Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Planning to build a small family tearsdrop
I have some other drawings on a modified Widget but the height may be an issue. So I am playing around with the Campster 12

Here is a taller modified version of the Campster 12
with a modified front to give more room.


Where to put the kids portable beds?


Where do I put the kitchen now?


Some nice seating optons


Is 72" wide enough for kids - teens to sleep
I was orignally trying to keep at 72" wide still looking at pros and cons.


Just some basic pics of the ideas ihave been playing with so far.
My compliments to the designers of the Campster 12 and everyone else who has put so much good information foward.

The layouts you are considering parallel my second build.

83" is nearly 7' tall. A 6" drop floor would give over six feet of standy room.

I wrestled with the big bed sleeping position quite a bit. I wanted the ease of entry that sleeping with the length of the trailer offered. The problem was that such a sleeping arrangement was a space hog. I would end up with a 6' by 6' bed. My wife and I do not need that much space.

I ended up going with sleeping transversely. 6' by a little over 4' in my case. This way I used the full length of the bed and the full width for sleeping with the result of less wasted space.

With the bed roughly 2' shorter due to the transverse mounting I opened up 2 more feet in length along the wall opposite the door. This results in a total of 4' of wall length to work with there for a kitchen. (In my case I used the space for a bathroom, a sink/counter, A/C, Heater.) Additionally, this also opens up 2' on the wall that holds the door to the left of the door (your sketch as reference). A 2' wide closet offers a lot of storage or even another counter.

Lastly I am partial to the bunks at the front. The top one could be fashioned such that it hinges down against the front wall resulting in a couch with a comfortable reclined back rest, an unusual luxury in a camper.


Enjoy the planning.

John,

Thanks for your input and adding your experience to consider. I just finished looking through your photos. A very nice job I'll bet your family connected to their little home on wheels as you were traveling.

I have wrestled with the 6' x '6 bed and some wasted space
with spleeping long I am worried about getting much wider than 6' but maybe a few more inches doesn't make that much diffrence. I am am only 5'-10" and my my 2 boys will be small enough for many years.

I do like the basic idea and size but it a challenge to know what to give up on or hang on to.
Robert

Greetings, Archeo!

If you were to turn the main bed side-to-side and move it all the way to the back, you could put a small kitchen area opposite the door while keeping the kids' bunks up front.

As others have mentioned elsewhere, I don't think you'll notice much difference between 6' wide and 6'6" wide when it comes to towing or handling, or even fuel economy (considering what type of tow rig you will need to pull something this big, anyway).

You've made some interesting modifications to my original design ... I like 'em ... ...!

Good Luck with the re-design process and, ultimately, the construction! As always, then ...

CHEES!

Grant

AR... It may be best to just lay out everything on the floor , see where it fits, you fit , and where you like it ...then just build a shell around that ....
I always carry a tape measure in my pocket , and when a "comfortable " place is found (I'm 6'3") , I make some measurements and write them down in the TD book ... From your dinette drawings , looks like you and the person across the table will be playing footsies ' ..
Trailers even 7' wide are no problem to tow , and sometimes the extra width is more appreciated than extra height... Grant Knows !!! ^

I've always thought this was a smart setup for kids beds. It uses a sliding T-track.





Here's a link to the build thread:

How to build a built in cot system?

Bruce

I am 5'10" also, and my standy is 6' wide inside.

I was concerned that the 6' bed length would be too short for me as I frequently sleep with my arms above my head.

As it turned out, I was perfectly comfortable and never once felt cramped during the two months out west.

Preferred sleeping positions vary, though. Your results may vary.

Grant,
Thank you for your suggestions and sharing your experience I have appreciated reading your comments and the sharing of your knowledge on this forum. I have had concerns about going too wide I'll have to play around with the side-to-side sleeping. I also have mixed feelings about having a galley in the back. I think the Campster is an excelent design maybe I will end back close to the original. I hope to come to terms with where I am heading in the next couple of months.

Thanks,
Robert

Thanks GPW, Bruce, and John

Lately when I am lying in bed I keep having the urge to grab a tape measure put a box at 6' out and determine what I can live with. I do wonder if 6' is too narrow for the table area although my wife usually likes to play footsie. I think I will be doing some mock ups to help me out.
I do like that cot system and that link was helpful in with what will work for kids.

I guess I am trying to find the perfect size for a 2+2 trailer that still has the appeal of a Teardrop and can be pulled with a mid-sized SUV.

Thanks, Robert

Robert

I like the basic design changes you've made, I have been looking for something a bit larger, than my 4 x 8 for extended roadtrips

But, I will still go with an outside, galley under the hatch design...just can't see cooking eggs over easy, with hashbrowns and bacon, right next to my bed. Now having provision to have a small stove, inside, if caught in really bad weather would be a great idea.

Just my opinion, but keeping the beding fresh when camping can be problematic as it is, but cooking in the bedroom just won't work for me

Al,

I have been thinking back and forth about the galley. When I visualize your cooking scenario and add in my two sons agesd 3 and 5 make it gets down right scary. I had been thinking of not really cooking inside maybe boil some water or make sandwhiches during a rain storm etc.
But then I keep looking back to the functional galley and I might not like hauling everthing back and forth to a near by table. Depending on the outing I could see myself wanting a galley more than I had previously thought. Thanks for the advice I need to look at the galley a little more before I dismiss it.

Thanks, Robert

By sleeping side-to-side I could use the extra space to shorten the trailer to 11' long and put in a small galley. I would like to make the trailer as small as possible and still be comfortable. I guess I am just humoring myself at this point. I think that the Campster has a really nice profile to begin with and it would be hard to improve on that.

Real rough modified layout.

Mike is over 6' and we sleep side to side. The outside is 76 inches. Only 10' long and I made the galley accessible to the inside. I bought an electric hotplate for heating stuff inside. I would be cautious about boiling water close to kids and inside.


I don't use the whole galley area just for cooking or food prep. Part of that area is for the air conditioner and battery. That might change though.

Hey Archeo Robert

Here's a vote for your 01/11/11 iteration of the design.

It seems an ideal solution for smaller size and comfort. It
has what you want/need. The rear kitchen with hatch is a
most practical solution for small TT. Your design is a nice
amalgam of TD & TTT, sort of combining the best of both
ideas. The angled seat back that swings up to be the top
kiddie bunk is a solution for two needs. Seating comfort and
kiddie comfort!

The profile is just as attractive as the original I think.

Best of luck as you go forward.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

Thanks, Miriam
It's always good to hear some advice and get some perspective from real live observations. I think that it is easier to design a home or kitchen than figure out everything that you want in a Teardrop and then realize that somethings need to be omitted or added. But it is fun I guess that is why we all do it.

Robert