Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Found this forum,and thought I'd show off my newest creation.

Bet it's the only one here designed to be airlifted.

Basic idea was for something that would fit on the front end of my flatbed trailer for Jeep trips. Also ended up with, when I put it on my "small" trailer, a capable camper for other trips.

Here it is on my surplus military M101A2 (converted to 7k electric brake axle):



here's a link to my build page. I still need to get up some pics of the completed interior.

http://www.sanlee.com/jeep/S250camper/default.htm

Very nice non-traditional! I'd like to see the inside now that it's finished. How do you have the a/c?

fireaunt wrote:Very nice non-traditional! I'd like to see the inside now that it's finished. How do you have the a/c?

I used a portable standalone a/c unit that vents thru a hose. I built support brackets, and a couple of ratchet straps keep it in place. In the pic, you can see an access hatch to the right of the window. This is hinged at the top, I just have to open it to expose the a/c vent.

The a/c unit actually functions as a heat pump, instead of resistance heat like a lot of the portables have. So I have 12000btu of a/c, and about 11000 btu of heat.

Hi Kaiser,

Welcome to the forum. Intestesting build you got there. Let me know when your get your interior photos up, I am interested in seeing them.

Mike...

Hey great use of materials you have going. Looking forward to seeing the inside too.

to the playground and thanks for sharing.

I did not know jeep made cranes.



Somebody walked on your walls.

Seriously it looks ready to go and tough, good job.

del

del wrote:I did not know jeep made cranes.


del

This is not the first Jeep 'crane' I have seen the other was Sumner who has the pop up tear.

as promised, interior pics:

Here is the bunk in the sleeping position. Cushion is 3" foam, made into 4 pieces. The two center sections will lift out and lean against the back wall to make more floor space. There is about 2' of floor space with the bunk in this position, enough for the portapotti and getting in and out the door. Wood is oak and oak veneer plywood, yet to be stained. I have aluminum hat channel screwed up under the plywood inserts to keep them from bowing.



Here is the bunk with one cushion/panel removed. This is how we usually set it during the day to have more room for dressing, etc. We can just pull the corners off the fitted sheet up front, and fold back in half on the remaining bunk, so we don't have to fully re-make the bed every night. Also you can see that the portapotti slides up under the rear bunk section during the day. Straps you see in lower right corner are for the portapotti when travelling.



This is the wall opposite the window (to the right as you enter). 2 rows about 6' long of adjustable shelving. Plenty of room for our clothes and stuff for a long weekend. (can also put duffel bags or suitcases under the front half of the bunk for a longer trip).



Finally, the a/c unit as described in an earlier post. The straps were the only ones I could find before our first trip. I have since found some black straps, but have not put them on yet.

btw, here is a page on my jeep crane with some more detailed pics...one of the handiest things I've ever put together.

I can rig it in about 5 minutes single-handed, and it'll lift 600+ lbs 15' up.

http://www.sanlee.com/jeep/crane/

Wow! That is really nice inside. Is the air conditioner one of the portable types? Looks great too.

Very cool. We have a pile of those old comm shelters sitting around at work, and I've always had evil thoughts about them, specifically the hmmwv ones.

One thing I was wondering about, can you stand up straight in it? The HMMWV shelters were a couple inches too short, and I worried about that, but never took the time to scope out the normal shelters.

Look forward to seeing more of this thing.

They run about 64" tall inside. I am 6'2". But I can stand up good enough to load our stuff, get dressed easily, etc.

The bed is standard full-size, 54" x 75", so it sleeps fine for me, also.

The walls are 1.5" thick, aluminum skin bonded to a foam core. Made it easy for the window, the RV I pulled it from had 1.5" walls.

I love it!!!


The best part is that it's military surplus. If you want something to stand up to a good solid beating?? BUY ARMY SURPLUS!!

June is the one-year anniversary of our camper...and next week, we are finally using it for the first time since last October. I've been busy with moving a relative to assisted living and getting his house cleaned out and on the market.

I thought I'd post a pic of the camper really being used for what it was intended, sitting on the front end of my 22' flatbed trailer, with one of my toys chained down behind it. With this truck loaded, my trailer weight is right about 10,200 lbs (camper, trailer, & Jeep). This was from a wheeling trip back in late October 2008.

kaiser715 wrote:June is the one-year anniversary of our camper...and next week, we are finally using it for the first time since last October. I've been busy with moving a relative to assisted living and getting his house cleaned out and on the market.

I thought I'd post a pic of the camper really being used for what it was intended, sitting on the front end of my 22' flatbed trailer, with one of my toys chained down behind it. With this truck loaded, my trailer weight is right about 10,200 lbs (camper, trailer, & Jeep). This was from a wheeling trip back in late October 2008.

Utility is what this forum is about. Those of us here value it in camping trailer wheter it be for recreation or evacuation. Yours is a masterpiece of utility! A different kind but still a masterpiece!