Starting Design-Asking for Trailer Review

[Capebuild]

Hello,

Well... after asking a bunch of questions and being thankful for everyone's help I've been starting to get down into the designing phase.

I've attached a few files and would like to ask if anyone has any comments... see anything I should reconsider... basically making sure I'm heading in the right direction.
I've got a long way to go finessing everything, adding details and figuring out the construction methods, dados, etc.... but with the CAD I can lay everything out and I'll use it as a roadmap when I start the build.
At this stage it's easy to change things.


A few specifics:
The trailer is 60 inches wide by about 109 inches long (just the cabin part, not including the bump out in the front).
The axel is a Dexter #9 2200# downrated to 1600# with a start angle at 22.5 degrees down.
The tires are ST215/r7514. I've read people suggest to use auto tires and not trailer tires, but I'd like to use a 14 inch tire and have not found a 14 in an auto tire. I suppose I could reconsider and use 15" tires.
Some of the windows I'll make, such as the front "stargazer" window (from Lexan sheet), still investigating that.
Trying to keep the weight to be below 1200#s.

One question I do have.... being that the roof is on a curve, how does the Fantastic Fan fit to the curve. I'm thinking maybe it's necessary to build a flat frame up from the roof just a bit to act as a flat mounting surface....yes?

Thank you very much for looking and please let me know any comments you may have. I appreciate everyone's help!
There's 3 files I can attach to this post. I'll post another 3 in the next post.

John

[Capebuild]

some additional images.

[Capebuild]

Here's a couple more. Sorry for the 3 posts... It seems a post is only allowed 3 images to be attached.

[gudmund]

as I have said here before - I buy the 14 inch 'car' tires I use on my teardrop at W-M, "Douglas" W-M brand (made in USA by Goodyear for W-M) I use the 205-75x14 size and I know they also sell many other size variations of this same tire version. if remember right, I paid $53.each (about half the $$ of one trailer 'SL rated' tire in this size) for the last ones I bought a year or so ago, and they come with a 45000 miles tread wear warranty - and YES, I have had good luck with them wearing this long, being I have and am still using this same tire on my daily driver for the last almost 30 years or so. (smaller size 155-80x13 on Geo Metro /Suzuki Swifts= over 900++thou miles driven on them and the GOODYEAR branded versions = 7 total of these driven from 1987 to 2016 'to/from' work - 105miles daily, am retired now but am still driving #7 (w 190tho++ = 43++mpg -paid for 'driver') with same tires on it. I know these tire's are available in numerus different sizes = 13 -14 -15 inch rimed sizes...................

[tony.latham]

Looks great.

Have you found a source for the window yet?

Speaking of which, why the window in the hatch since you don't have a pass-through? Or maybe I missed it?

Tony

[twisted lines]

Nice to see a different style and that should help the wind resistance a lot, Narrowing the front to the width of your tow car would also help, but not easy.
Top View

Your rear Floor should have tabs farther forward? If it's 4X8 never mind.
I would try to attach the rear Receiver tubing to the spare tire mount to help it not vibrate as much as it will be unnoticed tucked away .
The Tongue jack someone suggested the other style with a welded tab and pin a few extra tabs and you wouldn't need The extra jack

[western traveler]

It is a pretty design John.
Do you anticipate adding shelving or storage to the main cabin for all the little things that accumulate? Clothing, jackets, books, etc.
I’m trying to visualize leaning against the galley bulkhead while sitting up reading before bed. Would there be enough room above or at your feet for it?

[Capebuild]

Hi... thank you for looking at my design and for your replies:

Gudmund, thanks for sharing your experience with the tires. I'll investigate. I'm not sure yet whether an ST tire or an auto tire would be the one that would suit my needs. I've read an ST tire has thicker side walls, but for the long haul on hi-ways, maybe an auto tire would be better. Still researching it.

Tony, I've not yet settled on or sourced the windows. I think a Volkswagen quarter glass window might work for the windows located in the 2 cabin doors. But I have a feeling their scale might be too small. I'm thinking Lexan for the windows. However that will be a last resort, as the material has its shortcomings (scratches easily, looses its clarity over time, etc.).. I'd like to just get safety glass for all, but that's most likely not possible with the shapes I'm thinking about. So, still investigating the windows. I will have a "pass through" from galley to inner cabin, just haven't drawn it in yet (thus the window in the galley door). Sourcing glass has been a challenge. At least finding a vendor having some creative shapes. Still looking at vintage vehicles.

Twisted Lines, I wanted to get the spare up as high from the ground as possible. Moving the receiver tube to mate with the spare tire mount would not work, as it would interfere with the spare tire, but thanks for mentioning it.
Not sure I understand your comment regarding moving the floor tabs more forward.

And.... Western Traveler, I just haven't gotten to creating the shelves yet. Actually, I'm envisioning the pillows / head area would be at the wall that separates the galley from the cabin, probably opposite from most layouts.
But that would be the cabin area with the highest point from bed to ceiling... so hopefully sitting up in bed would not be a problem. I had incorporated a scaled drawing of a person sitting up in bed and there seems to be plenty of clearance.

So, still thinking about everything.... As things progress, I'll probably have a load of questions. But, thanks very much for all the input. This is like designing / building a house and a car rolled into one.

John

[Pmullen503]

Will you be able to reach the spare after a blow out?

Minor quibble; the futon will be more comfortable if it's double folded under the seat rather than the back.

Is your head under the window or towards the back and how cold will it be on your coldest nights?

If you get condensation on the skylight will it drip on you? Design it with an insulated cover.

Figure out how big your doors will be, mock one up of cheap paneling or cardboard and see how hard it is to get in and out of it. Your design has less door and ceiling height near the door than usual.

[TimC]

I like the design and the profile. It really looks sleek behind that Subaru!

[tony.latham]

Have you considered an "a-frame jack"?

Speaking of jacks, I really like my swivel jack.



I might suggest going with a weld-on jack bracket instead of the clunky bolt-on you've got at the moment. And if I were going to do it again, I'd add swivel brackets behind fenders so I could remove the tongue jack (while still hitched) and use it to jack up one side of the other to fix a flat.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Dutton-Lainson/DL22670.html



Tony

[pchast]

I'd question the use the rear hitch is designed for?

It would be much better for it to extend to the next crossbar also.
Anything using that hitch, like a bike rack, is going to excessively
stress the weld attaching it when driving..

[halfdome, Danny]

I'd question the use the rear hitch is designed for?

It would be much better for it to extend to the next crossbar also.
Anything using that hitch, like a bike rack, is going to excessively
stress the weld attaching it when driving..

I agree.
I always weld the 4' rear hitch receiver to 2 cross bars and we have no problems carrying two regular sized bikes.
I use a donut tire as my spare ( skinnier for road clearance ) and have a "U" bolt to attach it to the hitch receiver.
I have several bocks of wood to aid in installation and removal of the tire.
I put a short piece of 4x4 under each side of the tire and push it into/out of position.

Our first TD we had the mattress in 4 pieces so it could be made into a couch with a small table in the center, never used it and ditched the idea in later builds.
Danny

[Juneaudave]

I like it! Have you any plans to add a set of telescoping rear stabilizer jacks? I find those pretty useful.

[tony.latham]

Hi...

John:

There is someone on this forum that did another Vistabule clone. You might try to find that build.

The other thing I just noticed is your first cross-member --from the rear-- is set below the bottom surface of the floor. (I think.)

I supported that area with a piece of angle since we haul a lotta weight back there. The cooler weighs fifty pounds, the water jug is 56 and the battery is 60. Something to consider.



Tony