On the list of "Things to Build" Someday...
 

I've been looking for a smaller camp trailer to go to bicycle races and for the two of us to escape on weekends. I'll probably start out with an Apache hard-side pop-up, but this is what I REALLY want... I started out looking at basic teardrops but then I found the "Car Cabin." The cool part is Steve thinks that they are just beautiful and we're going to build one (not soon, a year or so from now):

This particular one is about 12 feet long. A very nice one, sit-down tub, toilet, two sinks, heat, hot water, small flat screen TV, and glorious wood everywhere... Anyone here built one? Advice?

angela

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I woulda thought you were an Airstream or pop up kinda gal;)

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(Although the wood would go better with "Butters."

Angela,
That's pretty nice, but i've got to wonder what it weighs. Any idea?
I would think being made of wood it would be a little heavy.

As a point of reference, here's a homebuilt, albeit much smaller, that weighs a purported 650 lbs. Says he has about $850 in it.

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Bet the one pictured by angela is 3,000 lbs +

That is beautiful; +1 about the weight. Seems like you might need to park it indoors too when you're not using it.

A single sliding axle with wide tires might help with the weight distribution and retain backability.
A dual axle with thinner tires might help with tracking.

I'd go with an aluminum I-beam platform or something lightweight. Mabye a basic steel tube frame to keep it "square" and provide rollover protection.
Fiberglass/Al skin will last longer than wood outdoors, and save weight to be used for other things(like belongings). Mabye you could paint it faux wood for the look?

will it float like a boat?

The first thing I thought about was the weight of it as well Pete. Nice woodwork but jeeze it would reduce your mpg by 40% easy!

or you could get a tent at Walmart for $30...

Ask Tim to build one for you.

Mike some people like to stay dry when they camp....

Pretty to look at, but so is a Chris Craft, and you have to love to do maintenance on wood boats.

Check it out - in the first pic, it looks like at least a half ton pickup getting ready to tow it, but in the second, there is a Model A - hmmm.

That ain't no half ton... Looks like a 1ton dually to me...

I said at least:)

re maint. - the new sealers and "stains" are a LOT better these days

advice - there is a woman here who builds wooden pickup truck campers - let me know if you want her contact info & I'll look for it.

wood is beautiful, but heavy, so... take your choice

Ahhh.... Chris Crafts... Absolutely love them! I also really like Airstreams but they expensive and really tall. I just don't want something that huge. The alum trailer behind the Emory outlaw is awfully nice though.

This particular trailer is no lightweight but compared to other trailers we've drug around - LOL! I suspec this one is probably tipping the scales close to 3,000 lbs. The nice thing about this as far as towing is that it is short. Only about 5 and half feet tall. Not a standup height inside but the shortness hugely reduces the wind drag. For me, the trailer isn't a place to hang out in, it's a place to sleep and take care of basic necessities. When I'm out camping, I want to be OUT all day not hanging around inside! I'm just getting a little tired of going to bike races and sleeping in the backseat of the crew cab. A mattress, even an RV mattress would be a delightful luxury.

I don't think I want to do an adjustable axle, but a tandem would be nice. We'd sure save alot of weight by building the frame of aluminum, wouldn't we? Maybe aluminum prices will come down before we get to building. :rolleyes:

I really wanted a much smaller trailer. The teardrops start at around 600 lbs for 4 x 8. Most of the teardrops I was intersted in were 5x8 and 5x10 weighing 900 to 1300 depending on equipment. Rather spartan equipment, but definately light. Steve wants a bit more size and a few more amenities. I'm just absolutely nuts about the wood work.

This will be the primary tow unit. Steve's had this one for a while and just got it running a couple of weeks ago. Quite a bit left to do on it, but it's a pretty cool truck. SBC 383 with 700R4. 3,000 lbs behind that is rather neglible.

I'll probably just pick up an Apache hard-side pop up for now, but this wood beauty is going to be in my dreams... And hopefully in construction at our place in the next year or two!

Also - Randy - I'd love to have that lady's # - pm me?

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We were also thinking about building a nice wooden teardrop to tow behind our Corvairs, and then we just stumbled across a de-commissioned U-Haul fiberglass unit (built by Dayton). Swamp cooler, A/C/heat, water, 'fridge, stove, etc. They are built like the modern "Casitas" and have their own little cult following sleeps 3 and under a grand. Might sell it in the future and build a nice teardop...Just love the look of the wood and a "smaller profile"

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Since you like the airstreams AND the woodies the idea of combining the two designs is potentially cool IMHO. Make the top from aluminum saving the work of curving plywood. Maybe put some teak stringers over the aluminum and polish the aluminum.. Do the sides in wood veneer. Plus it would save some weight.

That little Casita look-alike is pretty cool! We saw one at a car show this summer and were really impressed with the features in comparison to the super light weight. Didn't know U-Haul did anything with them. Under a grand? Smokin' deal for a light-weight well equipped trailer.

Dueller - you and my husband must think alike (ok, that's actually pretty scary - LOL!)

We just sat down and sketched out a few ideas to do exactly what you suggested. Also kicking around bonding thinner plywood (inside and outside layer) to a rigid foam core for the sides. We found quite a bit of aluminum channel type stock that would allow significant creativity for assembly and bracing.

Then, as you suggested, the outer roof skin is aluminum. I can get the aluminum in 8 foot wide continuous sheets so we could build the trailer ride and have a single piece over the top broken only for the rear hatch. Got a few guys here in town who polish large panels. Polish, seal and then put the teak stringers on.

NICE!

So to explore my crazy idea about building bonded panels for the sides, where should I start? Homebuilt aircraft?

angela

Take a drive to McMinnville and check out the Spruce Goose. The last time I was there they had a little display showing how they used Birch plywood to build that monstrosity, it is fascinating - light weight, stiff and it can be finished beautifully.

Don't know 'bount bonded panels...try PM'ing Tim Hancock...he's an aircraft guy with fabrication experience. As far as the aluminum roof sheets, roll over to the rear and make your kitchen a popup on the rear.