Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hey all-

Well since it was too cold to go out to the shop today... I was playing around with a stand up design a little and after I got a profile I liked, I took it to 3D. I don't think I'll ever build it but I thought I'd share anyway. This would be a campground queen for sure with the low ride height. I have dubbed it the RetroBox...

Specs I was thinking about:
3500# Torsion axle w/ 5x4.5
24-25" tall tires w 15" wheels
2x2 frame similar to the Sawtooth XL
Counter tops are 36.5"
Bed is 74x60
6' head clearance at roof peak
7'-4" overall height
9' body length
76 ish width depending on wall construction
All body curves are 12" radius
Ground clearance to bottom of body sides approx 8"








If anyone wants the sketchup or autocad file i'll email it to you

looks quite practical


'stand-ups' rule

Interesting design

Very Cool!
One thing to keep in mind is that with 8" ground clearance you can you can make the overall height 7' (fits in most garages) and still maintain 6' headroom. Just something that appeals to me for ease of construction and resale value.
Gary

thanks guys... yeah It needs to fit in a normal garage for sure... didn't think about that... Its just for fun anyway

I love it. I have been thinking about a standie for along time. Garage doesn't matter for me since I don't have one.

What do you guess it might weigh? I know it would be just a guess, but since I have never built one, I don't have a clue.

Nice design. One area that needs to be looked at is the height of the frame. A 22.5 deg up start angle on the 3500lb axle (the maximum up angle for a Dexter) and 24-25" tyres will give you a height to the underside of the frame of about 11", so that's as low as it can go. If you want the frame at 8", you will need to build a step-up into the frame, just in front of the axle.

Andrew

That looks like a real practical design.

Next time you find yourself looking for some parameters to design around, how about a teardrop with a porta potty, that stays in the slip stream of an average tow vehicle?

Mike...

That's very similar to mine,except i have a compartment at the back for electronic access and storage

angib wrote:Nice design ... If you want the frame at 8", you will need to build a step-up into the frame, just in front of the axle ...

Hey, Andrew!

I'm pretty sure he was talking about clearance to the bottom of the side walls:

Ground clearance to bottom of body sides approx 8"

Looks to me like he's hanging the walls below the frame, like I do (only a little further).

For a "Campground Queen" of that size, though, I think 3,500# on the axle rating is a bit overkill, especially with a Torsion Axle ... I'd think that 2,500# would be more than enough, and depending on construction and all-up weight, maybe even 2,000#.

I'd love to build one of these for some winter camping ... ...!

CHEERS!

Grant

Love the design! Similar to a 70's Shasta Compact.

Thanks for all the comments... The more I mess with this design, the more i want to build it...

It has been cold so i made some updates to the Retrobox:

I changed the bed configuration, dropped the floor, changed the cabinets some and i did a version with a shower/potty in the corner reminiscent of Puffin 1.... at least thats where the inspiration came from. anyway... onto the renderings:




You can see how i dropped the floor. I think the frame would be plenty strong with the gussets. I'd say 2x2x.120 tube...






Again, if anyone wants the Sketchup file... let me know-

Jess

Hey Jess,

I like your enhancements. I'd like to take a look at your sketchup file. Can you send it to me here?

Thanks,

Mike...

Great design! Looks kinda like Mike S's. last one. Good use of interior........

Thanks Miriam and Mike

Mike - I emailed you the .skp file. I have a .dwg file if you want that too...