Category: vardo

Further Evolution of the Little Vardo

~ George Crawford ~ 2 Comments

We just put another couple thousand miles on the Little Green Vardo.  It’s always an adventure when you are pulling something like this around the country and it makes for some interesting conversations.

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Campground in Cortez, Colorado.

Most of the people we meet are great but the comments are sometimes a little difficult.  Of course, the number one question from most people is “what does it weigh?”  Not that the numbers mean much to them but it just sounds like something to ask.  Another favorite is “does it leak a lot?”  I guess this is a reasonable question for someone.  If my house leaked, I hope I would remedy it pretty quickly.

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What we look like going down the road.

It’s great to get all the smiles, nods, and waves from other travelers.  It must say something that out of the thousands of vehicles you might see on a trip, only a few evoke any real response.  It’s hard to get gas or take a break without having a real conversation about it with someone.  While getting coffee in a small Colorado town a watched a woman burst out of an office door across the road and sprint across a busy four-lane road just to have a peak.  It was flattering when she said “I know you from the Internet! I’m a huge fan of tiny homes and little campers!”

Another fun interaction happen in Monticello, Utah when an elderly man came running out from a house to talk about Sheep Wagons.  His wife grew up in one and wanted to have her own after they retired.  As this was a tall order, he built her this beautiful scale model sheep camp complete with tiny dutch oven, pans, tools, a broom, and even a tiny fried egg.

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Looks like I need a different hitch.

Maybe, not too long from now, I’ll be able to take to the road for a longer adventure.

IMG_0197Coming home to Purgatory, New Mexico with a list of improvements and a slew of minor changes to the Vardo.  I can’t wait for the cooler weather to make this happen.

Vardo – Topper Makeover

~ George Crawford ~ 2 Comments

Because there’s always room for improvement.  In my case, a lot of improvement. snail2
Rehung siding, new paint, fresh varnish, little fixes, and lots of cleaning.  We’re hooked up to get out of town for a bit.

snail1Dietz lanterns, Kelly kettle, fuel, and lamp oil packed away in the pan box.  The steel disk serves as a heat shield to minimize ground scarring under the fire.

snail8A view from the bed.  Still more to pack up but things are looking good and nearly ready to go.

snail7The new windows are great and really perk the place up.  Bright and airy makes for a pleasant space.

snail3Still, the little Snail is far from perfect; made on a shoestring budget during snatches of time between work and bad weather.  Although I don’t live in it full-time currently I have come to see this as my home.

Adding Windows

~ George Crawford ~ 5 Comments

Finally, I’m getting around to adding side windows to the Vardo.  I’ve wavered for a long time as to whether this was what I wanted.  In the end, the ventilation and view won out.  Many decisions needed to be made.  What kind of opening, size, materials, etc.  In the end, I chose reclaimed oak as it is very stable, strong, easy to work with, and looks good.

window03This isn’t a high-tech, double-glazed thermal window.  It is a simple square frame of oak around a Lexan pane with a simple, chromed piano hinge and a nice brass casement window mechanism.

window02The discolored oak is visible here as I didn’t bother to remove the patina from the parts that will be invisible once installed.

I am sometimes criticized here for not giving enough of the remedial steps when building something new… So here it goes:

How to install a window into your Vardo.

window04First, choose where the window will be placed.  I have kept this spot in mind from the beginning and have kept it free of shelves and cubbies.   I decided to center the window on the structural stud.

A blank wall makes exact placement difficult.
A blank wall makes exact placement difficult.
A drill hole will mark the center of the window.
A drill hole will mark the center of the window.

I knew where the window needed to be located on the inside, but finding the exact placement on the outside wall can be difficult.  In order to find the point on the outside wall, I drilled a small hole where the top center of the window should be.  Why did I need to do this?  Because the cutting from the outside smooth wall is far easier and less messy (keeping the sawdust mostly on the outside).

Marker hole visible.
Marker hole visible.
Measuring down to locate top of window.
Measuring down to locate top of window.

Using the hole as a marker, a line was created to layout the opening.

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window10

A framing square was used to square up the other three sides of the opening.  The circular saw was used, making a plunge cut (using two hands) as deep as possible, following the guide lines.

Plunge cuts made.
Plunge cuts made.
Trusty panel saw makes easy work of it.
Trusty panel saw makes easy work of it.

The nature of the circular blade prevents the saw from cutting into the corner so a hand-saw was used to finish up.

window15After a dry fitting to check the size, silicone caulk was applied to seal out water and the window was inserted.

window14Having a look at the new window.

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Checking the functionality.  Interior framing is not yet complete here.

Next step… making the shutter.

Revisiting the Enchanted Bike Wagon

~ George Crawford ~ 2 Comments

I have mentioned this unique little wagon before but it is worth revisiting as a near perfect mini traveller’s wagon.  Günther Lorenz, a maker from Bayern designed and built this bike-towed caravan without a plan or significant financial outlay.
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It makes me happy to know that this was built, fueled by beer and a dream, in three weeks worth of evenings.  It weighs in at 55 kilograms empty (120 pounds) so it isn’t exactly light-weight but provides the comforts of a dry bedroom while on the road.

0035The body is 2 meters long by 1.04 meters wide (79 by 41 inches).  The frame is constructed from 20 mm square steel tubing welded together and the 5 bows are made from 8 mm tubing covered with garden hose.  The whole thing runs on 28″ wheels.

0008If you’re looking to build something like this, head over to Günther’s web page for a more complete photo-set.  They’re thumbnailed on his page but can be downloaded and viewed at higher resolution.

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Click the image to view the rest of the images.  His website is in German but the photos speak for themselves. 

Bear the Tinker

~ George Crawford ~ 1 Comment

Bear the TinkerHere’s a man making his way in the modern world but likes being stuck in the late 18th century.  Farrier, blacksmith, storyteller, and musician living in his bowtop.

BearTinkerVidAbove is a short interview with the man himself from a few years back (opens in a new window).

Small LedgeLiving in the 21st century, he even maintains a Facebook presence, of sorts.  Click on his new little Ledge Wagon above to see what he’s up to.

Update from the vault: Vardo and Sheepherder Links

~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

After several requests for information, here is my short list of inspirational sites found on the web.  Culling the web for Vardo style so you don’t have to.  I will try to morph this into it’s own page soon as a place to add more links as they become available.

Romany and Traditional Style

GypsyWaggons
Great Historical Resource
Roth
Gypsy Vans by Roth. Beautiful traditional waggons with loads of information about types and styles. Amazing stuff here.
Nice, garden variety caravans. These make wonderful retreats and getaway spaces.
Nice, garden variety caravans. These make wonderful retreats and getaway spaces.
Solid, permanent and towable vardos from Windy Smithy.
Solid, permanent and towable vardos from Windy Smithy.
Ingham & Fallon, restoration, new and used. The images alone make this one worthwhile.
Ingham & Fallon, restoration, new and used. The images alone make this page worthwhile.

Sheepherder Wagons

Plan to spend some time on this website. Anvil Wagon Works in Livingston, Montana makes all types of traditional Chuckwagons, Sheepwagons, and Buggys. Lot's of great photos.
Plan to spend some time on this website. Anvil Wagon Works in Livingston, Montana makes all types of traditional Chuckwagons, Sheepwagons, and Buggies. Lot’s of great photos inside and out.

 

This image links to their Sheepwagon page but there is so much more here. Serious craftsmen of all things traditional Wagon and Wheel related.
This image links to their Sheep wagon page but there is so much more here. Serious craftsmen of all things traditional Wagon and Wheel related.
The Lazy AA Guest Ranch and Builders of towable Woolywagons.
The Lazy AA Guest Ranch and Builders of towable Woolywagons.
Idaho Sheep Camp. You can't be more authentic than this. I want one! Pages of images to inspire the builder of tiny homes.
Idaho Sheep Camp. This is the interior of just one of their many featured wagons.  You can’t be more authentic than this. I want one! Pages of images to inspire the builder of tiny homes.
Old Western Wagons are builders of Sheep Wagons, Vardos, Freight Wagons, and other horse drawn vehicles. Located in Seattle, Washington.
Old Western Wagons are builders of Sheep Wagons, Vardos, Freight Wagons, and other horse-drawn vehicles. Located in Seattle, Washington.
Engel's Coach Shop Joliet, Montana. Master Wheelwright and makers of horse drawn vehicles.
Engel’s Coach Shop Joliet, Montana. Master Wheelwright and makers of horse-drawn vehicles.
Plankbridge Shepherd Huts from Dorset, England. Traditional huts, not for long distance travel but fine for short moves. Nice designs.
Plankbridge Shepherd Huts from Dorset, England. Traditional huts, not for long distance travel but fine for short moves. Nice designs.
bshtrippictransnoshadow850
Blackdown Shepherd Huts. Handcrafted in Somerset, England. Posh and spiffy little cabins with lots of style.
Shepherd
Everything you need to know about historic Shepherd Huts.
Ranch Willow Wagon Co. builds and restores wagons to the highest quality standards. Company owner Lynn Sedar has been in the wagon business for over 20 years and is also an acclaimed artist, design consultant and furniture designer. Wagons designed by Ranch Willow Wagon Co. are the ultimate blend of history and art.

French Style

ImageTitreIndex

In French. The website contains some good old images as well as information about various types of travelers’ wagons (a.k.a. Roulottes).

An Interesting mix of Hippie vehicles from Britain and Europe:

travellerhomes-head

MORE TO COME

Eight Foot Terrapin

~ George Crawford ~ 3 Comments

CTLogoNot terribly far from the Paleotool secret lair there toils a designer and builder of unique, hand-built, small campers.  Inspired by the lack of uniqueness and beauty in mass-produced campers, Peter Pavlowich put his Wood Construction and Design degree to work to create beautiful, minimalist campers for small pick-up trucks under the name Casual Turtle.  These are real works of craftsmanship and simplicity and are reasonably priced for those who cannot or do not want to build their own.  I particularly like the compound curves of his roof designs.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA“Casual Turtle Campers was founded on the belief that wood is good, small can be comfortable, and that there is still room for simplicity in this increasingly complex world.”  Peter Pavlowich, owner-designer-builder, Casual Turtle Campers.

Building on his past successes, Peter has now branched out into trailer-caravan design using the same principles as his truck mounted campers.

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Meet the new Terrapin from Casual Turtle.

The new design packs a lot thought and detail into a small package.  The new Terrapin is about 8’2″ long by 6’9″ wide (nearly identical in dimensions to the vardo known as the Snail).  First of all, I love the roof design and have decided that if and when I build my next vardo, it will have compound curved roof like this.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA“Tiny and simple” is the mot juste of this design, containing all the space you absolutely need and not a scrap more.  Like the Snail, this beauty could easily accommodate two adults on an extended journey.

T9Taking inspiration from early twentieth-century design, the interior is a simple kitchenette that converts to a bed.  A rich, wood interior keeps it classy and abundant windows provide light and views.

T16There is plenty of room for customization and in my opinion, maybe even a heat source.

Here are the spec’s from Casual Turtle’s website:

  • 1,360 lbs
  • 5’x8′ custom trailer frame from Sport Trail (Loveland, CO)Professionally-sprayed Reflex truck bedliner undercoating
    • Rockwell American 3,500lb axle
    • 15″ wheels and trailer rated tires
    • A-Frame tongue with jack and custom storage box
  • Fully insulated floor, walls, and roof
  • 15 amp shore power inlet – two interior outlets
  • LED crown moulding lighting
  • Full size memory foam bed (75.5″x54″)

Dimensions:

  • Width: 6’9″
  • Height: 8′ (at peak)
  • Length: 8’2″ (cabin), 12′ overall
  • Interior Height: 5’11” (at peak)

All coming in at $11,800.  Not too shabby.

Head on over to Casual Turtle to see more today!

CTLogo

Cargo Trailer Conversion

~ George Crawford ~ 4 Comments

A cool conversion I saw on Tiny House America:

cargo1Virtually everything folds away and you still have a cargo trailer when needed.  This was my initial plan before building the vardo but, well, you-know, one thing led to another, the wood got out of control, plans were pulled out of old notebooks and the gypsy wagon as we know it was born.

cargo2Nice and clean look here but I’d miss my cozy interior.  This however, is a great, straight-forward design that could work for many people and is incognito from the outside.