Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I haven't got a trailer yet for this, but this is the design I would like to build to...



Does it look okay? Is there any glaringly obvious problems that I'm overlooking? Total newbie at all this.

Cheers, Dewi

Dewi wrote:I haven't got a trailer yet for this, but this is the design I would like to build to...



Does it look okay? Is there any glaringly obvious problems that I'm overlooking? Total newbie at all this.

Cheers, Dewi

I love the front galley with it's flip up counter and below counter storage. Look here on the forum for information on a removable tongue to make food prep much more user friendly.

The rear trunk (boot) is a real concern to me this is an open invitation to leaks that will be directly over the sleeping area. With inside cabinet doors this would still be valuable storage and a place for the TV radio ect. even without the outside hatch.

The front galley area I like because of the extra height, and the flip up counter is for a bit of extra space and to save my shins from being shredded every time I want to make a brew.

I'd thought about it leaking a little... so I thought maybe it would be possible to make the inside of the rear door smaller (sort of like an inner skin) then make a guttering system around it and install a rubber seal to the inner skin (similar to how it works in a regular car). This is the top down design, with the skylight above the sleeping area and the inner skin guide for the rear hatch...



I hadn't really considered the storage element though. Other than the galley storage, I haven't allowed space for other essentials. With this being my first build, I'd intended on keeping the interior to the very basics... maybe a light and some sort of little heater (not too sure about the heater yet either)

I like the idea of the removable tongue... or maybe, and I've no idea if this is even possible, a retractable tongue. Once the flip up shelf is up in the galley area, there will be a good foot clear from the main body, so if the tongue could slide underneath the main body in some way, it wouldn't be in the way if that makes sense?

I have a lot to learn.

Cheers, Dewi

I think you have a great idea. The tongue would have to removable. I wish I had made mine removable for security reasons.

Yep it would be real hard to steal a tongueless trailer.

True, or a wheel clamp.

How do you guys usually go about sealing around the rear hatches?

Cheers, Dewi

I know my 3D skills leave a lot to be desired, but this is roughly what I thought it would look like with the flip up top in the galley...



Cheers, Dewi

Dewi,
With a front galley why not just eliminate the rear hatch? Your mattress would go clear against the rear of the tear, and might leave enough room for a small dropleaf type dinette table on the front bulkhead. Maybe put a pass-thru opening to the galley for serving food. Then you could eat inside when it's raining! Just a thought.
Sam

Actually, could go the other way thinking about it... why not eliminate the side doors?

What I mean is, if the galley is at the front, could I not make the back into one big hatch that lifts up and forms some sort of door... I might not be able to just walk in, a bit of crouching may be in order... but I could then use the front wall as a storage cupboard and make a drop down table with some form of seating around it.

Probably sounds nuts, but I'll draw something up and see if it works... knowing what this place is like though, one of you guys will have done something very similar already!

Cheers, Dewi

How about this?



The red dots are hinge points, the rear of the TD drops down to form a step and there is a hinged wall that pops up with a barn door arrangement. Increases head height to a point, gives a bit more room inside the cabin area and eliminates alot of the leaking problems because the top 'hood' overlaps the outside of the TD. I should be able to install a fairly simple gutter beneath the 'hood' hinge, removing all the leaking problems in one swop.

The step on the base of the TD would fold into the bottom barn door of the folding wall... the top part of the wall would rest on the open barn door, securing whilst in transit.

If its a daft idea, please could someone tell me before I start getting all giddy... I really like this idea... but if its not doable, I think a standard Jim Dandy will be in order.

Cheers, Dewi

Dewi wrote:How about this?



The red dots are hinge points, the rear of the TD drops down to form a step and there is a hinged wall that pops up with a barn door arrangement. Increases head height to a point, gives a bit more room inside the cabin area and eliminates alot of the leaking problems because the top 'hood' overlaps the outside of the TD. I should be able to install a fairly simple gutter beneath the 'hood' hinge, removing all the leaking problems in one swop.

The step on the base of the TD would fold into the bottom barn door of the folding wall... the top part of the wall would rest on the open barn door, securing whilst in transit.

If its a daft idea, please could someone tell me before I start getting all giddy... I really like this idea... but if its not doable, I think a standard Jim Dandy will be in order.

Cheers, Dewi

Try searching Winter Warrior and I think you'll find plenty of info.
Nothing wrong with what you have drawn in my opinion.

Be sure to draw in your tow vehicle at some stage in the design process - it would be convenient not to have to unhitch, if you want to open the galley hatch - it may hit the tow vehicle as shown.

But then of course I am British and so I have to drink tea every hour or I die - you may not need that...... Wait - now I see you are a Brit too, so you'll be needing the 'brew access'.

Andrew

Dewi wrote:How about this?



The red dots are hinge points, the rear of the TD drops down to form a step and there is a hinged wall that pops up with a barn door arrangement.

That looks like a Winter Warrior Dandy Wild Goose to me!!! or WWDWG for short!!!

Mike...

Brew tackle is essential, I'm a coffee man myself, but you can't go anywhere without decent access to either a flask or a kettle.

Winter Warrior... proves it works... and thats pretty much what I want to build. I like the way the galley has been integrated into the back section though, hadn't thought of that.

Blimey its confusing coming up with an initial design... you work away at it, thinking you've thought of everything... then bang!!!! you see something someone else has done and it reworks the entire design in your mind!

I still favour the Jim Dandy design though... something about having the kitchen area at the front with the flip panel (which I'm think could have an integrated gas-fueled hob in it) makes me happy... so it looks like I'm building a hybrid, hybrid, hybrid type model!

Obviously got to work out measurements and all the rest of it... but is there a way of transporting my 2D designs into 3D easily? I can draw all the lines in, but my perspective is way off base. I think I have about 10 weeks now till the UK Pennines meet and I really want to be there with my family in our newly built hybrid of a hybrid of a hybrid... HHH

Cheers, Dewi

Here's a few pics to get you going...










Mike...