New Design

[BufordT]

I've been doing some thinking on a new design for my next attempt at building one of these mini camping trailers. I've posted it http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/album_thumbnail.php?pic_id=128

What do you think?

My mini-hopper has been a real learning experience for me. I’ve got about 2200.00 in this experiment. Since no one at the time that I could find has built anything quite like it and used the materials that I used. I’ve learned most of it on my own. I’d use the same materials next time, but do a few things differently.

I’ve also learned to build the chassis for what your intended to use it for. This keeps the weight down. If you are going to use it for road use then I’ve learned that you don’t have to have a tank for the chassis. I overbuilt my harbor freight chassis. Had it welded in certain places and added 2x4’s for extra support. All of this was not needed as I found out after my first camping experience.

I have not had the mini-hopper weighted and hope to do that next week. Will post the weight then and tongue weight also. I can tell that it’s over what I was hoping it would be.

Bufordt

[mikeschn]

Hey Buford,

That's nice. Very similar to a link that Ron D. posted a couple days ago. It's attractive. Rugged yet tame enough for our roads. I wouldn't paint it red though. White seems to be a good color.



Mike...

[Ron Dickey]

You are right mike .... both mike and I have posted the T'van from time to time ... he called it not so pritty I kinda like the ruggid look.

look under austrailan trailer

http://www.tracktrailer.com/Tvan.html

Lighter unit.

http://www.tracktrailer.com/TvanSport.html

I think Red is ok but howabout a white top so it is cooler in the sun.

I like the tire on the side nice touch.

Just put gas in my car at
$2.45 a gal. my fuel light was on I had little choice.

Ron D.
Los Osos, CA

[BufordT]

I like the design also. I just cut the back part off with the tent section and colored it in. Wouln't be hard to make a pattern for it and build.

Could use a different type of kitchen. Not a hatch but a door that opens out and have the kitchen bolted to the door.

Bufordt

[tdhombre]

Just put gas in my car at
$2.45 a gal. my fuel light was on I had little choice.

Hey, Ron - I'll bet you are really pleased you have a Prius now!

:idea:

[Ron Dickey]

Hi,

In regads to a template. One man on teardropstime.com said he drew his out and projected them on the wall traced it out and had a template. You could just print out the photo from the web site blow it up to the size you want. There is no reason you cant have a back deck. You do not have to have the tent. And I have seen all kinds of kitchens.

I am up in Pittsburg CA where gas is still high and after a 5 hr drive I still have about 1/2 a tank left. Gas is just as high up here in the Bay Area that is near San Fransico. over 400 miles!!

Getting the Prius was a good idea.

Mike I am on a PC with windows on MS Explorer and I do not have the pictures hiding the next message. Looks good I will start asking questions

Ron Dickey
Los Osos, CA

[mikeschn]

Ron,

If it's MessySoft you don't like, you could always run Opera or Mozilla.

I would try opera first cause it's smaller, faster, and should run good on your older PPC...

http://www.opera.com/docs/screenshots/i ... atform=mac

But here's the link for Mozilla anyways... runs on Mac OS 8.6 or later

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/3359

Mike...

[mikeschn]

I'm pretty happy with my diesel too, but I have to stop driving it like a race car. My milage suffers when I do that.

I filled up Friday, a week ago, and didn't need gas this week. I'll probably get gas on Tuesday. Last time I checked I was getting 43 mpg combined. (

Mike