Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Backwoods Guy** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:50 pm

Let's see if I can explain this better.

Imagine my trailer:

With this tent on top of it:

Parked where the SUV is in this pic:

This way I have my comfy bed in the trailer and use the extra tent more as a sitting space on cold weather campouts, someplace to get out of the wind. In the summertime I'd just use something like an Easy-Up awning.

Here's another pic of the SUV tent:

Or maybe something like this would be better:

Well, maybe that one's a little overkill.

Hope that makes more sense, take care, Guy

by **Backwoods Guy** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:03 pm

Hi All,

Well, the trailers almost done, it's road ready anyway, but I haven't gotten my battery hooked up or any of the electrical stuff done. But I can camp in it, if it wasn't 107 degrees out.

I pulled the trailer out of the shop to get a few pics:

And a view of the back so you can see the bed and some of the storage tubs:

A view through the little window up front:

And one with the tent down, tarped up and ready for the road:

Very simple and not the prettiest on the site but I think it's going to work out great for me. Now I'm ready for the weather to cool down a little and then hit the road and do some camping. In a little luxury now, well, more so than usual for me anyway.

Take care, Guy

P.S. The rest of my pics are here: https://picasaweb.google.com/mrguy001/GuysNewTrailer#

by **Wolfgang92025** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:14 pm

Looks like a nice set up. :thumbsup:

In a way it reminds me of a covered wagon. Should be a nice step up from camping on the ground and trying to get everything back in the car. Looking forwards to seeing :pictures:

of you camping

by **S. Heisley** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 5:21 pm

It reminds me of a covered wagon, too!

Good job. You did some quick thinking and some work and are ready to hit the campsites! It's sure to be lightweight, too. :thumbsup:

Enjoy!

by **droid_ca** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 5:34 pm

Thats a cool trailer thanks for sharing :applause:

by **StandUpGuy** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 10:36 pm

Its a Conestoga! I love it!!

by **schaney** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:53 am

Guy, Love it, came out great :thumbsup:

by **Backwoods Guy** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:25 pm

Thanks Everyone,

I had a lot of fun building it and as I'm sure you know, and my wife dreads, we'll call this build #1. :lol:

When I get around to doing my simple electric work, I'll take a few pics and update this thread.

Thanks again and take care, Guy

by **Steve_Cox** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:10 pm

Really nice job Guy :thumbsup:

by **backwoods_rick** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:35 pm

Hey, Hey my ole friend got-r-done and a fine home it is. Congrad's on a new twist to an old past time. Are you going to strap the kayaks to the top of the trailer or did you have something else in mind? See you Saturday and we'll finish the electrics and pack the wheelbearings.

Very Nice looking setup,
backwoods rick

by **IASCOTT** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:10 pm

Guy

Have the attach points on the bed rails changed or did you change then to something different. I really like what you have done and am considering doing one myself. I would rather use a foam mattress than a airbed. Again nice work and happy camping

Scott

by **Backwoods Guy** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:06 pm

Hi Scott,

Thanks and I think your asking about how I attached the tent to the trailer. In this pic, from another site, you can kinda see how from the factory they use a rail with pins that you C-clamp down to the top of the pickup bed rails.

The way they set it up the bows won't lay down flat attached to the pins. I wanted the bows to lie down without removing them from their attachments, so I bought 6 Bimini boat top fittings and put them on the end of the bows.

You can see what I mean on the right rear of the pic there. This way to put the tent down I need to first unvelcro and lower the middle bow, then lower the back bow toward the front with the canvas still attached, then lower the front bow toward the rear, also with the canvas attached. I just leave the canvas piled on top of the bed and put the tarp over it all. I went with the air bed because after deflating it the bed is very thin and allowed me to have more room under the bed for storage.

Let me know if that clears it up or if I can help more. I keep thinking that lower window on the front looks like a great place for a window AC unit. :thumbsup:

Hey Rick,

Where we goin first? LOL

Take care, Guy

by **IASCOTT** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 3:16 pm

Thanks Guy

After seeing your set up I went looking at the tent and noticed that your attachment was different from what I was seeing on the net. I wasn't sure if you changed how it was attached of if the company had changed it and hadn't updated their sight. I like the improvements you came up with for the attachment. Thanks for the info and in the near future I will be following your example of a great outfit.

Scott

by **Backwoods Guy** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:48 pm

Your welcome Scott,

Glad I could help, keep an eye out on the thread, this weekend I'm going to start on my very simple 120V electric system I'm putting in. Should have pics up on Sunday evening. I just ordered stuff for my 12V system, I'm rigging my Sentra to charge the onboard battery I'm putting on the trailer for lights, accessories and my CPAP machine. I bought some 8 gauge wire and fuse holders from this place:

http://www.amenoelectricconnection.com/

They seemed to have pretty good prices, we'll see how their service is. I had them ship ground, so I won't get it till next week sometime. I should have pics up of the 12V stuff in a week or two.

Take care, Guy

by **woytovich** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:33 pm

How long does it take to set up the tent once you position the trailer?

One of my goals with the cargo/camper was to eliminate 90% of the set-up/break-down time that I was seeing with a tent.

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

A New Twist on a Tent Trailer

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