Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I've been looking forward to joining the ranks of those actually building for a long time- This past weekend found me buying a very ratty old pop-up camper for $100 bucks. While being quite soggy, the frame looks good and solid, and once there's new tires and bearings, some surface rust removal and some fresh paint it'll make a great base for my planned new travel trailer. The frame measures 80 inches wide, by 11 feet long, which is exactly the size of Aliner's Cabin-A. Not a tear by any means, but functional, so my design will be "inspired" by that type. Why completely rethink the wheel, I guess. I need space for sleeping 2 adults and two kids, and I'd also like to haul our tandem bike inside, so that'll fit the bill. My original plan was to build a Glen-L Sequoia, but that's fallen by the wayside with the purchase of this. I've spent a few hours "deconstructing" the trailer, it looks like I got a good 3 burner stovetop, a good water tank, faucet, and a bunch of assorted moldings as well as the trailer proper. Sorry about the dim pic, it gets dark early here in Milwaukee

That Cabin-A layout should suit you. Take the table out and you've got space for the tandem down the centre. One suggestion: how about longitudinal bunks for the kids - this means that they can be separate (or do you have the no-fighting type of kids?) and there's space for someone on the queen-sized dinette berth to get out if they want to.



Andrew

I'm not going to do a front dinette, I plan on a full size bed up there with storage underneath, just like is pictured here:

Thats a photo from a Chalet A frame pop up, I've also kicked around the idea of doing the bunks like they show here, but slightly scaled down and modified into a dinette:

but I'm probably going to skip the dinette altogether, and install a futon like so against one wall:

My plan is to go with a very modern "Euro" theme for the interior, with light birch cabinetry, brushed stainless hardware etc..
You've got me thinking that I'd better take a measurement of the tandem w/o the front wheel and make sure there's enough length for it with the bed in place ........

Joe, I built my bed up front and love it. I am toying with the idea of changing it later next year to accomidate a table down the center. Depends on the tongue weight. If you make it all moveable you can change your mind.

in mho the futon looks great but a waist of space under.

Hey Andrew that looks good.

Git R Dun!

Joe,

I also just picked up a Hail damaged Starcraft tent camper for $100. The stuff I'll salvage was worth the $100. I've salvaged one camper trailer already but I made that into a utility trailer that I needed for my business. The reason I am excited about this one is that there is 64" between the wheels. Some campers just have 48" . IMO 48" is just too small for a teardrop. I'm not a small guy.
So good luck on the build looks like you got a good start the trailer.

Marty

If anyone's interested, I've posted my tentative plans into my Album folder, and here's a better view of what I'm working with:

The frame looks good... and all the extras for only a hunnerd bucks? Yer off to a good start...