Tiny House Blog

Tim Kasten wrote to me recently about his Meditation Retreat Gypsy Wagon, so I asked him to send me some pictures and tell us his story. I’ll let Tim take over from here:

I dreamed for a number of years of building a gypsy-style caravan on a 4-wheel 14-foot-long wagon chassis that I bought from Shiloh Wagon Works in Minnesota. Health problems eventually forced me to concede that I wasn’t strong enough to build it alone and that I would have to scale back the design considerably if I wanted to be able to tow it with a small car and maneuver it by myself.

The result was this little wagon built on a 4×8 utility trailer from Tractor Supply. I don’t know its exact weight, but I’m pretty sure it’s under 600 pounds. I tow it easily with a Toyota Matrix. Continue Reading »

Guy Lemieux in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada offers a unique modern take on the gypsy-inspired transportable wooden 4 seasons cottage adapted to modern living with a carefully decorated and furnished interior.

As a cottage or guest house, a workshop, boutique, café, welcome centre, kiosk, camper, base camp, or addition to a tourist accommodation, the Tango caravan comes fully equipped or made to measure, adapting to your needs and blending beautifully with the environment where you use it.

Tango caravans are available in different versions: basic, finished, equipped and decorated, or made to measure. The caravan you see on our site is 24 feet long, Tango now has added 26 and 32 foot as well.

Tango builds the caravans to measure, the price of the base model without furniture (no bathroom and kitchen) are starting at 29,000$ cdn (26 feet) 32,000$ cdn (32 feet) and the full equipped starting at 37,000$ cdn (26 feet) and 49,000$cdn (32 feet). The 32 feet version has two rooms.

This is a new company just started in February of 2009. I had the opportunity to talk to Guy’s wife the other day and they hope to bring these to the United States as soon as they get all the importing details worked out. Go to the Roulottes en bois Tango website to learn more.

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Gypsy Wagons with Jim Tolpin

Learn the Art and Craft of Building Gypsy Wagons

I want to thank EJ for this great find. I know there are many people here in the states interested in this type of building and I haven’t found anything like this anywhere else. You need to get your name in now as the class is filling up fast. Here are the details:

In this week-long class we will explore how the late 19th century, English-made “Living Wagons” (called “Vardos” by the Gypsies)—were designed, built and used. Then you will discover how modern design and construction techniques can be used to create a wagon that will be enchanting and cozy, yet roadworthy for travel at today’s highway speeds. In the balance of the course you will learn the techniques and practice the hands-on skills that you’ll need to return home and build a Gypsy Caravan for yourself.

Here’s what we’ll be doing:

• Drawing full size patterns for various components such as the end walls and the superstructure supports.
• Designing a suitable chassis frame and running gear.
  
• Building an endwall for a bow top.
  
• Making a sample door and window.
  
• Carving a knee bracket and a length of molding with “butterfly” chamfers.)
  
• Designing the interior built-in cabinetwork
  
• Bending hoops with a steam box and setting them to a form.
  
• Designing electrical and plumbing systems
  
• Designing the chimney for a wood-burning stove
  
• Painting and varnishing some sample parts.
  
• Talking about how to outfit a wagon for the road.
  

Included in the cost of the course are practice materials, detailed handouts and access to a free online forum where you can ask further questions and solicit advice.

To learn more and get the dates of this coveted class go here.

Photo Credit: Tim Lawson

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