Hi from Mid=Michigan

[BPFox]

Fair Warning! This might just be the longest introduction in History. I have been reading this forum for a couple of months now and have just recently began posting. It would seem to me that what folks here like is a good story. Perhaps not as much as they like pictures, but I have no pictures to share yet, so a good story will have to do.

My Name is Bernie Payne. I am 54 years old, married (32 years) and have two adult children ages 27 & 24. I have trailer building experience but not camping trailers. I have been an avid camper all my life. Starting with back yard camping as a kid and later with the Boy Scouts. As an adult I started out tent camping. An urge to get off the ground led me to do a van conversion in 1978. I ordered a brand new 1978 Chevy commercial van and began my conversion by gutting the thing. Now that takes some guts to start cutting up a brand new van. In 1979 when we found out that we were pregnant with our first child we decided we needed more room and purchased a Krown Tent Camper. After several years of frustration folding up a tent camper in the rain I took the plunge and purchased a brand new 25' Bunkhouse Trailer. The year was 1987 and my kids were now 7 & 4 and the Bunkhouse seemed like the perfect fit. Not only did I buy the trailer, but purchased a big old Chevy Suburban to pull it with. When we went down the road we measured 56 feet from bumper to bumper. Picture it, bikes in the bike rack on the back of the trailer and a 15' canoe strapped to the top of the Suburban. Sure am glad I no longer have to fuel that big block V-8 and that 40 gallon fuel tank. In 1990 I attended my first Scout Leader training and had to borrow a tent to do it. As it turned out, I rediscovered how much fun tent camping was and promptly came home and sold the travel trailer and baught a new tent. This is what you call "coming full circle.

My first experience with Tear Drops came in 2002. While visiting our son in grad school in Albany NY we decided to take a trip to Concord NH to catch a NASCAR race. While passing through Vermont we went through Bennington. I liked the town so much we returned the next day to explore Bennington. While visiting the Hemmings Motor News museum I laid eyes on a Tear Drop for the first time and I thought to myself, "now that is cool". Right there and then the dream of building such a trailer started. After many years of research and thinking about it, I'm really not any closer to my dream of building one, but at least I am closer to knowing what I want to do. As it turns out, what I plan to build won't be a Teardrop at all. It might qualify as a Tiny Travel Trailer, but I guess that would depend on what you would call tiny. My research tells me that most folks pick a shape that they like and then go from there. Well, I'm not like most folks. So here is a breakdown on my thoughts right now. These of course are subject to change as I usually don't use plans because my plans tend to change as I go along and a formal plan just gets in the way.

The Shape - Rather than start with a pre-conceived notion of shape I start with practical needs and desires. I would rather build from the inside out rather than the other way around. That is , start with all of the features and components that I need or desire and then mold a shape that will fit those needs. From a "best use of space" perspective the best shape you could come up with is a box with square corners. While maximizing space it would in fact be butt ugly. That said, I will start with a square and once there is room for everything I want and need, then, and only then, will I trim the shape to something more pleasing to the eye. Since being able to stand up in the trailer is a must for me, I suspect it will look somewhat like a Shasta trailer when all is said and done.

The Frame - No store baught frames for me. This will be a stick built, one of kind frame. Along with my need to stand up in the trailer I must also be able to carry my canoe on the top of the trailer. To this end the trailer must be tall on the inside and short on the outside. Now this would seem like an impossible situation but I have longed believed that if it was easy, everyone would do it. Since the only place the trailer needs to be tall is in the front "standing area" I can accomplish my goal by using a "drop frame" design. In addition to the drop frame design I will be using a rubber axle. By not using leaf springs the trailer will be lower to the ground. Hopefully I will be able to make up some mock drawings to display here. Right now the design is in my head and since it would take too long to describe it, you folks will just have to wait.

Size - Remember the box design? Well let's start there. This trailer "box" will be approx 12' long, 7' wide and 6.5' tall. Once again, I don't build based on standard material sizes, but rather to my needs and then just constuct from there.

Misc. Specs. - This trailer will have a full queen size bed that will include under bed storage. Access to the storage compartments will be in the form of drawers in the living area and also below the galley in the back. The storage in the back will be longer to handle things like tent poles and canoe paddles. The "standing area" in the front of the trailer will include 120v base board heat, and entertainment center and his and hers wardrobes. I also plan to include A/C but I am still mulling over a couple of different options.

Electical Specs. - The trailer will be wired with 12 volt DC, 120 volt AC and Inverted AC from DC circuits. All of the trailer lights will be 12 volts using two 6 volt deep cycle golf car batteries as a source. I will use a 300 watt inverter in the front to run the entertainment center and a 500 watt unit in the galley. Nothing magical about these inverter sizes I just appen to already own them so they will be the ones I use. The 120 volt will run the base board heat, air conditioning and plugs for the entertainment center as well as the galley. This unit will also have LP gas for the stove.

Construction - This trailer will be built with a combination of wood and steel. Because of the drop frame design special consideration will need to be given to the box stucture for strength. I also don't want to put any weight on the roof so the canoe mounts on top will actually be part of the frame. Boxing the entire trailer in steel will allow me to drop the frame rails without losing stuctural integrity. This design will add a few pounds but not enough to make a difference. My Trailblazer is rated for a 6000lb trailer and I will be well under that.

I guess I would describe my plan as a "Master Bedroom Suite" on wheels with a Kitchen in the back. Since most everything I like to do either happens in the Kitchen or the Bedroom, I should be all set. Thanks for such a great web site and thanks for listening to one more crazy trailer builder.

[mikeschn]

Welcome to the forum. Saginaw eh? I used to live there.

Anyways, have fun!

Mike...

[SmokeyBob]

Welcome to the form and have fun.
And most important, show the pics.

[Miriam C.]

to the playground. I can see this will be a fun build to watch. Hopefully you have included a really good digital camera in these plans.

[Ken A Hood]

I think I know this guy, and DiscoStu.............

I was in Saginaw the last couple of years watching the Wolves play the Spirit.....

Small world!

[BPFox]

I think I know this guy, and DiscoStu.............

I was in Saginaw the last couple of years watching the Wolves play the Spirit.....

Small world!

Well, imagine that! With the Spirit's early exit from the playoffs (not as early as Sudbury's) it's time to think about warm weather stuff. If you make it to Saginaw next season, stop by Section 18 and I'll buy you a drink. Small world indeed. Peace.