Cross Bow / trolley / renamed little blue trolley

[Ron Dickey]

There is a type of clear plastic(?) plexiglass type material that is made especially for windows. I don't know if that's what you used or not.
If you have an Orchard Supply Hardware store near you, check there. They carry it.

Thanks I will see what they have and then compare to what I have.

I got a 2x4 x 8 cut it up to make the frame for the doors I will need to lay it out with the Wiley Window in the middle to better under stand my dimensions. I have the hinges and the door hardware. It will be a hollow door like my last one on the boxkite. Once I have the 2x4 cut and cut each in half on the small table saw I will have wood for both doors.

I have many other things on my plate or I would be much farther along. Many of those things will be settled but then next march I will need to connect to The Los Osos sewer.
Then I will need to go camping more to get away from it all. I can still us the boxkite but would rather use the new trailer. I keep pluging away at it.

Ron

 

[Ron Dickey]

working on the doors. making the edges of each sheet before cutting out the window holes for the Wiley windows. get the doors put together and attach the Wiley window parts. put on the hinges and the door opening device.
Where is a good place to get T mounts, now that Grant is retired?
Need to get a new plywood cut for the rear galley and rethink the windows for the trolley top. my make them each into a Wiley window.
I plan to make the tire into a table mounted on the tung. Still working that out but it will make a good counter weight for the rear.

Ron working on it between new sewer hookup Los Osos, ca, need to put in now low flow toilet in mine and mother in laws and low flow air raders in all sinks, weed whacking 1 1/2 ac. of land, and work. I shouid be totally shot and broke by this time next year. but on the bright side I'll still have all my teardrop friends.

 

[Ron Dickey]

Starting on doors getting ready to cut out where the windows go. I am also trying to build my own T-Molding for around the outside of the doors.

These are just test pc's made of soft wood the real one will be hard wood. these cut on a table saw but that gets dangerous. I will try some with a router table.
beginning to get back to working on the teardrop. After digging a 3foot deep 25' long trench for my sewer line. and to think if I put all that energy on the teardrop I could be camping this summer.
Ron

 

[Esteban-TNT]

Ron, check into using the San Luis Obispo Makerspace. With a local library card you can use their wood shop tools FOR FREE! It might be a big help for you to make parts for your teardrop.

 

[Ron Dickey]

Ron, check into using the San Luis Obispo Makerspace. With a local library card you can use their wood shop tools FOR FREE! It might be a big help for you to make parts for your teardrop.

I did not realize they were in that complex, I worked on the trailer yesterday. trying to finish the wall between the galley and the sleeping area. Thought my compressor had dies but it came back to life.
I have several areas to finish.
doors and cut outs for windows.... frame and walls cut.... 75% done
back wall isolation and inside surface with cut out for slide through. ... Frame almost done
inside walls attachment and boards the cover seems. 80% done
window covering for trolley top, and doors...... started windows cut trolley top... ready to cut walls of doors for window.
Buy and install cover for outside hatch ... hatch done just no skin 95% done
finish wires under trailer 75% done.
lights attached for stop and clearance done.... may add ones to hatch skin.
Fun project ... am working on spare tire at front of trailer will swing up to be come a small table at front of trailer.
Galley... basic support for ledge done... have sink.... will be last thing to be done.
wiring for lights for cabin, under each door outside, leading to hatch, and speaker wire are done. 100%
Painting of outside done except hatch.
Frame done, will add a compartment under the rear to hold extra table. it will drop down. front side of compartment will be curved to match curves of rear part of side saddle
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=54108&start=75 look at bottom of page and see drawings done by Terry, Junkboy999
Trolley top done execpt window and working fan.
Floor done
Side saddles are still a dream 10% done.

The sewer thing is not done I still need to insall low water divices in house 1.5 gpm and a 1.28 gpm toilet. but I am attached to the city sewer $$$
I work on the trailer for relief.
Ron

 

[Ron Dickey]

Considering the short timer I gave my self at the beginning of this build and I was doing well, because I was mostly building the same trailer I had built before except for the round front. Then Doug brought up the Trolley idea and then I was in a new world Leaning new things and how to do them.
Steve B helped me build the doors on the boxkite my first trailer (5 yr build) and now the cross bow started in 2013 or 14 and now it is 2017.
The build stopped but the drawings and ideas kept flowing. I even tried 15 min. builds for a while but life had other curves for me and the build stopped. I have one more thing to do for the Los Osos sewer and maybe I can resume. My wife will not let me retire so I keep working a job too.
Here is where I am at.
1. Doors need to be put together and window wholes cut, door nobs be put on, hinges installed. Have all parts.
2. Rear hatch is ready for the outside skin need to buy wood for it. have locks Wiring is ready on hatch.
3. Spare tire was to go on front but now I have metal to mount it under the carriage near the front.
4. Trolley top is built but the window coverings I think I have finally figured out.

I want to keep the plastic and plan to cut out a wood frame with hinges at the bottom and The wood frame would copy the plastic shape only bigger to reinforce the plastic.
5. The back of the trolley top will have fans from computers and a plastic lid to keep cold air out when fans are not in use.
6. The Galley is designed but no where started.
7. Some wiring needed under carriage for road lights. but lights are installed until I have the saddle bag sides made to replace the basic rear trailer lights.
my thinking is if I can get the basic trailer made and licensed, I can take it out camping before the complete trailer is done
this was I will better know what is missing and the add ons that are missing can be improved.
8. I need to build the wall between the galley and the cabin.
9. under the rear I plan to build a box to hold a table to aid my wife in her cooking and clean up.

I the time I have been working on this trailer the things that have changed. LED's have improved, Sound systems no longer need wires but lots of small batteries, Solar have jumped leaps and bounds, Laser cutting systems, and 3 d printers for a start.

Trailers have changed in so many ways and yet still look basically the same. Soon Siri will trouble shoot your trailer.
Ron

 

[Ron Dickey]

I won a amazon fire last Christmas, it has a camera on it. So I was able to down load closer shots from it.

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a little shackey and at time out of focus but you get the idea.

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[Ron Dickey]

I am still here. I have been working on the screens that go over the windows on the trolley top. I have them cut and ready to sand then I can attach them and start work on the swing out windows on the outside of the trolley top. The plastic that I cut to go inside the top will now go on the outside with a wood frame.
Hinges will be put on top and arms will go through the screen and push the windows out.

The doors are ready to be built. I have all the hardware and will start on them after the screen.

The front I find is very heavy and will hope that when I put in the galley it will offset the weight.

Ron

 

[Ron Dickey]

I will try and pull it out of the garage soon so I can attach the skin over that galley hatch and take some photo's so you can see where I am at with this monster of a project.

Ron

 

[Ron Dickey]

My windows will be much like these

if you look at the upper shot you will see a window and a screen in the lower corners they put sheet metal and drilled holes in them. a rod pushes the outside window out and pulls it in.

I have made the screens and am about to assemble them.
I used metal screening and sprayed them with anti rust spray paint white in color so they would not rust. painted the wood, then drilled holes for them to work with the rods like in the photo.

I should have shots of them soon

Ron

 

[Ron Dickey]

i plan to try and finish my build this year things have changed so I will be spending more time at home and can finally get the main parts of the trailer done.

Not having a plan at the start has not helped me. and now being free'd to start working on this to be coming more

I have the screens for the trolly top done just need to attach them and move on to the outside windows being mounted and swing out for air.

have sever computer fans will mount them at opening of roof vent to blow either way. We do camp in Death Valley from time to time.

More pictures to come.

 

[S. Heisley]

Hi, Ron! I look forward to seeing more build pictures!

 

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Great to hear about the build and get an update, Ron. Looking forward to the additional posts & pics.
Joanie

 

[Ron Dickey]

I picked up boards for the outside windows for the trolly top
. 5'x 11 1/2 " Popular wood
Will cut length down to about 36" and cut the width in half. Then cut out where window goes -1/4 " all around the inside. Then use the router to cut a lip for it to lay in.

I know pictures. I might start that Wed. if i do not have jury Duty. always something. They use to call me at Christmas.

Ron

 

[Ron Dickey]

these windows inspired me and made the idea to making my own windows for the trolley to more real.

Here are the finished screens for the inside and the cut out plexiglass ready for the frames.

I will trace them then come in 1/4 inch then rout the edge so the window has a place to set in.

then design a push pull rod to open and close the windows. cutting a small slit in the screen frame where the cross slats are.
I will try and photograph it as I do it.

 

[Ron Dickey]

I am loosing track of time my last post was in jan and it feels like yesterday. I has been suggested that I pull the trailer out of the garage and it's cramped space where I can get at it. I have a folded up car port tent my mother in law gave us years ago, and park it in that.

I am left to finish t
he electrical underneath and inside. with install the lights they go to.
I have all the parts to the doors just got to build the sandwich and install the Wally window all cut and waiting.
buy and install the skin for the back hatch
Cut and install the fiberglass window for the outside of the trolley top. they will have brass hinges so I can open and close them. Planing on Desert camping.
Finish the wall between the cabin and the Galley.
the Galley is designed I just have to build it.
The small batteries I bought will power the computer fans with will blow air or suck out air through the back of the trolley top.
I have designed or have plans for funiture that will hold clothing against the back wall of the cabin.

then I can pull it in for plates.

I goofed there , on my the first trailer "the Box Kite" I made it into a flat bed then and took it in for plates. Then I had a flat bed to carry wood and other parts I needed before finishing the build.
oh it took me 5 years to build too but I had never built one and found people to help late in the build.

the bad part with this trailer is in building the front I used to much wood and it is heavy so when the galley is done it should counter the weight.

On ward and time to set a goal of finishing this before the wife kills me.

 

[Ron Dickey]

these are the windows to go on the outside to let in air for those nights on the desert. there is a vent at the back also that will bring in or push out as needed. but when you do not want to run the battery just letting things air out naturally is best.

If you look close you will see they are a little thick I am going to rout out the inside so a pc of plexiglass can be embedded. hinges will be put on the back. I still need to sand them and cut a inch of the top to tall.

working on the wiring I have some notes on it but I have been away from it so long I may need to trace each wire. I am looking for the notes.

the front of the unit is a little heavy and when I get the galley built it should counter balance. The doors are ready to be assembled. I need to buy wood for the hatch.

I is time to go camping and trailer is not ready.... but I am.

I have kept my KOA member ship up but have not used it sense 2014 I havew VIP points and now it is time to use them. I do not want to sleep in just a tent. I want breakfast in the morning the teardrop way.

 

[Ron Dickey]

Time to pull her out of the garage and take new pictures.

and out side will give me more room to work too. I have one of those Costco carports set up out front. The Prius is enjoying right now.

I am also beginning to look for a newer puller for it.

The Corolla is still suffering from that Drunk that ran us off the road with the Boxkite in tow.

the rear strut is bad and getting worse. and it is nearly 20 years old.

looking at a Prius v, Forrester, Rav4 hybrid, and the Tacoma (it is coming out with a Hybrid this year).

 

[Ron Dickey]

here you can see the screen behind.

I am still sanding the insides and may cut the top of the window off the top found i could not get the hing on the back.

Discussion about how to get the hings on. http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=72070

the inside will be routed out so the plexiglass can be attached.

I had at fist wanted to put the plexi inside but decided i needed more air for those night in the Death Valley National Park with my cousin who is a desert Rat.
https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

I am looking at 3 different units to pull it with, each has advantages over the other.
1. Tocoma Pickup ..........2. Forester.....................3. Prius V

1. carry's heaver weight, 2. AWD and best visibility, 3. best MPG

it will also depend on the weight of the over all trailer when I am done too.

 

[Ron Dickey]

July 30 2021 update

I made two of these

Routed out the inside of the frame.

inserted the plexiglass and drilled holes in it for tinny screws to hold it in place

Window installed

window open now I am trying to figure how to keep it open and close it.