Hardest part of building a tear?

[Joseph]

Definitely the hatch - it's still not quite right, though at least it doesn't leak. If I had it to do over I'd build the hatch first, then build the rest of the teardrop around it.

Joseph

[ALAN GEDDES]

I agree with you Joseph. This is my second Tear and my last hatch. Next one gets side slide outs or something. Alan

[Guest]

Designing the #*@%#% thing!

[Chip]

How bout coming up with a design and then sticking to it,,every time I thought I had it all thought out it all changed,,granted some for the better but it sure kept me confused.I think in the excitement to get started, I didnt plan enough on a few things that now I am having to make some things work a bit differently.

chip

[mikeschn]

Oh sure, you can come up with a design and stick to it... but then you'll end up in the 3rd teardrop club like me!!!

I really like my second tear, but if my truck ever sells then I'm in trouble. So the best would be my second tear, light enough to tow with the Jetta.

It'll be a while before I start my 3rd tear... but it looks like I'm going to build a mockup of the weekender this weekend!

Mike...

P.S. And as you can see, the wood is waiting...

[Chip]

Hey mike,,My daughter has already put in an order for a simple one for herself,,sounds like a good excuse doesnt it???I am really leaning towards a simple boxy design similar to yours or the road toad,,somehing that I can build in a short time and not break her bank in the process,,simple galley similar to Josephs but with a two sided shelf hung high above the counter with a screen underneath the shelf to keep the critters out,,then I can start on my #2 for me,,lol..
by the way you sure must have a assembly line thought out if ya gonna put it together in a weekend,,,now thats a project,,,like the concept though,,

chip

[mikeschn]

Actually I don't think it requires the assembly line that you think it does...

Over the weekend this is what I expect to achieve...


The floor needs no cutting at all.

then I'll cut the side walls

Then I'll attach the 3 pieces that make the front, and the piece that makes the top

Then I'll attach the 2 pieces that make the back

Last, I'll put in the bulkhead and call it done.

I expect to spend no more than several hours outside doing that!

And the last part of that time will be spent relaxing inside with a scotch on the rocks!!!

Mike...

P.S. My daughter wants one too, and I'm seriously considering a version of this design for her! I'm toying with the idea of curved sides, and flat panels.

[Chip]

mike what are the basic stats on the new design,,that is if ya dont mind sharing,,thanks

chip

[mikeschn]

Here are the basics of the design. It's very rough, I haven't had time to play with the design or optimize it yet.



Mike...

[David Niver]

I think the hardest part after learning how to work with wood (metals much easier) was the ****%//**** hatch.
I finely got it so it closes better but if I'm still not happy with it by winter I'm going to build another one and burn the current one to keep warm.
David Niver

[Denny Unfried]

The hardest part of building mine was working inside the shop with the door closed. Most of the time when the door was opened people would stop in and want to talk for hours. I really enjoy talking about it and discussing techniques but it sure halts production. My simple old mind can just do one thing at a time.

Yesterday a neighbor came tearing down the driveway with a magazine called "Country". He said "You have to see this teardrop picture". Of course it was non other than Roly's woody so I showed him several others that I had taken at Sweetwater last February.

Denny

[robert]

Mike a couple of questions on your design.
#1.Or you going to use the OSB in the photo to build everything :floor,walls,roof,cabinets?
#2. Why 46 degrees ? 45 degrees would make cuts more easy?
#3. Why slope the top down ? If it was stright it would give you more storage space.
#4. What the heck is 18.7,36.062, 21.1, 4.170? I know 16's,8s,4s even some 32s an 64s but please remember that i'm an middle aged carpenter turned lowe's yoyo and i was born and raised in the south so i'm not up to date on all the yankee math.
Robert
p.s will it fit on a 4x8 trailer?

[mikeschn]

Mike a couple of questions on your design.
#1.Or you going to use the OSB in the photo to build everything :floor,walls,roof,cabinets?
#2. Why 46 degrees ? 45 degrees would make cuts more easy?
#3. Why slope the top down ? If it was stright it would give you more storage space.
#4. What the heck is 18.7,36.062, 21.1, 4.170? I know 16's,8s,4s even some 32s an 64s but please remember that i'm an middle aged carpenter turned lowe's yoyo and i was born and raised in the south so i'm not up to date on all the yankee math.
Robert
p.s will it fit on a 4x8 trailer?

Hey Robert,

Let's see if I can come up with some answers for you...
1) OSB is only for the mockup... the real McCoy should be built out of moisture resistant 3/4" luan
2&4) When stretching things in my cad system, 45* became 46 etc... It should be tweaked back to 45* and other nice even numbers.
3) With the top straight it looks too much like a box. The downward slope makes it feel more like a travel trailer.
PS) It was designed for a Harbor Freight 4x8 trailer.

I have to update my math tonight before I start cutting my OSB tomorrow. I'll put an updated copy of the drawing here. I have removed it once in anticipation of updating it, but Chip wanted to see it.

Mike...

[Steve Frederick]

The hardest part of building mine was working inside the shop with the door closed. Most of the time when the door was opened people would stop in and want to talk for hours. I really enjoy talking about it and discussing techniques but it sure halts production. My simple old mind can just do one thing at a time.

Denny

Denny, I know what you mean, on both points. My wife had a yard sale over a couple of weekends. Everyone had to look at "that cute little camper" and ask a lot of questions. I had a guy tell my wife that I didn't know what I was doing, 'cuz I had the axle too far back.
Then, once finished, We were stopped at the deli to get a sandwich for our first road trip, and we drew a crowd of interested folks. Some even puilled in from a busy highway to look and ask questions.
Hard to keep a schedule, but almost as much fun, for me, as building!

[mikeschn]

, but almost as much fun, for me, as building!

Sometimes I wonder what is more fun!!!

Mike...