Finished Design. Looking For Input.

[phanslin]

Good Evening TNTTT,

I have been interested in building a TD for a couple of years, and have decided to pull the trigger (wife is on board too, BONUS!). Below is a copy of the plan, and I've attached a copy of the SketchUp drawing as well. It's a 5x8 Generic Benroy design. We have have a 2 year old, so I designed a fold-able bunk. The galley will host a small sink & faucet, a 40-50qt cooler, and some storage for misc. items. I would like to include 2 sub-floor storage areas between the frame. Single door, and a window on opposing side. Floor will be framed with 2x2, and walls with 3/4in ply.

I would really appreciate any input on the design, or any advice as I get underway. And if you have questions, they will only serve to help!

Thanks for your time, and input!

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[Phooey]

If you are camping with 2 adults and a toddler you definitely need two doors. Crawling over one another in the middle of the night is really a pain. A sink in the galley really takes up counter space and isn't all that convenient. We found it much easier to keep "water oriented activity like dishwashing or personal stuff" out of the trailer. Less mess and less chance for leaks and water damage. Good luck with your build and many happy miles to you.

[adker27]

I agree with the need for the toddler bunk. All the designs I've drawn up for myself have a toddler bunk as well, but something to think about is how fast your kid is growing. If they are tall for a 2 year old you may only get a couple of years before out growing the bunk.

Good luck.

[tony.latham]

Ditto on the two doors with two people. One door makes as much sense as having your bed at home pushed against a wall.

Make sure the bunk allows room for your mattress (about 7") and your legs. (It looks low to me.)

Take a look at Ry's slide-out kid's bed: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=59086&start=195 I found it a remarkable solution to this problem. You might message him and get his thoughts on it now that it's seen a season.

Tony

[phanslin]

Thank you for the input so far! I have adjusted the height of the bunk, and will think about the additional door. I would like to put 30-33" wheels to match my Jeep. I haven't had much luck finding a specific thread that discusses the Northern Tool trailer with wheels that size. Any thoughts?

[Metaxa]

One of the very best choices we made when camping with children was to have them in their own tent, off a ways.
A short way when younger but increasing in distance as they got older.

After all, camping is for mom and dad too, eh?

I'll agree with the sink thoughts above...I've tent camped for far too long, enjoying a good sized tub, to now put up with a sink the size of a dog bowl.
Sure they look cute in a teardrop but not very useful. Same thing with a stove or burner unit installed in the galley, either in counter or on a slide.

How do you fry up some fish or do bacon and eggs without splattering the galley area with grease?

As for those big wheels/tires...you have to ponder about your working height, both for using your galley and using the doors to enter, exit.
Too high off the ground and you will lose functionality and proportion...it won't look all that great and it won't work well unless you plan it.
You can't get there with a HF trailer either.

[booyah]

Thank you for the input so far! I have adjusted the height of the bunk, and will think about the additional door. I would like to put 30-33" wheels to match my Jeep. I haven't had much luck finding a specific thread that discusses the Northern Tool trailer with wheels that size. Any thoughts?

On a 5x8 benroy, you're trying to cram a lot in a tiny space.

Mines a 5x8 with kid bunk, and I second all the statements on the two doors. Especially if Jr needs to go potty at night, only one parent has to get up with them rather than everyone waking up.

In mine, we had to lose a few inches of bed space (length) to fit the 50q cooler in the galley, so make sure to check your measurements. We were able to make that sacrafice, as I'm the tallest int the family at 6' if you were much more you wouldn't want to do that.

On the wheels, consider what everyone will have to do to get into the camper at that height, as well as your work space in the galley. On mine I have the standard Northern Tools 12" wheels, and needed a step for the wife and kids to get in.

Lastly on the bunk, I found my 11yo still fits on a 58"x20 kid bunk, with a 2" mattress, and is pretty comfy/happy. She does want a thicker mattress, but otherwise fit just fine. She is small for her age, but at 2 years old, you should have plenty of time to get use out of that bunk. Once Jr is done with it, you can always use it for storage.

[Esteban]

Three thoughts.

1) The doors seem to be a more toward the front than they need to be to make getting in and out easy.

2) You can build a teardrop longer than 8' on a Northern Tool 5' x 8' trailer. One that is about 5' x 9' would give you more room for sleeping and a nicer galley too.

3. You could have the kid's bunk up above the over foot cabinet. Then the adults would have more room for their feet, knees and to turn over.