Tiger Tamer Chronicles - The Build

[2bits]

Mandy, I have seen and responded so some of your posts, and I can see that you are serious and really fired up about this project! It is a big undertaking for anyone, so you go! ! !

One thing that helped me to add to what chico posted, is once I had the floor in and the walls cut, I mocked them up temporarily, and the held up cardboard where the cabinets would be to get a feel for where they would be. Doing this, I actually decided to move them back and up a little for some rollover, and maneuvering room, so it's nice to get a real feeling for it even thought it may throw you back in to designing land again, but hey that's what it's all about! The plans are just a guideline until you begin construction!

Hope to meet you in the middle of SC and TX someday!

[Bigwoods]

Mandy,

I just have my tear to the campable stage. I sure remember hoe I fely when I made my first sawdust. That build was one of the most rewarding things I have done and I hope you enjoy your build as much as I did.

[Esteban]

Mandy, Your teardrop profile looks pleasing.

A simple idea to help you visualize the interior layout is to use blue painters tape on the outside profile to mark where your shelves, cabinets, galley counter, bulkhead, mattress, etc. will go. It's easy to see and real simple to change. It helped me, a lot, to get measurements right. Wrote reference notes and measurements on the tape with a Sharpie pen.

Another idea for your consideration might be to minimize the flat area of the roof. I've seen several teardrops with flat roofs that noticeably sagged in the middle of the side to side span. Having a little curve to the roof gives it more stiffness and strength and helps to drain rain away.

Hope you enjoy building your teardrop.

[S. Heisley]

Hi, Mandy:

You have so much enthusiasm and vigor that I'm certain your build will not only be a good one but also a joy to watch!

Good Luck on your build and thanks for sharing!

[rhltechie]

Thanks to all of you who commented and your support! My dad has the trailer and will be putting the steel on the tongue (hopefully this week). I think I will follow the advice of several of you and go ahead and mark out my cabinets and such with some tape to see how everything might fit.

thanks again!!

[rhltechie]

Hello all,

my dad returned my trialer tonight. I was impressed with his quick work. H welded some steel for the a frame tongue and another cross member. here are the photos of the after trailer.





He also welded my jacks on the back for me.



I plan on getting the floor done this weekend I hope

[2bits]

So what's your plan for doing the floor? Construction-wise I mean, I am just looking at it and it looks like it is angle iron with the outside edge turned up, just wondering how you will do it, alot of choices!

[rhltechie]

So what's your plan for doing the floor? Construction-wise I mean, I am just looking at it and it looks like it is angle iron with the outside edge turned up, just wondering how you will do it, alot of choices!

Well Thomas....THAT is the million dollar question. I plan to start tomorrow so I really have nail down..no pun intended, how I am going to do this. I have gotten many great ideas from others here on the board about how they dealt with their carry on trialers with the angle iron pointed up. I am obviously still open to any NEW ideas but I plan to settle on something today before I go for a wood haul in the morning. To this point, its really been the most stressful part of the plan.

[dmckruit]

My trailer is the same way. I got a 4x8 Tractor Supply Trailer that I want to make a 5x10 trailer out of it. Mine also has the angle iron with the edge facing up. What I plan on doing is bolting plywood to the steel frame, then make a wooden frame on top of the plywood where I will lay the foam insulation in between the wooden crossmembers. Then sandwich another piece of plywood on top. This should bring me level with the top of the steel frame. Then I will build out 6 inches on both sides of the frame.

I still have some metal working yet to do on my frame, so I haven't gotten to that part yet.

[rhltechie]

Mine also has the angle iron with the edge facing up. What I plan on doing is bolting plywood to the steel frame, then make a wooden frame on top of the plywood where I will lay the foam insulation in between the wooden crossmembers. Then sandwich another piece of plywood on top. This should bring me level with the top of the steel frame. Then I will build out 6 inches on both sides of the frame.

this sounds about what i have gotten from another member. i am just so torn right now between walls inside the angle...or building up level. call it my female nature of being indecisive or just call it OCD....whatever you call it..i am still trying to come to what i think it best for me!

[toypusher]

Mine also has the angle iron with the edge facing up. What I plan on doing is bolting plywood to the steel frame, then make a wooden frame on top of the plywood where I will lay the foam insulation in between the wooden crossmembers. Then sandwich another piece of plywood on top. This should bring me level with the top of the steel frame. Then I will build out 6 inches on both sides of the frame.

this sounds about what i have gotten from another member. i am just so torn right now between walls inside the angle...or building up level. call it my female nature of being indecisive or just call it OCD....whatever you call it..i am still trying to come to what i think it best for me!

Just remember if you have wood setting down inside the angle, that you will have problems with water and I am not sure that you can seal it good enough to keep all of the water out. Just a thought.

You might consider taking some more angle iron and flip it, cut short pieces 3 or 4 inches long, then have your dad weld short pieces on to create a place to bolt you floor to that will even with the top of the frame. If you can picture those areas would then create a short, square tube at each location you choose.

[dmckruit]

You might consider taking some more angle iron and flip it, cut short pieces 3 or 4 inches long, then have your dad weld short pieces on to create a place to bolt you floor to that will even with the top of the frame. If you can picture those areas would then create a short, square tube at each location you choose.

Thats another good idea. I will have to rethink my plan. It would certainly lessen the weight some.

[rhltechie]

Just remember if you have wood setting down inside the angle, that you will have problems with water and I am not sure that you can seal it good enough to keep all of the water out. Just a thought.

I had really thought this through because of this but i think i will end up with wood down in the angle iron. i will do my best to seal/protect the wood that ends up there and hope it works out ok.

[dmckruit]

I have been stewing this over all day as well. I was thinking about getting some treated lumber (I measured the angle iron, and mine is 2"high) and just running 4 cross beams across the floor of the trailer and bolting to the frame. Then I was going to build the floor on top of these. Once the subfloor is in place, then I would treat the bottom with undercoat.

My other problem is that I want to build the Grumman 2 design, and while I am okay width wise to do the extra foot from 4 to 5 feet (including the built in wheels), I don't have enough room in the front for clearance if I add some length to the front. I may have to get a longer tongue.

[rhltechie]

mine is also 2" high. i am still doing some sketching about the wood. i stay away from treated wood...i just dont like the idea of not knowing what they are putting in it!