Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hello All,

I am pretty excited to be a new member on this site. We just ordered a new 6x12 vose this week. I am having the factory install a good bit of add on's like the windows, electrical, insulation and finishing the walls and ceiling. I am confused now on how to lay out the inside. I would like to figure out a way to sleep two adults and maybe 2 small kids. This will be used for camping only. Not planning on hauling anything with it. Any suggestions or points in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Myates,
I too am a new member, but have been watching this site for quite awhile - gathering all the ideas and info that I could. I picked up a tremendous amount of information by going through several years of member postings and posted pictures. I am about ready to order my 6x12 or maybe a 7x12 and plan on posting and sharing my progress as many of the many members have done already. Maybe we can learn from each other also.

To other members of the forum, one brand I am looking at is a Lark model. I did read some bad press about this company's customer service and asked a dealer point blank about this issue. He mentions that the history of the Lark trailer is such that yes at one time there may have been some issues, when they were manufactured by a company called Diamond (Trailers, Co or etc). Diamond then sold out to what is the Lark company now. And just recently Diamond came back as a new company under the same owners as before. I am not sure about the accuracy of all this history and I guess the main thing now is to see how good Lark Trailers are today. I did find that they have 16" on center side risers and sturdy side door and barn door hinges.

All opinions and thoughts are very much appreciated.

Myates, Howdy;

Welcome to the forum.
I joined a short while ago myself, and am
still hunting for my first victim as well ....

hank

Just a couple things I did was have a RV screen door installed at the factory, and they suggested rear stabalizer jacks and I would have not thought of those but they were 50.00 extra but well worth it,when down and it place it's rock solid when walking around.
Your probably going to want a false wall in the rear for a AC don't buy a portable AC they don't work.
Something I didn't do was have a fantastic vent fan installed at the factory,when I asked they said they have one with a fan so I went that way and it's a cheap one speed only fan,I wished I had bought the fan I wanted and sent it to the factory? but they said they have never had anyone do that before.
One day I will install a new one but for now I don't really open the vent that much but I wish I had not let them talk me out of what I wanted.

Welcome aboard! I did the same. I went back to the oldest post and did lots of reading. It was worth every minute. Look into getting a sharp pencil, paper, and a scale. Get to drawing. I also downloaded Google Sketchup free version. It is easy to use and very helpful. Good luck with your projects and looking forward to seeing your post and questions.

Earnest

Welcome, oh fellow traveler on the road to perdition
One suggestion that several on the board have made is to get a roll of masking tape and use it to lay out the inside of the trailer. You will find this is an easy way of figuring out where things may go.

Myates, you did not mention if your trailer will have barn doors or a ramp in the rear. Both have their advantages, and you will see many designs for both in the forum. Several of us have Lark trailers, mine is a 6x10 that I have had about 1 1/2 years, with no real problems.

Thank you for everyone's input. I have spent a few hours today ready back over a few years worth of posts and have gained some valuable knowledge. I'm thinking I may do a easy trip with a air mattress and try to get a feel for how we want things laid out. I did do the vent route with the max air vent covers. Two vents actually.

I had the entire trailer insulated at the factory. Do you think a portable a/c will work?

And I went the barn door route instead of a ramp.

The majority have the opinion that the don't. There seems to be more small window unit AC installed than any other. Cost, efficiency and no lose in floor space are the main reason. Your trailer will probably take close to a 5000 btu which cost around $100. 8500 btu cost about $50 more. You will find many ways that folks have installed it. Thru access door in the side, set outside with ducts plummed in and other ways. Some have gone with the roof mount RV unit and like them. I have an old RV unit but am planning on installing a window unit due to future replacement cost. $100 sure beats $500.

Earnest

The portable vs fixed AC is almost a holey war (pun intended). The major problem with portables is that the unit pulls air from the room to cool the evaporator coils. In a large house, this air is replaced easily, but in the cargo trailer there is that much air to replace. 7x12 is roughly 500 cubic feet. Some have been quite successful in adapting the portable 1-hose units into 2-hose units, http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=50223. I personally went with the modified window unit.

In a previous thread I came across a member who found some neat looking military cots. When I order my 6x12 or 7x12, I plan on getting one of them and then taking a couple of trips bare bones sort of and just see what I like the best. The cots look like they have the added advantage of being modifiable later by removing the legs and then the deck part being incorporated into the final build. The masking tape is a great suggestion also.

I liked the idea of a back wall built 18 to 24 inches in to mount the window type AC unit into. I need to think more about how to make sure there is plenty of air movement around it since it will be mounted sort of inside the trailer. It also allows for a chuck-wagon sort of shelving area for stoves and other stuff.

I am getting anxious - better get going and get that trailer ordered.



Pmowers, thanks for the Lark comment. I have a friend who has ordered one for regular hauling use and when he gets it, I will give his a real good look over .

Also I have a request for HELP. How do I add a web link to a reply and then have it so all one has to do is to click on it and he is then directed to the intended site. Pmower, like you did in the above reply?

The easiest way I have found to add a link is to copy the desired link from the address bar, select the URL button on the comment menu, then paste in-between. Just check your work by previewing, your link will be highlighted if you did correctly.

Pat

lrrowe, Howdy;

I was thinking along the same lines of the 'Rear Storage' section.
Still tossin' a coin to see if I'll get a 6X12 or a 7X14... Dang coin
keeps landin' on it's edge.....

For a vent that also helps keep water out try one of these;
http://www.amazon.com/Dometic-3109492-0 ... m_sbs_sg_2

Have one on most RV's so the 'fridge can have some cooling air flow. Also what I was thinkin'
of using for mine ... when I get the danged thing.
By the way , I just copied and pasted the url . Why jump thru hoops ya don't need to.

hank

hankaye, howdy back.

What are planning on doing with the cover? Cut a hole in the side or rear door, install it and then have the AC behind it? When your coin finally lays flat, I will watch for your progress. The only issue I am having in not going to the 7x12 is my cheapness.

And I tried the cut and paste thing using the url button and no go. I am obviously the problem here.

I've been very slightly considering trading up from my 6X12 to a 7X14 for only one reason. That is to have an extra foot of length on the bed with the frame/mattress sideways, across the trailer. It "just fits" with my 6X12 since, luckily, I'm 4 inches shy of 6 feet tall. (OK, "short." ) However, I do enjoy the compactness, lighter weight, single axle, easy-to-fit-in-smaller-spaces aspect of my 6X12, and for now that outweighs the comfort of another foot of bed length.

There's a ton of floor plans and layouts on here, just about every configuration you can dream up. Mine is just one, and though planned as adaptable for cargo, I really only use it for camping/fishing trips. Its my home away from home, and I like it better than the 'residence" home for sure!

Very new here myself. My 7X16V is having a regular RV roof AC unit installed right now. Heating (not that I will need much) will be done with a small 110v baseboard heater. My build will be a bare bones Toy Hauler. Sleeping on the ground is no longer something I can do. So at Bike Rallys we will have a dry place to sleep and when mother nature isn't being nice a way to make dry food/ beverage runs!