Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I decided to spend a couple hours playing with some luan... here's what I came up with...



Mike...

I'm laying out the Widget 4 for Bev right now. I didn't want to plot another million points and connect the dots, so.... since Andrew had the string method drawn up for the Widget 4 I figured I'd try it...



Hey that's pretty cool! The only thing I would recommend is a string that is not stretchy.

Mike...

Okay, so today I cut out the profile for a widget and a tidget! I learned about Andrews string method and it's pretty cool. But the most important part is how big the trailer feels when you are standing next to it, and because we happen to be on the ground, that's pretty close to how it would feel when we are in it.

Note that in the Widget, you definitely have to stoop!


In the Tidget you definitely got some head room!


Mike...

P.S. Don't mind the wheel. It's all I could find!!!

Mike, your wheel is in the center (as is mine on the h/f).... don't most have the wheel further back?

So, did you have a reason for putting it where it is?

arnereil wrote:Mike, your wheel is in the center (as is mine on the h/f).... don't most have the wheel further back?

So, did you have a reason for putting it where it is?

Yes, in fact I did. It's in the same location as on the T@B, which boasts a tongue weight of 128#. I hoping to build lighter than the T@B, and hopefully with a lighter tongue as well!

Mike...

Mike,
WOOOO-HOOOOO....I love the Widget profile! How cool is that!

And yes, you do have to stoop, but put a wheel underneath it and it's as tall for towing as I would want.

Thanks for doing that! It REALLY helps me to actually have a real visual!

Bev

(The Tidget is also neat!)

BTW Bev,

What's your plan for appliances and electrical?

You want to be able to go off the grid, right?

I'm thinking about making the Tidget all 120VAC, except for the 12v lights. So it'll have a real fridge, and an a/c and maybe just a ceramic heater instead of a forced air furnace.

Not planning on a solar panel for this one!!!

Mike...

Well, it would all be real simple. 12v everything... (we just bring along a monster extension cord when we're somewhere that has power)
Our Coleman stove, cooler... no sink.. I always just do them in a pan. (I don't own a Chef hat) and just a 3-5 gallon water jug. I think the stove would heat it nicely.
That round window we would probably just fill in with plexiglass or something like that. Porthole windows are probably quite expensive.

Not sure where we'd put the AC. Probably have to pipe it into the vent like the tear.

Might need the dreaded footwell for the area in front of the stove. (Bob isn't crazy about footwells... just one more thing to build)

Guess that's about it. OH yeah, and build it...

Bev

As I have been communicating with Mike and Bev, I though I'd better post my version of the Tidget, in case anyone else is following these designs.

Tidget1

The last page is a comparison of the Widget4 (in green) and my version of the Tidget.

Andrew

Mike,

The bottome line makes sence you will not rub or scrape if you do any backcountry or come out of a steep road or driveway onto the street or reverse.

Ron

Hey Bev,

I elevated the Widget4 profile about 6", to mimic standing on a dropped floor. As you can see by looking at this picture, a 5' 7" person seems to have ample head clearance using this design.



Mike...

Hmmmmm.....

I'm beginning to feel so inadequate Mike.. I only have one tear and I'm not building another one!

PS. Where the heck to you store all this stuff!?

Ah, I see the problem. You live in a fancy neighborhood with rules like, "thou shalt not clutter up your back yard with trailers"!

Seriously though, if you are happy with your teardrop, why build another one.

Or are you a woodworker that loves creating? If so, then your hunter was just an experiment, and you now know what you really want, so go ahead and build it!!!

I have just 1 teardrop here, and it's stored in the carport. I do have another one that's been disassembled, and it's sitting in the basement. I'm going to have to auction that off to the highest bidder pretty soon!

When I pick up the Lil Diner from Steve this summer, something else is going to have to go! Probably the Baja Benroy, because I don't have a truck to pull it any more. My plan is to end up with two ultra light tears, the Lil Diner, and the Tidget or T@B. Of course I'll have to rebuild my shed so that it's large enough to store the Lil Diner in it!!!

Mike...

mikeschn wrote:Ah, I see the problem. You live in a fancy neighborhood with rules like, "thou shalt not clutter up your back yard with trailers"!
Mike...

Good One Chief!
(Darned CC&R's)