First, I am building this trailer so that my wife and I can go enjoy the outdoors like we use too. Hiking, camping, and rock climbing just to name a few. We use to just take a tent and have a fun filled weekend but unfortunately I am unable to tent camp anymore. I suffered many injuries while I was deployed with the military. My injuries have made a lot of my hobbies a far reach but now I am making them all within reach. Another reason I really am wanting to get this done is to travel places my wife has always wanted to go. With us recently finding out that my wife has cancer and a rare one at that I know I will have the determination to completing this. When we have to travel out of state for treatments we will be taking the trailer so that she has something to remind her of home and we wont be stuck in a hospital room. Where we go they have RV hookups so that you don't have to stay in the hospital.
What was needed in the design (besides the normal teardrop stuff):
- large water tank
- solar system
- extra area for my service dog and our family dog
- ability to camp for a week with out utilities available
- a way to get clean
- a way to use the bathroom
- storage for food and equipment
- something special for my wife
So as you can see I have had to figure many things out. After some time I have got it all narrowed down with just a few things needing to still be figured out. I know my build will not be the teardrop look, but its my design of a off-road teardrop. My design is going to be 5' wide x 5' tall x 15' long and a neat feature of having tandem axles. At first I thought it would look weird until I saw a teardrop on this forum with a tandem axle. So I then switched my design around a little and now having tandem axles it looks pretty neat.
Both my wife and I have come up with several themes for this trailer but after several sketch ups done with the trailer we have decided to do a military theme. The paint will be the same as the paint on my Jeep commander. It is called "dark khaki"If you look at the different part numbers or marking on the trailer you would think I made them up or they are markings used in the military. Actually all the markings are dates and numbers that are special in our family. If you look at the hatch you will see a pin up girl. We are still on the fence with it but my wife likes old style pin up and I thought why not use a bomber pin up. Then when I found the pinup that is on the trailer all I could think of is "Sweet Dreams". So if we keep the pin up idea then I think we will name the trailer "Sweet Dreams". Now for the "something special" part of the trailer. I thought I would make the interior special for my wife. So I will be taking random and special photos we have and place them on the walls and ceiling of the trailer and then clear coat the walls over the photos.
I know a lot of people say that you should build a trailer with the possibility of selling it in the future. But after long thought after completion of this trailer and everything that it stand for, I know I will never sell it. I might build another one in the future but this one will have to many memories with it to sell. Sorry, just my little soap box moment.
So now to the good stuff. Here is pictures of my design.
The trailer and the Jeep. Each side will have 1 motion sensor light and 2 regular lights. if motion is sensed then it will turn on all the lights on that side. Also the front will have a motion sensor light. I will have a switch so that I can turn the motion off when not needed.
Here is the top of the trailer. As you can see a moon roof, vent, as well as a storage rack.
The items in the storage rack are as followed:
- 2 awning boxes (the 2 big/long boxes on each side toward the front)(made to look like ammo crates)
- Solar panels (between the awning boxes)
- 4 ammo boxes (for solar, water, and power connections)
- Folding table
- Spare trailer tire
Here is where the connections will be placed
The tongue box is made to look like an ammo crate and will house the AC/heater unit. The air will go through the piping that comes with the unit and connect to the trailer when parked. 2 air vents will be placed on the front bulkhead near the top.
Side Tent and awning
Kitchen/hatch prep area. The folding table will be used in this area.
Complete side tent. The driver side tent will house the shower and bathroom facilities.
Kitchen. Still working on how I want it. I have a sink as well as a pull out stove. Then a pull out cooler drawer. Guess we will see how I end up designing it.
The interior. Another part that I am still working out the shelves. The open area at the foot of the bed will be for the dogs to lay.
The sub-floor has openings to the basement as well as access panels to the water/batteries and the electrical box.
Here is a close up of the water tank, batteries, and electrical box. The electrical box is in the center behind the water tank. That compartment will also house the solar charger.
And you can't forget one of the biggest pieces, the camp sign.
- CMC stands for mine and my wife's first name and then our last name.
- 031713 is when we married.
- CBT-01M stands for CurtisBuilt Trailer, 01M is the first model built and the M is for our theme (military)
- C-6 stands for our last name and the number in our family. My wife and I have 4 kids which all want to help build the trailer.
Now the colors on the interior will most likely be natural Baltic birch so that the light will help make it feel larger. I just colored the walls so I knew which one was which. The walls will be made from 1/2" Baltic birch interior, 1/2" Baltic birch skeleton, 1/2" Baltic birch outer skin, and then fiberglass will be placed over that. The reason the walls will be thick is due to the trails we travel to go camping.
So last week I placed the plans for my trailer frame under my pillow and made a wish for it to appear. Well I am sad to say it didn't work. So I took the plans and placed them on my garage floor and sprinkled miracle grow over them. I then watered it. I will have to say after a week I am impressed. It actually worked. Here is my frame plans brought to life. Now if only I could get the rest of the trailer to do that.
About the trailer. The tongue jack is a double wheeled jack. Will have a trailer break away installed. 4 stabilizers 2 drop legs in the front and 2 sissor jacks in the back. A drop was placed between the axles for the water tank to sit into. Has running boards down the side and the fenders over the tires are removable. Light brackets placed on each side of the rear running board for the tail lights. I have to give a big "THANK YOU" to BAT trailers here in Fort Worth. The owner took my specs and built this trailer with very minimal variation. He even lent me the temporary lights so that I could get the trailer home.
During the building process
And the finished frame.
Sorry for such the long post. But here goes nothing. I am all in now.
Curtis
Your computer designs are beautiful. Your chassis looks spectacular albeit heavy. What do you expect this trailer will weigh upon completion?
