The Finley T1 -Update 8/26/14- All done!!!!

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The Finley T1 -Update 8/26/14- All done!!!!

Postby finleycraft » Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:51 pm

My build is on a Popup frame I got for $175 I was originally going to buy a 5x10 trailer that was to be built for me. I decided to keep an eye out for anything rather cheap and in good condition at the same time. Lucky me I found this little gutted pop up. After seeing it and bartering over the next few days I picked it up and drove carefully home. The good thing was that all the lights still worked. The bad is that both tires and the spare have severe dry rot. I spent about 5 hours tearing it down to the last pic below as soon as I got home. I was fortunate to have a neighbor that is having some work done on his house and he has a dumpster out front that he is letting me throw stuff in. I have a bunch of ideas in my head about how I want to build my "T1". The key points must be that there is a bunk for my son since he is still small and can't sleep in a tent alone yet. Also my Wife mandates it needs AC since the Midwest's summer is quite stiffling. I look forward to a fun, challenging, and sometimes frustrating build. I welcome constructive advice. And once I am done we will be hitting up a teardrop gathering or four :)

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Last edited by finleycraft on Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:28 am, edited 8 times in total.
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Re: The Finley T1

Postby finleycraft » Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:08 pm

I washed it down and sprayed on some krud kutter after taking off the cable lift system this evening. Tomorrow time permitting I will do some scraping and maybe start priming it.

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Re: The Finley T1

Postby danlott » Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:57 pm

Looks like a good frame. My only advice would be to figure out your plan before you go to far with the frame. That way you might not have to go back and redo something on the frame after you change your mind.

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Re: The Finley T1

Postby bc toys » Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:59 am

Are you going to have your trailer the full size or are you going to have fenders on the out side if you want fenders. You will need to cut off the over hangs on the trailer. Good luck and keep pics coming
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Re: The Finley T1

Postby finleycraft » Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:14 am

I am going to stick with the width. It will be a little wide at 6'4" but I figure we can turn the bed and give more space to having a bunk or something next to the galley. My only big concern before I go much further is the placement of the axel. I know that with small tears it needs to be a bit further back to off set the weight of the galley. However If I dont move it back it will save some time and money. My truck tows stuff without a problem and I understand loading a trailer pretty well since i used to pull one every day for a few years.
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Re: The Finley T1

Postby danlott » Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:02 pm

You might consider Steve's Rondack Lodge design. It is designed to sleep 3 people. Plus I think it would fit well on your frame. You would have to build out over your frame tongue a little, similar to the picture attached below, but you probably would not have to move the axle. If anything you might have to cut a little of the back end of the frame off.

Here is a link to Steve's website for the Rondack Lodge.
http://www.campingclassics.com/lodge1.html

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Re: The Finley T1

Postby 2old2tent » Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:30 pm

We also built on a pop up frame and stayed with the 6'+ width. We sleep sideways. We dropped a section in the front floor for a standy. Makes it too tall to be a Teardrop but we haven't been thrown out yet. :lol:
We are about 70 miles South down I-35 from you.
Best of luck.

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Re: The Finley T1

Postby pappaw » Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:30 am

looks like a great frame to build on. :thumbsup:

cheers :beer:
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Re: The Finley T1

Postby finleycraft » Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:27 pm

I like the Lodge but he is about 13 feet long wheras mine is on 8'9". That being said I have been mulling over some different design ideas I have been having and I think I am close to making a decision on the layout. It will most likely involve a sideways full size with a small camp bed between the wheel wells also sideways for my son.
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Re: The Finley T1

Postby finleycraft » Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:11 pm

Got the trailer all cleaned, primed, and painted up with Rustolium underbody paint. Its been so damn hot here its been taking hours and hours before it stops being tacky. Did a couple coats on the underside. After trying to winch it to the tree length wise I decided to make a stand and just lift it on its side for the final coats. Gotta say I wasnt sure I was going to be able to lift it but I was able to safely make it happen. I think I'll let it cure a few days before moving on with the build. I have deciced to do a rain drop style so I can have a little bunk up front for my son.

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Re: The Finley T1

Postby finleycraft » Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:39 am

I got some time yesterday to do some work to the trailer. I got part of the floor built and I am going to finish the rest this afternoon (maybe). 5 minutes after I started my little kreg jig came in. Worth every penny!

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Re: The Finley T1

Postby finleycraft » Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:20 pm

Today was a very good day for working outside. The temp was about 10 degrees less than yesterday and it cooled down all day with a rain and overcast. I got the floor all put together. It took 3 4x8 sheets of 1/2 inch birtch and 10 1x2x8 spars. I used my plate joiner to cut slots for #20 biscuits. I have read that some dont like this way of joining because of the thinness of 1/2 inch plywood. I put a spar directly on the under side of the joint and used glue and 1" screws to secure it. This seems to do quite well in my opinion. I used a metal blad in my jig saw to trim the corners of the frame to accommodate for the 19" radius of the front. I added some extra support for the front section as well. Next up is to tar it and flip it over.

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Re: The Finley T1

Postby finleycraft » Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:07 pm

Got the spars all rubber painted and every crack caulked up. I used Formular Insulation that is made for foundations and is supposed to be water proof. After getting that all installed I caulked up where the foam meets the spars. I know tar is the normal way to go but I wanted to try this out.


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Re: The Finley T1

Postby M C Toyer » Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:29 pm

Did I miss it or have you settled on a design yet? I am curious how the rounded front of the floor will tie in.

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Re: The Finley T1

Postby finleycraft » Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:36 pm

Yup I am settling on a raindrop style front similar to the Campinn 560. That gives it room to have a bench/bunk in the front.
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