a galley I first get all the things I want to store in it and make a place just for those things. You can always fit canned goods etc. around in the smaller spaces left over. But having to store somethings in the TV because they don't fit in the galley is a hassle. I want to be able to stop along the road, open the hatch and be able to quickly make lunch and get back on the road.

[buckisland1950]

I don't have space in my galley for the cooler, it sits on a side table next to the trailer. Under a cooler cozy.

<Chas>

Chas:

What is a cooler cozy? I have never seen one. I usually drap a thick towel over the lid of my cooler and it helps. Definitely interested in buying or making one......

Franke

[nevadatear]

I definitely agree with sliding doors on your cabinets. We did ours that way for that exact reason, and I am glad we did. I made one of the first cooler cozys on the forum. It is an insulated cover for your cooler. Camp inn has a tually started manufacturing a very nice one that your cooler fits in with a zip top. My just slides over the top. Or one does and one has side zippers. In really hot weather i still use a wet towel under the cozy. Extends my ice for 4 days in the 90s. But i use two ice chests, one for drinks and one for food, and put them in bear boxes or the car at night. We chose to go with more storage over ice chest in the rear. We do keep dry food in the tear, no problem. We did go with a sliding water bottle in the tear and love it. No plumbing, but easy water. I will find my pics and post.

[nevadatear]

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