Vardo Camper

[joey]

What does everyone think of one of these? It looks like it would be something simple to build. http://paleotool.com/the-vardo/

 

[Sunny1]

I have always been fascinated by vardos, and would love to have one.<br /><br />But I bet it would cost a fortune in fuel to haul one around.&nbsp; They are heavy and definitely not aerodynamic.&nbsp; I certainly can't see one on an interstate.<br /><br />But they are the most intriguing little dwellings in the world to me.

 

[Ricekila]

Didn't Maria&nbsp;<strong>Ouspenskaya</strong>&nbsp; live in one of those ? <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" />

 

[ttpadilla]

It's super cute, but again, I see no bathroom.&nbsp; What do you guys have against bathrooms?&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/crazy.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[joey]

The one he built was on a 4x6 utility trailer. The walls are just 1x6 yellow pine,and the floor and ceiling is 1/2" plywood. I saw it on another forum.

 

[twokniveskatie]

Oh, he's my buddy! I tried to marry him, but he figured out I only wanted to get into his vardo. :-(

 

[Coffee Tim]

<p>ttpadilla:&nbsp; I can't speak for anyone else but I like hot running water for showers and a nice commode.&nbsp;</p>

 

[joey]

I am going to build one eventually. I would build it with a shower/potty combo like is in some campers.

 

[Guest]

Kinda reminds me of the Tumbleweed Tiny Home.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/products/tarleton/#ad-image-0">http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/products/tarleton/#ad-image-0</a>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

This is an existing thread with more vardo links.<br /><a href="/post/Gypsy-Vardo-5496313?highlight=vardo&amp;trail=15">https://vanlivingforum.com/post/Gypsy-Vardo-5496313?highlight=vardo&amp;trail=15</a>

 

[karl]

I really would like an excuse to built one- really like 'em, but, prefer to travel in something that doesn't attract attention...that is one reason I sold my Teardrop- too many visitors wherever I stopped.

 

[joey]

This is an existing thread with more vardo links.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="/post/Gypsy-Vardo-5496313?highlight=vardo&amp;trail=15"&gt;https://vanlivingforum.com/post/Gypsy-Vardo-5496313?highlight=vardo&amp;trail=15&lt;/a&gt;

I knew there was one on here but couldn't find it. thanks.

 

[Stillwater]

I can see one being practical if you were determined to stay on BLM / NF land and just move it around in a small geographic area every few weeks. Like was mentioned, ignoring the weight, the aerodynamics would be a bear. Wear and tear on the things would be a killer, I would think, at extended highway speeds. How long do you do fifty-five before shingles start flying off?<br /><br />They are whimsically beautiful though.

 

[highdesertranger]

i dunno,&nbsp; but it looks to me like that little single axles is overloaded.&nbsp; look at the gap between the tire and fender mighty slim.&nbsp; would be kind of scary off road.&nbsp; having said that he did an awesome job on the craftmanship.&nbsp; i think he should have used a double axle.&nbsp; would have been a little roomier too.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[angeli]

I agree, hdranger. &nbsp;I always thought that if I got around to making one, I'd go double axle.<br /><br />Joey, all due respect, 1200 cannot be pulled by 'anything'. &nbsp;my little ford focus cannot pull that. &nbsp;or rather, she could but it would be foolhardy, and damage my vehicle. &nbsp;I was able to do 500 lbs, but wouldn't do more than that on the ford. &nbsp;There are some small ultra-lights that can be pulled by a little 4 cyl tho, like a small teardrop, etc.

 

[Brighid]

I totally intend to go double-axle, whenever I start my project (sometime in the next 20 years, I hope). Also, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.enslin.com/rae/gypsy/wagon.htm">these women here</a></span> made one that was like a pop-up trailer. Very similar concept. Helps with traveling, as its lower to the ground. If you were able to make it a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house-concept/gregs-gypsy-bowtop-caravans/">bow-top</a></span>, and still be able to have it raise and lower, it'd be very light, indeed. You <em>could</em> even do a similar <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://camper.dmrbond.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/camper2.png">toilet/shower</a></span> arrangement like the pop-up campers have, inside (I intend to have a cassette toilet, and on-demand hot water for bathing in the sink). They don't all have to be only 4x8", I'm leaning towards using <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house-concept/recycling-old-rv-trailers/">an old, recycled trailer base</a></span>, myself. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> But you would need a stronger vehicle to pull them. I'd figure the weight (full) to probably be around that of a regular travel trailer.

 

[joey]

Link to photos of a build..... http://s334.photobucket.com/albums/m431/pooh6913/Cramalot Inn/

 

[angeli]

<div style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; margin: 8px;">Not to flagellate any ex-equines here, but weight is a pretty important issue. &nbsp;It is perfectly possible to have a 4 X 8 trailer weight over 1000 pounds. &nbsp;"Regular" travel trailers can weigh up to 6000 pounds and even more. &nbsp;The wood is where most of the weight is. &nbsp;The more ply, the more pounds. &nbsp;The foamie forum over on the tnttt website has extensive discussions on how to build ultra-light.<br /><br />The reason that weight is so important is mostly because of breaks and stopping. &nbsp;You can get it to go forward, sure, but can you get it to stop? &nbsp;The further over your car's payload the trailer is, the less likely it will be that your breaks will hold up.<br /><br />Go to your manufacturer's spec info on the web, and look up the max payload your car can haul. &nbsp;Figure that about half of that or less should be the trailer. &nbsp;The rest will be in ballast, or your 'stuff', your pets, your family, and you.<br /><br />I don't know that the original vardo forum is still in existence. &nbsp;I can't find it. &nbsp;But here is the yahoo vardo forum:&nbsp;http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vardoshavora/<br /><br /></div>

 

[Brighid]

Thanks, Angeli! I had already joined that one, and its still up and running <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Yes, weight is a <em>huge</em> issue. That's why I decided on the bow-top. Less wood the better, considering that you're going to be having a lot of wood inside, as well as out. I really want to try and steer clear of using plywood, because I think its just weak, and would eventually break down in weather. So with a cedarwood tongue-and-groove base, and a "cloth" top (which is actually around 2/3 of the wagon, itself) I think I'd be pretty safe. Opinion? <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Brighid]

Thank you for those pictures, Joey! Awesome!