Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have been thinking and tinkering for quite a while now trying to determine exactly how I want to build my tear. I decided on the Benroy,I have cut my profile, but I haven't decided on everything I want to do with it. My first decision is about the chassis. This is where yall come in. From the very beginning I have wanted storage under the floor but wasn't sure how I wanted to do it. I have a 5X8 utility trailer with the 1 foot tall angle iron rails on it. Initially I was going to cut the rails off and sit the tear on the floor of the trailer. My latest thought is to leave the trailer rails and sith the floor of the tear on top of them, leaving that 1 foot storage space under the tear. I would probably drop the galley all the way to the floor of the trailer to keep the counter top from being too high and make some access doors on the sides to access the storage area. What do you think?

I have tried and have had zero success with the cad programs, I'm good with pencil and paper. If someone could draw something quick and dirty yo give me a visual of my thoughts and your interpretation of them I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for your help and opinions.

If you sit the floor frame on those rails, aren't you gonna need additional beams going from side rail to side rail, so the floor doesn't sag? Otherwise, wouldn't you have to make your wood floor frame out of real heavy timber?

Congratulations :

You have probably just designed the 1st split level tear with a root cellar.
Don't forget you will need a step ladder to get into the cabin

bobhenry wrote:.
Don't forget you will need a step ladder to get into the cabin

I think Bob uses a part of his brain that is totally undeveloped in me.

Now THAT'S a good point!!!

It sound like you are starting with the same setup I did. I cut off the rails. Getting into your tear being one foot taller will be hard. Mine has storage under the floor but I went with 6".

Ira, yes I will need to beef up the flooring a little, I'll need to experiement a little on the support. I was thinking about 3/4 ply with 2x2 framing and maybe a couple support posts in the middle.

Bob, That's good point, I'll have to start canning. The rails on my trailer are just about a comfortable sittling height for me, probably not some people I'm a pretty big boy. So I was thinking that I would have my door come all the way down to the floor of the tear.

NC, you were my initial inspiration. But rather than accessing the space from teh galley or through the floor I'm thinking of building the doors on the sides.

War Eagle wrote:NC, you were my initial inspiration. But rather than accessing the space from teh galley or through the floor I'm thinking of building the doors on the sides.

I'm doing something similar to access my storage area under the bed in my TTT from outside the camper. I'm installing a hatch on the back of my camper. They're expensive, but made for a marine environment, so they should outlast the camper.

War Eagle wrote: But rather than accessing the space from the galley or through the floor I'm thinking of building the doors on the sides.

That's a great idea!!! But you mean building additional doors for access, right? You said "The doors."

Heck, even on an off-the-shelf HF, you could make your floor frame a "box" and do the same thing to achieve that easy side access to storage.

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I am NOT building another one!!!!

War Eagle wrote:Ira, yes I will need to beef up the flooring a little, I'll need to experiement a little on the support. I was thinking about 3/4 ply with 2x2 framing and maybe a couple support posts in the middle.

Bob, That's good point, I'll have to start canning. The rails on my trailer are just about a comfortable sittling height for me, probably not some people I'm a pretty big boy. So I was thinking that I would have my door come all the way down to the floor of the tear.

NC, you were my initial inspiration. But rather than accessing the space from teh galley or through the floor I'm thinking of building the doors on the sides.

Ok, I see where you are going. I think that could be pretty cool. One thing though, don't forget you have your mattress thickness as well which will add 5 or 6 inches. I'm excited to see the results. Keep us posted.

If the mattress makes that step a little too high I can always build a small step that would stow away in the root cellar.

What kinda name could I come up with around "the root cellar"?

I'm glad yall like the idea, makes me feel better about it. I'm anxious to get started.

Another idea I have is to take the ramp from the back of the trailer, it's about 4 feet long and cut it down to about 2 feel and weld that to the front where one would normally mount a box. With this I would like to devise a way to make a temporary permanent mount for my grill/ smoke. As I have said before I do ALOT of tailgating and when I do I cook for ALOT of people. So I need my fool side Brinkman smoker/ grill. What do you think about that idea?

If I don't move my axel toward the back do you think my tongue weight will work out OK? I know that;s a BIG guess. I would alo extend my tongue about 2 feet to help with the weight and turning radius.

War Eagle wrote:What kinda name could I come up with around "the root cellar"?

Cellar Dweller? And don't get the South East group started on the roots.

Top Cellar? Nope Cellar Dweller is better.

Warr, TD design has been refined over these many years...many ideas proven and dismissed ... For your build , you might want to make a sorta' scale model of it first (in say something like FFF).. that way there will be no surprises, and you can see if you like it... the problem is ... storage must be accessible/practical , if it's hard to get to , it will be seldom used and just extra weight to load down the TD ... the lighter the TD (within reason , of course) the more FUN stuff you can carry ...KISS principle works best ...
It's just like building an airplane Dude!!! ... weight/balance ... all important

http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=22262

FOUND THE LOGO !!!!!

I'm going to try and get a good start in about 2 weeks. This weekend I'm taking my 5yo daughter camping (tent) at West Point lake in West Point Georgia and then the next week were headed to the beach for a week. I am going to try and use a little of that quiet time to make some final decisions and then get the ball rolloing after we get back.

Wish me luck .... on finding that quiet time.