Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

This goes along with my othe rcurrent forum http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=328181#328181

I have looked around on this site about how to build a cot system and have not found much. I checked the topics section and done a search. What parts are used and how do you build one.
Help, Anyone?

I was thinking about a old down bed for my daughters but a cot system might be better in my trailer also.[/url]

tbeau-

Check out:

http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/reso ... mmock.html

For ideas...

Cheers,

Coop

tbeau


My wife and I are doing the cot system we are building just like it is described in the link supplied from goldcoop. There is a guy (john Walker) who built a cot system for his kid and there are pictures too. I just can't find them right now. Here is an email from him to me about his cots.

Mike,

I don't often check this e-mail address so apologies for the delay in my response. I only check it enough to keep the address alive and keep the photo account active.

My tear is a 5X8. I consider 8' a minimum length. The five foot width makes the bunks possible. I wouldn't go for a 4' width even for 2 people.

My children will soon be growing out of their bunks. My daughter uses the lower one, and she loves having her own space, but she is growing out of it quickly. It is five feet long and about a foot and a half wide. The upper bunk is also 5' long, but the width is greater. 2'. The height between the ceiling and the bunk looks tight, but in use it is more them comfortable for my son. The sleeping area has more room than it appears in the photos due to the fact that the cot is positioned under the highest point of the roof and my sons weight causes sag in the canvas between the dowels. He ends up with all the room he needs to sleep in any position he wants. He can even prop a pillow against the wall and read his LEGO books like an adult reading in bed.

The dowels were bought at Lowes in the trim section. They are about 1 1/4" in diameter. I got a 10' one and cut it in half. The canvas was bought at Walmart.

I look forward to seeing your build.


I'll try to get the picture for you later, hope this helps.

Mike

Here are some pics of my cots. They are made with 1" dowels from Lowes in the trim section and canvas from Wallyworld. Good luck








And in use:

We have a bunk over our feet for our 3-y/o daughter. I did mine a little different. I mounted a t-track to the wall, then made the rod supports fit into that so they are adjustable/removable. I wanted to make sure I could always keep the cot nice and taught in case it sagged too much. It also allows me to easily slide it out of the way, or make it half the width to create a nice deep gear loft so everything stays put when traveling.

Dean

Great idea, the T rail would actually be an easy install during the interior build, completely adjustable and gives leway for future design ideas.

Yea. I like your t-rail idea. I hope you don't mind a right click save on that photo for my second build.


thanks

john wrote:Yea. I like your t-rail idea. I hope you don't mind a right click save on that photo for my second build.


thanks

Go right ahead. I'm flattered you like my idea. It's a bit of a turn-around. Usually I'm here taking other folk's ideas!

Dean_A wrote:

john wrote:Yea. I like your t-rail idea. I hope you don't mind a right click save on that photo for my second build.


thanks

Go right ahead. I'm flattered you like my idea. It's a bit of a turn-around. Usually I'm here taking other folk's ideas!

I also like it. Thinking it might be the ans to multiple things in the trailer. Do you have pic of the full cot? Also pics of the back of the rod support?

tbeau wrote:

Dean_A wrote:

john wrote:Yea. I like your t-rail idea. I hope you don't mind a right click save on that photo for my second build.


thanks

Go right ahead. I'm flattered you like my idea. It's a bit of a turn-around. Usually I'm here taking other folk's ideas!

I also like it. Thinking it might be the ans to multiple things in the trailer. Do you have pic of the full cot? Also pics of the back of the rod support?

I don't have any pics of the finished cot, or the back of the support. I'll try to take some as soon as I have the time.

Here's pic of the whole track though. the bunk is 24" wide and about 56" long. Sorry, it's all I have right now.

Dean,

I'm so glad to see your idea before I've committed to installing mine, I'm going to pass this idea off to the boss and see what she thinks.


Mike

tbeau wrote:

Dean_A wrote:

john wrote:Yea. I like your t-rail idea. I hope you don't mind a right click save on that photo for my second build.


thanks

Go right ahead. I'm flattered you like my idea. It's a bit of a turn-around. Usually I'm here taking other folk's ideas!

I also like it. Thinking it might be the ans to multiple things in the trailer. Do you have pic of the full cot? Also pics of the back of the rod support?

OK, here's a pic of the back of the support. it basically just shows the bolt head (that slides into the track and tightens), and a spline that keeps the whole thing from rotating under load. Instead of a spline, you could use a piece or dowel or metal rod, or another bolt and knob. the possibilities are endless. I'm still refining the design, as I can't resist tinkering with things, but this one works fine. I have a couple more angles in my album.

FYI:

I bought a folding camp stool yesterday; the kind with the canvas seat, made like a cot.

Instead of sewing a canvas "loop" for the wood pole to go through, they did something really simple. They just stapled the cut canvas end to the pole then wrapped the canvas around the pole a couple of times on top of itself so the staples aren't taking the load. Of course the "poles" are square not round also. I'm going to try the technique for the cot in my TD.

starwars wrote:FYI:

I bought a folding camp stool yesterday; the kind with the canvas seat, made like a cot.

Instead of sewing a canvas "loop" for the wood pole to go through, they did something really simple. They just stapled the cut canvas end to the pole then wrapped the canvas around the pole a couple of times on top of itself so the staples aren't taking the load. Of course the "poles" are square not round also. I'm going to try the technique for the cot in my TD.

That would work fine. I went with the pole and sleeve version so I could remove it and wash it if I ever needed to. My three year old is not the cleanest child I've ever met.

Years ago my father built in his self built RV a hanging bed like you means.
Unfortunaly there are no pics of it, but the idea was at 2 sides of the RV where pieces of wood with 2 rounded holes in it. The bed itself was made of military, thick coton. I was a little boy at that time and have to say, I never slept any better than in that hanging bed. My father build his RV back in the late sixties.

Greatings from the Netherlands, Henk