Minnesota newbie in the design and planning stage. How wide?

[electronicx]

Im in the design and planning stage and Im wondering if a 4 foot wide teardrop is going to be too cramped for 2 average sized adults. Im going to build it off of the TSC no floor 4x8 or the 5 foot wide version at Northern Tool. My tow vehicle is currently a VW Golf with class 1 hitch.

4x8 Seems to be a popular size. To those that have slept in one, do you wish it was bigger, or is 4 foot wide fine?

[tearhead]

Sorry, I've not slept in a 4' wide, but it seems like the four footers have been built by people who camp alone. (There's a chicken and egg question in there somewhere!) We have a 5 and it's fine (queen size bed), but I think we'd feel cramped in a 4. Given tha the edge of the bed is the edge of the world in a teardrop, even five can feel tight. I think, especially if either of you is either a bit claustrophobic or anything but very slim, a 5 would be worth it. You might want to check the user polls threads--there was a poll on this about a year ago.

[TPMcGinty]

Welcome! I think a 5 wide would be better (more storage room and more sleep room) but can your Golf tow the bigger Teardrop? There is one thing you have to think about when your sleep in a Teardrop. Since the walls help hold you in the camper, you are able to sleep on the WHOLE mattress. You loose the outside 6-12 inches of a mattress in your home because if you slept that clsoe to the edge, you would more than likely fall off the bed. Another thing is if you sleep against the walls, they get pretty cold if they are not insulated.

Try going to the gathering in Pine City the first weekend in June. You will be able to check out some VERY nice tears!

[egjacks]

I am in the process of building a 5 ft wide trailer. so i can't give much real world experience. however, when my wife and I were first married, we slept on a very small mattress. twin I think. ( didn't take too long to move to a queen) if I was not a large guy, 6'7", I think that we would be able to survive in a 4 footer. So it really depends on how cozy you want to be with your camping buddy. a set of newly weds might be quite comfortable in a narrower trailer, but if you ever take someone else along, say one of your hunting buddies, then a five footer might be crowded.

Another thing you can do is build out over the frame of a 4x8 trailer, that way you have the weight of a smaller trailer, less metal, under a larger teardrop. I am building a 5x10 teardrop on a 4x8 Harbor freight trailer.

[KEEPING IS SIMPLE]

I have used my 4' wide as a 'guest room' for a couple. Neither of them are tiny, but they said it was great. Mine is 47" wide on the inside and - not to contradict, but to supply another perspective - having the walls on each side is a bonus for space when two are sleeping. You're NOT going to fall off the bed, so each can snuggle up to the wall which provides surprisingly more space than most double mattresses provide. Camping comphy is the goal, so it an individual thing.

[electronicx]

Welcome! I think a 5 wide would be better (more storage room and more sleep room) but can your Golf tow the bigger Teardrop? There is one thing you have to think about when your sleep in a Teardrop. Since the walls help hold you in the camper, you are able to sleep on the WHOLE mattress. You loose the outside 6-12 inches of a mattress in your home because if you slept that clsoe to the edge, you would more than likely fall off the bed. Another thing is if you sleep against the walls, they get pretty cold if they are not insulated.

Try going to the gathering in Pine City the first weekend in June. You will be able to check out some VERY nice tears!

I widened my design by a foot. I don't think it will add enough weight to matter. The utility trailer I pull with the golf is a pretty heavy home made trailer that Ive never had any problems pulling even with it loaded with junk.

Ill go with the 5 foot wide to make sure I have enough room.

Do you have a link to any info about the meet in Pine City?

[TPMcGinty]

My Generic Benroy weighed 960# empty after I built it. I could have done things differently to save some weight. The link to the ING4 Gathering is:

http://tearjerkers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4178

You will have to register at the Tearjerkers web site, but it's quick and easy. Hope to see you there!

[Gary and Cheri]

I have a 5x8 teardrop that weights 960 lbs dry. It is probably about 1200 lbs ready to camp. I drive a 2009 Jetta TDI sportwagen with a class 1 hitch and have about 10,000 trouble free towing miles. You should be fine with your Golf set up as it is and towing a Tear. Your Golf like my Jetta is probably rated at 1000 lbs towing in the U.S., but the exact same car is rated 3000 lbs in Europe.

Build a 5 wide as 4 is alittle tight for many people. You will also find that your Golf is about 5 wide and tear will fit in it's draft very nicely. I generally get between 28 to 30 mpg but have gotten as good as 35 mpg when not trying to get far too fast.

Gary

We also hope to be at ING4.

[Betsey]

Do you have a link to any info about the meet in Pine City?

Welcome to the madness!

If you join the Tearjerkers, make sure you check out the calendar for the St. Croix Chapter (Minnesota & Wisconsin) for campouts & gatherings. Lots of great people & opportunities to meet other teardroppers.

Here is the link: http://tearjerkers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=10105#10105

Hope to meet you at Pine City!

Betsey

[electronicx]

Do you have a link to any info about the meet in Pine City?

Welcome to the madness!

If you join the Tearjerkers, make sure you check out the calendar for the St. Croix Chapter (Minnesota & Wisconsin) for campouts & gatherings. Lots of great people & opportunities to meet other teardroppers.

Here is the link: http://tearjerkers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=10105#10105

Hope to meet you at Pine City!

Betsey

Im registered for the forum. My name is Collin. Ive got some parts already and more are on the way so I guess the process has started. Im going to go with the 5 foot wide so the dogs can come too.

[TPMcGinty]

Im going to go with the 5 foot wide so the dogs can come too.

My dog Baron shares his teardrop with my girlfriend and I. He gets half the queen size mattress and Cheryl and I get the other half.

[Gary and Cheri]

The dog in our avitar starts the night off down by our feet, but as the night goes on he mysteriously moves up and we often wake up with him sideways between us and by our heads pushing us to the walls. He likes to spread out. I sure am glad we have the five wide partly because of him.

He loves the tear.

Gary

[egjacks]

I wonder if my cats would like to go camping with me? nahh, they are spoiled little things! (that might be my fault)

[rainman0]

Do you have a link to any info about the meet in Pine City?

Welcome to the madness!

If you join the Tearjerkers, make sure you check out the calendar for the St. Croix Chapter (Minnesota & Wisconsin) for campouts & gatherings. Lots of great people & opportunities to meet other teardroppers.

Here is the link: http://tearjerkers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=10105#10105

Hope to meet you at Pine City!

Betsey

Welcome Collin,
What part of Mn?
We've used our 4' for many enjoyable miles. But, if you think you need the extra foot, go for it. I would be concerned as far as towing goes. My HHR didn't even like the 4'er. Really effected the mileage. It was rated for 1000lbs., and felt every one of them.
Hope you can make the Pine City gathering.

Im registered for the forum. My name is Collin. Ive got some parts already and more are on the way so I guess the process has started. Im going to go with the 5 foot wide so the dogs can come too.

[Gary and Cheri]

Toby,

I have often wondered if 4 vs 5 wide made much difference in mileage. Most cars, including my Jetta sportwagen, are about 5 ft. wide. In theory it should punch an initial 5 foot wide hole in the air which starts to collapse but the tear then re-opens. The turbulent air should be easier for the tear to re-open then if it had to do the initial breaking. I wonder how much extra drag that extra 6 inches per side makes.

What ever it is I for one will not give up my 6 inches of bed.


Gary