1. I am building a 5x10 modified Benroy style and I want to come in under 1200lbs empty . Is this doable?
It is doable but you have to watch everything. Many people do a 2x2 frame. My frame is going to be 1x2 fairly thin wall. Most of the weight is in the body which rests on the sides of the frame where the attachment points are.
The frame of the teardrop will most likely be .5" or .75" square steel tube. The outside of my camper will most likely be .25" alumalite
2. I am still trying to decide if I need two doors or just a door on the curbside. Any comments on this?
I've had multiple camping trailers in the past and never needed/wanted a second door.
3. 110 and 12v or just 12v with a 110 charger built in. I don’t ever see myself at an RV campground unless I am there for a teardrop event or something. Most of what I will be doing is backcountry camping.
I plan to use the dual mode light fixtures that will work on either 12v or 110. I plan to also wire outlets, especially in the galley, even though I will have a 12v microwave and blender.
I'm putting in a water tank (at least 14 gallons). I planned on using a bucket that I could empty instead of using a gray water tank. I know I can’t dump it just anywhere and that it’s not good to dump it or near streams and such. To me there is no difference because I wouldn’t be able to dump the gray tank just anywhere either. I just plan on using the water for cooking, cleaning and washing.
There are tons of nice grey water tanks with wheels and garden hose fittings pretty cheap.
5. As for the water pump to the faucet. 12v or hand pump?
I prefer the dual mode faucet where you can hook up to water or it has a built in 12v pump to handle pulling from your storage tank. Again, these are really common and pretty cheap. Trying to pump while you was your hands is a pain.
6. As I will be 5x10 and I wanted to use an RV specific, white ceiling panel for the ceiling, I was wondering if anyone knows if it comes in 5’ widths.
I'm looking for interior finish sources
7. Are multi-piece sides ok if I build them properly or should I locate some 5x10 paneling. I am not going to skin it with aluminum. I will be filling it and using epoxy paint.
I have a source for some really good epoxy paint
8. I am going to insulate the walls so I will have three layers. Thinking of aftermarket doors but if I decide to build my own, should I just build the doors the same as the walls?
I'm most likely going to purchase a prefab door. Depending on your construction material and such you need to worry about condensation in the walls. Make sure and do a vapor barrier. The frame on mine is going to be steel coated with POR-15 and the skin will be alumalite.
9. I have been looking for stabilizers for the frame and I can’t decide whether I want one on each corner or since I will have a jack on the tongue, will I only need two on the back corners?
Also, I can’t decide whether I want the screw type or the adjustable ones that drop down. I assume with those, you need to jack the trailer up in some cases to get it level????
I like the fold down stabilizer legs like on the Coleman tent trailers. You can adjust the length on them. I plan to put one on each of the rear corners. You drop the tongue and set them, then lift the tongue to take the weight of the camper.
