Big ideas for a little camper

[ha]

Hey everyone,

Me and the woman are planning a trip around the country this coming summer (3 months, alaska to new york), so we thought we would build a teardrop to make things more comfortable.

I think we are going to go with the generic Benroy plans on a 4x8 trailer. Any and all input is more than welcome. im sure that we will be posting with plenty of questions over the next few months, and hopefully some pictures as well.

[madjack]

...welcome aboard ha...sounds like an ambitious plan you got going there...would make a great trip...a right off the bat suggestion would be to go 5" wide(you can do that onna 4'W trailer)...doing so may help insure that you and the woman will be speaking at the end of the trip..........
madjack

[Ira]

When you get to New York, make sure you lock up the trailer.

HAH!!!

What part of New York are you ending up in? Are you going to be visiting someone there, and do you have a route/itnerary mapped out yet? You're gonna make a lot of friends here that will offer to help you along the way, not the least of which is gonna be some driveway parking offers.

You'll have a blast, and I guess with the price of gas these days, the trip will only cost you about 3 million bucks.

[Bill Fernandez]

When you get to New York, make sure you lock up the trailer.

HAH!!!

What part of New York are you ending up in? Are you going to be visiting someone there, and do you have a route/itnerary mapped out yet? You're gonna make a lot of friends here that will offer to help you along the way, not the least of which is gonna be some driveway parking offers.

You'll have a blast, and I guess with the price of gas these days, the trip will only cost you about 3 million bucks.

Ira why dont you help out on the gas with all your money.

[Tcurr]

Welcome aboard. Mine started as a Generic Benroy, Then turned into a hmm what ever mamma calls it. But I would follow the suggestion about 5 foot, especially if you are going to follow the free plans.

[Rarin2go]

Sounds like a great trip. I do agree,you should consider a 5 ft. design.

[Miriam C.]

to the playgound. Boy does that sound like a fun trip.

Size should depend on what you are comfortable with. If you sleep on a double bed then 4 feet is closer. Try putting a sheet on both sides of your bed to see how close it is. If you sleep real close then go for it.

Get the bigger wheels on the trailer. That is a very long trip.

Enjoy and

[ha]

My main concern, and the reason for going with the 4x8 trailer is weight. Our car only has a 1000 pound towing capacity,and i would like the teardrop to be around 800 when loaded with our stuff.

The woman and i are smallish people, so im not too concerned about the 4 foot width. When we drove up to alaska from central and western new york (where we are both from) we tent camped the whole way with all of our material possessions crammed in the Focus (not even the hatchback variety) so 4x8 may not seem that large to some of you, but it will be living in luxury for us!

Has anyone looked into the aerodynamics of pulling a teardrop? Im concerned that the generic Benroy plans are a little squarish in the front, and we are going to need all the gas mileage we can get.

[Chip]

Ha,,,, Hey thar,,, Welcome to the forum,, Ya trip sounds like a lot of adventures,,,, and a lot of fun,,,

One comment,,, DONT OVER BUILD,,, my first was over 1200 lbs,,, the second one is about 650 with a weekends worth of food, clothes and liquid refreshment,, I too had concerns about shape and tried to slope the front down a bit more and buldge the rear up for more galley room,,, so far its worked out real well,,, its not scientific but the milage I am getting pulling the tear and pulling a motorcycle on a trailer is about the same amount of drop,,, sloping the front may not of helped a bit but it sure makes me feel like it did,,,

again welcome,,,

chipper

[MrBuzz]

It might be nice to have the extra foot of width...but there are many benefits to the 4X8. It builds quicker, uses standard dimension plywood with no splicing, plus it's lighter. I really like how mine tucks right in back of my P/T Cruiser, tows like a dream...hardly know it's back there on most roads. The 4 ft wide mattress definitely keeps things cozy for a couple...but like you said it's is a world better than a tent!
Good Luck...and happy planning/building

[Pam Wright]

My 5X8 weighs 750# with a tongue weight of 70#, I tow it behind a '98 Chev S10 PU with no problems, for that distance I, like the other's, say build 5 wide! Have a ball, this is the place for questions!

pam

[Mike C.]

ha,

Welcome to the forum.

Hope you enjoy yourself and have fun.

[Miriam C.]

My main concern, and the reason for going with the 4x8 trailer is weight. Our car only has a 1000 pound towing capacity,and i would like the teardrop to be around 800 when loaded with our stuff.

With all the mountains you will need to consider not the advised tow weight but how your car performs in real life. My Nissan Sentra has a 1.6lt. and says it tows 1000#. However if I pass on any kind of grade I have to shut off the air conditioner. Stopping is of greater concern. Truth is I have to allow more time to stop if I have a car load and full tank of gas. That is without towing.

Your car might also consider the tow package weight as part of the tow weight.

Roly has a 1/2 Nelson that is very light and a Stacker that is even lighter. You will find them in the Hall of fame.

Also look at the Ultra lite in "important information." They may fit your needs really well.

PS for extra space in weather consider a side tent.

[ha]

thanks everyone for the advice.

has anyone actually calculated the weight differences when you switch from 4 foot width to five? As i already mentioned, and others have chimed in, we are looking at a long trip, with a small car, over some substantial mountains.

We have certainly pushed our car waaaaay past what it was designed for since we have been in alaska (including many week long camping trips of about 1000 miles with 5 adults and supplies).

Ill check out the ultralights in the build section, and maybe something will jump out at me.

I also finally got a pic loaded for your enjoyment.

[Tcurr]

I have seen a post mike made were he outlined mmost of the weights on materials, But can not remeber the post fot eh life of me.