Gypsy Caravan

[Steve_Cox]

The finished trailer, "Little Gypsy"



The Build

I've had this Harbor Freight 1740 Lb trailer sitting around for a while, so I've decided to lower and stretch it and build a mini-gypsy caravan. I don't really have any written plans, but I've been thinking about it for a while. Here's the frame stretched to 117". I'm going to make the footwell out of bed frame angle iron, and keeping with the bolt together frame concept, it will be bolted together too. The plan is to be able to get it in and out of the garage with the wheels on, and still have 6'2" head room.

[coal_burner]

What is a mini gypsy caravan?

Do you plan on making it a POP-UP like Rae's, or a more traditional vardo?

[CaptainKram]

Steve, here's a couple of places to get some ideas:

http://www.amvardo.com/caravan/

http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/wagon.htm (cool Pop-Up style)

http://gypsywaggons.co.uk/varhistory.htm (different styles)

http://www.speedace.info/gypsy_caravan.htm (here's one for sale with a slide out and some GREAT interior shots)

http://www.celticjuju.com/wagons.html (interesting models!)

I was thinking about a gypsy wagon before I found this site. Might get back to it one of these days.

CK

[Mary K]

Cool Steve!! Looking forward to watching your build.

Mk

[rmclarke]

Ditto what MaryK said!

Did I hear footwell?? "How low will you go?"

Can't wait to see more details....

Richard

[Steve_Cox]

What is a mini gypsy caravan?

Do you plan on making it a POP-UP like Rae's, or a more traditional vardo?

Guess it will be more traditional, only without the horses. I told Rae a couple of years ago she was a bad influence of the best kind. I've looked at the pop-up builds she did, but I think I'm going for something a little different.

Steve, here's a couple of places to get some ideas:

http://www.amvardo.com/caravan/

http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/wagon.htm (cool Pop-Up style)

http://gypsywaggons.co.uk/varhistory.htm (different styles)

http://www.speedace.info/gypsy_caravan.htm (here's one for sale with a slide out and some GREAT interior shots)

http://www.celticjuju.com/wagons.html (interesting models!)

I was thinking about a gypsy wagon before I found this site. Might get back to it one of these days.

CK

CK,

Thanks for the links, I have looked at them before, I'm sure others will enjoy them too. I hadn't seen the last link with the model vardos, that was pretty cool.

MK & Richard,

I'm looking forward to seeing what I build myself, so far I've changed my mind a half dozen times about it. I've got the foot well frame bolted together, just need to add a couple of stabilizers to the sides. I'm going to use the tongue as a frame for the front porch. You can't tell by the picture, but the ground clearance is about 9 inches.

[starleen2]

How much ground clearance is that footwell?? looks like a "sparker" to me

[Steve_Cox]

How much ground clearance is that footwell?? looks like a "sparker" to me

Ground clearance? mentioned in the above post. (9 inches)

Sparker? Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have faith that it will be fine. But if it isn't, I can put the axle back under the springs instead of over them (a contingency plan)

Here's another view of the footwell from behind the axle, doesn't look so bad from this angle.
[img]http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=42331[img][/img]

[Miriam C.]

Sounds like a great idea to me. Don't matter if it is a sparker just move it to the side yard so I have a place to visit. So hurry up

[Outlaw]

I can't wait to see this build Please keep the progress pics coming.

[Steve_Cox]

Auntie M,

I agree it would look best sitting in the garden, awaiting your visit.

No new pics today, going to Daytona cause it's Biketoberfest

[Steve_Cox]

Floor is on, the short side pieces are just clamped in place so far, this will form the ledge for the walls. Some vardos or gypsy wagons were called a ledge because the bottom formed a box that had a ledge built out over the wagon wheels, I am making a ledge so the bed area can be across the back of the trailer. I'm getting to the part where I spend more time in the chair looking at it than making sawdust.

[devigata]

I'm getting to the part where I spend more time in the chair looking at it than making sawdust.

Isn't that called "designing on the fly"?

[Steve_Cox]

I'm getting to the part where I spend more time in the chair looking at it than making sawdust.

Isn't that called "designing on the fly"?

Cathy Jo,

That was a kind way to put it. More like "sometimes I sit and think, other times I just sit".

One nice thing about building is the scrap box fills and give reason to build a fire. This morning we had coffee outside by the Cheminea, and we had a little pinion wood from New Mexico to build up the fire. Sure smelled good and gave me new motivation to get-r-done. Finished the ledge parts and it's time to start the walls.

[Steve_Cox]

I started the framing for the walls. The first top bow was several layers of 1/4" plywood laminated together with Titebond III. After the 1st top bow, I made a jig to match it to make the rest, they are going to be several pieces of pine laminated with epoxy, because it cures faster than the Titebond III dries. I added an inch of bow at each end to allow for spring back, It was just a guess, so I guess I'll know when the first one comes off the jig how it turns out.