mini caboose camper

[Engineer Guy]

I'll be one of many following this inspirational Thread religiously. I'll be dogged if we weren't heading into our lil local Town today and, going the other direction, was a very nice RR-style Trailer built up on a CT Chassis! Unreal, how timely this was. It was a nice, dark brown, and had the details of a very old City Streetcar: a full-length section running the top of the Roof, and closed sides, of course.

On acreage out across us on another Mesa-top, someone moved in a bright red Caboose and tricked it as their Cabin. Unlimited views to die for.

For my A-R sensibilities, the trick would be to not just 'infer' a Caboose, but really create one - like the yellow Model above - right down to the 'nth' degree. Elevated Window Trim gives some 'relief' [vs. other, non-authentic Trim], and so on.

A really detailed, clear pic of a Model - or a real Caboose - could be put through a Video Projector and put up on a smooth Wall in order to measure out and copy detail in that much-larger image. 'Old School' types could use a Slide pic and a Slide Projector. A Model and Calipers/precise Ruler would achieve the same thing, but larger scaling is sometimes easier to work with...

[PaPa Smurf]

[treemaker]

Need dimensions?



Found here, with pictures: http://www.hibblenradio.com/caboose.html

[S. Heisley]

Duane, it might help us if we knew what your outside dimension limitations are.

- Will the trailer have brakes on it? (Weight factors can limit size)
- What will you pull it with (TV capability)?

- How wide, tall, and long are you willing to go?
- Would you be willing to have a telescoping cupola?

- Can you scan in what you've got so far so we can see and comment?

[Duane King]

just read your post. My wife and I are going out to breakfast. When I am back early this afternoon, I will try to figure out a way to post a copy of what I have been working on. I've been drawing in sketchup. I need to figure out how to save a still shot from the 3d drawing I have created. Can anybody tell me how to do that? I haven't looked into it yet. Glad to think other people think a caboose might be a fun idea.

[Stealth TDI]

Hello,

I would like to see a small standie trailer that looks like a miniature train caboose. The exterior should have lots of custom welded railings and miniature steps to complete the caboose look. There should be train lanterns hanging on the sides and the name of a railroad painted on the sides. There should be ladders and a walkway down the center of the roof. This could be for show or to access some kind of outside storage.

Too cool! I had the same thought! I guess great minds think alike. I've lurked here for years; but have yet to actually build a TTT(or)T. I recently discovered the foamy section and I'm contemplating a foamy caboose. Since my platform is currently a 4x6 utility trailer and my TV is a VW, I'm limited to a 5x8 sleeper box. So I'll model my caboose after a bobber:



I'll have to omit the ladders with a foamy unless I want some kid to climb onto the roof and fall through or rip my walls off while trying. DOH! But I'm all over the custom graphics and other details. I don't want to jack your thread since I don't know when my build will start. But I'll be watching this topic with delight!

Need dimensions? http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=83750 and http://www.hibblenradio.com/caboose.html

Thanks for posting that. The second link features a larger PDF version of that drawing. It's VERY helpful for getting the proportions correct. I'm going to study the foamy building techniques a bit more and then maybe start a build in the winter, working indoors.

Scott

[Duane King]

I mentioned before that I was not satisfied with my caboose design. I have decided to post it here anyway so you can see how the idea is developing. The following pictures are three different views of my original concept.




I wanted to start with a big trailer and fit everything I could want without worrying about making it small. The cabin on this rig is 12' long and 7' wide. this dimension does NOT include the porches. I figure the porches would be a good place to carry bicycles or propane bottles. The batteries are in sealed compartments inside below the beds.

Here is a rear view of the trailer. The windows at the back are just above the galley countertops.





This next view in the interior of the rig. The galley is 5' wide with cabinets on both sides of the rig. The passenger side of the galley has been omitted for ease of viewing. The walkway between the cabinets is 3' wide. Plenty of room for two to cook. There is a lot of storage under the beds. The backrest pillows shown on the mattresses are removable when not needed. They store on top of the bookshelf at the front of the trailer. I haven't yet figured out where to store the tabletop itself.






I am working now on scaling this idea down to see what happens. You will notice in these pictures there is no dropped floor in the galley. Instead, I dropped the floor in the sleeping section of the cabin. Notice also that the lower windows on the back of the trailer are just above the countertop. In the current version I am still working on, everything is quite a bit tighter and I am trying to make the trailer small enough to fit in a garage.

[CARS]

I like it Duane

[PKCSPT]

Love the name

[mezmo]

Hi Duane,

Nice rendition for the SCRR TTT. A unique and distinctive exterior to
be sure!

The layout is similar to bdosborn's Boxcar TTT. [But with a fixed
rear instead of the pop-top, obviously.]

The only link for it I could find using the forum's "search" here:
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... ght=boxcar

From the initial posting: His Build Journal/Blog:
http://home.comcast.net/~bdosborn/index.html

It may be of use as you continue your designing

Good luck finalizing your design. It'll be interesting to follow your
progress once the build starts.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[S. Heisley]

Duane King wrote:

I am working now on scaling this idea down to see what happens. You will notice in these pictures there is no dropped floor in the galley. Instead, I dropped the floor in the sleeping section of the cabin. Notice also that the lower windows on the back of the trailer are just above the countertop. In the current version I am still working on, everything is quite a bit tighter and I am trying to make the trailer small enough to fit in a garage.

Facts and Assumptions

Recent given information:
Cabin exterior width....: 7’ (84â€

[CARS]

Any new ideas Duane??

I have a 6'4" x 12' pop up frame just laying around.... With the bumper in the back, I could easily have 2' 6" of rear deck (?). No room for front deck without cutting into the cabin space. Not sure if it would really matter. I would still have an overhang for lanterns in the front.

I haven't finished my first build and I am already planning #2

[Duane King]

Wow, Sharon, you have given me the most well thought out and comprehensive response I have ever received on a posting. Thank you so much for writing all of those suggestions for me.

I'm still in the conceptual stage on this whole caboose thing. I'm not sure if I would actually build this rig. The drawings I have posted were my first attempt. What I tried to do was make a roomy trailer without concern about size or "garageablility". I just wanted to create a design with a large interior galley that would be comfortable for two to cook at the same time. Also, I wanted to be able to sit at a table inside out of the weather. As far as the dinette goes, I wanted bunks because overhead cabinets were not really an option and I needed some "under the bed" storage. Bunks make it easy to get to drawers. . . My wife doesn't like the bunk idea though.

My design as it stands would be rather heavy (depending on materials and construction techniques used) and would never live in the garage. The curved roof is fun, but the raised cupola portion would push a lot of wind. I made major porch overhangs because that is a design element you expect to see in a caboose. But also, this is not anything approaching aerodynamic efficiency.

At this point I would probably not want a lift up roof. If I was to build a caboose, it would need to look like a caboose while it was on the road. A fold down or crank down cupola roof would make that impossible. So I've never really considered an adjustable roof.

What I am working on now is scaling the whole thing down. I want to see just how tiny a caboose can be and still be usable and have proportions that look "right". If I keep to the 7' width of the trailer and give up on bunks, I could sleep sideways in a queen size bed and take two feet off the length of the trailer. I could also shorten the galley by about a foot and still have plenty of cupboard and countertop space. This would bring the overall cabin length down from 12' to 9'. (the actual trailer size is still big because of the porches) I have considered having a dropped floor in the galley as a way of keeping the cupola roof lower. I may have to do that. I like your split torsion axle idea. It makes the frame more complex, but it could be worth it.

I'm going to keep "noodling away" on this concept and see where it leads. I sure appreciate the input. Good thing I'm not paying you people by the hour. I couldn't afford you. . .

[Duane King]

Hey Cars,
What are you building right now? I didn't see an album for you. Isn't that the way though. . . building something and thinking ahead to another build. You've got it bad.

Hey Norm,
Thanks for the links. I watched the 8 minute video slideshow on the building of the boxcar. Very inspirational. Lots of craftsmanship in that rig.

[mezmo]

Hi BobHenry,

I finally got the info together that I mentioned. Since this thread's
title is "Mini Caboose Camper", and Duane's on a roll with his ideas for
it, and he originated the thread, I'm going to post my info for you in
the Tiny Houses on Wheels area as:

Caboose Style Tiny House Build:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=46728

That seems a more appropriate spot for it, and it won't be inadvertently
hijacking the Mini Caboose Camper Thread.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo