Rimple Build in Texas

[Doc Milo]

Well I'm taking the plunge and embarking on my first build. I have been lurking for a while, picking up some information and inspiration for all the other builds on this board. I have settled on Andrew's Rimple design. I had initially wanted to build a true teardrop, but the Rimple has sort of grown on me. I'm going to make it 54" wide on the inside to accomodate a full-size mattress, built on a HF trailer. This will be a pretty plain build, no running water or satellite TV, just something to get me up off the ground when camping/hunting. I still have some planning to do and decisions to make (I've been putting off the electrical part just due to the intimidation factor), but I have enough to get started I think.

Bought the 3/4" plywood for the walls and cut out the profile last night. Color scheme will probably change like 5 more times before I actually have to paint but here's what I'm thinking so far. Any suggestions for modifications are welcome and appreciated!!

[Bob Patterson]

Welcome to TNTTT, Doc. You've found a great place to hang around. It can get very addictive. I like the design you have chosen and look forward to your build.

[IndyTom]

Great looking design. Looking forward to seeing pics of your build.

Tom

[starleen2]

from a fellow Texan - what part of the state are ya' in?

[Doc Milo]

I'm up in the Panhandle - close to Amarillo. Plenty of good camping around, within a pretty short drive, anyways...

[Doc Milo]

Got the walls 'cut out' night before last. I weighed the wood I removed and it came to just under 60 lbs, so it was a pretty good diet. I went by Harbor Freight yesterday and picked up the 1720# trailer ($280 with coupon) and will try to get that painted and put together within the next week or so, hopefully. At that point I can take some measurements and firm up some design questions I've sort of been on hold about. Still a little bit in the planning phase on floor and floor/wall attaching. More to come!

[Doc Milo]

I have no earthly idea why these are upside-down; they are right-side up in the gallery. I'll try to fix tomorrow....

[Doc Milo]

Got the Harbor Freight trailer put together this weekend, went together (mostly) without trouble. I scooted the axle back to 38.5" from the rear, which seems to be pretty close to a consensus around here. I figure I can shift weight later on if need be. I also made a couple of design decisions in the process. I decided to keep the red colored trailer - I wasn't crazy about it at first but I think it'll look ok in the end. My wife assures me we can make the color scheme work. Also decided to stick with an overall width of 48 instead of the 54" as originally planned (the KISS principle applies here).

Garden variety HF trailer....


I had to see how it was going to look.

[Corwin C]

One reason why most choose to paint the HF trailer is because it fades to PINK ... and not a very pretty pink at that.

Something to think about...

Welcome to the forum.

[aggie79]

Welcome to the forum Doc! It's good to have another Texas teardropper on board! Take a spin by the South Central section if you haven't already to see events in our area.

One reason why most choose to paint the HF trailer is because it fades to PINK ... and not a very pretty pink at that.

Something to think about...

While I used a custom frame on my teardrop, I have a HF utility trailer. It's been a good hardworking trailer for me, but I have to agree with Corwin. The paint does fade to pink pretty quickly.

Take care,
Tom

[Doc Milo]

Thanks Corwin, Tom. You talked me into painting it and saved me from the humiliation of showing up at the deer lease with a pink trailer. It looks much better flat black, anyways. I've discovered that changing colors in real life is harder than it is in sketchup, though....

[CliffinGA]

Welcome Doc to the forum and the madness I lived up in your neck of the woods for qute awhile and even went to Tascosa High in Amarillo. Looks like your trucking along and its looking great. Keep at it,

Cliff

[PanelDeland]

Doc,looks like a great design.There's more Sq ft of interior room in the Rimple that just about any other design.

Gosh Cliff,Trashcosa is the only High School in Amarillo that I didn't attend.

[Doc Milo]

After an extended hiatus, here is a bit of an update on the build so far. I've been idle, yes, but not completely idle.

I made the bottom of 7/16" (top) and 1/4" (bottom) plywood, with 1/2" framing and insulation between them.



I coated the bottom with 2 half strength, then 2 full-strength coats of spar urethane, over which I applied 2 coats of Ultra-roof 1000 elastomeric roof coating (this is instead of the roofing tar). The picture doesn't show it well but this stuff was brighter than the sun - I actually had to wear sunglasses when I put it on.





When I went to attach the floor to the trailer, I saw that there would be a tiny gap (1/8" or so) between the frame and the floor due to the fact that the cross members sit a little bit lower than the side rails. After some suggestions from some helpful folks in the tips & techniques forum, I screwed some aluminum spacers down in the middle to provide support.



The sides are 1/8 - 3/4 - 3/16 plywood, with insulation installed in the cutouts on the middle piece.



I'm going to try to stay busy on it to have it ready in time for Fall/Winter 2013...