Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm in!

With much fear and trepidation I've decided that I want to a part of this fun, cool group. It seems like all the cool kids are doing it so that's good enough for me

My landlord gave me the thumbs up today that I can have a 20' shipping container on the property to make this project happen. I'll use it for storage, sometimes to build in, keep everything nice and dry and theft free. I have 9 months... until the end of April. Holy cow I hope I can do this.

I know you folks like pics... ready for the first one? It's a pic of... nothing! Well, its my driveway where hopefully in a few weeks a container will be occupying that space.



I don't have anything yet. Not even a trailer. But I'll take this time to plan. Personally I know from experience the more I plan, the more successful I am. I will ask upfront for everyone's patience beforehand. I'm the guy that asks a ton of questions until I'm blue in the face. I measure FIVE times then cut once! . And I promise to always try and research other threads before blurting out questions.

Ready for my first question? I'm a first time builder. I plan on using a 4' x 8' HF trailer. I'd like my TD 5' wide though and I'm not sure if that's possible. The first thing I need to decide is the shape of my TD, what amenities I want in it (very few) and then at least sketch it out on some graph paper. I haven't decided yet if I should buy some 1" foam and make a model first.

So my question is would modeling my TD after a Midget be too challenging for a first timer? I don't need the toilet, etc that seems to be in there....I just like the shape of the darn thing.

At any rate, I appreciate all the help that I've received already and I'm excited!

The Big Pink is a foamie loosely based on a Midget ...

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=56441&start=300

tac422 wrote:The Big Pink is a foamie loosely based on a Midget ...

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=56441&start=300

Thanks! I read quite a bit of that...I plan on finishing it. I'm on page 44 of the thrifty thread... whew!

dj, I read your other post in the general discussion and not to be a downer if the container is 8 foot and you are planning a much wider than 6 foot wide trailer you don't have a lot of room. I say this because I built mine in front of my barn and the width is 9 1/2 feet wide inside and working on it in there was difficult. most of my tools I took in at night and I didn't use that many. I cut my wood on my back portch and glued from my front portch to my back portch to the barn. I used a circular saw to cut the wood a jig saw to cut the foam and little else. I used my wrenches to put the trailer together but that was done in a couple of weeks. A friend boought a trailer like mine and he put it together in two weekends. after the trailer is the base or the wood on top of the trailer, depends on how you are going to buildhow long that takes. the rest is up to you. I have seen them built in 3 months to two years. It just depends on how you build, the weather and how much time you devote to building. but remember first do lots of reading first check some out, and expierment first. then decide what you want and go for it. You will do fine, and Welcome

Mary C.

Yes, it is possible to build 5 ft wide on a 4 ft wide trailer. You have two choices, deal with wheel wells inside your Foamie, OR raise the floor above the tire tops plus clearance. There are several examples of each here - more common as typical construction but Foamies and typical construction almost always have the same floor systems so that should not matter. You can flip the axle to underneath the springs to minimize the extra floor height but you will still need to get it up off the steel frame. One guy build effectively using a joist system on top of the trailer frame w/ metal hangers and wood joists holding up the floor.

I assume you want to have a "Queen Size Mattress" so that means you must have something WIDER than 5 feet to leave 60" plus clearance for bedding inside dimension (call it ~ 62"+2" foam wall +2 "foam wall = about 66 inches outside dimension versus 60")

Hmmm... maybe I need to rethink the whole 5' wide thing. After all it is my first build...keeping it simple might be better. And considering the space and conditions I have to build in it might just be more then I can handle.

5 wide or queen bed size comes with alot of added hassle and expense as well that I'm hoping I'll apreciate when all is said and done.
If you can live with 4 wide it will simplify your build and make it cheaper and expedited greatly

Now when I walk through the hardware store I look at things that could eventually end up in the teardrop and that I should build around them. I found these really cool wooden crate boxes at Home Depot for about 10 bucks a piece. I bought three of them. Keeping my receipt just in case I end up not using them.

If you don't mind foam as a mattress, you can ignore the standards and just make the width anything you like (electric carving knife cuts it easy). On my 4x8 trailer, I was able to extend the floor and extra 2 inches on each side and still fit between the tires with over an inch clearance between the walls & the tires. Ended up with ~ 49 inches inside width and ~53 outside width. Works well enough but had to lay all the 4x8 floor & roof members crossways and used more material (increase cost & work)

or.....you can build a frame with one by fours on their side and build out by cantilevering over the trailer like most here have done by raising it up three and a half inches and with a 1/2 inch ply wood or roof decking and 3/4 inch foam it will all go over the wheel wells just fine. so 5 ft or 6 foot or in between just get that mattress and build to it. the wife likes to cuddle and sleep but ......not in 5 foot of space. and She will want her own door. you can have a great space and cut corners with making your own windows. The wiley window is fun and versatile. I made mine, and If I can do it, anyone can. Save money on the doors, windows, fans and expensive things you can put in later.

Mary C.

Dawg , you look like a Big guy !!! You might lay some tape on the floor , put all your intended stuff in there and see what floorspace you really need.... We found a 4' wide trailer wasn't big enough for me and the wife , so had to leave her home ...

GPW wrote:Dawg , you look like a Big guy !!! You might lay some tape on the floor , put all your intended stuff in there and see what floorspace you really need.... We found a 4' wide trailer wasn't big enough for me and the wife , so had to leave her home ...

A big guy? ha ha...there are rumors I guess.

Great ideas everyone. My first inclination is to go 4 x 8 because everything comes in that size right? But...I should do this right the first time.

I'll only have 8' wide space in the container to work around but I could push the side of the TD that I won't be working on at the moment up against the wall to give me more room. I'll put the floor on dolly's almost immediately so moving it around shouldn't be too difficult.

Mary, great idea! If you know any builds/threads that have done that, let me know. Of course I'll search but I'm saying if you know the name (the pink build, etc) that might save me some time.

As others have recommended, the best approach is to build a model of cardboard boxes
and take a nap. Get your Significant Other in there with you. If you can still nap comfortably,
you Know what size you need.

Ok maybe I wasn't too clear about this... no sig other. No wife. No gf. As of about 2 weeks ago. Maybe that's why I'm so motivated to build? Healthy outlet to get through it? I dunno....

But... that doesn't mean there won't be another one, right? . I should build for 2 just in case.

+1 on the cardboard model.

As for building in your storage trailer, I wouldn't. Just work on nice days, and pull your trailer out into the yard. That's kinda what I do. My garage is fairly small, and while I have built in there, it's not comfortable. So on nice days I pull it out into the driveway, and I have plenty of room to work. Kinda like your teardrop kitchen (galley).

You could do a 4' wide, but you will probably tear it down and do a 66" wide one someday. As long as you are comfortable with that plan, go for it.

Mike...