Maiden Voyage in my new Benroy

[tscarbroughdc]

Well I finally took the kids camping for the first time in our new camper! It's the first time that I have ever slept in a teardrop before and while mine isn't totally 100% completed, I'll have to say that I really really liked it!!!

I have several packing and layout kinks to solve but overall I LOVE the ease of how the camper pulls like I have nothing at the back of my truck! I love how easily it was to back up and unload everything!

I honestly don't see how you could get any easier or simple setup than a teardrop! I wished that I had spring for the 5x10 from northern freight because I would have loved to have some extra room for a kitchen in back but I guess I'll live with my. HBF 4x8 this year and look at upgrading next year.

My 6 year old twins had a blast and did not want to come home earlier today so I just laid in the teardrop with the doors wide open and watched them play on the local playground at the state park from our campsite! The breeze felt nice and the doors are so big I could read while glancing up at them every so often.

I can't wait for the weather to stabilize some so we can plan a trip farther from home. This trip was to the local state park about 15 miles from our house just in case things didn't go as planned!

I did have a few questions.
1. How do you heat your camper?
2. Did you make your bed exactly the size of the floor? Or bigger? Or smaller?

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1394932380.088163.jpg (227.45 KiB) Viewed 1099 times

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1394932505.054100.jpg (222.74 KiB) Viewed 1099 times

[Martiangod]

Glad trip one went great, it only gets better from there, although the first is always "THE FIRST "

[Socal Tom]

My bed and the floor space were designed to be the same size. It's as wide as a queen ( ok 58 inches but lose enough ) and as long as a full 75 inches. I'm using a 4 inch queen mattress topper with no trimming, and it fits fine. I roll it up if I need the floor space.
I usually don't heat it. I have a good sleeping bag, and a couple of bodies is usually enough. I did find a small 350/700 watt heater at. target, but I haven't used it yet. Of course it only works if there is electricity.
I also have a Coleman propane heater, that I have used to pre-heat the interior on a cold night. But I turned it off at bed time.
Tom

[rowerwet]

trailer size is not a limit for teardrop size, I built on a 4x8 trailer, my tear is 5x8, though I wish I'd made it 5x9 or 10. Overhangs are simple and require very little structure when building a tear.
my tear heat is a tiny "under desk" heater I got at wallyworld. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lasko-Product ... r/16503222 I tried a larger one with a thermostat, but found the cycling on and off woke me up, some on here have taken heater with a thermostat and rewired it so the fan was always on and only the heat cycled.
I planned for off the grid heat with a 12V car heater and a long 12v extension cord, mostly to warm the tear up before bed and before getting out of the covers. (never used it) I also looked into electric bunk heaters, but never bought one. I'm working on other heat sources as heat, but haven't finished anything yet.
My tear is 1 inch narrower than a queen, I use a queen size mattress made of foam, the squish helps keep the sheet locked in place.

[Woodbutcher]

Nice job on your new trailer. The kids will never forget these trips with you. Take your time figuring out all the small stuff, because you are never really finished.

I make my mattresses an inch smaller in each directions then the floor dimensions.

For heat I use the smallest 110V heater I can find. I rarely leave it on more then 15-30 minutes. If it is cold or damp, I will turn it on an hour before bed and let it warm up good. When I don't have shore power I use an extra wool blanket.

[cwegga]

Sounds like a good trip! I know this is a little off topic but have you ever camped in your truck? Since they first came out I've wondered if the Avalanche would be good to sleep in with the your head in the cab and your feet in the bed. Is there some reason this doesn't work? A leaky bed cover, a big ridge between the bed and cab, something else I don't know about?

[tscarbroughdc]

You know. I first bought a tent for the bed of my avalanche because I thought that would work well. Problem is the set up time. Without a tent the bed cover leaks on mine some. Plus there are some lumps which could probably be solved with an air bed.

I like having a little teardrop and leaving all of our camping stuff in and ready to go!

Thanks y'all I know I'm having fun with the kids and this little camper! They were bummed because we couldn't camp two nights! Haha

[cwegga]

You know. I first bought a tent for the bed of my avalanche because I thought that would work well. Problem is the set up time. Without a tent the bed cover leaks on mine some. Plus there are some lumps which could probably be solved with an air bed.

I like having a little teardrop and leaving all of our camping stuff in and ready to go!

Thanks y'all I know I'm having fun with the kids and this little camper! They were bummed because we couldn't camp two nights! Haha

Thanks for the answer. I have experienced similar dampness camping in my previous truck with a topper and the setup can be frustrating camping in the back of my SUV>

[Gage]

First off, I'm glad you had a good time. Now why don't you call your teardrop what it is and take all the credit. The title of this thread is misleading. It's a home built, not a Benroy.
Below is a picture of Bennet Petersen, co-founder of Benroy and a restored Benroy. The second pic is of a another restored 1956 Benroy.

[tscarbroughdc]

I guess I don't know the difference Gage. I thought Benroy was the more squarish shape.

Please explain it to me because I want to learn.

[dguff]

The pictures of actual Benroys could not be much more clear as to the profile of the original Benroy teardrop. Your teardrop looks nothing like a Benroy and I don't know that it has a name. Just be proud that you made a nice homebuilt and leave it at that. Maybe you could name it after yourself. It could be a Scarbrough!

Jerome

[bc toys]

it may not be a Benroy but it has a name it's name is YOURS thats right it's your trailer .
Now its time for you to get out and enjoy it.

[rowerwet]

http://outbackteardrop.com/benroy.html the history of the original Benroy design. the Benroy is a popular design as it is easier to make than some of the other very teardrop shaped designs, and it is very space efficient and roomy inside.,
There are "generic" plans for a Benroy in the design resources section at the top of the page, mostly they are just "improved" to allow easy construction on a HF trailer.
While you have a nice design it isn't a true or generic Benroy, if you want to call it that, some people may get upset or confused, but as far as I know they won't ban you from the forum or send lawyers after you. Call it what you want (you could call it a "modern" benroy), but must of all enjoy it!

[tscarbroughdc]

Thanks so much rowerwet for the lesson and nice reply!!!!

[Alfred]

Hey!

Congratulations on your first outing! My kids love our camper, which they "helped" build! Your design profile is similar to mine. Hey, like you, I built a camper and I dig it! I don't care what they want to call it. My thing was building a camper. Mine will never "technically" be a teardrop, I make criteria for this forum, in that it is a tiny camper. I met a guy at a gathering once, seemed like a nice fella', but his thing was nothing was a true teardrop unless it was 4x8! I guess every hobby has its purists! You want to call yours a Benroy, call it a Benroy. Ain't no trademark. I guess yours is not the traditional Benroy shape, call it a "modified" Benroy. Call it whatever you want! It's about the great camp trip with your family, in the camper you built!

Congratulations!

AL in Asheville