Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

So far I love all of the designs that you have put up!

As for suggestions like others have said yes an elevated sleeping platform would work best. I'd like to just dive in and sleep especially when I'm on a road trip and it is late. I also really like the slide out kitchen! Here in BC I find it pours more than the sun is shining and if I would be able to possibly do some cooking inside with the windows open for ventilation I would be a very happy camper indeed .

On that note I'm thinking maybe having the interior being able convert to a dinette would be ideal. That way with the table down you would have your elevated sleeping platform with storage under it but in poor weather, the unit would be entirely livable and very usable more so than just having a bed in there.

You may have said it and I probably missed it but do you have any idea of a rough weight you are looking at for a final version?

Thanks Roebuck. At planned size, might be tight for having space to cook inside. Do plan on an awning / side wall configuration of some stuff for weather protection over side-out kitchen.

Have been think about how to make the bed platform slide back into seat.

I believe a rolling "shell" version of it would be 500-550 lbs, then depending on how it's outfitted the weight would go up from there.

Here are some more sketches on this one showing some additional design details.









Love to hear what people think?

I want one, that's what I think.
To my eyes that just looks like it belongs in the back country. Makes me want to buy another Jeep to pull one with. Nice design Scott.

Thanks Shaun, look forward to setting you up with one down the road.

Scott, Bravo!....I salute your designs....I have been an admirer of the TRAK Tvan for some time...However I really like your design better in some ways. Now if you could add a drop foot well at the rear, then I would be really interested. Would you consider a a six foot wide by 8, 9 or 10 foot long version? I have a NT 5x8 that I can use. What kind of price minus the trailer ? The NT trailer is built by Carry On was purchased at Northern Tool store. Wallet is getting hot... Txbum , Rick

Thanks Rick! Yes, the Tvan trailers are nice. Maybe a bigger one down the road, the initial one will be ~5' x 8'. In theory, because you would be building your own floor, you could add a drop foot well at the back for standing up. I was figuring $280 in the $2900 for a HF frame kit on sale.

These designs are all awesome, Scott! I'm going to be watching closely as you move forward on them!

I wonder if there's a way of adding a bit of weather protection to the rear entrance. My first thought was a hatch-like rear entrance, more like a standard teardrop, instead of the side opening, but then I realized the simplicity and other benefits of the side-open. I'm just thinking, as was brought up by someone else, that in less-than-ideal weather, the entrance could get a bit wet. Maybe a small awning, or even the add-a-room would work nicely though?

Keep up the great work!

Thanks Mark! Yes, thinking about awning for the rear entry and side cooking area, both with wall and/or add-a-room options.

As I’ve been thinking about the camper, a few design aspects important to me seem worth noting. I don’t want to built “yet another Teardrop”. I’m envisioning it in the same size category, with rear entry and an elevated sleeping platform. I also plan on keeping inside sleeping focused, with activities such as cooking happening outside.

I’m very happy with the basic concept look of the TRK and the primary elements. My next step is testing and shaking out the size details. Making sure that average sized people fit comfortably and the flows work. I will make some cardboard mockups to do this.

Then I will build an alpha prototype platform for field testing and feedback this Summer / Fall. This will be a plywood prototype with all the key dimensions and many of the styling elements. The focus is testing livability, optimizing configurations and working the kinks out. It will provide something people can touch and crawl around in for getting feedback.

I know many are thinking, but when can I buy one? Realistically I would say early Spring ’14.

never owned a jeep, but I would love to see one of these in the rearview mirror of my Focus

Thanks roverwet, no need to own a Jeep, would look great in the rear view mirror of most vehicles

Scott, your TRK is what I've had in mind to do. I've got a 5x7 trailer and I'm going to make a 'box' to fit inside and poke over the draw bar so it becomes a 5x8. The bed will be the same height as the trailer sides so that there is storage underneath. I'm not good with wood and not much better with steel but I'm going to make a frame out of square section steel and cover all sides to dust and water proof it. When we are done camping I can take it out and use the trailer again.
I thought about making a canopy for the trailer but sealing would be an issue for me.
Thanks for designing yours so that I can see what mine may look like.
Neil

Here is what a buddy and I whipped up:

Like the old Willys ...