Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Please excuse my ignorance, very new guy here... but, when reviewing the step-by-step guide (i.e. the PDF) re a 5'x8' Benroy build.... I'm not understanding why the trailer's width had to be reduced by 2". It seems like the "over-hanging" side panels could have been accomplished by increasing the width on top... rather than reducing the width of the trailer.

What am I missing?

michaelwpayton wrote:Please excuse my ignorance, very new guy here... but, when reviewing the step-by-step guide (i.e. the PDF) re a 5'x8' Benroy build.... I'm not understanding why the trailer's width had to be reduced by 2". It seems like the "over-hanging" side panels could have been accomplished by increasing the width on top... rather than reducing the width of the trailer.

What am I missing?

The Benroy plans are for a 4' x8' and can be altered to 5'x8'. the two inches are cut off to facilitate using standard 4'x8' plywood for the roof and ceiling. Oh and to give room behind the axle for the over hang..

Thanks for the reply.

The document I was reading was all about doing a 5'x8'. They started with a 5'x8' trailer and their intention was to build a 5'x8'. They trimmed 2"s off the trailer's cross-members, so the frame would be hidden.

I "get" all of that... and think hiding the frame makes for a nicer looking trailer. I just don't understand why they cut the trailer up instead of just adding 2"s up top. I'm sure I'm just not understanding the trade-offs involved in various ways to get to the same end result.

I'm Mike, by the way... I'm very new around here. Nice to 'meet' you :-)

By the time you add plywood to the sides you need clearance for the wheels and fenders no matter how wide you build it. If you can get your clearance then there is not an issue.

uh we do expect payment for all this whacky info in the form of

to the playground btw.

I got it... pics of all mistakes will be provided... hope they have enough disk space to hold them all.

michaelwpayton wrote:I got it... pics of all mistakes will be provided... hope they have enough disk space to hold them all.

We enjoy pictures of success too ...

Welcome to the forum! I had the same ??? when I read them too. I think Miriam got it, both times, fender/wheel clearance and a true 5' width will accomodate the use of 5'x5' baltic birch ply on the roof. You can however build any size you want.

Corwin C wrote:

michaelwpayton wrote:I got it... pics of all mistakes will be provided... hope they have enough disk space to hold them all.

We enjoy pictures of success too ...

:-) hopefully, at least in the end, there will be some of those too.

dh wrote:Welcome to the forum! I had the same ??? when I read them too. I think Miriam got it, both times, fender/wheel clearance and a true 5' width will accomodate the use of 5'x5' baltic birch ply on the roof. You can however build any size you want.

Good point... if they were locked in to using 5'x5' ply for the top, it makes sense to chop the trailer width.