Attention standy builders/owners!!!

[doug hodder]

I'm in the process of designing something new to build and wanted to make something a little larger for some winter outings. Small dinette, stove/sink combo similar to a Scotty, convertible bed in rear.

Originally I had thought of doing it in a "bread loaf" type design, but am having a hard time trying to get the height out of it. It has to fit in the garage...only 83" max door ht. and I wanted all the corners to be radiused with a domed roof. My problem comes in making a door height that will work. I'm 6'2" and with a 5" drop on the floor similar to the Scotty, I can come up with almost 5'6". The radius of the side to the roof starts cutting into it. I could do a small dormer on the door opening, but didn't want to make a career out of it all. I like that period of trailer design, but may have to do more of a "canned ham" type of design. That would cut out a ton of time/work/$$ on it, for sure. I'm beginning to think it's more than I want to do.

At any rate....what are your door heights and widths? Do you have dropped floors or not? What would you have done differently if anything and why? Thanks in advance. Doug

Here's an idea on my profile thoughts would be modified to...11'6" OAL 6'6" OAW.

http://www.allmanufacturedhomes.com/htm ... _coach.htm

[rainjer]

Are you going to store it in the garage all the time? What if you pull the wheels off and drop it down on a couple car dollies to push it into the garage? This would give you more height. Just a thought.

Jeremy

[doug hodder]

I wanting not to get too out of control on the OAH on it so that it all looks in proportion to the originals. I can make a sled with casters for it, but my driveway is fairly steep and things can get away from me easily. Truck slid out this winter on the ice, and I've almost lost a boat down it before. That one cost me like 45 stitches in the leg. Don't seem to have an anchor when I needed one. Doug

[Juneaudave]

Cool....Can you gain a little more by curving the door and extending it into the profile of the radius. I was thinking some of the older Airstreams did something like that...

[bbarry]

Like the idea! I really like those old coaches. Sounds like your height problem is a good excuse for building a new shop!

Are you planning on just building it inside, or needing to get it in and out on a regular basis?

Brad

[doug hodder]

It'll be in and out on a real regular basis, and I'm sure I'd forget that I needed to lower it at least once, and that's all it'd take. No more room for a larger shop, or $$ to do it with. I've got a 4 car pole barn, but it's not an easy one to just back a trailer into at will. Doug

[bbarry]

How much of a side radius are you thinking of? Obviously, the smaller the radius, the more side height you'll have to play with.

Seems the choices are:

1) Build the style you want, with a dropped floor and a) have a short door or b) bring the door into the radiused roofline (PITA?)

2) Go to a canned ham with a dropped floor and a step like Steve W and (I think) shopfabricator have built into theirs.

3) Build in your pole barn, if you consider that as an option

Brad

[S. Heisley]

Well Doug, I know ya aren't talkin' 'bout my future bread loaf! My doors will be about the size of a VeeDub's but without a drop-down step. (I'm only 5'3" so it'll work fine for me.)

I had debated the height of my doors; so, before I decided to let them go 'as-is', I walked over to my neighbor's place. He has a camper with a drop-down roof and a short door. I measured the door and it was only 4' tall, from top trim to base. He said he has a friend who is 6'3" and that guy has no problem with it.

If you haven't already done this, you could look at a few short-door campers at a used RV lot, to get a better feel for it.

Just an idea....

[doug hodder]

Brad....building in the pole barn is out...too far to go to get to the saws etc... there is no heat for epoxy curing, and gravel floor. Plan is that it will for sure have a dropped floor. I'm thinking, I need to mock up a model and check it all out.

Sharon....yup, I need to check out some other trailers. Steve E is doing a Scotty now and is only about 20 miles away. I was there last weekend, and took pics...just didn't get the measurements as I just sort of cooked this all up this weekend, and thought I had a 7' garage door. I plan on using his Scotty frame as my basic frame design. Steve W and Shopfabricator are instrumental in this project conception. At least that's who I'm going to blame it on! Doug

[Mauleskinner]

If you decide you want the door to wrap into the roof, you might save yourself some headaches by making it a two-piece door...bottom part would be the size you'd make a short door, and the top part could be hinged at the top and open upwards.

Probably be easier to get the seals to work out that way. You might even be able to make it so either one could be opened individually--the top for ventilation, the bottom for short people.

David

[doug hodder]

That's an idea David, might be tough with an arched top....also to just cloud it all up...I gotta have that vintage wooden screen door also. I think I have the hinge thing worked out so that it will open with the exterior door. Grants offset hinge will work if modified. Try to find a set of hinges off the hook that will do that! All the RV places will sell a door package complete with door, but won't sell hinges only. Doug

[Jiminsav]

well, you could bend a little and duck, or you could build it with a air bag system to lower it at camp and when you need to shove it into the garage.

[Micro469]

well, you could bend a little and duck, or you could build it with a air bag system to lower it at camp and when you need to shove it into the garage.

Hey! Cool!!!! A trailer with Hydraulics!!!!!! Love to see that in action at a stoplight!!!!


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[Jiminsav]

OOOOH, now I remember, that's why you suggested I lean the back side in.

[Jiminsav]

well, you could bend a little and duck, or you could build it with a air bag system to lower it at camp and when you need to shove it into the garage.

Hey! Cool!!!! A trailer with Hydraulics!!!!!! Love to see that in action at a stoplight!!!!


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only in L.A. John..