Hi from the UK

[Luc G]

Hi y'all

I came across this forum just yesterday as I've been searching for materials and ideas for a teardrop/tiny trailer that I've just started to build, a couple of days ago actually. This is a really great resource for teardrop builders. Thanks to all of you.

I've completed my outline design, loosely based on the Widget 6 profile, as I just love that retro shape, but I'm going to try to make it look more retro but modern at the same time; with something like the styling of a TAB (if you get me drift). I'll post a picture of my drawing as soon as I've redrawn it a bit better.

I'm using a recycled trailer tent base (an old Penine Aztec) which will take a load of about 650kg/1450lbs and which has an Alco hitch rated to 750kg/1650lbs. I get the feeling from what I've read that I'll have to build lightly so as not to overload the frame and the hitch.

So far I've reinforced the fours corner jacks, sanded and repainted the frame and reinforced/extended the floor width to cover the wheels. This will allow space for a UK std double berth. a kitchen area and a folding table. As there isn't room under the floor to lower it I've decided to hinge the front half of the roof to increase to headroom to 6 feet for kitchen purposes, which kind of brings it back to a proper teardrop design but reversed. This also gives it a more retro look.

I'll be taking photos as I go and will post some as soon as I've worked out how to follow the picture posting instructions.

Anyway feel free to offer any constructive advice and sorry if this is a bit long winded. I'll try to keep it shorter in future.

Luc G

[mcspin50]

Welcome Luc,
It's an obsession that can cross great bodies of water. I've followed some wonderful builds in the UK.
Sounds like you have a good, solid plan for your build. Mine involves copious quantities of head scratching and visiting the forum for answers since I lack most of the knowledge needed to wire, plumb and successfully use a jig saw.
Anyway, good luck on your build. Don't forget to post some pictures.

[rebapuck]

Welcome. Look forward to your pictures.

I am not a builder myself. I live in a townhome with no yard, no driveway, no garage. Drats! So I purchased an Eriba Puck from Belgium. That's tiny!!

Even so, I have learned a tremendous amount on this forum. You will too.

[Luc G]

Thanks for the welcome MCSpin50 and Rebapuck.

I actually live in an apartment/flat myself but I'm building my TDT in my partner's garden under a wooden porch that I built for her in the summer. That's what I call forward planning. I can keep dry and annoy the neighbours at the same time.

I've only just (nearly) finished renovating a 33 year old Rapido folding Caravan which I bought for £100/$150 a couple of years ago. It's been great but it's a real hassle to unfold as its very heavy. Hence the reason to build something that I can chuck everything in through the door and drive off to the coast or countryside for the weekend.

I'll be working on the schematic tonight so I will try to get it uploaded in the next couple of days.

I've seen a couple of Eribas, including the Puck. I think they're brilliant. It's where I first got the idea for an internal kitchen area.

I finished off the floor today but forgot to take my camera. I'll take it tomorrow if the sun's out. There's nothing like sunny pics.

[mcspin50]

Hi Luc,
I really like the profile and schematic of your TTT.

I especially like your idea for the table that folds into mattress support. Very clever.
Hope you had some help flipping your trailer on its side. I had 3 21-year-olds do that for me.
I agree with you about pop-up/tent trailers. We had an old 1972 Bethany pop-up that we would use to go camping with our 3 sons when they were all at home. Set-up and tear-down was almost always followed by a swim in a pool or nearby lake as it was a hot, tiring job.
Take care,
Lil

[Luc G]

To be fair to the guy or gal who really had the idea, I've just pinched the idea of the folding table/bed base from another design and adapted it to suit my internal layout. I plan to use piano hinge to join the folding parts. I can't remember whose design it was as I've looked at so many in the last few days.

Also my profile design has now changed from a lifting roof section to a raised 'trolley' roof as I really like its even more retro look. A guy in the UK, Grizz has built a teardrop with this feature and when I saw his build I just had to incorporate it into my design.

That's funny, my partner has three teenage and post teenage boys and I enlisted their help to get the base onto its side, although the first time I did do it by myself. It's heavy but not that heavy (like my brother).

I'm off to the south coast next Sunday for a week in our folding caravan and I just read in the news that snow is forecast in the UK So I've sent out my partner to get an electric heater; I think she'll need it. I camped out a few years ago on the north rim of the Grand Canyon and it got down to -5 Celsius but it was fine. However I was wearing every bit of clothing I had with me. Looked a bit like Charlie Brown but very toasty in my sleeping bag.

[Mini Renegade]

and welcome to the forum. If you haven`t yet found the UK website we are at www.tcgb.org
You will find some amazing builds on there inc the copper trolley top trailer I believe you were refering to ( built by Deli Dave)

[BigAl]

Hi Luc, Greetings from Scotland! Whereabouts are you (roughly)? There are quite a few UK teardroppers now, and we are always glad to hear of more.

Your drawings are interesting. Have you had a look at Angib's plans?

[Luc G]

Hi BigAl and Mini Renegade

Yes I've got most of the plans connected to your link and I have based my evolving design on the Widget but with an added trolley bus roof. I've started a build journal but I have had to hold off the build due to the bad weather. I'm having to work outside and it's just a bit to cold at the moment. I'm hoping to cut and build the insulated sandwich ply walls next; well as soon as it warms up a bit.

Thanks for the links. I'll check out the UK website too. I'm based in Hertfordshire, just north of London.

[es009d7705]

Hi Luc Evan here from Scotland, Welcome to the forum. This is an amazing forum and you can find out just about anything here all you have to do is ask. No matter how daft you might think your question is someone will have an answer. Mind and take lots of photos of your build and upload them to the build journal section. All the best with your build and the new year, Ev. You know the destination, but not the duration, so enjoy the journey.

[H@nk]

Hi Luc, greetings from the Netherlands. Nice design, alsmost like mine.
When its finished, will you come to the other side of the water?

[Luc G]

Hi All

Thanks for the welcome

Very likely to cross the channel for a few hols but not until the weather gets better.

In the mean time I'm developing a solar powered cool box that'll run off an old 6W panel that used to run a pond fountain. I'll post pictures as soon as I've collected all the parts together.

My teardrop design will incorporate both 240v and 12v systems for on and off the grid. I'm also experimenting with a small wind generator for battery charging; probably solar and wind coupled together. I'll post updates as I go as to how successful the various ideas turn out.

[BigAl]

Hi Luc, I would like to see your 12v circuit design if you have a moment.

I have a 12V 8W PV panel and a charge controller bought from Maplins connected to a cheapo car battery. It powers 12V lighting.

Would be nice to have some fresh ideas.

[es009d7705]

Hi Evan here I was interested in your idea for a wind turbine as I was also thinking along those lines. I came across an idea for a battery charger on the Instructables site using an old cordless drill. It just seemed that next logical step would be to try and adapt the idea to turn it it into a wind turbine. The only thing is that you would need some sort of safety device to cut it of when the battery is fully charged. I dont know what your electrical sills are like but they couldnt be worse than mine. Anyway the net is a mine of information and I will come across it somewhere. It will be interesting to see your finished result, bye for now Evan.