Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Really want a teardrop, but have 3 kids, so REALLY need to build for more than 2, want to stay on the 4x8 scale, or build a 5x8 on a 4x8 trailer. So here is my idea. any feedback/conversation is appreciated. shown in the drawing is the galley, a bunk bed, and storage up front.

The reason I drew it like this was a seam question, I was trying to only have one seam, and figured a diagonal seam would be better that vertical? thoughts......

thanks

For 5 people, building a 4x8 trailer just isn't going to cut it.

My first thought is something like this ebay teardrop.

http://www.mikenchell.com/images/ebay_trailer_plans.pdf

You can put the 3 kids in the top bunk and the adults in the bottom bunk, or visa versa.

Mike...

not real concerned with "room" for all 5, because I would end up with a tent too, just want a bunk and a galley for cooking reasons, and am trying to stay within the limits of the trailer I already have....(hf 4x8)
but I do like the simple and fast ebay build, would get his plans, but 54 bucks??? no thanks

SpringerNC wrote:not real concerned with "room" for all 5, because I would end up with a tent too, just want a bunk and a galley for cooking reasons, and am trying to stay within the limits of the trailer I already have....(hf 4x8)
but I do like the simple and fast ebay build, would get his plans, but 54 bucks??? no thanks

You don't need his plans. We have our own plans up there in the menu. See the Generic Benroy Plans. That's a good jumping off point for many designs.

If you have a 4x8, you could easily build 66" wide by building out over the wheels. I don't think I even modeled up a 66" wide teardrop, but I'll bet someone here has built one.

Mike...

ok so I am going to so simple, like the ebay plan, bunks in the rear, storage in the front, kiss method, think I am unclear about is appropriate bedding measurements. Is there a go to guide of normal acceptable widths and lengths that are used?

Here are standard bed sizes...

* Twin--39 x 75 inches (or 99 x 190 cm)
* X-Long Twin--39 x 80 inches (99 x 203 cm)
* Full--54 x 75 inches (137 x 190 cm)
* Queen--60 x 80 inches (or 153 x 203 cm)
* King--76 x 80 inches (or 198 x 203 cm)
* California King--72 x 84 inches (or 182 x 213 cm)

If you go with 66" wide, then you could probably do queen sized...

Mike...

ebay guy says he build his trailer 5 feet wide, and used a queen? Seems off compared to your listings, thanks by the way.

I may just take my hf trailer, stick it in the garage, quit looking at stuff and changing my mind, and just start on a floor 5 ft wide and see where the wood leads me...all this research is making me change my mind to much....

Here's our 4x8 HF trailer, with a 66" floor.



and here is a queen sized mattress in it...



Mike...

yup, I have to do that, I need an whole family inside camper, so tents can be a secondary....66 wide it is, now for the rest of the measurements!!!

think I am going a bit shorter as we are not real tall and standing inside is not a necessity nor something I see much sense in...

How much room do you figure you need between the lower bunk and the upper bunk? I'm thinking 39".

Mike...

just laid down on the floor with a tape measure, as I do for most of my figuring, and 39 seems a long ways away...

but I guess if we are talking 2 queens, that is a good distance....hard to visualize

1x2's on your flooring for 66 inches wide?

Just for fun, I quickly scribbled up a design for 5 people... with a galley, since that seemed important to you in your first post.

then of course, the size was unreasonable... so I started shrinking the numbers.

I finally got it down to 10' long and 8' high. I'm not sure those numbers are very appealing. The 8' high seems too high.

But I'll post it here so you have a starting point.



You have paper, right? and pens or pencils?

On that subfloor I used 2x2's.

You can see more pics of my build here... they will answer a lot of questions, even if it's not a traditional teardrop build.

http://www.mikenchell.com/WWEH_Photo_Album/

Mike...

wow thanks, did not think about having to be raised to clear the wheel wells, I think I will ditch the galley for a tear drop build one day, and gain the space for a bunk for the kids.