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08-08-2013, 04:24 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Name: Ann Marie
Trailer: Hoping to build my own
Pennsylvania
Posts: 8
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Hello from Ann Marie
Hello, my name is Ann Marie and i'm new here. I going to attempt to build my own mini camper.
I already bought a Trailer 4' x 8' wood rack on car chassis, new lights and wiring, spare tire, and fits 2" ball. I've been researching lightweight stuff and came across your site. I plan on working with 1x2's and 1x4's
Gonna do this from scratch and have no idea how it's gonna come out, so i'll probably ask a lot of questions. I was very impressed with the pictures that were posted. Very encouraging.
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08-08-2013, 05:09 PM
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#2
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Commercial Member
Name: Charlie Y
Trailer: Escape 21 - Felicity
Oregon
Posts: 1,583
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ann Marie
Hello, my name is Ann Marie and i'm new here. I going to attempt to build my own mini camper.
I already bought a Trailer 4' x 8' wood rack on car chassis, new lights and wiring, spare tire, and fits 2" ball. I've been researching lightweight stuff and came across your site. I plan on working with 1x2's and 1x4's
Gonna do this from scratch and have no idea how it's gonna come out, so i'll probably ask a lot of questions. I was very impressed with the pictures that were posted. Very encouraging.
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Hi Ann Marie,
You might want to check with your state DMV and find out what the inspection requirements are while planning your trailer, if you intend to license it. It can get pretty complicated in some states where you have to have propane appliances blessed.
Charlie Y
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08-08-2013, 08:34 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: Conrad
Trailer: Bigfoot 3000 & Barth "slide-in" truck camper
Connecticut
Posts: 958
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4'x8' sounds mighty small. Building with wood will add a lot of weight also.
Still, it sounds like an interesting project.
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08-08-2013, 09:44 PM
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#4
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Commercial Member
Name: Charlie Y
Trailer: Escape 21 - Felicity
Oregon
Posts: 1,583
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Would save a fair amount of weight to use metal studs (as used in commercial buildings) since you wouldn't need as many structural members. Plus you'd have holes pre-punched in them for running utilities.
Charlie Y
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08-08-2013, 10:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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Sounds like an exciting project. Here's a link to a site that talks about stick-building trailers that may have some info of use.
Build a mini-Conestoga wagon
While we will all help where we can, keep in mind that most on this site own/restore/repair molded fiberglass trailers and I don't now of any that were self-built.
But we are always happy to have a new voice.
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08-08-2013, 10:54 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Carl
Trailer: 2013 Lil Snoozy #161 (SOLD)/2010 Tacoma
NE Oklahoma
Posts: 2,358
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to the Forum Ann Marie..........
Are you planning on building a stickie trailer,
or a tear drop style?
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08-09-2013, 04:26 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Name: asdf
Trailer: asdf
Alabama
Posts: 346
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I'm gonna jumpe in here for Donna.
"Pictures please?"
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08-09-2013, 05:23 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
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Ann Marie, you want to go over to the tnttt forum where there is lots of info about building a small trailer, mainly teardrops and other variations of small trailers. Also some experiences with PA registrations.
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08-09-2013, 09:36 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: Lite House
Posts: 282
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Ann Marie - We were heading for a 4x8 HF trailer build when we ran across a fiberglass camper for about what the materials would cost for the teardrop. One of the things we did that changed our mind was to take some masking tape and lay out a 4x8 foot space on our bed. We decided that it would never work for two people. Even if you're single, I'd recommend trying out the space before deciding on doing the build. Like Night Sailor said, it's a very small space.
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08-09-2013, 10:21 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Trailer: Casita Spirit Deluxe 2003 16 ft
Posts: 1,899
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As mentioned earlier, we are about molded fiberglass trailers. The expertise for stick-built trailers isn't going to be as deep as other sites although opinions will be offered.
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08-09-2013, 12:58 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Carl
Trailer: 2013 Lil Snoozy #161 (SOLD)/2010 Tacoma
NE Oklahoma
Posts: 2,358
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Yep, Steve.............we do have opinions and we do offer them.........LOL
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08-09-2013, 02:59 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davie B
Ann Marie - We were heading for a 4x8 HF trailer build when we ran across a fiberglass camper for about what the materials would cost for the teardrop. One of the things we did that changed our mind was to take some masking tape and lay out a 4x8 foot space on our bed. We decided that it would never work for two people. Even if you're single, I'd recommend trying out the space before deciding on doing the build. Like Night Sailor said, it's a very small space.
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Our teardrop is 4 X 10, with inside the cabin 4 X 8. The two of us sleep just fine in it. However it does make our 13 foot Uhaul feel really big when we use it.
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08-09-2013, 07:14 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
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Lots and lots of member here on FiberglassRV rebuild/mod the interior of all molded towables. But building from scratch with wood or aluminum stud walls? You may get better suggestions and help from a fantastic group that do EXACTLY what you're hoping to build: Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers • Index page
Not chasing you off, truly... just trying to provide help that is more suited to your build.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
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08-09-2013, 10:44 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Name: Ann Marie
Trailer: Hoping to build my own
Pennsylvania
Posts: 8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mary and bob
Ann Marie, you want to go over to the tnttt forum where there is lots of info about building a small trailer, mainly teardrops and other variations of small trailers. Also some experiences with PA registrations.
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HI..WHAT IS A TNTTT SITE AND HOW DO I FIND IT?
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08-09-2013, 10:56 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Name: Ann Marie
Trailer: Hoping to build my own
Pennsylvania
Posts: 8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1
would save a fair amount of weight to use metal studs (as used in commercial buildings) since you wouldn't need as many structural members. Plus you'd have holes pre-punched in them for running utilities.
Charlie y
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i was thinking of this for stability and weight. I was told it can hold up 2 1000 lbs. And i can put 1 ft over each tire. It's a 1949 car rear end. It won't be your common camper, and as some said, this should be interesting. I brought home the trailer 2 day. Gonna make it my profile picture lol
btw..i have a sense of humor, so please do speak your mind. Maybe i'll get lucky enough to find a camper on here. I'm looking for a junked one for parts, so if anyone comes in contact with one, let me know.
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08-10-2013, 05:48 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ann Marie
HI..WHAT IS A TNTTT SITE AND HOW DO I FIND IT?
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Use Donna's link to Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers [tnttt.com]. Starting with a home made trailer that has a car reared is probably not the best way to go. Extra weight there, suspension may not work out very good, and ride height may be more than what you want. Building a teardrop or small trailer can get quite involved, not something I would want to attempt. We got into enough of a project restoring a vintage teardrop and now just finishing up our Uhaul camper.
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08-10-2013, 05:51 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
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Ann Marie, did you see the recent post of a Playpac camper for sale in PA. Same state as you, if you're lucky it may be in your area.
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08-10-2013, 06:13 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: Ted
Trailer: (Dark side)Crossroads Now
Glade Valley, North Carolina
Posts: 990
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Welcome to the Forum Ann Marie
__________________
“I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends would respect me. The others can do whatever the Hell they please!” —John Wayne
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08-10-2013, 07:08 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Name: Carl
Trailer: 2013 Lil Snoozy #161 (SOLD)/2010 Tacoma
NE Oklahoma
Posts: 2,358
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08-10-2013, 09:25 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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I have a CD labeled "Mini-Trailer & Teardrop Plans"
There are perhaps dozens of plans for home built RV trailers on it.
Most are vintage plans and so are now for vintage styles.
I think I found it on the internet for cheap.
It includes materials lists and detailed measurments etc.
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