Newbie needs pointers on dual-use tiny travel trailer

[BJerols]

Hi all!

Seems like I have stumbled upon a great corner of the www! I have spend several days and countless hours now pouring over build threads, design plans, etc and doing some searching. I'm at the point where I am ready to begin step 1 with planning my TT. I was hoping to pick up some pointers and get some advice from all the experts here at TNTTT since I am a first timer, and because it appears my build isn't popular so I wasn't able to find plans to copy/borrow from. Here's the background info which I am using to help formulate my plans:

Tow vehicle:
1998 BMW M3 (@ 2k tow limit, 200lb tongue weight on Curt Class 1 hitch) - main tow vehicle
2001 BMW 525iT (potential tow vehicle as well)

Main uses:
Camping while attending HPDEs (High Performance Drivers Education)
Towing tools, track wheels/tires to from events

Additional uses:
Family camping (me 6' 170lb + wife 5' 105lb + son 3yo toddler) - potentially, would be their first times so not yet sure how much we would do, I'm sure lil guy would go for it more and more as he gets older
Utility trailering


So I take my BMW to various racing circuits around the NE, mid-Atlantic and Canada to drive the car on track. In order to do so I drag around racing tires, tools, jacks, spare parts, and related equipment. Currently I stuff everything into my car and go however this season onwards I have started going much faster and I have upped the safety on my hobby by adding racing seats, harnesses and a roll bar. This takes away a bunch of storage room, most importantly for the 4 extra wheels and tires, however the increased safety is a must. Normally guys in my situation seem to build a HF 40x48 trailer for their track tires + tools & jack like so:



I was thinking about doing that but I stumbled upon Teardrops and then TNTTT and figured this may be a better solution for me as it will enable me to go camping with my son, as well as avoid paying for $100 a night hotel rooms on top of the expense of the HPDEs, brakes, tires, gas, etc (already the event weekends are expensive!). In fact switching to a TT could pay for itself in 2-3 years of savings on hotels.

So now you know the background, the issue I am trying to get around in my plans will be the wheels/tires which are large (just over 24" diameter) and heavy (guessing 40lbs each). With all the designs I have seen the galley/storage under the hatch never seems large enough to fit my wheels/tires, and if I did adjust the plans it seems I won't fit unless I sleep diagonally. I am a function not form guy so I can more about the practicality than the looks, so I don't need a true teardrop with beautiful flowing curves. I just want a basic TT that can haul my racing junk to and from the track + supplies and a place to sleep. I guess I could always tow the tires in the sleeping section but they are dirty, greasy, and have rubber/clag stuck to them that can get all over the place

Please let me know your thoughts on my unique situation and any tips you have on designing a TT for this sort of dual use



edit: was planning on using a 4x8 frame from HF/NT/RT/etc

[mvperini]

All kinds of optons for carring extra gear
roof rack


front rack


removeable rear rack


there is always a way to do something

Mike

[Roly Nelson]

Hi, BJ, sounds like you are ripe for a cargo trailer conversion. Plenty of room for sleeping, hauling stuff and should be light enough to be pulled with you BMW. Check it out, there are some being done on this forum. And by the way, welcome.
Roly ~~

[Martiangod]

5 x 8 all aluminum v-nose would probably work good

[Martiangod]

Or a Benroy plan, build 5 x 8, Rack tires across front so when you get to event pull them out, futon type mattress would then fold down for bed.
Keep galley area to a min so you can carry tool box, jack and stuff. Make front cubby deep enuff for helmet, gloves, fire shoes and the sort.



Get Beemer bolt pattern so you can run same tire as car, no spare to carry then

[BJerols]

Thanks a lot guys this was helpful! I like the design you posted as well as the roof rack idea. Any idea how much weight you can put on top of a TT?

Also the roof rack idea got me thinking and I did some digging and I see some track guys use racks on their car and carry up to three wheels up there! This would mean I wouldn't have to compromise on the TT design to be dual use and I could make it a true camper with only compromises being size related, etc

Thanks so much! I have some planning to do now that I have narrowed down my requirements, again most appreciated!


Brent

[RonS]

I had considered something similar before, and was thinking of just building a longer trailer, to have a storage platform at the front, then still have the room for the size camper I wanted. Like the Little Guy brand, platform models.

Granted, you might have to watch how much weight you have there, to not get too high a tongue weight, I think it's worth considering.. Maybe even build with a storage bay under the entire shell, where wheels, etc could be stored, to help better distribute the weight along the length of the trailer, so you don't get a "barbell" effect with heavy wheels/tool on the front end and a heavy galley at the rear and nothing in between....

[Martiangod]

Hmm, that would make entry into the trailer much easier too, to have the pod mounted on top of a basement, cool idea, and right on about the weight distibution
And would still only make the trailer 5 feet off the frame