New Member Intoduction

[tmfournier]

Hi, my name is Michael and I live in Spring Valley California. I have been building my small trailer for about 6 months now and hit a stump. What I was planning was not quite what the wife wanted. So I had to find a new idea. I have always known of the teardrops but never thought it would be good for pulling behind my Jeep Wrangler. After I saw Steven F's off road trailer I knew my new design would work. I really like the walk thru galley idea, like the Snooze Box Teardrop. As time goes on I will post my pics. In the mean time I have few years of pics and vids on my webshots site.

http://community.webshots.com/user/tmfournier


Cheers,
Michael

[Roly Nelson]

Hi Michael, welcome to the forum. This is the place for info, so check out the various pics that would give you some ideas. I am a bit confused about your build. It sounds like you are well under way, and may make some changes to make it more pleasing for the wife. (Good idea, I can relate to that)

Can you post some pics of what you have built so far? There are a number of teardroppers who have built off-road tears that are very impressive. My off roading with my tear, extends from the asphalt campground road and onto the grass at my campsiste....... ;-)

Roly, Ol' retiree, have tear will travel

[Mike C.]

Hi Michael,

Welcome to the forum. Just look around and ideas should jump right out at you.

Hope you join in the conversation and have fun.

[Miriam C.]

To the playground Michael. Love to see what you have going. We have lots of experienced builders and modifiers on the board. Just jump over to Construction tips and tech.

Enjoy and Keeps the bubble oil level.

[tmfournier]

$40.00 special



A few dollars more



Where I left off 6 month ago, now ready to move on.



This is what I have to make to secure on the trailer or on in the back of my 1/2 ton Chevy. I like the Teardrop concept small and enclosed, since the nights do get cold in the mountains.

[jagular7]

....snip....
This is what I have to make to secure on the trailer or on in the back of my 1/2 ton Chevy. I like the Teardrop concept small and enclosed, since the nights do get cold in the mountains.

That is a Fiberform slide-in. It would work out well as a rear-entry with sleep areas. You could design a table like setting inside, have it convert to a sleep area. Have storage underneath the benches with access from inside and out. You can add tub shelfs up along the upper walls to hold camping gear when once settled. You can make permanant cabinets in the front upper wall area. You just need to be concerned where your head will be when you move about the camper. Is the rear a single or double door entry?

I had look into this design of using a slide-in on a separate frame as a camper. I looked at a lot of different design and shapes for slide-ins. Width is what limited me to a lot of small width shells. I finally ended up with a Pinzgauer Ambulance box.

Check out the non-traditional designs
Slide-in fiberglass camper
Utility Trailer Drop In Camper

Oh, BTW, there is a growing number of wheelers on the list. Most of my camping is done when I wheel.

[tmfournier]

This is a really good idea for an offroad trailer.

http://www.exoduscampers.com.au/

[S. Heisley]

Hi, I am a retired 60 year old who wants a little more security and comfort than a tent or tent-like trailer provides plus wants something that can be kept inside the garage. (Also, my sort-of large dog likes to sleep stretched out on the floor, on his own bed.) The trailers I’ve seen just won’t give me what I want and their prices are outrageous.

I have vacillated several times and finally settled on ordering a 5’X8’ Red Trailer Teardrop chassis kit that I will use as the base for a 64x96” tiny trailer. Since I drive 4 cylinder Toyota truck, I must be at least a little careful of size and weight. The truck height is 61” and its width is 64”. (That’s why the trailer will be 64” wide.)

With some squeezing, I can fit two narrow bunks and a small kitchen inside a “shoebox” ‘Simple/Compact’-style trailer with a lifting lid-roof. The worst that can happen if I fail is that I’ll have to remove the sides and top and rebuild it as a “cubby” style. I have plotted the floor plan on graph paper and taped actual dimensions on my garage floor. Positioning boxes where the bunks and kitchen would be, I walked through it and made certain it felt roomy enough. The door will be in the back, kitchen, up front. The bottom 3’ of the bunks will be a break-away style to allow kitchen floor space. (When you’re in the kitchen, you’re not sleeping!) That will also allow space for the dog, when it’s just me and the pooch.

There’s an old saying: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained!” I guess I’m going on an adventure in my own garage!