Just Dandy - a modified Jim Dandy design

[Dewi]

Think I better go with the old saying of 'if in doubt, leave it out' with the removable tongue then Not a problem though... I have a cat that loves to get underfoot in the kitchen at home... at least a tongue is stationary whilst cooking.

Thanks Grant... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my hands are as skilled as my mind thinks they are and I can build it properly... but my wife seems to have some confidence in me, and I am going to cheat a little... I have access to a 4ft plotter, so if I design it properly, I can make a cutting list, seperate the parts and have them plotted out on templates ready to use... if I can keep the saw straight, I should then have a whole raft of parts and its all down to how I assemble them then.

Kampster looks cool... thats kind of quirky isn't it! Reminds me of the the pop top Mazda Bongo somehow... have a friend with one of those and he keeps it really tidy. There are so many cool designs on here... I'm sticking with what I have mind you... if I start redesigning it now, I'll never get the thing built! Really want to build it for the meet in Buxton... I forget the gents name, but theres a chap who I've read loads about who built a sort of modern gypsy caravan... really nice build... and he said he set a date and built it for that date... I reckon thats a good way to go. Kind of forces you to just buckle down and get it built.

Cheers, Dewi

[Miriam C.]

Dewi, if you make the back hatch and don't like it you can undo it. No biggy! I do think when you start wondering where to put the small stuff and clothing stuff you will wish for a cabinet.

You can also make an inside entry to the front galley too. Doors will let you get to the cooler or store stuff there too.

[Dewi]

Going to be good finding out if I can do this though!

On the subject of the retractable tongue, I've found this...

http://littleguy.co.uk/Model_cargo.htm

I've heard mention of the littleguy before, and it has a retractable tongue... so they may not be illegal in the UK after all... going to try and do a little more research on this. I may not be able to have the removable tongue that Jeff installed on his Dandy, but retractable would be just as good with the flip up galley bench.

Cheers, Dewi

[Dewi]

A member from the UK posted up a link of a trailer chassis builder... question is, is this going to be strong enough for the TD I want to build? (ie front galley and Winter Warrior style rear)



It's built using 1.57" x 1.57"mild steel angle and 2.57" x 1.57" mild steel box section, comes with a jockey wheel (not in picture) and independant suspension. Oh and 9" wheels.

Will I be able to use this, or am I looking at something more beefy?

Cheers, Dewi

[kennyrayandersen]

I my view there is one thing goofy about this trailer and that is the perimeter angle is going the wrong way. Most of the trailer strength is from the vertical walls of the trailer -- not the frame. I think that this is generally not well understood. Now, the frame may be carrying some of the load around the door, but mostly, it's the walls. The down-standing leg of the angle ought to be under the wall -- not on the inside. It is curious that they did it this way. I would say it should certainly be strong enough otherwise. It has been my observation that most of the tear frames are overkill.

Also, the side braces for the tongue should go to the edge of the frame, or through and connect aft into the rest of the frame. As is, they prevent side motion (provide lateral stiffness), but with a very small change could also assist in carrying bore vertical bending moment.

[angib]

Just a thought though about removable tongues, I am pretty sure its legally a big no no over here.

Mini/Grant, I would be interested to know what UK law prevents a removable tongue from being used - I'm not aware of any law relating to chassis structure, except the coupler itself.

Grant, the problem Heikki had was in Finland and while the Finnish authorities said that it was an European regulation (about type-approved 'drawbars', or tongues/A-frames), Britain doesn't apply that regulation, so I think that was just an easy excuse for the Finnish bureacrats.

Andrew

[angib]

A member from the UK posted up a link of a trailer chassis builder... question is, is this going to be strong enough for the TD I want to build? (ie front galley and Winter Warrior style rear)

That's the Tardis trailer chassis from Sunderland and Stevie builds a lightweight trailer - I don't think your design will come out as light and so I think that frame isn't strong enough for you. I also think that it is a lot of extra work and metal to add those diagonals inside the frame and I don't think they add much strength.

If you went up to 50x50x3 SHS (=2x2x1/8 square tube) for the tongue and axle cross-member and 50x50x3 angle around the edges and tongue diagonals, then it would be enough unless you decide to skin the body with lead.

I think kennyray is being too demanding about turning the angle so its vertical leg is outward. I don't think the strength difference is great and, anyway, the perimeter frame is mainly for ease of building - apart from a foot or so where it crosses the other tubes, the perimeter angle has little strength value.

Andrew

[Dewi]

Thank you... do you think the suspension is suitable, or should I be going for leaf springs and an axel?

I was going down the old caravan route, butchering it, but not having much luck finding something the right size... don't really fancy some of the monster I've seen so far... and trailer wise, I've found a few on the bay of E, but I don't know what I'm buying.

I've found a parts supplier for all the trailer bits and I can weld, so I figure if I build something from scratch I should be able to get it just right... was kind of looking at the Tardis trailer chassis as a short cut admittedly, but like you say Andrew, it looks as if my design is going to be a heavy one.

Cheers, Dewi

[Dewi]

Appears my luck may have changed a little... please welcome one donor...



It's got jacks and towbar (with safety line) and a newish battery...



The inside is kitted out with a shower, fridge, cooker, hob, all the electrical gizmos and presumably a water tank...







Little bit of dismantling and cleaning up to do, but it has a glavanised chassis, which I'm presuming is a good thing. Spare wheel with it as well.

Pleased as punch as I have all the timber and tools I need, just a few fixings left to find and get this design looking something like and I'm on my way.... might just make the Buxton Meet!

Cheers, Dewi

[jackdaw]

Congratulations Dewi.

Thats a great start
There's a load of stuff thats going to be so usefull .

WELL DONE FELLA

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

Keep the photos coming

Dave.

[Dewi]

Thanks Dave

Have to buckle down and get this design sorted... you got me thinking with your new design, the lift up top I added to the Dandy at the back is something I really like, but what you've done with yours for the extra head room is a whole lot lighter.

I was up till 5am designing (yep, I've got the bug really bad now)... went through design after design, and its helped posting up the why thread... realised that its got to be something that suits the family rather than just another one of my toys

Really excited now though... its happening!

Cheers, Dewi

[jackdaw]

Dewi have you seen 48Robs cabincar ?
It well nice, and it's a bigger design than the norm.

Check it out here.
Its another one thats on my build list.............one day .

I just thought I'd throw another one in the mix for ya.

As Doug says, Build what you like. And what best suits your needs.

My first was going to be small and light. Very basic , no frills. Then I started thinking what i could do , and let it evolve. I'm very happy with the results, it's a good size and weight , I love the galley, and it's far more practical and spacious than the kitchen in our caravan.

Happy building fella

Dave

[Dewi]

Funny you should say that... was admiring Rob's trailer home earlier today... its an amazing build, really like it.

Think I might have come up with the design... just want to run over it a couple more times... still has the galley at the front, but the rear and the overall shape (and size) has changed drastically.

Might seem bizarre, but at the bottom of the hill at Buxton, thats where my family originate. They lived on Buxton Road. Over 130 years ago, but I've got a good amount of detail about who was there and all that. Would be something special to go camping up that way... really would... so I'm going to really go for it.

Bet its 5am before I'm in bed again, up at 6:30am, but it'll be worth it if the design caters for everything we need.

Do you reckon the new one will be ready for the Buxton Meet then Dave?

Cheers, Dewi

[jackdaw]

Do you reckon the new one will be ready for the Buxton Meet then Dave?

Cheers, Dewi

I'm not planning on having it finished. But you never know. Where it's going to be prity basic, it could be done.

I might have to put a trolly top on Thypod aswell

Decisions, decisions,

Happy building fella.

Dave

[Dewi]

After much head scratching, reading and asking you all questions, I think I've nailed the design... or at least the basic design. I've mithered poor Dave (JackDaw) about the chassis... got it all measured up and checked it can carry what I'm building (fingers crossed) so this is it. I'm not attaching the TD to the chassis until I can balance it, so the final position may be a little different to the pictures...



This is the chassis... measured it as best I could (couldn't squeeze under the donor) and there is no chance of a removable tongue, but I'm leaving boxes around my kitchen floor at home to get used to stepping over stuff whilst cooking



It's a standard teardrop shape, but with inspiration from Dave, the back has a 4ft wide raised roof to allow for my cunning plan. The back elevation has a split door and a drop down step. I may still add a side door yet, but the weird shape thing on the back elevation is the window and I started designing a decal to ride up over the roof... thats there for position at the minute. The galley area is still at the front, but I've got to plan that out to what I have as I now have a gas/electric fridge, a sink, a hob and a grill, not to mention ready made cupboards and worktops (the donor is kind to me)

Not decided on mudguards yet, but I'd like to build some fancy ones that swoop down towards the back.

The interior, through the back door will be a seating area (diner) which will form a 6ft 6" bed, and I'm hoping to squeeze in a lightweight bunk at the front if there's room. the storage will be underneath the seating and for the bed to work there will be runners along the seats and a pull out webbed slat arrangement that will make up the centre of the bed... I'll draw some piccies later on. The cushions for the seating will be made to form the matress for the bed.

Hoping to skin it in composite aluminium (rubbery plastic sandwiched between two sheets of aluminium - very lightweight and already finished with a powder coating) and the front hatch and top of the back door will be attached with hurricane hinges. I'd like some retro style lights, and overall I'd like it to look a little like a 1930's car style (if that makes sense). Once it's skinned, I'm going to vinyl wrap it with a design which if I get bored with it, I'll remove and apply a new one.

That's just about as far as I've gotten... still lots more to plan, but I've got the garage to clear so I can start the build. Once its clear, the donor will be stripped down, salvaging all the bits I want to reuse... the rest will be given a proper burial.

I know it might be a bit much for a first build, but thats why I'm taking so long planning it... I want to make sure I can actually build with my hands what my mind believes is possible... I should soon find out.

Cheers, Dewi