Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I've recently acquired a trailer and am going to build a light standie similar to the original puffin.

I have been thinking about 2 different designs and would like some input.

which of the following do you like the best? I'm thinking that the squared off one would be easier to build but I'm not sure.

Also, do you think that a rounded trailer would be more structurally sound?



or

Well Marty, either will be as strong as your joints, glue and screws. My only issue with the square builds are getting those angled edges together in a way that will not leak some day soon.

It's just my two cents worth; but I'm partial to curves.

I'm leaning toward the curved one myself after looking at them for a while..

do you think it is possible to bend ply around corners like this?

Hi Marty,
Not only is it possible to bend plywood, I've actuall done it. To bend the front, I used a single four by eight piece of quarter inch plywood. I fastened the top at exactly the place where I intended to hinge the hatch which was exactly eight feet from the crosspiece ia the front bottom. Gosh that sounds complicated, but I can tell you it was easy. I then placed a big thick towel where the bend was going to be and poured a entire kettle of boiling water slowly over it. An hour later it was close enough to allow me to fasten it to to the sides and front bottom piece. A similar process bent the hatch.
Good luck.
Steve

likes and dislikes aside, I would suspect the rounded profile would be less apt to experience roof sagging later on.

How about this one?

martydukes wrote:How about this one?

Looks good! Now just put the door away from the front so you can drop the floor to gain standing height without the TT being too tall. Besides you will need that corner. Why waste a perfectly good corner.

I prefer the rounded one.

In the FOR-WHAT-IT'S-WORTH-DEPARTMENT Maybe FWIWD Marty,
I like the rounded shape both because it looks "retro" and I think it makes for a stronger panel. Anyway FWIWD and you paid exactly nothing for it.lol
Steve

martydukes wrote:How about this one?

Much better... I would still try to go with a slight slope where you have the flat area on top. There again no sag. Thats a more appealing design than the others imho.

Well if I can put my 2 pence in I prefer the rounder of the 2 first ones

Mini Renegade wrote:

Well if I can put my 2 pence in I prefer the rounder of the 2 first ones

...Me too.

I like them both but think I prefer the 2nd one. But then I might be biased.
Not quite a standie, I've got about 4' 8" inside. Just enough headroom to sit on the couch and have a couple inches of headroom (and also fit in the garage!)

this is what i did ..