Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi all,

I'm new around here. Lurked for a while & will likely go back to lurking quickly as I won't be able to start a trailer until later this year. Have had a blast looking through TNTTT, especially the plans & the Foamies section. Recently began looking at camper ideas. We need room for my dogs & our toys but also something light enough to be easily, safely towed behind my Ford Transit Connect van. Was thinking we'd compromise on a pop-up. But because I needed cargo area while in transport & then accommodations for three Greyhounds once at camp, I wondered if converting a cargo trailer would be a better idea. That's the search that led me to TNTTT.

Our toys are rather light, with the exception of one small motorcycle that would only be a rare passenger. Most trips would require trailer space for a folding bike, a recumbent trike, and two folding/modular kayaks. Right now here is my very general & basic idea. Decide on a design I think would suit us long term but initially just build the shell using your foam building ideas. At least that's what I had been planning. Then I found some ideas for modular inserts to convert my Transit Connect van into a little caravan. The pieces could be inserted & removed in minutes. Now what I want is some system that would allow van & trailer to be converted comparatively easily & quickly between camping & cargo hauling configurations. Then later we could perhaps make the camper configuration more permanent in the trailer.

Does this idea sound crazy? If not then perhaps you could answer the following:
1. Do you think it doable & reasonable to construct a cargo trailer out of foam?
2. Does it sound plausible to make modular pieces that could be used both in my van & in the trailer? Was thinking primarily of a convertible bed/dinette & a tiny galley area.

Thanks for any answers or ideas.

Laura

Welcome.

Given your light weight cargo I see no reason that you can't do what you want in a foamie. The best way that I have seen to keep it dual purpose is to have the galley across the front wall, folding bunks along the side walls and a ramp door at the rear. Keep it simple so there is little to configure or move when going from camp mode to hauling mode. If the dogs have a tendency to dig, gnaw or be mischivous, you may want to consider a durable skin or wainscotting of FRP to discourage damage.

I'd go with wood, perhaps aluminum clad, for the ramp, too, just for simplicity; it will be high traffic after all.

Good luck!

What about using those carry along ramps , and then you could use a more conventional door (s) ...

My dogs are not prone to digging or chewing but I plan to use crates when they are unsupervised. Even so, at the very least I'd want something between crates & wall. Could see designs with front bunks working for us but I agree that the rear bunk is the more likely scenario. Had initially thought the rear door would be a ramp. Am wondering though if barn doors with a separate ramp might not be better or at least easier. Each approach has its good points.

The trailer that got me started thinking about a cargo trailer conversion is the QuickSilver VRV 6x15. http://www.livinlite.com/6x15vrv-overview.php I love the tip out bunk idea. It sure frees up a lot of floor space. The cloth/screen walls could be a real weakness. Would prefer some fold out or slide in solid sidewalls. Though designing & executing construction of that seems iffy in a foam panel trailer. Images of it falling off or folding down in the middle of the night come to mind. What a way to wake up. "Now how the heck did I get out here?" Sounds a bit painful as well.

Size is another area I am not sure of. Am wondering if narrower & longer might be better than wider & shorter. How long could a foamie safely be made? Is 14' reasonable? Would prefer the trailer not be taller than my van which is 79" tall. Yet I'd like at least 60" interior height in the trailer. For the record, I am only 4'11" tall but my partner is 5'10" & I want there to be at least some part of the trailer he could stand in. I know some have a dropped floor but I wonder how that effects ground clearance. We're not always going to be on paved roads though we don't do any off roading. Maybe I could use a pop top design to get 72-78" interior height.

There are a few contradictions listed above. Initially I say I want just a shell but... I like the tip out bunk idea & a pop top would be cool as well. So already I'm complicating things. Which is typical of me.

Laura

It just seems to me the rear door , used as a ramp, would have to be built pretty strong , and Heavy ... and also be more difficult to open and close than using a pair of regular doors and some small ramps that might clip on to the back of the trailer frame when needed ...

GPW wrote:It just seems to me the rear door , used as a ramp, would have to be built pretty strong , and Heavy ... and also be more difficult to open and close than using a pair of regular doors and some small ramps that might clip on to the back of the trailer frame when needed ...

Which is completely offset by the inconvenience of of trying to wheel bicycles with various wheel tracks, including 3-wheelers, into the back... unless they are very light weight and easy to just lift inside.

What I see, at the drags mostly, is that they all have ramp doors for wheeled toys. They are safer and easier to use, and much less fatiguing for entering and exiting, if say you are using the cabin as a base of operations for a cycling event, or just hanging out. Common practice is to use counter sprung cables to assist with lifting.

Not intended to be adversarial, just a different data point to consider.

The fold out bunk would be a challenge, but with hybrid construction (i.e. wood in all of the right places) and cable stay supports (or sprung cables like the rear ramp style) it could happen. The advantages to the bunk beds folding down into the inside are pretty obvious: no weather issues to deal with, and both occupants have clear access to exit without climbing over each other.

Just my thoughts.

Hi kudzu/Laura,

In this thead in the Cargo Trailer Conversion Section:
Converting a snowmobile trailer to an LQ/Toyhauler
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=54167
I have a couple posts that may have info you could think
about as you mentioned solid wall bed tip-outs.

My 01-22-13 Post: This has background info:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?p=986482#p986482
[I just discovered some pics in this didn't carry over in
their recent forum upgrade - sorry !]

My 01-25-13 Post: This may be more direct:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?p=986716#p986716
[This does have a couple pics within the post you can
click on to enlarge.]

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

KC, what you see at the drags are much heavier commercial Cargo trailers ... It all comes down to convenience vs overall weight , and cargo capacity ... the less the trailer weighs (Foamie’ ) the more cargo you can carry ... just another consideration ...

Well, I guess I was thinking of the worst of both worlds. My idea was for a fold down ramp of extruded metal, maybe 48" wide, plus foam or at least foam filled barn doors. Of course, if I tore down the horse trailer I have, which has insect damage resulting in soft spaces is a depressingly large area of one wall & part of the ramp, I'd already have some of the pricey hardware needed for a new ramp.

My trailer is a Brenderup Solo.


It is essentially a 4x10 trailer inside plus a 3 ft v-nose. Overall it is approx 6x14. The walls are some laminate that was supposed to be weather proof. (But apparently not insect proof.) The upper section is fiberglass. The trailer base is galvanized steel. It has inertia brakes. The thing tows like a dream & I'm crushed to find the soft spots. Since my horse has turned out to be a stay at home horse I've only used the trailer for vet visits & hauling inanimate objects. Vets make farm calls so trailering isn't required.

Had decided I would try to have it repaired, feeling it was worth more as a horse trailer. Now I find myself doubting I could even get it repaired at a reasonable price. Perhaps. but I'm not so sure. Mezmo has me thinking about those folding walls on the Expandavan & Fugly. (Why is it that every time I find a camper or tent I really love it turns out to be Australian? ) I feel like a fool for not thinking of hinged side wall on a fold out bunk. That seems brilliant. If I could somehow manage that then the Brenderup base may be a good platform. Otherwise though I may be better starting with something else for the camper.

Mezmo, did Mike ever get his trailer or decide on a plan of action? What he was looking for is basically an upsized version of mine. Heck my Transit Connect is like a wee version of his van. So tell me.

Ramp door doesn't have to be so heavy, just strong enough to walk on.

2x cedar frame, 1/4 or 3/8 ply laminated over 1-1/2 foam board, clad with .040 alum skin. Outside could be straight .030 alum with no ply. Add some adhesive backed anti skid to the inside for traction.

Hey, these are all useful inputs. After all, isn't that what we are here for... to addle and confuse prospective builders with so many options that they have a hard time deciding which way to go?

Just need to “weigh” the needs and desires (pun intended).

Hi kudzu/Laura,

The last post in his thread was back in February 2013.

Life must have intervened - or else he is busy on the build ? [Let's hope.]
Sometimes enthusiasm wanes or the budget gets busted/depleted... and
so on - and also there's that saying about "best laid plans".

So since there haven't been any posts since Feb, I don't know if he even
started, let alone if there is any progress.

Sorry to hear of the Brenderup HT problems. I had seen a couple websites
about them while tootling around the web and was of the opinion they were
rather bulletproof [but then, is anything really so?]. Those laminate walls
must be like some of the commercial truck trailer wall's construction which
are basically ~1/2inch plywood encapsulated/laminated with whatever the
outer skins may be. The chassis from that'd make an outstanding basis for
a build if you do not decide to repair as a HT. Repairing it as a HT may be the
smarter financial thing to do, but only you know the factors you need to consider.
The galvanized chassis and its braking system are very big pluses in my book, if
you use it for a build.

The Aussies definitely have their act together when it comes to campers
and caravans too I'd say.
Just for fun, here are a couple links to a couple of their Mfrs:
Here's one for a very distinctive toyhauler range:
http://www.caria.com.au/models/index.php
Here's what has to be the ultimate in off-roading. They have "Kampers"
[tent trailers to us], a "Karavan" [solid-wall, telescoping up and a large
bed expansion out, and a full-body sized all composite larger "Kruiser".
http://www.kimberleykaravans.com/index.php?item=home
http://www.kimberleykruiser.com/lightwe ... kruiser-t3

I check out their websites when I have the need to drool ! Ha ! As another
saying goes - " All it takes is Money...".

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

Always the one for simplification , was thinking of a simple ramp , for when needed, stowed away when not ... http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-ca ... 90799.html

The ideas still keep swirling around in my head. Am in serious danger of getting overwhelmed by the design possibilities. Have had to reel myself in & go back to basics. Have never built anything even remotely like a camper. This all started because I want us to go & do more, like we used to. But tent camping is painful now. Even a popup tent camper is more complicated than I want these days. I want to pull into camp, drag myself out of the van & plop down into bed in the camper. Am willing to fold down a bed, sure. Don't want to do much else.

So I'm back to simpler plans. Wish it could be as simple as GPW's Very SIMPLE Foamie' but I think we need a bit more. So what about something in the theme of the smallest Forest River Take-It-EZ:
http://www.rvingplanet.com/brands/fores ... -trailers/


Link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wMIgQlKNog

Don't want the fancy front unit with entertainment center but the Take-It-Ez does have an outside galley on the front that appeals to me. If I didn't want to build it initially, I think I'd at least have to make some allowances in the plan to add it later, like at least leave the opening & have a lid there.

What do you think of that shape? It's not as simple as the SIMPLE but it looks readily achievable to me. The front storage/galley would add a design complication but I think one I could deal with.

Doable for a first timer? Size/dimensions to be determined later.

PS About that ramp - I think barn doors would do better for reasons mostly related to the dogs. We have portable ramps, one folds & the other telescopes. Maybe we could allow a way to add a fold down ramp later if needed or I change my mind about the barn doors.

Looks very close to GPW's very simple foamie that he posted a while back. Yes very doable....

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=54844

Just thinking .... $15K for that commercial unit .... Converting a cargo trailer , you could probably do it for half that ... Making a Foamie , if you even spent $3K on it , that would include the FS TV and blow up bed and all ... a Deluxe Foamie' ... Probably a lot lighter too ... which translates into , you can carry more of your own toys ...