Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Sort of a followup to another thread, "Any body ever try a "dutch" door"? Planning a new (actually first) TTT. 6-8x12 with taper and sloped nose piece which will open for storage. For weight and other considerations am now looking at "foamie" construction, with no curves and a push up to, so it can be garaged. Am I thinking the right path or not. Have not completed my plans with "pencil cad" yet and fighting the uphill learning curve on Sketchup. Also trying to figure out how to use a two piece "dutch" door as my wife has medical problems and has trouble stooping down to get through a low (4-6) door, even though she is only 5-1. All ideas and constructive criticism welcome, since I am a definite newbie.

I hope I get your question right about the dutch door, is it like in some caravans sold in UK? The lower part is hinged and not attached to upper part when folded. Once unfolded, there is a little latch I can see on the internal part of the door to hold both parts together. Is that what you were asking? This video has some details of the Caravan setup: https://youtu.be/rCeElyctcvM

Welcome, I am not sure about what your planning but I want to caution you about doors,openings of any kind, the main thing to be concerned about is water from the heavens seeping into your space. the more to open and close and the higher the risk. I am looking forward to seeing your drawings.

Mary C

Just an observation from experience:

When I was a kid we had a 13ft Hi-LO telescoping camper, the
most basic model they made. Just a dinette and a gaucho [a foam
slab couch] inside. By its function it had to have a a "dutch door".
the top door opened outward and the bottom one opened inward.
It gets to be sort of a nuisance after a while to have to operate
both of them separately. It'd be better to build a door that folds
somehow for closing up for travel that you can then fold back to the
using shape when it is set up. Having "one" door opening 'one' way
is the expected thing that we all do unconsciously.

There have been several different approaches to doing so over the
years, so it is not an insurmountable design problem. Check out the
folding hardwall designs for some ideas. Rolite - an old brand not
made any more did this, and I think Trail Manor [Technically a 'telescoping type'
camper, but their door approach is like what I'm talking about.]
[nice but expensive] has a version now. http://trailmanor.com/wordpress/
And a handfull of European caravan makers did folding hardwall sided
campers/caravans with similar designs.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

OP827 wrote:I hope I get your question right about the dutch door, is it like in some caravans sold in UK? The lower part is hinged and not attached to upper part when folded. Once unfolded, there is a little latch I can see on the internal part of the door to hold both parts together. Is that what you were asking? This video has some details of the Caravan setup: https://youtu.be/rCeElyctcvM

That's the type of dutch door on most A-frame campers. The one on my Aliner functions well. You just unfold the camper & flip on latch to hold the top & bottom sections together. Those then swing open & shut the same as a one piece door. This video shows a brief shot of how the top & bottom halves latch together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtWSc_MMZMI

Thanks for all the great input. Still working on the "pencil cad" sketches. Will post as soon as I have them finished. This is being planned as a "rolling memento" tp my and DW's dads. Colors will be fairly bright and since I am considering "foamie" construction, I am wondering about wall/floor thickness and. We live in the hills of WV. While fall camping usually doesn't mean COLD weather, it can get cold, like near or just below freezing. Thinking of 1.5" foam, w 2x2 "framing". Ideas please.

My current project will be using 2x2 sleepers covered by 1/2 inch OSB with glued in 1/2 to 1" to inch stryrofoam insulation (depending what is available) just to cut the cold air loss. Cold floors are uncomfortable but heat loss is not as great through the floor as the roof & walls. Will use the remaining space to run the 12V wiring . The solution is heavier than desired but the teardrop needs a separate floor so it can be removed from the trailer. Will be using 2" foam walls and roof for the rest. It can get cold here all months of the year.

Lots of folks figure the mattress is more than enough insulation but ours will be folded up at times making seating around a drop down table, so the insulation should help keep the floor warm enough. One layer of foam tile flooring will help as well.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... king+tiles

I've been researching a future standie build and happened to follow a link to the Trail Manor site and videos - didn't know they were hybrid foamies!

https://youtu.be/HsAsMGOXgao