Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I need some feedback on the 4 x 8 design. I have gone the deluxe route with the 5 x 10 footprint. Now I want to try a more stripped down and lighter design. How do you get any reasonable storage. Is it going to feel claustrophobic? I have been looking at the ultralight design and I like the looks. What about making the lid all the way down so access is gained while standing at the galley without lifting out a section of the countertop.

This may not be how your thinking about doing yours but with my 4x8 Benroy build I'm building it to be cheap, roomy inside, and lightweight. I don't have a galley but rather a storage area with a tailgate and all interior wood for the shelves and cabinet are lite-ply. You can see the cross section of my design in my album. It's the updated version. But it will be lightweight, simple, and easy to build.

My 4 x 7 is just a sleeper.

(Read: NO GALLEY )

Upon arrival I plan to pitch everything out and under the 10 x 10 first up. This then becomes our "living room" and "kitchen" I built in 4 shallow cabinets 2 in the headwall and 2 over our feet. After the workout at the CRA gathering I am ready to just goof off.

CarlS wrote:I need some feedback on the 4 x 8 design. [...] Is it going to feel claustrophobic?

My wife and I are both pretty tall (6' 1" & 6' 4" respectively) and were quite comfrotable in the 4x8 Benroy clone we had. Two things I think helped that. First, it was designed to use a 75" (double bed length) mattress. Second, and possibly more responsible for it not feeling claustrophobic, is I built the front cabinet (above our heads) as small and shallow as I could while still keeping it useful. I think having built-in reading lights under that same cabinet helped it feel bigger, as well.

I have been looking at the ultralight design and I like the looks. What about making the lid all the way down so access is gained while standing at the galley without lifting out a section of the countertop.

Got a link for that? I'd like to take a look.

What you're describing sounds exactly like the way ours ended up. Our Benroy-clone had no extensions and the hatch did go all the way down in back. I remember spending a lot of time playing with different counter heights to avoid having to bend over or reach for counter use. The higher you go with the counter, the shallower it gets. Hatch rib width can eat up space here too. I got our counter hight to a good happy medium so no bending or reaching was required and it wasn't too low. But - I had to scrap the chrome bumper idea to stand that 4-6" closer to the countertop.

I really enjoyed the goal of designing around the ubiquitous 4x8 sheet of plywood. I never finished all my cabinetry before I sold it, so cannot speak authoritatively about space & storage. I've seen so many more clever tricks here online than I ever thought of, it really makes me want to build another. But we're wider than we used to be...

The ultra lite can be found in the design library. Choose "Download Library", scroll down to "Ultra lite"

CarlS wrote:The ultra lite can be found in the design library. Choose "Download Library", scroll down to "Ultra lite"

How about here? http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=7275

CarlS wrote:The ultra lite can be found in the design library. Choose "Download Library", scroll down to "Ultra lite"

Sorry – I read Benroy in the post below your and went off looking for an UL Benroy. Thus my confusion.

I haven't been around here long enough to know the nerves and tender spots people have for or against different design profiles – so forgive this blaspheme in advance... The Benroy profile seems like THE most space efficient shape short of a 4x4x8 box with 90* corners. I understand the athetics of the other profiles – but when you place storage space and avoiding a claustrophobic cabin as primary design goals, I blurt the word Benroy before you can punctuate your sentence.

The way you get reasonable storage begins with using as much of the 4x8 sheet as you can. (Benroy.)

slowcowboy wrote:I also have a old rv door in my teardrop that has a large window on it.

Good point. I had BIG windows/doors on mine. Found them at the RV salvage yard & just build the doors to fit.

Hi CarlS,

I just looked through your album and wanted to compliment you on
your 5x10 build. I like its extra size and 'shoulder room'. The profile
is spot on, and the fenders you chose accent it nicely. The interior
cabinets are nicely understated and perfectly executed.

You'll do a 4x8 proud!

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo