Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Mike, it is a Toyota 4X4 extended cab truck with a V6. I guess I would be more concerned if the axle I have can handle it. It is a Dexter #9 torsion axle rated for, I think, up to around 2,500 lbs.

Amy

Sounds like you can build it... I would guess the weight of a 6x12 would be around 1600#.

Mike...

Mike, I played around a bit more with the sketch and made it a little shorter and only 11' long, and I placed it resting on the frame. I would love to get your opinion on it. I also posted a simple layout design for the interior.

http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=1340
http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=1341

Amy

Hey Amy,

Looking at the interior layout... the table doesn't need to be 6' long. 3' is plenty...

The L shaped counter will take away a lot of valuable standing space, plus make it hard to slide into the far bench... I would try to work in a straight counter instead of an L shaped one.

The outside profile looks fine. At 11' it's exactly as long as a tab, and you'll save some weight doing that...

Mike...

Thanks for all of your help Mike,

Amy

Mike, I never asked, but do you think a footwell, like in your design, would work with the axle that I have? The more I think about it, the more I like your design, since it keeps the plywood to 10' lengths. Any chance you could take your drawing and incorporate a front end similar to what I drew? I like the idea of being able to put a window up front over the galley. I have also come to the decision that I can rework the chassis that I already started, I am no longer adverse to cutting it in order to rebuild it. This may also give me a chance to still do wood sides with an inlay. I was starting to think that if I used 3/4" plywood on a 12X6 design, it would get mighty heavy.

Amy

Okay, I sat down and tried to figure out how much more it would cost to go as large as I was thinking, and it seems that it is cost prohibitive at this time, so.....I think I have finally made up my mind. I am sticking to the teardrop, but I am going to go a little wider, either 5' or 6'. Thanks for all of the suggestions on this. I have a feeling that I will probably end up building the larger one down the line when there is a little more cashflow coming in.

Amy