StandUpGuys Super Mini "Not A RV"

[StandUpGuy]

Refined layout of the 54" x 54" standie. hehe Flip up bench and flip up table. When these are in the down position they allow a fairly roomy (hehe) interior. The bench down allows access to the sink. The bridge is padded and forms a bench with no back.


By justoneman at 2011-08-25

[StandUpGuy]

The general lack of enthusiasm for the supper mini does not dampen my spirits, In fact this may indeed be my next build if I wish to build another after my current project. Here is the modeled exterior:

By justoneman at 2011-08-26

[StandUpGuy]

Here is a cut away view of the interior with the bathroom walls in place:

By justoneman at 2011-08-26

[StandUpGuy]

Here is a look with the bathroom walls turned off. Note the bench in front of the sink cabinet. This bench flips down out of the way as does the table to render a very open area. The cushion on the "bridge to the tow vehicle acts as a second bench seat.

By justoneman at 2011-08-26

[StandUpGuy]

Here is a cut away view looking into the trailer through the bridge opening and into the tow vehicle.


By justoneman at 2011-08-26

[bobhenry]

So the only way to access the rear of the tow vehicle is to crawl on hands and knees across the bench ????

Would it be preferable to have a rounded ( for cornering) floor over the tongue as a walk out in the front and extend the nylon / canvas covering to the now walk bridge in leiu of the crawling bridge??

Just another dumb question cluttering my mind

[StandUpGuy]

So the only way to access the rear of the tow vehicle is to crawl on hands and knees across the bench ????

Would it be preferable to have a rounded ( for cornering) floor over the tongue as a walk out in the front and extend the nylon / canvas covering to the now walk bridge in leiu of the crawling bridge??

Just another dumb question cluttering my mind

I think that is a great idea. I will check that out, though I am shocked that a tear-dropper would be outraged at having to crawl into bed.

[StandUpGuy]

On second glance the crawling bridge is already more than half a bed. How about the other half a bed is a platform built in the tow vehicle that meets up with the bridge platform and connects? Then only half of the back of the tow vehicle needs to be bedroom and the rest can be sectioned off for general storage. This would allow a smaller hatcback to be a tow vehicle too, as the bridge extends the bed surface in such short vehicles.

[StandUpGuy]

By building a half bed in the tow vehicle, a very good connect point is made for the bridge. With all of the unused space in the tow vehicle a cabinet headboard could be made and in the top could be a slot that holds the divide that could be raised up to privatize the sleep compartment.


By justoneman at 2011-08-26

[StandUpGuy]

OK Bobhenry. How about this? You do not crawl on the bridge to get into the tow vehicle. You just climb into bed. Half the bed is the bridge and the other half is installed in the tow vehicle. Here in this rendering you can see what would be in the vehicle. The only little problem I see with this is the trailer is static and the vehicle is on suspension.



By justoneman at 2011-08-26

[StandUpGuy]

In cut away you have this. Low area is for bed and tall area is for well everything else. Highly efficient. A stand up with a full bed a toilet, a shower, a sink and a dinette area, all on a harbor freight 4x4 trailer.


By justoneman at 2011-08-26

[mezmo]

Hi StandUpGuy,

Just some observations/questions to help you refine your concept.

The One minus I see is that once it is set up you have no separate vehicle
to use if needed. But that's a choice some motorhomers and truck
campers make too.

The bath area seems too cramped. Why use a permanent wall to enclose
it? Use a bi-fold door [to fold for room to swing by the user] that'd reach
the opposite wall, when again flat, at 90 degrees to the opposite side wall.
Then you'd have a much larger usable area by including the 'aisle' space
that in all likelihood wouldn't be used at the same time otherwise. While
your at it, set a shower-pan into the aisle floor [you may have to get it
fabricated or adapt some other existing flat pan shaped item -SS would
be ideal] covered by a lift-up floor panel. plumb to an external RV
cart tank [Empty it before you leave, why transport heavy grey water?]
This would give a much larger and useful shower. [Which is sharing the
one sink's faucet with a shower take-off I'm assuming.] And while I'm
at it, the space over the toilet/PP is wasted dedicated to just that space.
Why not build a cabinet/shallow half-closet above the toilet that would be
hinged to fold out against the back wall or into the front of the trailer body
while the toilet is in use. It wouldn't be any more work than opening a
door. [You would then mount the bi-fold door against the non-toilet
sidewall.]

How will you handle the half-bed support off the trailer?
Will the Tow-Vee and the 'SMNARV' still be hitched together for use?
What are the tentative trailer Body dimensions -L, H, W?

I agree with Bob Henry that it'd be better to have a taller opening at
the front. It's a confined space as it is, make it as user friendly as
possible.

I surmise that the jist of your main inspiration is to use the 4ftx4ft Harbor
Freight trailer for an extremely compact SMNARV. So here's a couple of
alternative suggestions...
FIRST:
This suggestion is based on an old Model-T Ford camper body someone
built that had half of the enclosed sleeping compartment telescope into
the the other half horizontally, with storage compartments along the side.
Why not do the inverse and have a full body length 'over section' that
would slide forward with an internal fold down floor/bed-base section to
provide a bed base. A 'fully' triangular tongue box' over the A frame or
the A frame could support that. This would cover the pop-top in transit and
not interfere with its use when set up. The mattress would be attached to
the fold=down floor/bed-base. This outer forward sliding section could be
made out of perimeter framed foam panels for light weight and ease of
use. I think it would be easier to weather seal than the Tow-Vee and
SMNARV combo and it would all be all hard sides. [Check out the Foamie
section for ideas useful for the walls.]
SECOND:
Google "Propert Folding Caravan", both normally and in Images. It is an
ingenious Australian camping caravan[TTT] from the 1950s-1960s. It's
base is just @ 6ftx6ft. A take=off on that could probably be built on
the HF base with judicious extension. Your floor plan could adapt easily
into its base. Foam based panels would keep it light.

Just feed=back/ideas as you were looking for...

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[StandUpGuy]

You are making so many points it is hard to address them all now. I like the input.


As far as the tow vehicle being attached semi perminently I did think about that and it is a point I do not like. I see it as the most major drawback. Iguess what would be ultimately cool if this was a mini toy hauler. 2 small 50cc scooters inside. Would that not be awesome? Pull up to a camp site and unload the clown car!

The bridge might not be so hard to raise up and lock up to take the TV for a spin. There is some engineering to work out on that. The seal for the hatchback on my minivan would be pretty easy to make a good seal with the bridge tunnel.

As far as the bathroom I see having a 38" x 26" bathroom as pretty adequate.

[Woodstramp]

Standup,

First, I think it is an awesome idea. I have a old full size Suburban (with 4 by 8 enclosure with third seat out and rear passenger set folded down) and your design would be rather nice for that vehicle. Mattress in the Burb, tunnel, your rig in one long room. All with a common AC unit. Even better for hot weather camps. I know my wife would really like that rear stand up entery/galley/bath/dinner area.

One main problem I see to work out.

Overall total length. A lot of the state park campgrounds we haunt, on a busy weekend, all the long campsites for larger rigs are already taken if you just drop in late. Also, if the camp site is not good and level, you'd have an allignment problem between the TV and camper. (Trailer module is on a flat, but TV is not)

The bed bridge thing and a shorter TV than I have would lessen this though.

That and what Mezmo said about being able to easily detach if you want to leave for a drive.

[StandUpGuy]

Woodstramp, those are issues that need to be overcome to make it more practical. I look at the back of my mini van with the seats removed and it is pretty inviting as a sleeping area as is. So I think: "what makes people not sleep in their van or SUV? Who wants to crawl in the back of their SUV? Nobody, yet it is the perfect sleep platform.

I have never pulled a trailer inot a camp site, so the issues of a short platform for the trailer and vehicle are news to me. Is this so even if this trailer is only a total of seven feet long from hitch to tail light?