Category: caravan

The Tiny House Movement

~ George Crawford ~ 2 Comments

Here’s a redux from a conversation held last year.

George Crawford's avatarPreindustrial Craftsmanship

Here’s a recent conversation I had, as best I can recall, of creating disappointment and maybe using the wrong words when describing the Vardo.

A woman in a grocery store parking lot jogs up to the vardo while I’m making a sandwich shouting, “Oh my gosh!  That is so cool!  Wow! Is that a Tiny House like on TV? Can I have a look inside?”

“Yes, of course.  You can look inside.”  So far, it’s progressing just like a hundred other conversations I’ve had over the years.

“Is it like the little TV houses? You know, like on that show?”

“I don’t know the show but it’s actually a little camping caravan.”

“It’s not a Tiny House?  Oh, never mind then,” turning on her heel she walked away without a backward glance.  Then to another gentleman walking towards us she shouts, “It’s nothing.  It’s not like the Tiny House Show”…

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English Caravans for Rent

~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment
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A familiar classic vardo layout.

I’m not sure when the word “glamping” entered out lexicon but it is a craze that enterprising hostlers are hoping on world-wide it seems.  This luxurious little wagon is for rent in Pembrokeshire near Norwich in England.

View from the master bed.
View from the master bed.

I don’t know anything about these other than they look classy and would be a nice place to spend a few days out of the ordinary.  The setup appears to cater to somebody wanting to “rough it” a tiny bit but still have the creature comforts.

An inviting little home to give a first taste of vardo life.
An inviting little home to give a first taste of vardo life.

Have a look at their other “Glamperous” opportunities if you have a pocket full of pound and are looking for an interesting accommodation in England sometime. Of course, I’m mostly into these to explore design options and to seek innovations for my own work and I won’t attempt to replicate their website but here is another option available in the Dorset countryside.

A Beautiful bowtop intereor for rent.
A Beautiful bowtop interior for rent in Dorset.

There is obviously a demand for this sort of thing and I’m happy that there are reasonable alternatives to chain motels for a getaway.

Recycling an old vardo is great idea.
Recycling an old vardo is great idea.
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I can’t imaging the furniture stays outside year-round as it is England but it does add something nice to the outfit.
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For the pragmatic reader, here’s a quick shot of the facilities nearby; a composting toilet.

I’m not advertising for them but you can see more interesting opportunities on their website by clicking the logo. unearthed-white-coloured

A Steampunk Teardrop Camper

~ George Crawford ~ 3 Comments

34viewSome of you Teardrop aficionados out there have undoubtedly seen photos of Dave Moult’s spectacular build.  The best write-up I’ve come across is from the Living in a Shoebox blog.  This is not Mr. Moult’s first build and it clearly shows.  This one has a retro-futuristic Steampunk theme and uses a lot of copper and recycled wood to create a real eye-catching look.  The gizmos and do-dads are not merely for show and that’s something I can truly appreciate.

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”  William Morris.

vwntearMr. Moult has created something that is not only useful, but beautiful and interesting with this camper; and his tow-rig isn’t too shabby either.  The trailer comes in at about 400 kilos loaded (just under a thousand pounds) so it will not be a chore to tow for most vehicles.

steampunk-teardrop-dave-moult-9I think the genius here is in the details like the copper tubing for both water and conduit.  Like most of the finer teardrops, he uses the outside of the trailer for many functions.  (If you aren’t familiar with this design, I think the best way to describe them is a large outside kitchen area and a box to sleep in).  Don’t worry, this nifty sink folds away for travel.  The kitchen proper holds many amenities including running water, lots of storage and surfaces, and even a propane refrigerator (the mechanism and vent are exposed on the starboard side of the camper adding to the Steampunk look).

The interior is well lighted from the dormer-ended mollycroft and portholes on three sides.  Supplemental lighting is in the form of well-placed LEDs; there’s even a small chandelier in the sleeping compartment.  I think they travel in style; in the words of George Washington Sears, “not roughing it but smoothing it.”

Finally, a great and whimsical illusion adds to the interior ambiance with the use of library wallpaper.

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View looking aft through the front porthole. The interior leather is salvaged from an old leather couch.
Small enough to be pulled by a classic Mini? Now that's cool.
Small enough to be pulled by a classic Mini? Now that’s cool.

More photos of Mr. Moult’s projects can be found on his Facebook page and HERE.

Five Years and 20,000 Miles Later…

~ George Crawford ~ 9 Comments

The vardo known as the Snail turned five years old a few months ago and shortly after, crossed the 20,000 mile mark.  It’s just an arbitrary number, I know, but it feels like a milestone in our lifelong journey.  Changes have been made, details reconsidered, and minor additions have created a cozy little living space.  We now know how to use the space when traveling, eating, sleeping, or just hanging out.  The dog thinks of it as home and recognizes the signs when we’re preparing for a trip.

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Heading out.

This is a bit of a sentimental recapitulation of some high points so far.

Taking a break.
Early days.
Boondocking somewhere in Arizona.
Lanterns, Kelly Kettle, fuel and fire pan.
One of her awards. I know, it’s just bragging rights.

There are many little wagons that are much more artistic than mine but I have been lucky and have received awards from both Popular Mechanics and the good people at Maker’s Faire.  While at the Faire, the wagon was staged for viewing, allowing visitors to walk through and ask questions.  Thousands of people came inside and checked it out.

The north woods of Idaho, 2014.
The north woods of Idaho, 2014.

Life has slowed down for the Snail but we still take it out regularly and it makes a safe and comfortable home on the road.  In case you missed it, here’s a quick overview of the construction.

First steps.
Foundation.
End walls.
Roof.
First bench.
Table.
Bed frame.
Bay window.
Closer to finished.
First trip.

Heading out on the road.

Taking a break.
Taking a break.
Packed and ready to go.
Packed and ready to go.

I hope to show a few of the recent updates and changes to the living space in the next few days.  Thanks for following.

Sheep Camps are Alive and Well in the West

~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

I have posted quite a few images and links to classic old-time sheep camps here over the years.   If you travel the small byways of the Mountain West you will still see plenty of old sheep camps in use or parked around ranch houses today.  But the sheep camp isn’t just a thing of a past generation, they are still being rebuilt, restored, or made in shops for modern use.

2012-11-09-09-30-54If you aren’t sure how this differs from a modern RV, you may not be alone.  However, there are some subtle but significant differences.  First of all, the sheep camps tend to be built much more sturdily than their recreational cousins and almost always have a wood stove for heat due their use in remote mountains.  The over-built bodies and heavy-duty frames allow them to be dragged into all sorts off-road locations without damage.  As a working accommodation they tend to be more spartan than many new RVs.

img_3415Note the traditional wheel arrangement on the model above. This type of running gear allows the wagon to be pulled into any location and is always set-up.  No need for jacks if you can find a relatively level patch of ground.  However, if the wagon is to be primarily pulled on the highway, a more modern configuration adds to their towability as seen below.

img_3844legend-outlinedThe layout is classic (I modeled my layout, in part, on this style wagon) with the bed across the back and a stowaway table.  The people at Timberline Range Camps, who create the wagons pictured here, have preserved the classic features in a fully modern “camp”.

TRC

I get no endorsement from them but please go and check out their work.

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Tiny sink, lots of storage, and a two burner stove are perfect for a couple working folks or an cold weather hunting camp.img_3360_0

Nothing fancy required in an off-grid home like this.img_3365Although the wagons have grown in size to accommodate the modern worker I appreciate their dedication to simplicity.  One of the coolest features, I think, is the bed-under-the-bed.

img_3368The lower bunk slides in and out as a drawer to completely stow away with a minimum of wasted space when not needed.  If you want the vardo-caravan-sheep camp lifestyle but cannot bring yourself to build it, explore the many options of the modern builders.  This is just a small sample of what they offer, check out their web page and blog to see many more photos: http://sheepcamps.com/

Peugot

~ George Crawford ~ 4 Comments
1925 Peugeot Motorboat Car.
1925 Peugeot Motorboat Car.

As found on Tumblr, seemingly the ultimate source for all images these days.  This vehicle is probably not practical as either boat or car but would sure be a lot of fun to have.  I can imagine this pulling an amphibious caravan; the ultimate traveler.

Hmmm, I wonder how crazy would that be?…

 How do we get some crowd-funding for this insanity?