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This post is part of a series documenting our homebuilt trailer, this post is about the teardrop trailer child bed we installed. Please scroll to the bottom of this post for links to previous articles.
We started planning this project when Max was just a baby, so we thought we had a bunch of time to have him sleeping inside the trailer with us… as it is, we took it on its first trip right around when he turned 6 1/2, so he was much taller than he was at one year old. (As children tend to do)
So we may only have another year or so of Max being inside the trailer with us, before he moves out to the tent next door. (More on that in a later post) When that happens, we'll take out the hammock we've made for him, and put in come cabinets instead.
In the meantime, we have crafted this hammock-style bed for him in the teardrop trailer, which fits perpendicular over our legs when we're sleeping, kind of bunk bed style.
Teardrop Trailer Child Bed
The supplies for this part are simple: two sets of metal closet rods, and about 2 yards of canvas. You only need the simplest of sewing skills to make this, I promise!
Jamie installed the closet rods with solid wood braces for extra support; they're about 18″ apart:
I stitched the canvas to fit. Pockets running along each long edge, I whipped this up in about an hour, and was able to slide it right onto the rods, and was a perfect fit. Don't forget to hem the short edges first, though, BEFORE you do the pockets.
He was pretty excited about it from the beginning.
UPDATE: We used it for four or five trips last year, and then noticed that the seams were ripping in some spots, mostly where Max would dig in his knee to climb up. We wanted to rebuild it a bit to have more strength, so we tried a different design. For the second time, we made a single big loop of fabric that fit over both poles; think conveyer belt.
I ran a two rows of stitches down the middle of the cot, giving us more stitching and overlap to help support Max ever-increasing weight. It's held up great so far, will update as time passes if we have to do another version.
Next post: Galley Design (and Redesign!)
Previous posts: Planning & Framing | Walls & Interior Skin | Galley Counter & Flooring | Insulation | Interior Ceiling & Fan | Exterior Wood Skin & Sealant | Hatch Construction
I love the hammock solution. So many ask me about where to put a child. Like you said, you can always put in cupboards when he outgrows it! Great work!
It is really hilarious to read this article. We are in the same situation. I started building the teardrop when my son was 1, I’m finally getting close to completion! The trailer is 58” wide but he is sooooo tall. I don’t know if we will even get a year before he outgrows it. But we are going to make it wider so if he needs to angle himself he can go a bit longer.