by mezmo » Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:46 pm
Hi StandUpGuy,
Just some observations/questions to help you refine your concept.
The One minus I see is that once it is set up you have no separate vehicle
to use if needed. But that's a choice some motorhomers and truck
campers make too.
The bath area seems too cramped. Why use a permanent wall to enclose
it? Use a bi-fold door [to fold for room to swing by the user] that'd reach
the opposite wall, when again flat, at 90 degrees to the opposite side wall.
Then you'd have a much larger usable area by including the 'aisle' space
that in all likelihood wouldn't be used at the same time otherwise. While
your at it, set a shower-pan into the aisle floor [you may have to get it
fabricated or adapt some other existing flat pan shaped item -SS would
be ideal] covered by a lift-up floor panel. plumb to an external RV
cart tank [Empty it before you leave, why transport heavy grey water?]
This would give a much larger and useful shower. [Which is sharing the
one sink's faucet with a shower take-off I'm assuming.] And while I'm
at it, the space over the toilet/PP is wasted dedicated to just that space.
Why not build a cabinet/shallow half-closet above the toilet that would be
hinged to fold out against the back wall or into the front of the trailer body
while the toilet is in use. It wouldn't be any more work than opening a
door. [You would then mount the bi-fold door against the non-toilet
sidewall.]
How will you handle the half-bed support off the trailer?
Will the Tow-Vee and the 'SMNARV' still be hitched together for use?
What are the tentative trailer Body dimensions -L, H, W?
I agree with Bob Henry that it'd be better to have a taller opening at
the front. It's a confined space as it is, make it as user friendly as
possible.
I surmise that the jist of your main inspiration is to use the 4ftx4ft Harbor
Freight trailer for an extremely compact SMNARV. So here's a couple of
alternative suggestions...
FIRST:
This suggestion is based on an old Model-T Ford camper body someone
built that had half of the enclosed sleeping compartment telescope into
the the other half horizontally, with storage compartments along the side.
Why not do the inverse and have a full body length 'over section' that
would slide forward with an internal fold down floor/bed-base section to
provide a bed base. A 'fully' triangular tongue box' over the A frame or
the A frame could support that. This would cover the pop-top in transit and
not interfere with its use when set up. The mattress would be attached to
the fold=down floor/bed-base. This outer forward sliding section could be
made out of perimeter framed foam panels for light weight and ease of
use. I think it would be easier to weather seal than the Tow-Vee and
SMNARV combo and it would all be all hard sides. [Check out the Foamie
section for ideas useful for the walls.]
SECOND:
Google "Propert Folding Caravan", both normally and in Images. It is an
ingenious Australian camping caravan[TTT] from the 1950s-1960s. It's
base is just @ 6ftx6ft. A take=off on that could probably be built on
the HF base with judicious extension. Your floor plan could adapt easily
into its base. Foam based panels would keep it light.
Just feed=back/ideas as you were looking for...
Cheers,
Norm/mezmo
If you have a house - you have a hobby.