Comparing a Weekender and a Cubby

[Benhamtroll]

I'm trying to decide which design to go with for my first build. Cost is going to be an issue, with a new baby on the way in May. I have just about every woodworking tool imaginable, but no welding skills (hence my two choices).

Is there a significant cost savings between either of these designs, all things being equal?

[Deryk the Pirate]

Id build a 5 foot wide weekender with a shelf/bunk for the baby.

deryk

[Benhamtroll]

Interesting idea! I had been thinking of D-clips on the ceiling and a hammock, but a baby-bunk is kind of snazzy, too!

[Deryk the Pirate]

This way if you build it in from the start you will get a few more years out of it when the little one gets larger.

[rowerwet]

the little one will most likely cause time to be the enemy (says the guy with 4 kids) the weekender is meant to be a quicker build.

[mikeschn]

The cubby is really small, and a lot of work, like the guys mentioned.

The weekender, with it's flat panels is designed to be a fast and easy build.

Also check out the weekender II design, which is a design in progress, here: viewtopic.php?p=921223#p921223

Mike...

[wagondude]

So, if the Weekender in designed to be built in a weekend, is the Weekender II designed to be built in a weekend er two?

Sorry, couldn't resist

Bill

[S. Heisley]

The weekender would be the quickest and the most versatile for your needs.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

So, if the Weekender in designed to be built in a weekend, is the Weekender II designed to be built in a weekend er two?

Well played

[Kharn]

Weekender all the way, the 8' Cubby has the cabin cabinets too close to the door so you can't have a meaningful bunk without losing the cabinets entirely. The 10' Weekender can still have a few cabinets while allowing sufficient space for a bunk.

I forget who it was, but one member has photos in his gallery of how he made a bunk for his kid. He used ~1" wood dowels with wall fittings (solid circles on one wall, lift-out U-shapes on the other) and heavy fabric looped over each dowel and sewn. It should be more comfortable than just a shelf, plus since the middle will be lower than the dowels, it isnt as easy for the kid to roll out and down onto you. That should work until the kid is old enough to sleep in a tent next to the trailer.

I would include a third set of dowel fittings next to the fittings at the rear of the cabin, allowing you to stow the assembly with the fabric rolled around the two dowels and have more usable space during the day or while towing.