Curved weekender

[mikeschn]

Curved Weekender

I've been trying to package a curved Weekender and it's been full of surprises..

Just thought you might like to see how far along I've gotten... This is a work in progress, things are changing by the minute...



Mike...

[Jiminsav]

well gee Wally..that looks like a teardrop to me..

[asianflava]

I like it! Maybe I'll do it when I join the 2nd TD club. A bit complex for a first timer like me.

[beverlyt]

It's the best!!!!

Now get busy and start building soon! I want to see it!

PLEASE PLEASE could you provide step-by-step plans for this one?

5' wide!!, curved!!!, and low!!! YEAH!!
Perfection!!
Bev

[Laredo]

Amen.

[Arne]

Curved is nice, but complicates building a whole bunch.

[mikeschn]

Yes, it's a little tougher... but I'll manage, somehow!

BTW, here's a rough draft of how she'll look!!!



Mike...

[Frank]

Love it!!!!!!!!!

[Jimbo]

Is it still a Weekender or does the new design increase the build time?

[mikeschn]

The build time has definitely increased... I guess I need to come up with a new name eh? Maybe something like Summer Vacation...

Mike...

[Guest]

I guess I need to come up with a new name eh?

Why don't you have a contest for the new name?

Here's a few that come to mind...

1. Table For Two
2. Monthlonger
3. Lil' Diner

[Arne]

Mike, I love your new design. I also question... why?

I have to go back and review your other notes on why you want a table. If it were twice as big, it makes sense. And I understand why you would want to eat inside if it is raining....

My scenario: It's raining... I go to a diner, eat, come back and go to bed and read....... It's really cold... same result.

If I had one designed like your new one (I really like the footwell idea), I'm not sure how much time I'd spend sitting (chair leg height 15"; chair backs, straight, short, head room for 5 footers re the curved bulkhead).

This design requires a whole bunch of ergonomic creativity. and I look forward to your final product.

The bottom line for me is how much time would I really spend using a trailer with this design (in the 'table' mode). Don't get me wrong, I think you have some great ideas, which I will use on my next tead drop, but is this a dream vs. reality thing?

ps. where is the a/c?

[mikeschn]

Arne,

Good question.

We love our Baja Benroy. Every day we convert the bed back into a table, and every night we make the bed again. Why? Because it's so comfortable.

We don't use the table when it's nice outside, but if it's not so nice, we just slip in, out of the elements, and we have our own little retreat, away from the elements, or whatever.

When we went to Wamplers Lake, Bev & Bob, and also Kurt & Jeanie we camping in the sun, without any shade. And as the day wore on, they got warmer and warmer. Bev especially looked like she was overheating. So we turned on the air, and retreated from the heat. In no time Bev was back to her normal self!

When we are doing quick 1 nighters we don't set up a tent or an easy up. We just back in, and stabilize (30 seconds) and we are done! If it's raining, we can retreat inside.

We have even retreated inside to play a game of cards, so that the wind wouldn't blow the cards away.

Yes, we really like the comfort and convenience an inside table adds.

The Baja Benroy has a tongue weight of about 275 pounds... much too heavy to tow with the Jetta. So this design exercise is to put all the best features of the Baja Benroy into a Curved Weekender that I can tow with the Jetta.

As for the air conditioner, well I did say it was a rough draft. Unless I come up with something better, it'll be here...



As for the size... I've made it 5' wide instead of 6' so I can see around it with the Jetta. I've made it 54" high instead of 60" high to minimize the weight. And adding the dropped footwell gives us the same comfort that we have in the Baja Benroy. And Grant says it's a smooth motion to step over the threshhold, and slide into the seat. And he should know...

Just look at him sitting at his table in his teardrop....
http://www.teardrops.net/LilBear/contact.html

Does that answer the question?

Mike...

[beverlyt]

Arne,
I think if you can fit a table in a teardrop, it's nice to have. Especially if you have AC.

When we were at Hayes State Park with Mike and Michelle, it was a hot blazing day. Because we were in a camping lot that didn't have ANY shade, there was really nowhere to get cool. Mike and Michelle invited us over to "sit" in the Baja and cool off with some AC. It was a nice cool place to go sit.

The other thing I like about a table inside is for playing cards or board games. If you don't have a picnic table, it's nice to have a table to sit at that is level and at the correct height to do such things.

Another thought here in Michigan, is the BUGS. We have a screen tent we sit inside, but we sit outside in that screen tent until we go to bed or the mesquitoes would drive you inside to sleep at sundown! It would be nice on cold nights to be able to sit up for awhile inside a warm trailer.

We don't have ac, but for all the above reasons, especially when we rustic camp quite a bit and can't get to a diner within miles... a table inside would be nice for short periods.

This "summer vacation" trailer has alot going for it. The curved lines are what I feel sets it apart from most trailers of today. By keeping it low and curved it has the look of the "teardrop" that so many people like.

Bev

MIke--- Oh, I see from your above post it was pretty obvious I felt like I was suffering from heat stroke that day. You guys probably saved my life!!

[beverlyt]

Mike,
Only one door? Does 5' really give one enough room inside to feel comfortable with only one door?
Bev