Maybe a new build? Mobile Playhouse for the Kids

[Alfred]

Hey gang,

I haven't been on the TnTTT list lately, we have been camping quite a few times now in the Weekender for 5 (What fun!). I took it recently to a scout outing with my son, gave a lot of tours! Several scout folks said they want to build one.

But I find myself thinking about build number two! The kids are asking for a clubhouse, and I do not want to build something permanent, as I am afraid we will move. Also, I needed a lot of help with the Weekender for 5, so I want to build something a little simpler, easier, that won't take me 3 years and so much assistance to finish. This would be something I would want to finish over the Winter and have it ready by Spring. I am thinking about something along the lines of the L'il Vardo, painted brightly, built on a 4x8 this time, maybe on a Harbor Freight trailer. I am considering possibly having the door on the back-end, as it will not need a hatch necessarily. Although it will pull primary duty as a clubhouse, I am thinking perhaps something the kids can camp in, too, if we want to pull two trailers, as they get older. The Weekender for 5 works, but it is a little tight, as the kids are getting older. Also, of course, any new build has to be easily accessed by my teenager in a wheelchair.

I'll post a picture of my thoughts later. This is all VERY preliminary right now.

Thanks, AL.

[S. Heisley]

Oh, Alfred! That sounds like a wonderful idea! I get excited and my mind's "gears" start working, just thinking about it!

The back door sounds perfect because you could make it bigger, to fit a full sized wheel chair, and you could have a pull-out wheelchair ramp of up to about 8' long, if you needed it.
Using a taller ceiling of up to 5' would give you room so that you could have bunk beds attached to each side of the wall, with one side only having the upper bunk so that there would be extra floor space. With that extra space, you could have a fold-up table and fold-up benches that latch to the wall when not in use. You could have Pullman-style curtains around each bunk bed so that each child could have privacy when they wanted it; plus, that would probably keep the sleeping space warmer if it were cold. The minimum width for a bunk or cot is about 22". With that size, your upper arm may touch the wall; but, it isn't uncomfortable. I have been told that 22" is the size of some of the beds in submarines.

The only things that I question are:

1) Will your state allow you to pull two trailers in tandem?
2) Will your tow vehicle be able to stop the combined weight of the two brake-less trailers plus itself?

If not, are there campgrounds close enough to home so that you could pull one to the campground and then go back for the second?
Also, most campgrounds only allow two vehicles per campsite; so, you would either have to park the tow vehicle in overflow or you would need to rent two campsites next to each other.

Okay, Okay....I'll stop now. You probably have all kinds of ideas figured out without my ramblings.

Best Wishes!

[mezmo]

Great idea Alfred!

Your kids will love it !

The Vardo/Shepherd's hut style should give you both easier
construction and kid enthusiastic uniqueness too.

Here's a link to a very neat German version of the Shepherd's
hut. It's much more rustic, and therefore simpler, than a Vardo
but is still just as interesting. Their smallest model should be
easy to 'emulate'. They even make one that they sell as a
children's playhouse !

http://www.schaeferwagen.de/
[I use the Chrome browser and it automatically offers to
translate the pages.]

Googling "shepherd's hut" will give you quite a few English web
sites about shepherd's huts as well. Doing so for "Vardos" will really
give you a lot of web sites for those. The shepherd's hut is a much
simpler design and should be therefore an easier build. Maybe you
could combine them into a hybrid style of sorts ?

Have fun designing,it'll be interesting to see what you come up with.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Alfred]

Great idea Alfred!

Your kids will love it ! The Vardo/Shepherd's hut style should give you both easier
construction and kid enthusiastic uniqueness too.

Here's a link to a very neat German version of the Shepherd's
hut.
http://www.schaeferwagen.de/

Yes! That is almost exactly the sort of thing I had in mind. Deryk the Pirate's first L'il Vardo was along the same lines. Basically, I'm thinking about building a box with the rounded roof, windows on the side, and a door in the back. Maybe a little mini-porch. Painted brightly.

I'm going to do some more looking at Shepherd's Huts! Talk to you soon!

AL.

[GPW]

Al, you may want to consider a Foamie’ construction (check out the Foamie section) .... Lives outside just fine , no Rot, no worries ... Light enough to easily tow ... Easily decorated as much as you want ... Thrifty too