Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Picked this up a couple weeks ago. Needed something to stay in for out of town work that I can haul my motorcycle in as well. I'm trying to make it as comfortable as I realistically can as I will be spending quite a bit of time in it. I started up front and am working my way towards the back as far as the build goes. I'm focusing on the necessities first since I'm on a short time table. So far I've got majority of it insulated, bathroom wall up, electrical in and started on the kitchen the other day.

Nice keep the updates coming.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm really liking the idea of the bed on unistrut and trolleys. Can anyone give me some insight on how to easily raise/lower them?

Not sure if if call it easy. But doable and it works are what I use to describe mine.Ive built two. I like my size (double) and running across better than the queen running length wise. But I did a lot better build job on my friends.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Personally I am not sold on the idea of struts and rollers. I just don't think you need them. They bind if you don't have everything perfect. Why do you need guides? Use cables, crank it up and down and pin it when you get there. I think we have a case of "But that's how everybody else does it." The pic below is an idea that I gave Flboy (Don).The link is Don's build, He starts talking beds around page58-62 and again on 69. http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=65498&start=1020#p1197636

Welcome. I like what I'm seeing so far. Blue tape on floor is always a good place to start.
I think Iconfabulate may be onto something, however you may want to consider garage door track and rollers. They have considerably "looser" tolerance, for a reason. Making big things move with precision can be problematic. But garage doors do it all day, every day.
Good luck with your build. Keep us posted.

McDave

There's a video I saw awhile back that was pretty good, using cables and a boat trailer manual winch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwdCn3h46h8

Garage door tracks were what I originally was going to use. But my frustration with my "design engineer" had me drop the idea. I went with unistrut and trolley not only because of seeing one, but having worked with it before. Garage door parts are cheaper, and more available.
There are more using "E" track I think than unistrut.
For me mine works. It impressed my friends that they wanted one. I do suggest caution with any system you build. Bed platforms and mattress and bedding can get heavy. And it's being lifted/lowered and "parked" overhead.
The HappiJack (s) bed system is $$$ and people have issues with them. I tried buying a system similar to the old Winnebago bunk bed . Which I think would be the safest non motorized and no cable system. Still would like to build one. Somebody needs to design this type and post results.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After further thought the bed thing might be more trouble that its worth. It would probably be more realistic for me just to make a loft up high for the bed and leave it there. There would probably be no reason for me to ever need to lower it.

You could still make it removable with e track. That would be easy to reverse if you changed your mind later.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

a murphy style bed might be something to look at

Well, I'm just gonna' throw it out there. Don't judge me.
I was still working on my CTC toy hauler last August when Sturgis rolled around. It was about 75% complete and I just ran out of time. Would have to use her as is. My Tow Vehicle is a GMC 3/4 ton conversion van, that I've had for many years. The wife and I used it for camping and to pull the Jet Skiis for years. It's a nice van, and has a fold down sofa in the back. It was the nicest camping either of us had ever done. Anyways, I figured I'd just sleep there till I around to addressing the permanent bed situation. As luck would have it, Wal-Mart sent me a email advertising air beds on sale. So I started thinking maybe this could work. Took some measurments and found that a Full Size would fit pretty nice and leave some room move around when filled and made up. The sale price was 29.99 so I figured, why not? I got back and filled it up, and to my surprise it was AWESOME! I loved it, felt great. So, for like 2.00 more I got the extended warranty for 2 years. This bed has a built in electric pump, and is 22" high, 54" wide, and 74" long. My Trailer is a 6x12 and the cargo area is 6x8. I ran the bed so it filled the rear of he cargo area, and left me about 4 ft to move around between bed and galley/bath area.
It takes 2 min. to fill or deflate. I used it for 9 nights at Sturgis and it never lost any air. Best 30.00 I ever spent...Solved all those issues, and weighs like 7lbs. and stores under the cabinet with the linens. I love it, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-Queen- ... bdLII34Tyc

McDave

I definitely plan to make a bench that folds out to a guest bed. This will also hold the A/C unit in it. I have already thought about keeping an air mattress under it for this case. For the main bed, I plan on using my queen. I lived on an air mattress in my 20's but now that I'm older I don't think I could do that again lol.

Iconfabul8 wrote:Personally I am not sold on the idea of struts and rollers. I just don't think you need them. They bind if you don't have everything perfect. Why do you need guides? Use cables, crank it up and down and pin it when you get there.

Elk Mountain Trailers (I believe no longer in business) seemed to use a similar method as you suggest. You can see the bed around the 4:00 minute mark in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-2AYJwKedo.

For those of you with beds mounted to either unistrut or this other track you are talking about. Is it secure enough, are the walls able to handle that kind of weight? I already have the unistrut so I thought about installing it on the wall and just using some unistrut 90's to mount the bed frame on. There wouldn't be anything quick about moving or removing the bed but it would definitely make both possible.

It seems like it would be a better idea to run a 2x4 down to the floor for the bed to sit on so the weight of the bed is distributed, but I might be over thinking it.