pop up shelters and matresses

[sr5bidder]

I am thinking of building a tear drop but I am concerned with what I am seeing:

1. why do most of the pics at the campsite have a pop up shelter over the tear drop? .. I have a garage to build one in but I do not want to have to keep it indoor after contruction nor do I want to put a shelter over it when camping.

2. I looked at alot of builds and wonder how to get a matress in? are y'all using memory foam or worse an air matress,what is the matress of choice? mine would be a regular pillow top firm matress but I suspect I would have to "build it in"

[48Rob]

Hi,

I wondered that too, when I first started.
Seemed silly to build a teardrop so you could get away from a tent, and then have to set up a tent along with your teardrop...

But, a tent/shelter makes an inexpensive awning to have a cool place to sit.
Some may put them up to keep rain off, but I think more to protect the outdoor living space than to protect the camper.

A futon mattress will fold and fit through a small door (they make futon mattresses with inner springs too, very much like the bed at home).
On my first trailer, I designed the lower part of the galley/bulkhead wall to hinge up, so we could remove the regular mattress if needed.

Rob

[sr5bidder]

Hey thanks for the fast response

Do you know of any builds that do not have the trunk but maybe a pull out the side galley seems to me it would be a bit smarter to have an l shape camping area that could be covered under one awning

[KenC]

Hi and welcome,

I don't use a shelter, I usually can find some shade to set up my camp at. I use a firm foam mattress, bought it for around 200, All I did was fold it in half and shove it through the door, I think you could do the same with a futon.

[stumphugger]

I have an awning that I sometimes put up. It does not go over the teardrop. I use it if there is no shade, or I use it to keep things that are nice to keep outside dry.

If it is raining hard, I don't put it up.

I park my trailer inside a shop building during the Winter. Now it is outdoors and ready to go. For me, backing it into the shop is dangerous to the trailer so I don't want to do it often.

A mattress that folds in 3 places came with the Little Guy, but I like soft so I got a memory foam Walmart special. It was vacuum packed so I put it in and opened it up. Since then, I've been able to take it out OK by rolling it up a bit, and it goes back in the same way. I think of it as Mattress 'Rasslin'.

[CliffinGA]

We use the canopy so we have shade and a way to add space, at night we put walls up so we can change clothes and not flash the neighbors and we keep our porta potty in one corner for late night emergency;s. You'll find in a teardrop for one person its easy to change clothes and stuff but with 2 people its much harder. We have a queen size serta futon mattress to go in my tear when I'm done that rolls up and with 3 ratchett straps I can get in a tight enough roll that goes in nicely and then we release and its in. Its great to sleep on as we stored it in my sitting room and sometime I fall asleep watching the shows the wife doesn't like .

Cliff

[Redgloves]

One small detail about memory foam, it is very cold in freezing temps. Actually the foam will freeze solid.
I purchased latex foam from a mattress factory. The latex will not freeze. Also inquired about latex allergy concerns, he stated the latex is different and not known to cause allergy issues.

Enjoy your build.

Jean

[jss06]

I bought a 5 inch firm closed cell foam matress from JC Penney. I cut it into 3 pieces and covered each piece with fabric. It makes it easy to put in nad take out. The pieces are cut so they are tight againts one another in trailer.

On top of this I have an older 4 inch memory foam matress. I cut it as one piece to match the floor of the trailer. I can easily roll it up and remove it through the door.

The memory foam conforms to the body and the firm foam gives support. I sleep really good.

[Alleged User]

I do get the ez-up confusion...I resisted getting the ez-up when we got our TD. So over the tent deal. If I were camping alone, I'd do without the ez-up, for sure. I'd have a cute beach umbrella or lightweight patio umbrella over the TD side door with just enough room for my chair, and call it a setup.

With the two of us, it's no big deal setting up the ez-up. Still would rather do that than set up a tent, all day long. I'm not a sun worshiper...I need woods and shade. When camping in a park that we're not familiar with, it's nice to know we have our shade ready to go if and when we need it. We don't always set up the ez-up, but it's peace of mind to have it with us. We don't use it to protect our TD...sometimes it's over the TD, and sometimes it's not, depending on the site configuration.

To each his own. For one person, I don't blame anyone a bit for not wanting to bother. Besides, an umbrella is so CUTE with a teardrop.

Also, I just had a piece of dense foam cut to fit for our mattress. Got it from a dude on ebay who calls his shop 'isellfoam'.
We got 5" thick, and are very happy with it. No bottoming out, and very comfy. Squishes through the door just fine.

[sr5bidder]

I was in the navy and remember the matress as being supper comfy, I got out I had a hard time finding the perfect matress...it is now in the guest bedroom as my wife does not like the firmness of it.

I have an ez-up and have used it camping many times, I use it at moto mountain too (riding dirt bikes).

Anyone have thoughts on my idea of having the galley pull out from the curb side instead of a hatch (of course it would have prop legs swing out) ,it would make an L shaped area and the cuboards would open toward the sleeper door. I have an idea of putting a slide out patio under the curb side door too (under the frame) that would come completly off just to set in front of the door way as sort of a landing pad to take off the shoes and such....just a wooden grate if you will.

[CliffinGA]

Yep but I haven't found the links to it. One of the Ga members had a homebuilt that was called Hillbilly Hilton that had a pull out kitchen that had a fridge, sink, and a cooktop on it. I'll keep looking bud.

Cliff

[Roger W]

I am almost to the point of mattress installation. Thought I might do as a friend did. He rolled the mattress tight as he could, then wrapped two ratchet tie-downs around and cinched further and slid it through the door. Then released the tie-downs.

[Lgboro]

Just built a slide out cooking system for my tear -- haven't posted any pics yet though. I like it because it gives me inside tear storage without a cabinet way over my feet and is much more open design. I'll try to post some pics if I can remember how. Some where in a thread is a link to some slide out by an Aussie company - they seem to use a lot of slide outs for cooking areas.

[CliffinGA]

Sr5 I found the link to where this question on slide out galleys was aked and several pics that show hows others have done theirs. I hope this helps you!

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33830

Cliff

[sr5bidder]

yes sir slide out the side //// I saw a few pics thanks

I am in negotiations with someone who builds trailers in trade for my warrior 350 now standie ...tear.. or grasshopper is the poblem ...when I drink beer i can not spell sorry folks
I am designing a frame with a slide out motorcycle hauler in the rear ( slid in will look like a bumperwith a 2x hitch) I think i need to put one on the tonge and one in the rear my tv will be a 2007 honda pilot 4x4