Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

What do you think of this method to make a small trailer larger. I've been searching for slide outs, expanding campers and such and this looked pretty interesting.




First time posting. Hope the picture came out OK.

Jeff

Hi jjkrem,

Welcome to the forum. [Why not do a short intro in the
'newbie' section to introduce yourself too. That'll probably
reach more members initially, then post/ask-questions
where you think is best, like here for your tip-out.]

That kind of tip-out has the benefit of being one-piece
and using a more-or-less one action motion to deploy but it
has the negatives of taking up huge amounts [if not all]
of the interior space when in transit, as well as the possible
introduction of water into the interior if closed when wet
or in the rain. Seals for both setup and transit are also
needed but should be easily enough doable though.

Take a look at the following type of expando. It's from an Australian
TTT from the mid-1960s to early-1970s called the Expandavan.
It was built by a series of manufacturers, over time, and was
offered in single-wall plywood, fiberglass, and 'stick' framed
versions, depending on the builder. I think it's an ingenious
design and it is my favorite approach from all of those that
I've come across on the web.

The TTT bodies were about from 5ft3in to 5ft 6ins in width
and about 9ft to 11ft in length while in transit, depending on
which version. The fold-out beds are double-bed in size. Basically,
the expansion's roof was lifted up, all three walls pulled-out/folded-out
as a unit and then supported the roof, and you then went inside to
lower the cable supported bed platforms-with-mattresses. Openable
and closable in the rain without any water getting inside. The interior is
accessible when the expansions are folded up for storage or trasit
as the folded up expansions only take up a small portion of the
interior space at their locations.

Here's a link to the Vintage Caravans website's link on them:
http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/2060?page=1
As you see there were various versions of the same basic design.

And here's a pic of an early version from the somewhereelse.com.au
website from about July 2011. It has a rear dinette room expansion
and two bed expansions, one on each side. [Click for larger view.]


Here's a pic of a one-off build contemporary with it, done along
similar lines. But this one's body size is 6ftx8ft, with a rearward
dinette room expansion, and bed expansions on the front and their
curbside. [Click for larger view.]


Both of these have been refurbished by their owners and are still used
by them for camping trips and vintage caravan gatherings.

That would be be my approach if I were to do an expanding TD/TTT,
It could work for either.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

The problem with nearly all expanding ideas is that they are heavier than if they were built with the expanding part fixed open (because they have to have openings reinforced) - and length is not usually any big disadvantage for factors like towing resistance. So often all the weight, complication and potential leaks produces the one benefit that it looks 'clever'.

Two exceptions are:
- where the expanding is in vertical direction, there can be a big benefit in reducing drag;
- if the trailer is to be stored in a garage, reducing its length for storage can be a big benefit (though not as much as Roly's idea of just tipping the trailer on end).

Thanks for the comments. I came across the idea from someone desiging temporary shelters and thought it might be interesting for those looking for ideas for expanding trailers.

Jeff

I have been kicking around an idea for adding a second bed in a tiny trailer. My thought was to use the canvas sides and roof from a pop up camper. You would lose a second door, but the side would fold down with the canvas "room" attached. It could be folded and strapped in when not in use,allowing no intrusion into the cabin. If you don't want to open the side room the main mattress is still useable.

If you want to make a pullout side room, you can also try the tracks that a popup uses to pull the end beds out. Those junk popup's can be gold.

I really like this design. Maximizes the total area of the trailer



Jeff

Last one

That is so cool!

That reminds me of the unfolding house... http://www.habitaflex.com/

Mike...

Mike, check out the Brix Z camper...looks good. Price welll.....it's from Down Unda....muco dinero.

Brix Z Camper Trailer - 4 minute Set Up

Mike, thanks for posting the ink to the video...this is nice....can you build it? My knees are going south and makes teardropping a lil tough. We could make the pivot points on the lonitudinal ends, and have a side extrance , perhaps avoiding infringement concerns....Txbum

That is an exceptionally clever way of getting something to lift up vertically while only using hinges and only requiring one end to be lifted at a time.

But then frequently it is exceptionally clever to make something really simple.

Here is a Bed bump out like Woodbutcher was talking about.




Mike that is a nice video. Remember that nice couple that posted a photo of his one hinged pop up I believe it was called the 50-50 pop-up. I posted a way he could get more height out of this camper by adding another hinged section to the top. The very top section would open like the Compact II