How cozy is your cabin?

[shortleggedsarah]

Hi Teardropers,
I am currently planning out my first tear design. I was planning on using the 4'x8' utility trailer from Harbor Freight (unless my Craigslist stalking is successful).

How cozy is a 48" interior? You would think as an Interior Designer, I would be able to figure this out, but "trailer design" was not a required course. I am fairly small (albeit curvy), can my 48" wide tear sleep myself and a friend? Should I extend my dimensions?

Tell me, teary-dearies, how did you solve this problem?

[S. Heisley]

You will be able to decide that with simple thought processes or a mock-up bed.

Some trailers sleep 2 in a 44" wide bed and people do okay.
Cots are sometimes a narrow as 22".
I believe a full sized bed is 54" wide
and a Queen sized bed is 60" wide?

Consider whether you might have a pet along on your trip and where would the pet sleep? Also keep in mind that the mattress doesn't have any space around it; so, both sleepers will be sleeping with a wall on one side and an elbow, rump, shoulder, or whatever on the other side of them. So, the question is: How compatible are you with your sleeping companion(s)?

[GuitarPhotog]

And are you planning a one- or two-door trailer. While 4 ft wide may be OK for sleeping, having to climb over is definitely not OK.

<Chas>

[LDK]

I built a 4ft wide on a harbor freight trailer and if I had to do over it would be 5 ft wide with 2 doors and no overhead cabinets. I bumped my head a few times on those cabinets.

[pete42]

shortlegged(curvy)sara
just how tall are you?
could you sleep crossways?
are you so short that your feet just reach the ground?
how large is your sleeping companion Chihuahua, beagle, german sherpard, st bernard, great dane size?

serious answer to follow:
there are a great many TD trailers that have been built on a 48" width trailer.
remember if you start with a 48" wide trailer the finished size will be somewhat less
that is why some expand their floor size to 5 feet or more by adding extentions to their 48" trailers
and of course shortlegged(curvy)sara it also depends on the size of you companion.

Back in the 60's while stationed at the Philadelphia naval base I went with a girl from Frankford she was 4' 8" the tallest family member was about 5' 2"
I felt like a giant at 5' 6" nice Italitan family
I have fond memories of Philly went back couple years ago and did the tourist thing lot's has changed.

pete

[Lgboro]

I also built a 4 wide ( 1 door ) but have yet to take a companion. However, there are several on the forum that have camped double in a 4 wide for years. I have spent many nights in one of those one man tents that are I could barely fit in or just under the stars or under a canoe so I'm in peaceful bliss with all the space of a 4 wide. I wouldn't build any different as I don't want the expense of extra weight and wind resistance for then few times I can see a 5 wide benefiting me ( I know I'm in the minority).

[shil]

We sleep in a queen-size bed at home, and had a queen-size inflatable when we were tent camping. I did not even consider anything smaller.

[PKCSPT]

If I were to sleep two in my four wide it would need a second door, and it would be very cozy. Mine fits me and my dog,,,, barely.

[laroosta]

Awesome post !!! ........and thanks everyone for the input. I recently purchased a home made 4 x 8 trailer and I've been going back and forth trying to decide if I should build the cabin over the tires to gain some more room. The more I think about it, and after looking around at different "over the tire" designs......... I think I will definitely opt for the bigger floor plan.

Thanks again everyone.

Randy.

[jeff0520]

Real simple test. Ask around and find a friend with a twin sized bed. Take a twin size for a test nap. That's about the amount of space you are talking about

[Forrest747]

Go 60 inches wide with 2 doors. 4x8 trailer will do fine just plan on building over the tires. also look at some trailer stores and see if they have any 5x8 trailers. you will be happy. Jennie is curvy and we have napped in our trailer and i am glad i went 5 wide.

[StandUpGuy]

Slowcowboy i am still waitng for the day that you start talking about a shower and a toilet in a small trailer!!!

[shortleggedsarah]

Hmm, I'm thinking that expanding over the tires might be the way to go. I wish I could see the trailer or even obtain a drawing of it, so I could make some measurements. It would probably be myself and my bestfriend sharing the trailer, and while we have slept in some odd, tight places, I think I will do a favor for both of us and spring for an extra foot.

Time to stalk some trailer builds I suppose

[Forrest747]

I totally agree about getting some boxes tape and make a mockup of what you want to build. I laid out a rough idea of the size in tape on the manufacturing floor to get a sense of the sleeping dimensions. My one of my regrets is I made my cabinets not deep enough and I don't have enough storage inside. If your stalking builds look up becky's build and I also like robbies and the zack absolutesnowboarder great detail. Good luck one thing also to keep in mind what size plywood you can get so that a 5 foot wide roof at 60 inches if you mount your walls just wrong you will need 62 inch wide ply wood and that you can't use the 5x5 sheet. FYI

[jeff0520]

Hmm, I'm thinking that expanding over the tires might be the way to go. I wish I could see the trailer or even obtain a drawing of it, so I could make some measurements. It would probably be myself and my bestfriend sharing the trailer, and while we have slept in some odd, tight places, I think I will do a favor for both of us and spring for an extra foot.

Time to stalk some trailer builds I suppose

Take a peek at my build thread. (link in signature.) I built out over the wheel wells in a very simple way. My raised fender wells are probably not strictly necessary, but I'm a member of the "better safe than sorry" school of thought