New guy intro and my story

[lokin4deer]

Hello all, my name is Dave and I am a long time camper and I have the itch to build one and I am looking for you experts to advise me if I am crazy. First off I am on my 5th camper I have gotten progressively bigger and currently in a 30' travel trailer its a Heartland trail runner and it has some issues and I considering selling before something else goes wrong and costs me more money. That is what lead me to building my own so I know what and how it was done and that is was hopefully done better then what you buy. We are a family of 4, me and my wife and two DD ages 6 and 14. I have no need for a toy hauler. We are the typical campground camper with at least electric hookups usually full hook up when we travel.We spend more nights traveling then actually camping. we probably spend somewhere in the 20 to 25 nights a year traveling or camping. I have a good skill set with woodwork,HVAC, electrical, plumbing, tin work, my welding skill lacks I always say I can weld but I am not a welder. So that gets to my questions, how feasible is it to travel and camp in a CT? Will I regret going from a 30' TT to 16'-18' still needs to be determined? I have a couple idea floating around in my head is there a program that I can put it in to see how things will fit? I have a lot more but for now I will let you guys run with this. Any thoughts I would be open to and really appreciate!

PS I have been lurking for a while just reading and you guys build some amazing trailers!!

Thanks everyone!!

[Philip]

Here is one of many threads on 3D programs.

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=6826


Good luck on your build.

[McDave]

Hey Dave,
Welcome, Glad you joined us.
To answer your questions would take awhile and probably you are the only one who can answer most of them, but I'll give you my experience and opinion.
First of all, let me just say you have a very impressive skill set. You just don't see that very often these days. A man has had to do a lot of work to develop all around handiness like you have. Again, you just don't see that too often. However, this forum seems to draw just that type of people. The skill sets on display here are truly impressive. Many of us are Jacks, but there are some true Masters here as well. I would venture to say that most, if not all the folks here could just write the check and have any type of trailer they wanted. And yet here we are, doing things we have never done before. We don't even know anyone who has done this before. The other people in our peer groups think we are crazy to even attempt something like this, but for many here it was just natural. I don't really see this endeavor as a "challenge" so much as an opportunity, to create and invent and explore and learn and grow and yes, overcome. I have no hard and fast timeline or set budget, but I know what I want in terms of performance and quality and style and am willing to do what is required to have it. Now, I don't have a family to be considered in this, so that takes all the pressure off. I do want my wife to be happy and proud of what I have done, but it's not going to affect our marriage either way. She has her interests and I have mine. When you have a family and family vacations and other interests to be considered, the dynamics are different.
Is it feasible to travel and camp in a CT? Absolutely. Will it be the Taj Mahal on wheels? Probably not, but that's all up to you.
I am sure there are many drafting programs available, but I'm not that sophisticated or even interested in being computer savvy. I'm sure someone here can answer that.
Finally let me just say that this has been one of the most satisfying things I have ever done. To finally be able use something that you have dreamed of, designed and built is amazing. Totally worth the effort, for me.
Good luck,

McDave

[NO David!]

Welcome!

To answer your questions:
-

how feasible is it to travel and camp in a CT?

For our family of 6, in a 7X16, very feasible, a little snug, but feasible, and traveling is so relatively easy, that I now will even take the CT for day trips.

-

Will I regret going from a 30' TT to 16'-18'

I rented and camped in a 30' bumper pull camper, as well as a popup, and although both were well-suited to their application, neither were as useful and "comfortable" (within reason) as our CT. So I'll answer in reverse, now that I've built and camped in our CT, no way would I even consider the 30' bumper pull anymore.

-Software:
No help there, but what we did do, was make a list of everything we took with us camping, and over multiple trips, made note of what we spent our time doing, (hiking, paddling, cycling, sitting around a fire, sightseeing etc.) Discovered we spent very little time in the tents/campers, except for sleeping/change of clothes or inclement weather. I also took pictures our our campsite setup, (2 tents, outdoor kitchen, EZ-up style awning, bikes, chairs, gear, whatever). Then I began to get a better view of how the trailer would replace and support what we liked to do. It ended up becoming a small bunkhouse, and light toy/gear hauler, since so much of our activities were outdoor activities...(surprise, surprise...) I realized that most of the 30' camper was designed to be a shrunken piece of home, which made awful use of space. Some want that, we didn't. Any extra gear had to be stuffed in the van, loaded on racks on the top, or left at home. The CT gives you great freedom to design to fit you needs.

We toured a few big dealers just to see what was available in traditional "stick-built" campers, and I do mean "stick", as you have now discovered, I imagine. I was amazed at what folks were willing to charge for stuff that looked so good but was built so cheaply (structure and quality). Nothing out there fit our needs and was still bumper pull. Then enter tnttt.com-(wow).

You mentioned a fair amount of travel, and most of your stops are at improved campgrounds. The setup on our CT is faster than our old tent trips, so easy that I find myself slowing down the setup sometimes because I can't believe how easy it is. Same for packing up and heading out. My neighbors, even with the fancy factory built campers always seem to take more time and effort setting up and taking down. Most camps have decent bath houses, so we haven't added a shower or toilet to ours yet.

Most unusual concept is the number of "tours" we are asked to give of our camper, and the smiles and nods once folks check it out and the "light switches on" in their head. "It's really all you need isn't it?" "I wish I'd done something like that" "No payments, that sure makes the trip nicer", "How did you do that again?" "We hardly ever use our inside kitchen in our camper" and more are comments we often get. I realize I'm not out to impress the "Joneses" with my CT, but why do we go camping in the first place? To spend time making memories with our families, teaching our children, getting away from work, technology, and our busy, distracted lives, enjoying God's great outdoors.

Here's what we did, it's really bare bones, but it is modular, that's one of the best things about it for us.
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=48345

Air conditioning always enters the discussion, this was our answer:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=49438#p956281

As far as travel, this thread should demonstrate what you can do with your CT, that would probably ruin a typical factory built camper. Our CTs have welded steel tubing in the walls and ceiling giving us a structural ruggedness you don't find anywhere else. I don't think twice about heading down a forest service road to a remote site.
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=56125

On another note, I can't tell you how handy it is to be able to park our entire rig in two-inline parking spaces. Full sized van plus our 7 x 16 will just make it. The ease of getting in and out of places is so worth it to us.

With your skill-sets and a little planning, you'll finish it in a few months, be camping, and relaxing by the campfire, shaking your head, wondering why you wasted all that time buying and repairing 5 campers, never having one that was "just right" (ha ha).

Welcome to the madness again, get that 30' sold, and get to work!

David (hey it's the "David" thread)

[Mike S]

Welcome Good luck with your CTC adventure and keep us up to date.

[m.colley]

Welcome to the madness!!
Many of your reasons for looking into building your own CTC are the exact reasons I decided to build my own. Even though it will be used as a toy hauler at times, it will also be just a "camper" as well. Short of having a "camper" custom built for you, to your exact spec's few will ever meet what you need, much less what you want. The wife and I got tired of putting up a tent, even though we will when we take out just the motorcycle. I know where all my wiring runs are and how to repair my plumbing. We didn't want or need all the fancy things that come with buying a RV or travel trailer, so we built our own.


Martin

[NO David!]

You mentioned you didn't need a toy hauler, and I assume by your intro you want to downsize, but I thought you'd enjoy seeing one of the larger conversions to see how you might transition. On his second build, 8Ball_99 built a 7x24 to haul Polaris RZRs and uses it as a base camp. Very creative folding beds, etc. A very nice build, that you could easily adapt to a good-sized camper layout.
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43448

And since I'm digging up inspiration...I present Gadgetman:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=45992
You could adapt his build by swapping toy hauler space to living/sleeping space with bunks, and maybe swap from ramp door to barn door on the rear. This build is one of my favorites for idea generation, how-tos', and great execution of small spaces. Such a nice finished inside, your wife and girls would love it!

Let's add pmspirito and his 7x14 trailer showroom build:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=45197

You mentioned you were strong in all areas except welding, checkout this finished interior for ideas:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=35325

It seems most of us are very active here during our builds, but then drift away hopefully busy using our creations as opposed to researching and thinking about building them. Many of the "best-of" builds are hidden in the older posts.

[hankaye]

lokin4deer, Howdy;

Dave, Welcome to the forum, think you'll find a ton of good advise and suggestions here.
This is one of the (imo), best builds here if you choose to go for a full set of amenities.
viewtopic.php?t=61680

If the basics yet comfortable then may I suggest.
viewtopic.php?t=33924

hank