Deryk's lil Vardo

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks Folks! Still lots to go, but I got to camp 2 nights in it and it was GREAT!

[aggie79]

Very nice Deryk!

I've been following your build, but somehow missed the latest updates. The color scheme and design look great! Congratulations on your first outing.

Take care,
Tom

[mike66442]

Looks Grate!! I like the looks of the roof, you made it sound simple . How long for it to set up and cure?

[S. Heisley]

Congratulations on your first camp trip, Deryk. The trailer looks really cozy and just like a little house. Good job!

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouragement. Ive never really built anything before this. At the party this weekend alot of my friends assumed my friend Connor did it with my help...after explaining that nope he made suggestions, and just helped me cut the three 2x6's for the arched roof and to put down the EPDM membrane the rest was me they became really impressed. It wasnt really hard.

I still have work to do on the inside and as always time money and weather are a problem lol. If all goes well I start working on wednesday (the board of ed votes on it tomorrow night) and let me know when Im gonna start...I almost hope for monday so I can shoot down and get working on the Vardo again...I am looking forward to a paycheck just hopeing the job goes permanent. Going from Helpdesk to Custodial Maint but after 14 months of unemployment Im ready for a change lol.

Mike the adhesive is very much like rubber cement. I put the EPDM membrane down over my wooden roof and made sure it was on even then used a dozen clamps to hold it down. Next morning me and my friend rolled half the roof back on itself and used a medium nap roller (with a stick) and I rolled both the wood and the membrane with a nice heavy coat of the adhesive. It took about 8-10 minutes and it was tack free, so I slid a 10ft 2x2 carefully under the folded over membrane and we put some tension on it and carefully rolled it out 1 turn of the 2x2 at a time till we got to the edge, then did the same thing with the other side. It took maybe a half an hour. I wouldnt recomend doing it alone but with 2 ppl its easy.

deryk

[Miriam C.]

You did good!

Yes you need clearance lights on the bottom rail and in some states the brake lights need to be visible from the side. If your lights are recessed then a larger red clearance light to the side will keep you out of trouble.

Have fun!

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks Miriam!

Yeah next weekend I have to wire up the lights, pick up some more and bring my Vardo home to get some work done on it so I can do a 4 day/3 night camping event for memorial day weekend. It will be its longest ride so far (about 60 some miles).

Im all excited, cant wait... now need to get some canvas for an awning for it!

[StPatron]

Nice work on the Vardo, perfect fit for your tastes. Congratulations on your first camping trip, must be a very proud moment for you!

[Visionsbydarrah]

Congratulations on your wonderful Vardo build.
I've always wanted a Vardo but as of yet have not done it.
I'm very limited on space at my place.
To be honest I almost don't have room for my Shadow next to my house.  Very small lot.

Very nice job and I hope many great years of use.

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks Gary and Darrah,

Yeah Im wonderin if the marina is gonna try to charge me for keeping it here? I want to get it home this weekend, go pick up the insulation from lowes and get my inside done. Then bring it over my parents house see how they like it. If my mother doesnt explode at me for buildin it while unemployed I might be able to keep it there. Thats my hopeful plan since storage would be free lol and there only 20 minutes away so its not a big deal to get at it to go away for a weekend...can grab it after work on a thursday night and head out on friday.

Also convenent cause my next possible tow vehicle is there. My dad said next year there gonna drop down to 1 car since they arent drivin either one very often and asked me if I was interested in it. He has a 1997 dodge grand caravan with 76k miles on it with a max towing of 3800 lbs lol. So I would be able to put my propane fridge in for next year lol and its tall and wide enought that my vardo should be a breeze to tow. Works for me lol.

Ive got the trailer lights, need to pick up some U bolts for the tongue box and ready to drive her home to get the inside done. I ordered the "standard" teardrop door handle since I was havein a problem getting the "screen door" style handle to lock. The new one seems much more rugged and I really want the door to stay shut while Im driving down the road!

deryk

[Visionsbydarrah]

Hey Deryk,

I think I have a fix for your current employment situation.
You should build Vardo's and sell them. ( I know where to build can be a problem. )
There seems to be more then enough interest in them.... 
Just a crazy thought.
Or is it??????

Have a great weekend!!!!!

[Deryk the Pirate]

heh funny that you mentoned that but it will be goin up for sale when Im done lol. Ive already got a few thoughts to how I will do the next one...

then in the non traditional forum somone came up with this... http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43742
Next year I might be gettin a bigger tow vehicle and I think I can build a standie under 1500lbs so its a thought lol....but with gas prices on the rise, maybe an ultra light hi-low style so it can be raised up on site for standing but drops down to 4feet high for traveling...so many ideas runnin through my crazy head...I need to learn how to use the sketch up tool lol

[atahoekid]

I am truly impressed how quickly this all came together, considering you stated that you had minimal skills. Looks great to me!! I hope to start my build in the next couple of weeks (gotta pull the frame out of the snow and finish the bathroom remodel, first) and I hope I can pull it off as quickly as you did. Just getting it camp-able prior to the end of summer will feel like a big victory to me. Congratulations on your build Ya dun good!

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks Mel,

The hardest thing I guess to me was how to do the roof... the rest was easy its basically a box. When my friend showed me how to do the arched roof it was simple.

Good Luck with your build!

deryk

[b.bodemer]

Very cool build and glad you already got to camp in your Vardo trailer!

Barb