Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I don't mean a 3D computer model, or building a full scale mock up, but simply a 1/6th or so model of foam board? Reason I ask, I was down at Hobby Lobby this evening getting some stuff for the house, and I noticed in the art dept they have these nice little wooden mannequins, 1 foot tall, fully pose-able for about 7 bucks or so.

Seems like it would be a piece of cake, (Ummm Cake) to build a small (about 18 inches long would scale out nicely) model of project to see where things will go, what's likely to be in the wrong place, where you'd want some extra material if doing a skinned build. I figure use the thin Foamcore or Corboard, a stiff construction paper to mock out the galley, etc etc. Should be able to knock out the basic form in an easy afternoon, it doesn't have to be functional, but more for testing design ideas.

I think I'm going to give it a try, if for no other reason so that I've got that little model to look at and help keep me inspired when, as I'm sure will happen, I get down because it's taking longer than I had planned, there are flaws that are well within the acceptable range, but just annoy me, or I think mine isn't as 'Sharp' as some of yours.

Later,

Steve W

I did but as you can see it came out completly different.
I guess I learned what I didn't want to do. Balsa wood is cheap.

Yep
Me too!
Sorry no pictures.
The cat got it.
That's my store and I'm sticking to it.


Pat



PS: Funny the cat did get it because it looked like a toy to play with.


Addy: the scale of my Model was 1"=1'-0" ( One inch equals One Foot ).

Good, I'm glad that I'm not crazy for having that idea. (of course, I might actually be crazy, but if everybody else here is also crazy, then I'm actually sane by forum standards). I can appreciate you comment about the cat, I've got 2, and they are always willing to help when I've got something torn down to the smallest possible parts, carefully laid out so that nothing gets lost, and then BAM, the cat manages to appear and offer aid and advice.

Thanks again.

SMW

I realize that you weren't talking about a full size model, but a few folks have gone full scale with cardboard to really get a good understanding of the spaces involved. Most of us aren't designers by profession so what looks fine on paper just doesn't scale up to full size well. Once I had my frame done, I spent a lot of time in the galley area sitting my ice chest, water jug, and plastic bins where I wanted them to see if everything would really fit.

The 1/6 scale would be cool, but I'm not sure it would be that much more work to go full size with a couple of refrigerator boxes.

Just my .02 worth,
Joanne

Joanne,

I hadn't really considered that... but it's sure doable. My only problem is that I don't really have room in the house to do a full-scale mockup (at least not without radically changing my decoration scheme), and since I haven't arranged for a storage unit large enough to do the build in yet (no garage at the house, and the local Homeowners Assn is a bit of a stickler about 'projects'), It is a great idea however, and since I could knock it out in an afternoon, it would be a great idea. (sort of like "measure twice, cut once, go to HD for more wood because it shrunk after you cut it).

I am rather picky about my kitchen layout, so I do plan on doing lots of mockups on it to get all pieces where I want them before I commit acts of wood butchering.

Thanks

Steve
Who, by the way, loves his old lodge 12 inch skillet that he got from his folks as a wedding present, that THEY got as a wedding present when they got married, and they've been married for almost 60 years now. (His luck wasn't so good, lost the wife but kept the frypan)

Steve you have an Home Owner Association. I hope you have checked about having a trailer of any kind and where you can and cannot park it.There have been several stories about these problems before posted. Our poster Child is IRA in this matter and some others.Sorry Ira; just trying to help.

Mentor58 Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:35 am Post subject:

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Joanne,

I hadn't really considered that... but it's sure doable. My only problem is that I don't really have room in the house to do a full-scale mockup (at least not without radically changing my decoration scheme), and since I haven't arranged for a storage unit large enough to do the build in yet (no garage at the house, and the local Homeowners Assn is a bit of a stickler about 'projects'), It is a great idea however, and since I could knock it out in an afternoon........

Thanks

Steve

I hate to be a bearer of news but you might feel the waters before getting in trouble.




Pat

I built a test hatch and door the other day. Only small.
I wanted to see if I could build it and what problems I would encounter. I am so glad I did as I have changed the hatch seal a couple of times already.
I posted what I built on the forum and I was given some great advise on what I build right, what I could do better or what I should change from their own experiences. People here are always glad to help out.
The hatch is small enough to sit in the lounge room and admire and see what I can do differently. I really have the bug now. I can't wait to build the full size teardrop.

ARKPAT wrote:Steve you have an Home Owner Association. I hope you have checked about having a trailer of any kind and where you can and cannot park it.There have been several stories about these problems before posted. Our poster Child is IRA in this matter and some others.Sorry Ira; just trying to help.

I hate to be a bearer of news but you might feel the waters before getting in trouble.


Pat

Oh, it's not a problem. I can park a completed trailer in my driveway for not more than 48 hours before it has to be moved, can't store it on the property. My plan has always been to rent a large (Car Sized) self store unit where I've already been told by the owner that I can do anything I want, as long as I clean up any messes.

SMW

My Little Guy 6'-wide is kept in a storage unit (10' x 20') 90 miles from my home, out near where we do most of our camping. While sometimes I'd prefer to have it nearby, it's really nice not having to tow it until well clear of the metropolitan area traffic.

I wasn't building but even before buying I not only looked at and sat in the various sizes of Little Guys (I ended up buying a 6'-wide) but also compared the interior measurements to places I'd slept before: my queen-size bed, my tow vehicle (Honda Element) and my various tents.

For instance, the teardrop's headroom was a concern for me, until I compared it (using a tape measure) to sitting up in bed, the Element (sitting on the floor with back seats out) and my tents. Having done a lot of camping helped as I knew that sleeping in a certain size of confined space could be comfortably cozy and not feel confining.

The teardrop compared very nicely to sleeping in the Element (you lose a lot of interior space in vehicles), is bigger than my queen-sized bed and was going to beat all my tents for comfort and a couple of them for space.

If I were building a galley I think I'd at least be comparing measurements to my kitchen countertops (for comfortable counter height and depth) and any components such as a cooler or campstove. Some big sheets of paper off a roll that you could tape to a wall and draw on could be handy for sketching your design out full-size.

My Little Guy came without any cabinetry or galley and I'm considering whether to install a folding counter they gave me or perhaps even augmenting that with something. In this case I have the advantage of a completed trailer and interior pics. But it is still a process to determine how much space to take from the cabin and what, if anything, additional I can or should do to the teardrop to make my style of camping more efficient and comfortable.

It's fun to play with the possibilities.

Good luck in your build!

[/b]

Reading this thread late....

These folks made a mock up model to determine what size they wanted out of cardboard.



Pictures here!

There's a shortage of cardboard here, but it seems you could do the same type mockup with a few sheets of luan and some duct tape...

Mike...

I like the scale model idea, and the precedents which come to my mind are the styling models traditionally used by auto makers during the design process, and the building models used by architects.

1.5" per foot.


Chuck

Just to hijack the thread .

I am planning to build my tear removable and tipable.

Since even I didn't understand my last statement I will explain.

Comes off the trailer bed (which folds), and then tips on to the back so it fits in a smaller footprint.

This way you can pack more junk in to the garage .

Pip