(The Puffin) New Tiny Trailer

[NightCap]

Lazy Sunday and I've done a few things on the camper. I installed the dropped floor, installed weather stripping around the doors, installed the door latch, and about to install the electrical hatch.


Dropped floor installed and epoxied in place. If you notice on the side closest to the door I had to install a 1" strip because my original measurements were off. Actually, they were spot on, the Harbor Freight spring hanger bolt was in the way, so I had to make my dropped floor 1" narrower than the original. Standing on the dropped floor there is about 1" of clearance above my head - wearing a cap - and shoes. I'm 6'1" tall.

I am building my TTT in my mind and am wondering how close the dropped floor is to the doorway? Can you step right into the dropped floor from the outside of the trailer in one step? Is it easy? And with no dropped floor in the bathroom how do you take a leak? I don't think macho Steve would sit to pee.

I am thinking of making my dropped floor all the way across the trailer from rail to rail. If I could figure the frame delima out I would make it go from wall to wall. So if you stand in front of the toilet you would be standing on the sunken floor. Make sense?

Oh, and I would be welding a 16 gauge box into the large opening.

[steve wolverton]

I am building my TTT in my mind and am wondering how close the dropped floor is to the doorway? Can you step right into the dropped floor from the outside of the trailer in one step? Is it easy? And with no dropped floor in the bathroom how do you take a leak? I don't think macho Steve would sit to pee.

It measures 16" from the edge of the dropped floor to the outside of the camper. I don't have any problems stepping into it. Lisa doesn't have any problems either (she's 5'4"), but Analisa has a difficult time (5'2") so she just steps up into the camper, and then down into the dropped floor. All of my girlfriends are short enough that they can stand on the floor inside the camper.

As for me standing in the bathroom, it's not a big deal. I'm only in there for 30 seconds or less. I just bend my head down and hold myself up like I'm leaning on a wall at a urinal.

I am thinking of making my dropped floor all the way across the trailer from rail to rail. If I could figure the frame delima out I would make it go from wall to wall. So if you stand in front of the toilet you would be standing on the sunken floor. Make sense?

I would highly recommend taking the dropped floor the entire width of the frame like you suggest. I didn't because of weight (my dropped floor box is 3/4" ply) but if I could do it again I'd make it out of 1/2" ply and extend the full width.
I understand what you're talking about the dropped floor in the bathroom - sounds like a good plan.

[NightCap]

I would highly recommend taking the dropped floor the entire width of the frame like you suggest. I didn't because of weight (my dropped floor box is 3/4" ply) but if I could do it again I'd make it out of 1/2" ply and extend the full width.
I understand what you're talking about the dropped floor in the bathroom - sounds like a good plan.

By the way, thanks for the answers.

I was thinking half and half on the bathroom floor but that might not work cause the toilet will be too high. I'll have to take measurements when the time comes. Your way sounds doable since I am the same hight as you. Thanks again.

[steve wolverton]

I was thinking half and half on the bathroom floor but that might not work cause the toilet will be too high. I'll have to take measurements when the time comes. Your way sounds doable since I am the same hight as you. Thanks again.

You could always build a little stand for the toilet. Remove the toilet and you have a shower pan.

[NightCap]

I was thinking half and half on the bathroom floor but that might not work cause the toilet will be too high. I'll have to take measurements when the time comes. Your way sounds doable since I am the same hight as you. Thanks again.

You could always build a little stand for the toilet. Remove the toilet and you have a shower pan.

I guess there are plenty of options. Sure makes life interesting.

[Donutboy]

This whole thread has almost convinced me, and more importantly my wife (also a "Lisa") to build one. But we also need room for our two kids.

I'm thinking of putting bunk beds where you have the bathroom/front cabinet, with storage below the lowest one. The mattress for the lowest bunk could be moved and placed on the top bunk temporarilly to get some cabinet space across the front if needed.

Today I was also thinking about dropping the floor from frame rail to frame rail. Putting the toilet against the left wall opposite and facing the doorway. Maybe with walls that extend from the left wall out to the edge of the toilet (roughly 18" I think) and a shower curtain on a u-shapred rod that could be moved around for privacy. Then you could stand in the dropped floor to pee, as was discussed earlier.

Another thought--an 8'x5' trailer would give a little more room between rails

One other question. You mentioned your tow vehicle is a 4-cylinder. How much of a drop do you see in the MPG when towing this?

Thanks much for all the posts--I stumbled on this thread quite by accident and have been thinking of building one of these non-stop ever since.

[steve wolverton]

I'm thinking of putting bunk beds where you have the bathroom/front cabinet, with storage below the lowest one. The mattress for the lowest bunk could be moved and placed on the top bunk temporarilly to get some cabinet space across the front if needed.

I don't see why that wouldn't work. They would work as bulkheads as well.

Today I was also thinking about dropping the floor from frame rail to frame rail. Putting the toilet against the left wall opposite and facing the doorway. Maybe with walls that extend from the left wall out to the edge of the toilet (roughly 18" I think) and a shower curtain on a u-shapred rod that could be moved around for privacy. Then you could stand in the dropped floor to pee, as was discussed earlier.

Yup, I think NightCap was right on about that one.

Another thought--an 8'x5' trailer would give a little more room between rails

One other question. You mentioned your tow vehicle is a 4-cylinder. How much of a drop do you see in the MPG when towing this?

A 5x8 trailer would be really nice for a Puffin type of camper. The reason I didn't get one was the cost. I built mine on a tight budget, but I would have loved to build it on a 5x8 as I could use the larger dropped floor. 5x8's are heavier though, bigger wheels/tires are nicer too, but I wanted to keep the weight down, and I'm quite happy with my shade under 800 pounds.

As for the mileage drop, to be honest I really have no idea as I don't track it. I pull my camper at 60mph, but I've been to 75+ when passing. I just like to tow slow. I'll try to make a mental note to check my mileage on my next trip.

Thanks much for all the posts--I stumbled on this thread quite by accident and have been thinking of building one of these non-stop ever since.

Thanks for reading through all my ramblings! I've changed up a few things since I built it, but I'm quite happy with my design. Now it's mostly cosmetic and fun stuff that I'm tinkering on.

Oh, and welcome to the board!

[steve wolverton]

I got my speaker boxes painted and installed the speakers. I don't have a permanent stereo/cd player yet so I'm using an old Sony Tuner/Amp which is really, really, *REALLY* too much amp for what I need.


Speaker boxes textured with speakers mounted. 6x9's.

Same shot with flash off. You can see the storage area above the bed. There are only 3 storage holes visible, but there are 4 up there. That's my arm visible in the top of the picture too as it's really tough to get these shots in an 8' camper. I have to hold the camera behind me over the AC area and hope I'm pointing it correctly.

[NightCap]

It of course looks great. Where are you putting the controls etc for the sound system?

[steve wolverton]

It of course looks great. Where are you putting the controls etc for the sound system?

I'm going to put the tuner/amp in the storage shelf above the bed next to the reading light/dimmer switch. Since I have mirrors everywhere, my remotes don't seem to have problems working regardless which direction I aim them.

[NightCap]

It of course looks great. Where are you putting the controls etc for the sound system?

I'm going to put the tuner/amp in the storage shelf above the bed next to the reading light/dimmer switch. Since I have mirrors everywhere, my remotes don't seem to have problems working regardless which direction I aim them.

Good thing you're not dealing with lazers. eh?

[SaGR]

I'm waiting to see the disco ball show up in a picture

[Donutboy]

Or there's always this: http://www.magicfingers.com/

[SaGR]

[steve wolverton]

Or there's always this: http://www.magicfingers.com/

Disco ball and magic fingers... Ordered!

This is gonna be so pimp!

Oh, bonus! Over 30,000 views on my Puffin build! Mike is sending me my 3rd T-shirt! Thanks all.