4x8 or 5x8???

[Wolfscout]

All else fails find the nearest lil guy dealer and go try them both out, just stay away from the 6 wides our you'll never be happy with anything else

Cliff (& Sheri)

hahha that's why I ended up with a 6x12 for my first build.

[jlreyburn]

Our first trailer was a 4 x 8, before we bought it we looked at the 5 x 8 also. We thought it's not that much bigger. Fast forward 1 year later, after a year of camping, we found ourselves purchasing a 5 x 8. Yes you could easily "get by" with a 4 x 8 or "truly enjoy a 5 x 8". Just our experience.

[starleen2]

A full/double bed is 54" wide, not 48". I have yet to read a "I wish we had built our tear narrower" post, but there are tons of "why didn't I go wider?" posts

If I were to build another, and I had a mate, I would probably opt for a 5 wide as well.

I can tell you from experience – 4ft wide is good for one person, other than that - go 5ft wide

[eamarquardt]

"You don't have the time/money to do it "right" the first time, but you always have the time/money to do it right the second time".

Anytime I've wanted something I've scrimped, saved, worked another job, or done whatever it took to reach my goal.

Scrounge for used tires and rims, network and find someone with a saw and welder, and build a better frame than you can buy at HF. Then build the 5' wide. Otherwise you'll end up with two trailers. The one you built first and he one you should have built first.

Cheers,

Gus

[martha24]

Our tear drop is a 4x8 and we sleep comfortably in it. We also sleep comfortably in a double bed at home.

A couple of points, in a TD one can use the entire mattress to sleep on as there isn't the worry of falling off the bed.

Also if you choose to go wider, nothing says you have to go as wide as 5ft. If you check out Doug Hodder's build's, his TD's are 4 1/2 ft wide which would be less over hang on a 4ft wide trailer frame than 5 ft. Doug builds his own frames.

I'm a big believer in creating mock ups, so you can decide what works for you. Bottom line, that is what matters.

Best of luck

[Oldragbaggers]

I am like roly and the woody teardrop.

I have no need for 12 more inches.

to me it would not make a hill of beans!!!!!!!!

.

I am like roly plumb happy in 48 inches.

slow

You are only one person, slow. One person can sleep comfortably in a twin bed, two people....not so much.

[eamarquardt]

Seems like the most folks in favor of a 4' wide sleep alone.

Our 38' sloop had a narrow "master bed". Wider would have been a plus on those rare occasions that Suzy went out with me.

Cheers,

Gus

[Jim Edgerly]

Go with the 5' wide. That extra foot is 25%more, and 25% more is a lot! Remember, it is not just mattress size you are talking about. Your storage cabs will be 25% wider, as will your entire galley. Mine is a 5', and I can't imagine have less room in my galley than I do now. The 5' wide also has a wider track for stability.

[Jim Edgerly]

Hi Slow, I checked your album and see what you mean. I'm talking about a conventional build where the fenders are up against the camper and the wheels in close. I see where yours are mounted out a bit. Most 4 foot wide campers would have the wheels in a foot narrower than a 5 foot camper.