New Guy from MN

[rdahlen]

Hello everyone, I have been visiting this site for quite some time with great interest in building my own TTT. I mean XTTT. I'm 6'4" and need a tall one. I have never seen a site as dedicated and thorough as this one. You have SO much information. My first camper was an old 10ft canned ham which I took to the races in my pre-married days. Then married with two kids, I convinced my wife we needed a pop-up. That quickly led to a 23ft trailer and then 32ft Winnebago. We are almost empty-nesters and sadly, have no camper now and I am suffering from withdrawals. I recently bought a very nice 2008 Ford Escape with 4cyl. It can only tow 1500 lbs. As I look around for trailers that will fit my needs I find none. I have designed one that I believe will work for me. It has the classic tear drop shape but taller, no flat top to create turbulence and angled front end to aid in aerodynamics. I would like a toilet/shower combo for my wife (or I willl never get her to come with) and basic cooking needs. Cooktop, sink, small frig and space for microwave. I have also added a fold-out bunk in the front to add sleeping quarters if or when needed. I seem to want quite a bit and still stay under 1500 lbs. Preferably around 12-1300 lbs so I can add gear. And of course being from Minnesota it would be have to be insulated. Am I out of my mind or do you think this build is possible. I know there is someone out there that would know if and how this could happen.

[Juneaudave]

Welcome and I really like the design It's going to be tough to come in at the 1200 - 1500 lb weight unless you really pay attention, but I think it can be done Take pics, ask questions, and enjoy the build!!! We're alot of like minded people here

[TPMcGinty]

Welcome to a fellow Minnesotan! I have to agree that the trailer you have in mind would be tough to keep under 1500 lbs. I built a 5x8 Generic Benroy and it fits me just fine. (It weighed 960 lbs empty) I'm 6'4" also. You should check out the Tearjerkers web site. The St. Croix chapter (MN and WI) has a section with upcoming gatherings. They are a great place to check out other peoples trailers.

[rainman0]

Welcome,
As Tim has said, there are alot of gatherings coming up, and you don't need to have a trailer to show up.
IG2 is the first weekend in June (5th, 6th and 7th ?). It will be in the Mora Piine City area.in Mn.
Feel free to come .
Just a comment on your design IMHO. It is great, but remember to keep it simple. That's the wonderful thing about tears, you can get so much for so little.

[Downunder Dave]

Hi fellow newbie, welcome aboard. It is a great forum to share ideas and see what other like minded people have built or are building. The designs are great, I can see that you are trying to fit as much as possible into as small space.
I am now an empty nester and like you have had over the years all kinds of camping toys from caravans big and small to slide ons in the back of an F100 truck. When we thought about our next camper , and by we I mean me and the "Minister Of Finance" we thought about the type of camping we wanted to do. Some travellers will stop at their camping sites and remain inside the chosen camper or RV maybe preferring to keep to them selves. WE prefere that if we are going into the outdoors, we want to be in the outdoors so for us the choice was made easy. Somewhere snug, comfortable and dry to sleep preferably off the ground and somewhere to prepare a meal. By living outside we have all the room you could want and the chance to meet more fellow campers. Something to consider when thinking about your design, the KISS principle" Keep It Simple

Cheers Dave

The Journey starts with just an Idea

[hotrod]

Hello from up north!!!!
Love the drawings, its probably dooable if your careful..

[Carter]

Welcome. I didn't pay too much attention to weight when I built mine and I believe it was 1850# empty. With food, 20 gallons of water, cookware, clothing and everything else it is probably pushing 2300. it is a little bigger than your plan with a 12' body. With light building techniques and care in packing 1500# is possible. I'm halfway thinking about another standy. It would be much simpler than the current one. Coleman On Demand hot water heater to replace the 6 gallon Suburban, no water tank, use 5 gallon containers, no sink, a dishpan works fine, no dinette, etc. Saves weight and complexity. The dropped floor would be a Mustee shower stall and of course the wife must have her porta-pottie. Good luck with your design, remember planning is half the fun.
Jim

[Cliffmeister2000]

Very nice looking design! How do you plan to support the 300 - 450 pounds of a sleeping couple in the fold out bed?

[rdahlen]

Thanks for all the feedback and compliments.
CARTER, I do have time to plan this right. I am not going to be able to build it for a year or two. I need to get number two son through art school. You are right in saying that planning is half the fun. I like the idea of on-demand hot water. I will include a water tank but not travel with water to keep weight down. I love the look of aluminum but not the extra weight or cost. Porta pottie will work and have not decided on a grey tank or not.
CLIFFMEISTER, I was planning on either braces underneath.
DOWNUNDER DAVE I totally agree with your viewpoint. I like tear drops but I would never get my wife to come along if I did not provide some sort of indoor provisions and I think that the size of my trailer would not keep me from the outdoors. My 32ft couldn't even do that.
RAINMAN Tell me more about IG2 in June.
TPMCGINTY, I could not find the St Croix section on Terjerkers site. Do you have a specific url.
My ways of keeping weight down are: Luan paneling, minimum use of cabinet doors, plastic dish pans as internal drawers, maybe skip total enclosure of shower and use curtain surround. I do think the fold out bed will be problematic concerning weight. Any ideas on how to construct it?

[TPMcGinty]

TPMCGINTY, I could not find the St Croix section on Terjerkers site. Do you have a specific url.

Here ya go.

http://www.tearjerkers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1301

[Miriam C.]

to the playground. Beautiful design. You can cut the weight by leaving off appliances and water. You can also figure your materials to decide on what to use. It isn't hard to get it heavy. Course you could also trade the bitty tow for something bigger by the time you get to it. New toys are fun.

Be sure to keep the so you can keep the bubble oil level and no we don't care what the pictures are of. (withinreason)

[tom koehler]

Your interest in a trailer with amenities like shower and biffy for your wife are admirable. They will mean a fair-sized unit, like you showed in your drawings. I'm pulling a 10' teardrop of about 900+ pounds with a 4 cyl Matrix, and getting decent mileage. My wife likes her comforts, but our experience with camping areas across a lot of the country is that many of them have showers, and all have some kind of toilets. We do carry a porta-potty that we set up in a tent we have attached to the side of our TD. The sleeping area of our TD is about 6'3" long, and with a slight design change, the sleeping area could be any length you want or need. Of course, the TD design I have allows only for sitting-up clearances inside. That's why we have a tent set up alongside. The way it is connected to the trailer, SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) can move from the trailer to the tent unobserved from the outer world, to get dressed or use the biffy. We also set up some folding chairs in the tent, and it is our "living room". I apologize if it sounds like I am trying to discourage you from your larger trailer. I am not. My intent is to show that it is possible to have some of the amenities and still travel small.
respectfully,
tom koehler
Two Harbors, MN

[rdahlen]

TOM: I am welcoming all and any feedback to my design. In fact I am surprised I haven't had more. Maybe I should post it in the members designs area. I am pretty set on having a TTT instead of a TD. I really like my design and the challenge of trying to figure out how to build it especially the fold out bunk seal. I know most of the members are TD lovers but the info on this site is so helpful that I know I will get all my questions answered. The way I figure by the time I carry any extra tents to house a private area I have added enough weight that I might as well integrate it in the trailer. Also my wife does not like campground showers or bathrooms. She really is not fond of camping period. I have no problem with them but I know women tend to be pickier than men. I may have to end up getting a V6 vehicle but I am going to sure try to keep the weight down and get what I want. I am right now keeping my eyes open for a salvaged popup for CHEAP. May take awhile but I have time.

[bc toys]

I like your ideals hope you have fun building it know you will. As for the tip out are you goimg to have it fold down if so are you going to bace it like a pop up

[rdahlen]

Yeah, I originally thought about using three strong straps attached to the top frame of trailer stretching down over a middle tube frame and down to the fold out bed door. My thinking was it would support itself but it I thought it would put stress on the upper frame and maybe be a little springy. Supports underneath are tried and true and have worked for years and they are simpler.