Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

The trailer I'm using for my first build has 10" high railing around the three sides of the perimeter. I want to use this space for storage. I initially thought I could use 1" foam board to make the box that would fit inside this portion. The tear drop floor would sit on top and across the rails (interior measurements 60"x96"; with rails it's 65"x98"). To gain access to the storage space I wanted to put in floor hatches in the floor in two places; one near the door and the second toward the bulkhead. I will use what I cut out to cover the openings and add supports from underneath.
Since I can't get ONE sheet of plywood to fit, I"m going to have to cut multiple pieces. My concerns are this: Will there be enough support with the plywood alone after cutting out the access, to support two people sleeping? What thickness would be my best option? Or would framing in the storage with wood, foam board and crossbeams be a better solution? My third thought was to just pitch the foam board basement idea and build the basement entirely out of wood.

Thanks!

Sounds similar to what im doing.
Im making the underfloor acessable from either side and the back rather than inside because having to gain access under the matress sounds to much of a chore.
Have a look at my build if it looks similar to what your thinking of then im only to happy to help.
Last couple or pages and first few pages are the trailer

Many people have reported that under mattress storage is inconvenient to access. Some people just make small shallow drop floors for seldom used items like spare tires, etc., and they are okay with that, but the preferred method for a full "basement" is to have access from the sides and rear.

For a full basement, like you are proposing, I would think that you would want to divide the space for better organization and access. What happens when everything rolls or slides away from your hatch or door? If you can't crawl in or reach something, you would need a hook or pole to fish things out... not convenient.

I think the Desert Moose is a great example of organized and accessible basement storage.

Also, I'm a little unclear on how you plan to have the cabin sitting on top of the rails. The dimensions you give for the cabin are smaller than the rails. Do you plan on having a curb or "running board" next to the outside wall? Doable, but might promote water settling and creeping in under.

Don't feel the need to compromise your design in order to keep those existing side rails. If you are building a permanently mounted cabin (i.e. not a slide out), the stiffness of a well fastened cabin will more than make up for the structural aspect of the existing top rails. If you are building a slide out, keep them, but a few minutes (maybe an hour) with a cutoff wheel and they could be out of your way. Just saying.

I would think that the best way to organize things would be at least 3 compartments; one across the back with a rearward facing door, and two side by side longitudinally at the front with a door on either side. You should be able to fit an ez-up style canopy, folding bag chairs, folding table, etc. and all of it would be able to be reached.

KCStudly wrote:Also, I'm a little unclear on how you plan to have the cabin sitting on top of the rails. The dimensions you give for the cabin are smaller than the rails. Do you plan on having a curb or "running board" next to the outside wall? Doable, but might promote water settling and creeping in under.

The interior section of the trailer is 60"x 96". The top rail extends approximately 2" beyond the three sides (angle iron) and the upright posts are 10" high. So the outer most measurements are now 64+" wide and 98+" length. I am using 2" foam board. The camper floor will be 64'x98', but the interior of the camper after walls are up will be 60"x96". And yes, this will be a removable camper or slide in. Thanks for your comments! I'll check out the possibilities of side access instead of interior access.

Okay, I understand now. I am building 64 wide with 1-1/2 inch foam and 5mm ply interior skin (hybrid foamie) on a home built matching trailer. If I had it to do over I would have stuck with 60 inches wide, mostly because I could have optimized my 5mm ply usage much better. (Everyone who knows says it is easier to cut down a queen sized foam mattress than it is worth trying to build out for a 60 inch interior... and part way thru my build I believe it, too.)

If you are doing a pure foamie that might not be as big a deal for you, but you probably still want to look at your stock sizes and figure out a cutting schedule. The canvas is available in 72 inch widths w/o seams if you order it online (bigduckcanvas.com is a good source). I bought from them and it is good stuff, but I have since decided to go with epoxy and FG, which only seems to come in 60 inch wide rolls.

Are you anywhere near New England? I will probably put my unused canvas back up for sale if I decide I'm not building another.

KC; I'm in Virginia. What kind of canvas do you have and how much of it? If you decide you won't need it, send me a pm. I found 7oz x 72" x 30 yards canvas on sale earlier this year, but I don't have ANY idea how much I"ll need for my first build.

I had to look back at my expenditures ledger (an excel file) to refresh myself on the details. It's 16 yrds of #12 (11.5 oz) x 72" wide double fill duck canvas, natural. http://www.bigduckcanvas.com/number12-11-5oz-cotton-duck-canvas/72inches-wide I had them ship it on a roll, so there are no creases, and other than opening the shipping sock to take a look at it and snip a small 1x1 triangular sample off of one corner (to take with me to the local fabric store for comparison), it has remained wrapped up in the original packaging

Since I only planned to do the outside I bought 16 yrds. I figured 3x the length of the cabin (both sides and roof) plus 2x the height (front wall and hatch back side) and added a few extra yards for the doors, wraps and trimming. My cabin is 9'-8" Lg, 64" W and about 54"T. Doors are something like 32x40x1-1/2 thk.

I'm into it $127.50, but wouldn't necessarily expect to get all of that back (shipping was only $19.50, which still amazes me... I would have thought that it would be more for such a bulky heavy item).

I saw that deal on the 7oz, and truthfully, that is a screaming deal compared to what I paid, but it is lighter canvas.

I was prepared to hold on to it until I get to the end of my build and have to clean out shop, but we should stay in touch.