Another Texan Noobie

[AgTex]

Great forum! I've been a tent camper for years. Haven't camped in a couple of years since my son aged out of Boy Scouts- he's an Eagle Scout and now in College. This last year the wife and I started camping again. Back in Dec I was looking to build a 'Chuck Box' much like the one's we used in scouting. I ran across a DIY teardrop video or listing in Google. I was hooked. Especially after several outings in Dec (we love winter camping in Texas- of course we can do this in central Texas-lol) in which the wind was a hassle for the wife and I to pitch the tent. So now she's on board. I've picked up Steve Fredrick's Building a Wooden Teardrop Trailer Shop manual. Also downloaded several plans. Now in the learning and planing stage. In the next couple of weeks plan to pick up a Norther Tool 5x8 trailer- just think a 4x8 would be too cramped. I'm sure I'll be doing some posting either with questions (after serching the forum to make sure not to re-hash any old subjects) and pictures as we go. Thanks for the forum!
Allen
Near San Antonio, Tx

[KennethW]

Roadtrip!! I will be coming down(see the Alamo then off to Key West) from MN at the end of the month. Sounds like I will have good weather? Good luck with your build. 5 wide is the way to go(a 4 wide is really cozy). Teardrops make camping a whole lot easier. No unpacking, very little setup.easy to tow(you can almost forget it is back there. Just hitch-up and go, with a short stop for food.

[Roly Nelson]

Hi Allen, welcome to the board. Good choice, building 5 wide. Check out the build sites and cut out the profile prior to actually cutting the more expensive side material. Cardboard or such, would be a good choice. Now for the important things: I suggest a door on each side, insulation for comfort down there in Texas, a good mattress, lots of cabinets in the galley, think twice about installing a water tank or stove and sink in the galley, storage for stuff, is more important. Some will disagree, but it works for me.

Ask questions of many of the experienced builders and take lots of pics during your build, since you will only have one chance to do so. Keep it light if possible and come on out to So Calif on your maiden run, you can park in my drive way, while you visit Disneyland and do some surfing in the Pacific. Good luck on your build, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Get involved with a local Tearjerkers chapter in Texas and meet a whole bunch of TD builders and campers, and share some time around the campfire. We are a very friendly bunch, you'll see.
Roly, the li'l ol' woody TD designer and builder in So Calif.

[Sparksalot]

Welcome to the madness! It's hard to believe I started down the same path 8 years ago now.

There are plenty of Texans about to visit when the time comes.

[Graniterich]

I second all Roly's points. Five wide two doors for two people. The lack of noise in the wind is so nice. The best part is no packing or packing. Food ice and fire wood good to go

Rich

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Howdy Allen... Welcome to the forum and you are right ... hard sides are the way to go...

You and your wife will love the hard sides; everything is ready and the bed is already made... no tents/tarps to set up in the wind and rain... just crawl in and say goodnight...

Good luck on your build and keep the pics coming...

I finally got tired of tent/tarp camping when a trip in 2013 with my brother and we got caught in several days of rain, starting out with the first night... We made camp in the rain and darkness

[AgTex]

Thanks everyone!! Roly- good points. I was going to avoid a water tank set up, just a spot to hold my 5 gal water container. Definitely two doors and I think I'll buy doors instead of make them on this first one. Also 12v power- the only 120v I may add would be for an AC unit. Still pondering. Really the only other thing besides lights and music is 12v cooler.
I noticed Northern Tools just dropped the price of their 5x8 trailer from $499 to $449 so I think the trailer will be a 'Next Week' thing!!
Thanks everyone!

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Allen,
I use12 vdc in my cargo for the lights, but a couple years ago, I wired a 120 vac dbl outlet via a double breaker box from the HDepot. I used the first breaker for a main breaker and the second for the outlets. This works great and gives me two 15 amp outlets, allowing for a small electric heater (GREAT in the fall and early spring), or maybe you do a group camp and just want to put on a breakfast crock pot of scrambled eggs, potatoes, and sausage, or an electric skillet. maybe you hate barbecued toast and decide to use an electric toaster
I use an old Coleman Toaster that works great on the stove ... you have to turn the toast, but I can make 4 pieces at a time...

I never put an A/C in the cargo conversion, I just rely on two ceiling vent fans, and two windows. However, I have readied the trailer for an A/C if I ever want one (see my gallery pics of roof vent bracing).

You can run the wires for the A/C and not hook up the wires until it goes in... BTW, there are a number of A/C's used for the smaller trailers, from dog house A/C's to small, floor room sizes, to small roof mounted A/C's. IF you are even thinking of the roof mount, they can run 100 lbs or more... SO, IF you are considering a roof mount, build the framing strong enough to support the unit and with bracing to fit a standard 14" x 14" roof opening. You can skin over the opening, and cut it out later if desired, but making it strong enough to support an extra 100+ lbs, with all necessary bracing, and wires, will save bucoos of time, and structural change later... if you decided to add an A/C.
Just a thought, mind you...

Good luck Allen and keep us posted...

[AgTex]

Thanks for the info!! I only consider A/C because of where I am. Texas is hot most of the year. Will definitely have 12v vent fan.
My wife just put in request of "maybe we can use a toaster oven". So checking model numbers and amp usage. I just read about the propane camping stove/oven. Going to pitch it to her. I think its a better option because we can use in non-powered camp sites.
Thanks a million for the input!
Allen

Hi Allen,
I use12 vdc in my cargo for the lights, but a couple years ago, I wired a 120 vac dbl outlet via a double breaker box from the HDepot. I used the first breaker for a main breaker and the second for the outlets. This works great and gives me two 15 amp outlets, allowing for a small electric heater (GREAT in the fall and early spring), or maybe you do a group camp and just want to put on a breakfast crock pot of scrambled eggs, potatoes, and sausage, or an electric skillet. maybe you hate barbecued toast and decide to use an electric toaster
I use an old Coleman Toaster that works great on the stove ... you have to turn the toast, but I can make 4 pieces at a time...

I never put an A/C in the cargo conversion, I just rely on two ceiling vent fans, and two windows. However, I have readied the trailer for an A/C if I ever want one (see my gallery pics of roof vent bracing).

You can run the wires for the A/C and not hook up the wires until it goes in... BTW, there are a number of A/C's used for the smaller trailers, from dog house A/C's to small, floor room sizes, to small roof mounted A/C's. IF you are even thinking of the roof mount, they can run 100 lbs or more... SO, IF you are considering a roof mount, build the framing strong enough to support the unit and with bracing to fit a standard 14" x 14" roof opening. You can skin over the opening, and cut it out later if desired, but making it strong enough to support an extra 100+ lbs, with all necessary bracing, and wires, will save bucoos of time, and structural change later... if you decided to add an A/C.
Just a thought, mind you...

Good luck Allen and keep us posted...

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Thanks for the info!! I only consider A/C because of where I am. Texas is hot most of the year. Will definitely have 12v vent fan.
My wife just put in request of "maybe we can use a toaster oven". So checking model numbers and amp usage. I just read about the propane camping stove/oven. Going to pitch it to her. I think its a better option because we can use in non-powered camp sites.
Thanks a million for the input!
Allen

That's the key Allen... make a list of what you and the Boss want or may want. As long as she's is going to be your camping partner, it all has to work for both of you; that includes amenities, comfort things... the bed, access, head room, storage, electricity, etc.

In both trailers, I am the cook and kitchen manager... my wife runs her kitchen and associated storage at home... the trailers are my kingdoms We work out what each wants, but I am the chief cook and bottle washer...

My Cargo Conversion is my camping trailer for those short prospecting trips that the Boss does not want to go... The Fun Finder a very light 19 foot toy-hauler that has a Queen bed, bathroom, A/C, Thermostat controlled heater, two TV's, Stereo, etc. The Boss goes when we pull this one and if I go by myself, especially short trips, I'll generally take the CC.

Good luck to both of you and it sounds like you are getting through the planning stage...