Tear drop from half a car

[winchman]

I cut a Mercedes A clas (W160?) inhalf to make atrailer to display a protable kitchen we manufacture in at local shows.
UK law says it must have a IVA ( big test) but if its a caravan it dosnt need one, so as it will have a kitchen anyway its half built, so if I add a bed I dont need the test, so any ideas of lay out etc?


At 56" long I know its too short so was going to add a cat flap type door for my feet to stick out of, so am I mad or can it be done?

[winchman]

Another pic to show how flat the insides are

[bobhav]

Winchman,

I'd concentrate on building a flip down floor that attaches to the front. The top of the body would limit the length of the flip dowm and the width of the flip down would need to match the shape of the cross section. I would blend the sides of the flip down to blend in with the doors and top. Whith the flip down in the "down" position I would add a removable canvas diagonal cover. Oh well, I tried. I'm sure that you will receive many better ideas.

BobH.

[winchman]

Thanks Thats a good idea as we have limited storage.

[Roly Nelson]

It looks like you have increased the size and length of the cross-member square tube. Are the welds at each end strong enough to support the up and down stress? I notice you've added a crank down dolly wheel, which would be in the way if you decided to add a tip-out section to lengthen the sleeping area. Keep sending us pics of your progress, and do whatever you have to do to by-pass all of those UK rules.
Roly~~

[winchman]

Thanks
I will be plating the open ends of the box section and welding them to the chassis oof the car, the chassis has two rails front to back, we inserted 2"x2" box section in to these for added strength, the center section of the towing frame is extended back to the middle cross members of the chassis.
The second picture was just a temporary job so we could move it.
It will never be used as a camper as it was built to use at shows to demonstraight a portable kitchen we manufacture, many of the shows wont allow a vehicle on the display pitch but you can have trailer, so as our kitchens are designed to be used as in or out of a car we then built this.
UK trailer laws are changing, I feel its only a matter of time before we have to pay a tax on using one like with a car it can be £0 - £500 a year.
At the moment if you buld atrailer it must have a test, its quite simple but lots of things they can reject it on and we just dont need the hassle right now, but the law doesnt come in to force unti 2014 for Caravans, so it will be a nice project and show piece to make it in to a useable caravan.
Has any one got any pictures of how I could make the fold out bit to extend the bed?
I have found some good ideas on this spanish forum
http://www.furgovw.org/index.php?topic=174565.30

[GPW]

A Tax on trailers ??? “ Declare the pennies on your eyes “ ...

[Lgboro]

If you build your unit to be campable you could sell it for more and probably faster should you out grow it later. Who knows if you ever camped in it you might be hooked like thousands of us are on this forum. That unit should make a really impressive show media either way.......

[Vedette]

Winchman,
Welcome! Love your project.
Yes it can be done. You should check out my album to the side under my avitar.
It is reverse order and was a lot of work, but well worth it.
Good Roads
Brian

[Vedette]

More picture of my "Miss Piggy"
Show us your Kitchen layout??
Brian

[Vedette]

Steve
You have not looked at my Album.....there are 200 plus pictures there, but they are in revers order.
Go to page 20 and work your way back to 1
Good Roads
Brian
PS
Are you registered for the Dam Gathering?
And did you get your newsletter?
I have not been out to my other computer to check my e-mails???
Brian

[Vedette]

Winchman is online. now!

[Vedette]

Yup I've seen all the pics, guess I missed that one.
Not sure about the gathering, I might be in hospital at that time.
Got the newsletter, replied on the other site.

Hope that is going well for you.
TJ site or BC here at tnttt??
Brian

[winchman]

Winchman is online. now!

I am here, why?

[Vedette]

Hi Winchman
We are eager to hear more about your project.
I personally love to see TD's that are being made from cars.
As a year ago when I started my project , I searched the internet for Teardrops made from cars and looked at a lot of cool images in google.
Most of which were on your side of the pond.
But not as many as I had expected.
Just keep us posted.
Brian