Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am in the beginning stages of planning a Generic Benroy build and wondered if anyone has tried rigging up an interior seat and table for two. What I am thinking of is a seat that hinges down from the front, it is the whole width of the trailer. It probably only needs to be a foot or so above the floor. The mattress is folded up and set in the back, revealing a floor section that comes out and with props, becomes a table top. Under the floor section is a sunken space for your feet.

The couple sits side by side, facing the rear if the trailer.

Don't know ICAD so I hope the description makes sense. I may try to draw it out on paper and take a pic if need be.

Check out steve fredricks little diner . www.campingclassics.com

nevadatear wrote:Check out steve fredricks little diner . www.campingclassics.com

Thanks. There is one of his builds that is close to what I was thinking.

Raising the seat a foot would probably be a little too much for the headroom you've got, unless you're substantially under 6' tall. I've got a 2" foam mattress, and sitting on that (with plenty of compression--I'm not exactly a lightweight guy ) I've got less than 10" between the top of my head and the ceiling.

That's with about 3' 8" interior height.

Some "recline" to the seat back, say 10 or 15 degrees, would probably add a fair amount to the perceived headroom, though.

Good luck!

David

The Lil Diner has a sidewall height of 52", and there was plenty of room in there.

The Baja Benroy has a sidewall height of 60", and there was plenty of room in there.

The only one that was tight, but comfortable, for a shorter person was the Winter Warrior.

All 3 of those builds are in the Hall of Fame if you want to see the construction details.

Mike...

Roly's woody is has a table and bench seats. He has worked out a slide away cabinet so it works with a small TD.

http://gages-56.com/roly9.html

Miriam C. wrote:Roly's woody is has a table and bench seats. He has worked out a slide away cabinet so it works with a small TD.

http://gages-56.com/roly9.html

That looks even closer, thanks. You can't quite see if he is seated facing the back but it looks like he is.

Now that's what I call a Woodie! Can he actually tow that trailer with a wooden tongue?

I may not have to have a fold down seat-will need to do some measurements. A folded up mattress combined with the drop-down compartment may provide enough leg room. I'm about 5'10" and my wife is 5'6" so head room shouldn't be an issue.

BillZ wrote:That looks even closer, thanks. You can't quite see if he is seated facing the back but it looks like he is.

Now that's what I call a Woodie! Can he actually tow that trailer with a wooden tongue?

I may not have to have a fold down seat-will need to do some measurements. A folded up mattress combined with the drop-down compartment may provide enough leg room. I'm about 5'10" and my wife is 5'6" so head room shouldn't be an issue.

His wooden tongue, chains, and tow bar is for show. He has metal parts he uses for towing.

In the picture of him setting at his table he is facing forward, you can tell by the door hinge. His are hinged at the front and in that pic you can see any hinge.

I made mine with a foot well and a 3 piece mattress. I put the middle section at the front to use as a back rest and can set pretty good in there. I didn't make any kind of table, ( yet but not very high on the to do list ). My foot well is a lot deeper than most as my trailer is rather high. And setting head room will probably not be a problem. For me, getting in and out with a table could present a problem as i am a rather "wide body" person.

You mean like this?






It works but its kind of a pain to set up. I think the only time we used it was when it rained a lot. It seemed like a good idea when I built it but we didn't hardly ever use it.

Bruce

bdosborn wrote:You mean like this?

That is just about exactly what I was thinking. You win the prize!

It works but its kind of a pain to set up. I think the only time we used it was when it rained a lot. It seemed like a good idea when I built it but we didn't hardly ever use it.

Bruce

Yeah, I was thinking that it would probably only be used when it was raining-but I can't help but remember a 4th of July weekend a couple of years ago. My wife and I were tent camping and on the Saturday it poured all day and was about 55 degrees. We were huddled under a dripping tarp for hours. A warm place with a table would have made a big difference.

Perhaps an alternative solution (thinking to myself)...



The cabana material can be made with a medium weight canvas. The walls could actually have enough on the bottom to touch the ground. Maybe an add on skirt for when it rains. Detach, and roll up the dirty part to be washed later. With the canvas walls touching the floor would reduce any drafts inside the cabana. Experiment with adding some type of weight to keep a seal. Hmm... water tubes....?

Add a portable table and chairs, and you have a place to sit out of the unfavorable weather. Not to mention a place to change clothes, and or stow a porta pottie.

A small Coleman propane, or electric heater, should keep you warm.

Besides even with an interior table, you still have to get out, to raise or lower it, and then remake the bed with blankets. Eating a meal inside, ok now you have to get out to put away the utensils anyway.

Yeah what he said .....

bobhenry wrote:Yeah what he said .....

That's what we do. No reason to have a table inside -- you get to eat and be inside when you're not camping.

i made mine a little taller and put a table and benches along the side of mine you can look in my album and see what i did

bdosborn wrote:You mean like this?






It works but its kind of a pain to set up. I think the only time we used it was when it rained a lot. It seemed like a good idea when I built it but we didn't hardly ever use it.

Bruce

I was playing with a design like this. I showed it to my wife. She said, "You mean I have to un-make the bed to use the table? No, thanks!"

That design went into the round file...