Hi from Sunny SoCal

[Kixwy2]

Hi everyone, just found this board via an internet search for trailers, and I'm so excited! I've been lurking for the last week reading all the cool builds and conversions, and man have you guys been doing some awesome work!

I've been tent camping since I was about 7, backpacking for about 4 years, and had my first experience camping in a small RV last month. I liked the fact that you can shut out the weather with a hard-sided camper, but even the 17 footer was a bit too big for me. So I'm thinking about building/converting/restoring a small trailer, maybe a 5x8 or 6x10, so I'd love to get some insight from people camping in those sizes - what works, what doesn't, should you have gotten a 10 over an 8, that kind of thing.

I'm pretty handy with tools and building and electrical, so I'm looking forward to yet another project! I'll be towing with either my 4Runner or my C10, so weight's not an issue but I want to keep things light.

Looking forward to spending a lot of time here!

- Liz

[Roly Nelson]

Hi Liz, and a heardy welcome from another So Californian. This is the place to get answers, and the size of your ultimate camping rig, depends on what you plan to use it for and how many are going to sleep in it. I have a 4x8, which some folks find too small. Most that build a second one usually make it, perhaps 5 x 9, to get a bit more room. The drawback is that it would be a bit heavier and more expensive to build. It's up to you, but by all means provide 2 doors, so you can make the bed more easilly. Check out the many pics in the Hall of Fame, and check out the other info on the board. Good luck.

Roly, and you you are in the area, swing on by in Wildomar, just off of the I-15

[Dean_A]

Hey Liz,

Welcome! Lot's of folks here in So Cal that would be happy to give you a first-hand tour. Where are you located?

We sleep 3 in our 5x9 and are quite happy. Not sure I'd want to spend all day in it if the weather got nasty, but that's what EZ-Ups, cafes and coffee shops are for.

[teardrop_focus]

Hey, Liz! Welcome...

There are a couple of we newer members of this site in L.A.; one's username is green_eyed_diablito (Miguel) and has already started building his teardrop. I have to wait until I get back to work before I can start mine, but the ideas keep coming... I've finalized my teardrop's profile, something that was important to me to be "just so". :-)~ The rest is teardrop building business as usual...

If you need a hand with anything build-wise, or just want to bounce some ideas of off someone who's looked at almost 1000 teardrops, gimme a holler! either here in this thread or in PM.

Love to lend a hand. I'm also trying to put a day aside so I can get out to Wildomar (1.5 hours east/southeast) to see Roly!




There's a fantastic resource here called sdtripper2's Index; it's an alphabetized index of existing discussion threads on teardrop materails, build threads, electrical systems, etc... it's very easy to scroll down and then choose what's interesting to you at the moment, or what's pertinent to whatever aspect of your build you're working on at the time:

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=12276 <---Steve's Index

Have fun!

[Kixwy2]

Thanks guys!

I'm in the South Bay area, and I scour Craigslist daily looking for the perfect shell or platform to start with. I'm still conflicted on whether or not to restore an old travel trailer or buy a new shell and start designing right away. I really like the vintage styles and would love to stay with that if possible.

Once I get my ideas sketched into Vectorworks, I'll post them on the site for more ideas and feedback. I really like the idea of a galley in the back with access from both sides. Has anyone done floating cabinets/shelving with success, rather than building a dividing wall?

[teardrop_focus]

Kixwy2

Has anyone done floating cabinets/shelving with success, rather than building a dividing wall?

If I envision your version correctly (or is it enversion your vision? lawlz), no; I've not seen it just yet. People do, however, have a galley-to-cabin pass-through roughly in the center-third "square" of the upper bulkhead, or, shear wall (if that's the proper terminology...)

At least one 2' tall bulkhead wall is good to add structural rigidity to the teardrop's sidewalls... and, based on your question, you've seen what most teardrops have: one 2' wall at the foot of the sleeping cabin (from the floor upward to the underside of the galley worktop), then another wall over what would be one's shins, from 2' off the cabin floor extending upwards to the ceiling.

Of course your idea of floating cabinets would work if the cabinet structure (it could be doorless) were designed to aid the tear's lateral stiffness... but once the galley hatch were opened, yer footsies would have no privacy.



Keep the ideas coming!