Although I'm not planning on starting the build until late fall, I went ahead and ordered an NT 5x8 trailer kit, which should arrive by April 10. I figured that with an impending trade war, prices on the trailer have nowhere to go but up. We are planning a 2 month trip out west in summer '20, so I've got a couple of years yet to build it. I'm semi-retired (1 week on, 1 week off till full retirement 9/19) so will have plenty of time to work on it. I still have to make a space to do the build. My barn is 32x32, and I've build a wood shop in half of it. I'm planning on pouring a level concrete slab sometime this summer in the center section of the remaining half. I may even close it in so I can work in the winter as well.
My plans aren't fully cast in stone yet, but I considered several things during the designing phase:
- SWMBO says we have to have a porta potty. A Luggable Loo is on the radar.
- Rear galley of some sort. Cooking outdoors will keep us 'camping' instead of 'rv-ing'.
- AC for hot weather camping. removeable when not needed. consider a slideout.
- Elevated queen sized bed convertible to dinette.
- Extra floor space for our 2 boys (dogs) to sleep ... 45 and 80 lbs
- Definitely under 1500 lb loaded ... under 1000 lb empty weight. TV is Honda Odyssey.
- Larger wheels/tires
- trying to stay in 5x10 footprint, but would extend to 11 if necessary
Here is what I'm thinking:
Trailer:
- use 2 crossmembers to extend the frame sides to 10'
- axle over springs to lower the trailer floor
- replace those crossmembers with treated 2x4s.
- relocate axle
- 2 pcs 1/2"x5'x5' Baltic Birch plywood floor on frame, 1" xps glued to underside.
- reinforce/extend tongue with 2"x2"x8' steel tubing from 2nd crossmember thru flipped coupler mounting plate.
Cabin:
- sort of a tall reverse BenRoy shape, 5' high.
- 2" foam board shell covered in 10oz duck using TB2 (PMF)
- 12" radius top to back, 24" radius top to front, made using 2 layers kerfed 1" foam (Kerfs facing each other).
- Bottom section of galley would be a 24" deep cabinet slideout around 16-18" high (to make the counter top 3' from ground level).
- Top section of galley would be full width shelves/cabinets 8" deep
- This makes a bench across the back of the cabin about 18" h and 18" deep.
- Side benches 18" x 18" x 5' along each side will make a U shaped seating area.
- Table at center of dinette drops to make bed platform about 60" x 78".
- side benches provide lots of storage for gear.
- single door about 24" x 48". shallow cabinet across front houses power center, AC unit, storage for loo and other gear.
During the day the interior will be in 'bench' mode, with or without table set up
At night the interior will be in 'bed' mode with the loo set up opposite the door. This will result in a 2'x5' space under the bed and 2'x3' space at the foot of the bed for the boys (our dogs) to sleep.
So the adventure begins ...