The Vardo Project

Voila! Here is the trailer!

This started at Clan 2013, where Alisha and I showed up in time for the rainstorm to start. I got the pavilion up before the rains started coming down, and the slope of the hill prevented too much water from getting in. Despite about 1/4" of water under the edges the majority of the pavilion was dry! Alas, that was still too wet for Alisha (though with the way the mattress filled the space, a 2 corners would be in that water, soaking moisture up the bedsheets... We were better off. Some folks put their tents on flat ground. I saw tents completely flooded, at times easily a foot of standing water!

we did ok - I had paid for a bed in a cabin (mostly to help cover costs, I wasn't thinking I'd need it!), but Alisha was looking at some folks in campers, and made words that one of those would be nice and comfy and fun

I don't think she realized how crazy I was, because my response to things like that is, "It'd be even more fun to build one"

Apparently not crazy enough, she still agreed to marry me.

Anyway, a Vardo! If you don't know the term, go google or wikipedia it. Wikipedia is a verb too, right?

As an upgrade to a smallish pavilion (small=!8'diameter, 12' at the peak) that will be used primarily as a sleeping space, size doesn't need to be big. Also, my car has a towing capacity of 1,500 lbs, and while long trips I'll want a sturdier vehicle, something small enough to tow shorter distances seems a good idea. I've read that people have kept these under 1,000lbs, so I'm not (completely) crazy in expectations. I looked at the next size up, but visualizing it, I think this 5x8 frame will work well.

If it doesn't show in the above image, the planks started with gaps in them! So first step is caulking them. While the planks are a bit heavier than I need, removing them and replacing will be more hassle than it's worth.

The floor that came with the trailer isn't quite smooth and event. I bit with the angle grinder sanded down some of the bumps, but for a nice and comfy floor I put down a piece of plywood. Seeing how the floor is already sturdy, that's some of the thinnest plywood I could get.

Not easy to see in the photo - along the rail behind the wheelwells is a welded on channel through which the wires for the lights run. What i should have done is cut those off, and run the wires under the trailer through new conduit. They poke in a little, just enough that the side boards needed a cut to fit snug against the frame. Unfortunately the cuts in the board adds a bit more flex. However with the sides bolted o the frame, and horizontal braces to the runners, it feels very firm.

That tan line along the sides you see? Caulk in the gap between the sidewalls and the wiring channel.

Several updates rolled into one!

Three of these on each side help support the sides. The underside is all black so that (hopefully) future city dirt and grime doesn't show as much, but that means some of the pretty shapes wont be seen. I'll probably add some decoration, the underside is very boring.

When you compare to the undercarriage to the older ones, well...

Doing a little work in unsettled weather! It can't decide if it's going to be sunny or rainy. Basic frame for the walls and roof are up. The nice thing about such a short vardo is that standard 8' lengths of wood are perfectly sized for an 8'2.5" long building

This morning's work!

Putting up the sides.

Getting the supports for the bed frame up. I decided it was break time when I almost drilled a hole in my finger...

I've been lazy about updating. The Vardo was "done" in May, and taken out for use, and has had more finishing touches applied; photos pending. I suspect that in 5 years, I'll still be applying finishing touches.

Walls up, the small size means sheets of plywood fit perfectly. Trim will go along the seam between the sheets on the walls. The roof is two layers of very thin plywood bent over the frame, with decorative pieces going over the seam. On top is two layers of tar paper; so far it's doing well.

since this photo, I've made the cabinet doors under the bed prettier with decorative pieces from Joans, added shelves above the bed. In the closet is a box for lantern batteries, wires run to usb ports at the far end of the bed to power phones. I've debated solar panels to charge a car battery for lights and computers; I have read that solar panels are a bit delicate, not to mention concerns about the waterproofing of the roof; I haven't done anything yet.

I bought a 3d printer to print out these pieces. They're painted yellow, and go inside the corners of the yellow frams on the outside.