Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by dh » Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:59 pm

I'm just looking for things y'all have either put in and regretted/found usless; or things you thought about, but left out, then in retrospect wished you had gone with.

by **madjack** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:06 am

dh, we have done this many times and the #1 thing is usually to go 5"wide...after that it is very subjective to your style and type of camping...for example, on my first build I put a full water and sink system in, which I found to be more or less useless for my style/type camping and didn't doit on subsequent build...others have done the exact opposite...the one thing to keep in mind is REAL ESTATE IS VALUABLE inna tear and the utmost thought needs to be done to maximize the usage of that limited amount of space...if you absolutely can do with out something, leave it out...just as the opposite is true.........
madjack

http://s26.photobucket.com/user/len1907 · by **len19070** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:48 am

madjack wrote: REAL ESTATE IS VALUABLE inna tear and the utmost thought needs to be done to maximize the usage of that limited amount of space...if you absolutely can do with out something, leave it out...just as the opposite is true.........
madjack

Well said Jack. Every campsite I have ever gone to has had a table, and if it didn't I brought one.

The first thing I put on the table is my stove (cooking in a tear is messy)

The next thing is a water Jug and wash basin.

And last is a cooler under the stove.

That about covers everything you might want to build into the tear and leaves you lots of room for other things.

Once again as Jack said, whats important to you may be unimportant to the next guy and visa verse.

Happy Trails

Len

by **toypusher** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:29 am

len19070 wrote:
madjack wrote: REAL ESTATE IS VALUABLE inna tear and the utmost thought needs to be done to maximize the usage of that limited amount of space...if you absolutely can do with out something, leave it out...just as the opposite is true.........
madjack

Well said Jack. Every campsite I have ever gone to has had a table, and if it didn't I brought one.

The first thing I put on the table is my stove (cooking in a tear is messy)

The next thing is a water Jug and wash basin.

And last is a cooler under the stove.

That about covers everything you might want to build into the tear and leaves you lots of room for other things.

Once again as Jack said, whats important to you may be unimportant to the next guy and visa verse.

Happy Trails

Len

I agree but would add that you need to consider "where am I going to carry this stuff that is not part of the tear?" Just some food for thought when planning your layout.

by **mikeschn** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:32 am

I agree with Kerry... I've never allowed enough space for storage... and in particular, easy access storage.

Mike...

by **Endo** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:49 am

My first 2 teardrops were 4' wide, the third is 5' wide.

5 wide is MUCH better!

by **Errol** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:53 am

We sat down and made a list of every possible item that we might ever want in our teardrop. Last night my wife thought of buckets for our shower system. There's no weight in them, but they sure take up some space, so we solved that little problem as we went.
We have placed items into bundles as though packing them for travel, and I have designed the galley and storage compartments to accommodate everything on the list.
We have included canned food items, cutlery, crockery, water storage, first aid kit, survival equipment, porta-loo and chemicals, tool kits and solar gear, portable radio, spare clothes and manchester items and a stack of items that will probably never make it into the teardrop, but at least we can fit it all in if we really need to in an emergency situation.
In a full-on emergency situation, we can even add a box trailer behind the teardrop for extra supplies.
Sure, it is something that will hopefully never have to be considered , but it is something we can do if our lives depended on it.
Errol in Oz

by **Juneaudave** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:09 am

dh wrote:I'm just looking for things y'all have either put in and regretted/found usless; or things you thought about, but left out, then in retrospect wished you had gone with.

People camp differently and have different trailers, so everyones list is probably a bit different. Personnaly:

Found most useless: I have not found any use for the TV/DVD. Our camper was out every weekend this summer and I don't think the TV/DVD has even been turned on....but that's just me and my family.

Thought about and wish I had done differently: I really studied the galley layout. The upper galley cabinets on number two will either be a simple rack or have sliding doors. The swing out doors on Number 1 don't work well for me because its a hassle to have to clear off the counter top to open them.
:roll:

by **nevadatear** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:59 am

I agree with Dave, sliding doors are much more useful. My husband tried to talk me into the cabinet doors, 'cause they were prettier, which they would have been (yours are, Dave!) but the sliders have worked out to be much more convenient as stuff is always in front of the doors.

Erroll, not being from Oz, what are Manchester items?

by **teardrop_focus** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:14 am

.
If you were to build it all over again... <--- link
.

by **Errol** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:47 pm

Manchester includes towels, sheets and blankets etc. All that sort of stuff.
We don't plan on actually carrying everything on the list, but at least we can.
I have read through this forum so many times, I could almost quote every word written and name the authors. As a result I have excluded a lot of things and added a few of my own ideas.
Once completed and tested, we'll know then what we would change.
We decided against fitting a TV/DVD or a fitted sink cause it takes up valuable real estate. No under floor water tank and pump.
I am still trying to organise some photos to share otherwise it all sounds a bit weird.

by **Wolffarmer** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:04 pm

Instead of sliding galley doors instead of "Normal" doors. I made mine so they hinge on the top and swing up, also make them self closing. Of course my cabinets are not very tall either and that helped.

Next trailer will probably be 4.5 feet wide , not sure on the length maybe 9 footer. Two doors, Two doors on any trailer over 4 feet wide, and even at 4 foot probably a good idea for most folks. Try to build a bit lighter to make up for the extra size.

Many people say to skip the sink, I did and i don't miss it. I use several stackable wash basins that carry stuff when on the road.

by **madjack** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:18 pm

...you know...the more I think about it, I would let Snoop Dougie build it...or maybe Brother Steve or even Uncle Lenny...now that would be an EASY build :lol:

madjack

http://s26.photobucket.com/user/len1907 · by **len19070** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:22 am

madjack wrote:...you know...the more I think about it, I would let Snoop Dougie build it...or maybe Brother Steve or even Uncle Lenny...now that would be an EASY build
madjack

Call me...I need the work. :lol: