The Simon's Traildrop - Updated 6/24 - Skinning in Aluminum

[jnowis]

Well, tonight was the first night that I made some sawdust on my teardrop. It is going to be an offroad capable teardrop for taking on climbing roadtrips, hence the Traildrop name. It will be taken on rough dirt roads, but not 4-wheeling.

Some quick specs:
5'x9' trailer deck.
31-inch tires, on 8" wide wheels, bolt pattern matches my truck.
Trailer frame sits about 18 inches off the ground.
Right now I'm thinking the sides will be a woodie, the top will be aluminum.
Still working on the final profile design, need to mock up full size to finalize.
Walls and floor will be thin plywood, 3/4" framing, and insulation.
3500lb axle with leaf springs and shocks.

Here are some pictures of my frame, which I had a local welder make for me. I'd like to weld it myself, just lack the tools and space to weld. I got the frame done a while ago, but just finished getting paint on it. It has been a cold and rainy "spring" in Laramie Wyoming.


The golden's name is Ally. Thought I'd get her in the shot so I'd get more reply's to my post.



I did make sawdust today, but just cut parts for the floor, nothing assembled yet.

My goal is to get the teardrop campable first, then finish the details over the winter (water-tight first, then build the cabinets in the galley). I'm thinking it is going to take most of the summer, but I'd like to camp in Utah in late September/early October.

-Justin

[stomperxj]

Good luck Justin... Nice lookin frame. Great start

[YuGun]

May it be easy.

[grizz]

Good luck, will watch this one.

As I like the idea of an "off road" trailer.

[jnowis]

Work has been busy this summer, but I have made some progress in the past few weeks. I had hoped to provide a nice build journal that could help others in their construction, but that is not happening.
Construction of the teardrop body is happening off my trailer right now. The reasoning is to have a little easier access behind my fender supports to work and attach my walls.



Here is a view of the galley area, which is a convenient tool storage area during the build. I don’t have space in my garage to build the teardrop in, so I have to tarp the build after work (and quickly before the afternoon thunderstorms, the joys of living at 7200 feet).


Here is the mock up of the location of the Fan-Tastic Vent.


Other updates include:
-Trailer is painted
-Basic wiring (lights) on the trailer are run
-Emergency braking system is bolted on, wiring not completed

Work to be completed to make it a campable Traildrop:
-Run interior wiring for vent and lighting
-Finish interior layout of cabinets
-Insulate walls
-Attach exterior plywood
-Attach aluminum roof and siding
-Install aluminum trim
-Build doors and attach windows
-Attach teardrop to trailer frame

[jnowis]

Whoops, double post.

[xddorox]

Cool progress pics. This is going to be one hardcore trailer my friend.

[jnowis]

Almost a year since my last post, work got a little busy last fall and the Traildrop suffered. Wyoming winters at 7,200 feet can also slow build progress, but this spring (which lasted exactly two days in June) and summer I’ve been able to get some work done.
Onto the progress pictures.

First, updates of the galley and sheeting the outside in plywood:


After the plywood went on I coated with CPES, attached the cabin to the trailer, and then started sheeting with aluminum. Almost have the major trim pieces installed.


The black brackets are Yakima Widebody mounts for a roof rack.



Next up is to fabricate the side doors and rear hatch. Looking forward to working with wood, cutting the aluminum with a router just generates so many aluminum chips, not fun vacuuming the driveway. My current goal is a campable Traildrop in early August. I think I can do it as long as Nell doesn’t want to keep doing stuff on the weekends.

[jnowis]

A couple of updates to add over the weekend.

First off, I started on the side doors. Framed up to accept my windows and skinned with plywood on the outside.


I also started on the rear hatch. To make sure that the hatch fits the opening, I clamped the frame of the hatch to the opening and bent the plywood over the frame. Wetting the plywood with a misting hose worked pretty well and the tarp kept the water from doing undo damage.

And secured with screws:


Just need to add one more piece, but I don’t think it will require as much bending as the radius is less.