Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I was at the dealer today and think I've settled on a Wells Cargo Road Force 7 x 14 tandem axle as the base for my build. I'm going to order it +6 inches, 15x30 window, ramp door, ramp extension, framed and wired for AC, 30a electrical panel, and insulated. I know that most of the folks here do these steps themselves, but I don't have 600 hours to spend on my build.

This will be transporting my Triumph Daytona 675R, my friend's bike, and my soon to be acquired pit bike to various road racing tracks in Texas and beyond, and will be my hotel room at night. I'm also planning on doing some trailer camping with my family in it.

Anticipated mods include:

• 15000 BTU AC/heater
• Roll-up awning
• Workbench and Cabinets
• Beds
• Refrigerator/Microwave
• Sink (might be a water cooler + a bucket to start)

Let the games begin!

Looking forward to seeing this one roll out.

zroadhouse, Howdy;

Welcome aboard. Looking forward to what you come up with.
May help me find some solutions.

hank

Word of advise, order with a 2nd window. I ordered mine with one and ended up putting another in myself. It's nice to be able to see out both sides of the trailer from the inside and get some flow through ventilation. Good luck on the build!

Hi zroadhouse,
Welcome and I agree with cornfused, add the second window and if you haven't considered it, add a roof vent. Good luck with the build ...

AZ_Desert_Rat wrote:Hi zroadhouse,
Welcome and I agree with cornfused, add the second window and if you haven't considered it, add a roof vent. Good luck with the build ...

Thanks for the input! There will be a roof vent where the A/C will get installed. Are you recommending a second one?

I'll definitely add two windows -- just need to figure out where I want to locate them based on my anticipated floor plan then I can order the trailer. It's SketchUp time!

Hi Mike,
You have a 14' hauler and one roof vent into which you plan to place an AC. An additional roof vent, especially with a fan is really nice and I feel necessary to vent air and fumes from the trailer. I installed two roof vents with fans and both openings are framed for an AC ... if I ever add one.

Last trip out, we opened one vent and then opened the other and turned on its fan to draw the heat out of the trailer while opening the door and closing the screen door, the trailer cooled down quickly. The nights were cool enough that AC was not needed (I did not have it anyway), but opening both vents and the windows a little made sleeping great.

However, I do not want to tell another what to do as we all have our own ideas and plans. I almost died once due to a lack of ventilation in a camper and maybe I am now overcautious ... I also did not want to add the added weight and generator necessary for an AC, so I chose to go with 2 windows, a screen door, and 2 roof vents. A roof vent is nice and might be considered by some to be necessary ... especially if there are no other high vents in the trailer.

Keep after it and your trailer will make you proud! Add flics as you go, we want to follow your build!

Sorry zroadhouse, I tagged you Mike, my error!

Another option is to have two roof vents for flow through ventilation, and not install any side windows. Without side windows the trailer will look like any other cargo hauler instead of screaming camper. The insulation of the trailer will also be better without windows, especially if you plan to have A/C. With my trailer not having windows and having aircraft grade nomex insulation lets the 6000 BTU window unit works well. With windows I would have to go much larger on the A/C and I may not be able to power it with my EU2000, or at the very least the generator would run under a much higher load. Right now I can power my 6000 BTU A/C and my fridge without the generator ever going above idle while in Eco mode! I do however understand that some people are not comfortable inside small spaces without windows, but I go camping to be outside and sit under my awning unless it is bed time. Just some thoughts.

I think having a second roof vent makes a lot of sense - especially once the A/C is installed since I will often have a motorcycle in the trailer and don't want everything to smell like gas all the time.

I would like to have windows to let natural light into the trailer -- that will be very helpful for when I'm doing work on my bikes in the trailer (that's its third purpose - mobile workshop).

Here's the first cut of a SketchUp model that will help me decide on my layout:

Hi zroadhouse,
Ideas for thought ...

Another thing is that not all nights/days will be hot enough for the AC and a simple vent is all that may be needed for a comfortable night sleep.

It needs to be remembered that any addition - down the road - will be easier if the structure is added before the trailer is skinned ... if metal frame, welding may be required and the roof area could be a hassle, at a minimum, to add later for a vent if determined necessary. If framed and skinned and paneled, but the vent was not installed, one could easily cut the opening with a router/Roto-zip following an existing frame and install the vent ... at a later date.

Any suggestions about escape windows? I'm currently modeling the windows towards the rear (aligned with the back of the wheel well) on both sides. With only an RV door, is it a good idea to have a second exit? I haven't seen them on all the builds here.

I don't think a second vent will add significantly to the cost, I think I'll go ahead and order it at the start.

AZ_Desert_Rat wrote:Hi zroadhouse,
Ideas for thought ...

Another thing is that not all nights/days will be hot enough for the AC and a simple vent is all that may be needed for a comfortable night sleep.

It needs to be remembered that any addition - down the road - will be easier if the structure is added before the trailer is skinned ... if metal frame, welding may be required and the roof area could be a hassle, at a minimum, to add later for a vent if determined necessary. If framed and skinned and paneled, but the vent was not installed, one could easily cut the opening with a router/Roto-zip following an existing frame and install the vent ... at a later date.

zroadhouse wrote:Any suggestions about escape windows? I'm currently modeling the windows towards the rear (aligned with the back of the wheel well) on both sides. With only an RV door, is it a good idea to have a second exit? I haven't seen them on all the builds here.

I have posted about this same concern in my earlier posts and have decided that I will go with both of theses following
options:
1. Since I will have barn doors, and even with a covered wagon type galley in the back, I will design a way to be able to unlock the barn doors from the inside, should I have an emergency reason to get out do the CT at that end.

And 2. I will have one egress window such as this one off of eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BLACK-30-X- ... 10&vxp=mtr

Bob

I did not worry so much about an egress window in my CT, it is only 10 foot long. However, I have picked up 3/4" (very large) sliding-pin gate locks and install these (up and down) on my street-side barn door (the right-side (facing out) closer) and will add a cab lock to the swinging door (the left-side door facing out). I plan on trailering with the large cargo lock padlocked closed and when at camp, lock the right-side (facing out) door with the gate locks (if not already locked) up and down, like French Door locks. Once the left-side (swinging) door is closed, it will be locked from the inside via the cab-lock. I posted the double outside lock in my Gallery where the cargo lock can be padlocked in the open position to prevent being locked into the trailer. This was the best idea I came up with, for an Arizona Desert Rat on a budget, and will post photos when it goes into play ...