Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

As stated in my 1960 BeeLine Restore Thread I re-built my walls wrong and the original skins wouldn't fit. Rather than correct the walls and end up with something I'm not happy with, Plan B was invisioned.

The plan was to find a cheap trailer frame for a foundation. My father and I trolled a few back alleys in my hometown, my hometown is very small, and within 30 minutes we had a prospect. The owner was not home and I had to head back to Indy so I left my dad to do the dealing. A few phone calls later we had a "new" trailer frame for $50.

I'm assuming it was an old popup trailer. The title only states trailer.






After modification were made to fit the old shell I drug it back home to get it cleaned up and painted. Then I started building the floor up.







The floor is going to have 3 levels. The deepest of the drop floors is around 7.5".


And here's the floor all done.


MORE TO COME!

Since the floor was ready, the time came to unbolt the shell from the original Beeline trailer frame and move it over to the new trailer.

Here the shell still sits on the original frame.



Unbolted and jacked up.



Look, it floats.



Getting the "new" trailer into position.


Some careful manuvering.




And we've landed.

I had already bought some KemLite. I was going to build a Teardrop before the Beeline showed up on Craigslist.

Here's the KemLite rolled out waiting to be cut.


Here you can see the original square, small window opening.


After 4 hours looking through an RV surplus yard we found 6 windows that would work..... Kind of....

First we had to make the windows bigger and round the corners.


We also found a door that was way too big, so more cutting.


Started putting some skin on and installed a new cargo door.


Got the door installed.


And one of the new windows.


The next morning we installed the other window on the curb side and trimmed out the profile.


Wash, rinse, repeat on the other side.


Drapped the roof.

Skipped serveral steps on the photos.... Got all the windows installed. Installed the vent fan and edge trim.

Essentially at this point the outside is done.




All hooked up and ready to tow home.

Very very nice!!

Is the inside an empty shell right now?? Can't wait to see what you do with that!!!

Fantastic job and probably a big improvement on the original design.

I did have a few cabinets, the dinette seats and a closet installed before we lifted it. The closet had to come out and the seats detached from the floor, but the cabinets just rode along. The interior is nearly finished now. Have to lay the floor tiles and build the base cabient for the sink and fridge.

I do like this trailer frame tons better than the original from the Beeline. It's a lot beefier.

More progress....

Bed frame built.






Closet and A/C frame installed.






A/C ventilation.



under bed storage.



And with kemlite installed.







Dinette floor before tile.



And After.



Sleeping area before tile



And After.



Main walk area.



And after.

Looks great, you'll like the filon exterior. It wears well and its super easy to clean. Just curious, why did you swap out the trailer frame?

Bruce

bdosborn wrote:Looks great, you'll like the filon exterior. It wears well and its super easy to clean. Just curious, why did you swap out the trailer frame?

Bruce

Built the walls wrong. Used the paneling from the inside as a pattern instead of the skins. The original skins would not fit properly. Rather than mess up what I had constructed trying to fix the problem, I chose to get a different frame so I could keep the oringal frame with the original skin. I'm going to start the original Beeline rebuild again this winter.

The "new" frame was only $50. I already had the Filon. Overall, I'm very happy with how it's turning out. First camping trip is next weekend.

Ahhh, serendipity! Now you'll have two trailers! Besides, Its pretty hard to stop at just on once you're bitten by the bug.

Bruce

Great job. If the area is not permanently closed yet you might consider installing a small fan behind the A/C directing the air flow out. I had a unit about that size in my teardrop and needed to have a side door and the back lid open when it was operating. I was surprised at the amount of heat a small a/c generates.

Makes me wish yet again I had the time the talent and most of all the patience to do such a beautiful job. Really nice.

Thanks!

PKCSPT wrote:Makes me wish yet again I had the time the talent and most of all the patience to do such a beautiful job. Really nice.

I agree! What a nice standy you've made for yourself.

I hope to try building one someday for myself.