Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Please excuse me if this is in the wrong forum.

I am exploring options for a standy design that would be my second build. (If my wife finds out about this, I'll deny that it is me making this post.)

I keep changing my mind on the design/profile, but my latest thoughts are to do a breadloaf design. Emiller's latest incredible project is what sold me on the look. Another inspiration for this design is the Pierce-Arrow Travelodge.

Now my questions are:

1. How do I build the curved/radiused roof to sidewall sections - considering I have zero metalworking skills?

(I've never done it before, but I've been thinking about using a cold-molded plywood technique, like in boat building, and then finish with epoxy over fiberglass.)

2. Is the cross-section of the the curved roof to sidewall a true radius or is it elliptical?

(I'm guessing that it is a radius.)

Thank you for rour thoughts,
Tom

Cold molded is how I am planning on doing mine. 1/8" baltic birch, 2 layers on the long sides radius (worked great on the Voyager)...same on the corners, but in a strip laminated process mopped down with epoxy and some glass. I need to do up a corner for practice and work out all the details. Once all the body work is done (lots of it)...drill some small holes and epoxy set some rivets in it for that riveted body look. It will have to be a painted one however.

It's designed...and pretty much thunk out, even scored a 1937 Coleman trailer/cabin stove for it so far. I'm trying to work out the radius on the sides so I can have a walk in door...and still make it fit in the garage...Doug

aggie79 wrote:Please excuse me if this is in the wrong forum.

I am exploring options for a standy design that would be my second build. (If my wife finds out about this, I'll deny that it is me making this post.)

Don't worry Tom, no one will tell!

aggie79 wrote:Please excuse me if this is in the wrong forum.

I am exploring options for a standy design that would be my second build. (If my wife finds out about this, I'll deny that it is me making this post.)

( but you'd better whatch over your shoulder when you post somethin' like this)

doug hodder wrote:Cold molded is how I am planning on doing mine. 1/8" baltic birch, 2 layers on the long sides radius (worked great on the Voyager)...same on the corners, but in a strip laminated process mopped down with epoxy and some glass. I need to do up a corner for practice and work out all the details. Once all the body work is done (lots of it)...drill some small holes and epoxy set some rivets in it for that riveted body look. It will have to be a painted one however.

It's designed...and pretty much thunk out, even scored a 1937 Coleman trailer/cabin stove for it so far. I'm trying to work out the radius on the sides so I can have a walk in door...and still make it fit in the garage...Doug

Thank you, Doug.

Besides what I've seen here, I've come across your fantastic boat build on the Glen-L site. Not that I can build it that way, but your confirmation of the coldmolding technique is really helpful.

Great score on the stove, BTW. I'm looking for something similar myself.

You're much farther along than I. Most likely I'm a year away from starting. I'm still toying around with the layout - can't decide to whether to include a shower or just have an indoor potty room. Design wise, I'm trying to capture the breadloaf design without it ending up looking like a horse trailer at the smaller TTT scale.

Thanks again,
Tom

this is a good topic I need to follow cause I think my plan is changing again

The problem with my bread box build was not the curved side but the 4 upper corners.

10" radius 90 degree bends.

I solved this by quartering a large Stainess steel salad bowl.

My Trailer will have a Rubber Roof as well.

Happy Trails

Len

len19070 wrote:The problem with my bread box build was not the curved side but the 4 upper corners.

10" radius 90 degree bends.

I solved this by quartering a large Stainess steel salad bowl.Len

Len,
That's a great idea about the corners - one salad bowl is all you need. Thank you for suggesting that.

len19070 wrote:My Trailer will have a Rubber Roof as well.

Happy Trails

Len

I'm familiar with a lot of your builds but don't recall your breadloaf. Is this a work in progress?

Take care, Tom

Here are some ball corners
http://totaltrailerparts.com/store/inde ... &cPath=288

aggie79 wrote:
I'm familiar with a lot of your builds but don't recall your breadloaf. Is this a work in progress?

Take care, Tom

It is a work in Progress Tom, and the progress is going very slow. I've had some major "Life Changes" this year and unfortunately this build is being hit.

I'm using a 1969 Serro Scotty HiLander Frame with a dropped floor so the overall height will be lower and that will make it look longer and more in perspective.



The inside floor plan will be almost the same as a HiLander only with a Queen size bed as opposed to a 48" wide bed.



Its going to be a pretty straight forward Bread Loaf but with
a 22.5 degree "V" sloped back end.

Bad shot of a "V" back...but it was the only one I could find.

And its going to be a Raised Woodie like my SlumberCoach.



Happy Trails

Len

Len,

Thank you for the information and pictures. They are very helpful.

I too am thinking about the v-back end. I like what you showed. It is very similar to the Pierce Arrow Travelodge.



The Westcraft back end is nice too, but probably too complicated with the extra curve.



As far as the front, I like what is on the American Homecrest, even though this is not a traditional breadloaf design.



Another design decision point is whether or not I will try to make the trailer "garage-able". On thought is to use a raising roof something like on the Compact, but make the lid and fabric sidewalls to look something like the trolley top on the Westcraft.



That's my thoughts. I wish I could draw or model it in a computer, but I don't have those skills.

Take care,
Tom

Hi aggie79,

I just happened to recall that a fellow forum member had built a
small breadloaf before this section was introduced. I couldn't recall
his name, but later came across a post of his on another thread, so I
thought I'd put in a link to his album.

whitefishpoint's album:

http://tnttt.com/album_ ... er_id=9475

Then I checked for and found a build thread: The Fiber-Stream (AKA The
Giant Tylenol) - and here it is:

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... efishpoint

I also recall seeing someplace (!) some picks of an assembly line from
the 1940s-1950s showing breadloafs being built. I can't find it at the
moment but if I run across it again I'll post a link if I can.

Happy planning!

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

Thank you Norm. I'm going to take a good look at that thread, especially to see how the curved portions were built.

Take care,
Tom

Hi Tom/aggie79,

I found those pics I mentioned. Here are the ones that seem
to be most useful to your needs.

1949 Zimmer Rear 3/4 view


1949 Zimmer Construction pic


1949 Zimmer Roof Construction pic2


1949 Zimmer Construction pic


1949 Zimmer BL Roof Construction


Field Find Zimmer Rear Section


Field Find Zimmer Interior Roof-Wall Junction.


If you want to see the entire set of pics on the Zimmer I can PM you
the details.

Hope these help.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

Norm,

Those pictures are really cool! I had been kicking around ideas on how to do the roof. That photo of the roof construction helped confirm what I was thinking.

Thank you,
Tom