Tiger Tamer Chronicles - The Build

[rhltechie]

Well, this is my first official day of actually working on the TD, and boy let me tell you...i am pooped!!!

so I started framing for the floor:



A look at my work area:



Who in the world cut that!!



A good look at how the frame will be:



I swear...this cutting thing takes a little getting used to, but this aint nothing a little rubber mallet can't handle!!



A little wishful thinking of a look at the floor:



I also got the new steel painted that my dad added for me for the A frame tongue..while simultaneously realizing that I now have to paint the rest of t he trailer as well to look as good as the tongue!!



Well thats about it for the day....I started by going to lowes at 10 and just finished a few minutes ago and I really havent even done much. I can really see how this takes time...i feel like i got basically nothing done today. I wanted to get the epoxy on the end wood grain but I am so tired i am scared I will screw it up. so i shall wait until i am fresh.

[2bits]

Hi Mandy, I think the concern of the wood sitting on the frame is valid, but I was thinking you don't need much to create airflow which equals evaporation. How about some washers on the vertical bolts between the wood and frame. This may or may not be a good idea depending on how level the trailer will be as it may cause pooling too, but I'm "stewin" on this greatly as well. Isn't it nice so many strangers are thinking about your trailer too?

It might actually be as simple as sealing the 2x4's with epoxy before laying them down for the last time and then using the roof tar stuff to seal the joint between the wood and metal too underneath.

Maybe another cold one will help

[starleen2]

Mandy
what I did was to paint all the flooring structure before securing it to the trailer - no kind of special voodoo stuff - just regular exterior enamel. I have the same kind of trailer. I bolted the structure directly to the frame. I have no Issues with water problem as of two year. I have inspected all the wooden members and they show no sign of rot or decay. My only concern is how you are going to seal around the fenders?? At some point the tires are going to have to come off!

[rhltechie]

How about some washers on the vertical bolts between the wood and frame. This may or may not be a good idea depending on how level the trailer will be as it may cause pooling too, but I'm "stewin" on this greatly as well. Isn't it nice so many strangers are thinking about your trailer too? Laughing

It might actually be as simple as sealing the 2x4's with epoxy before laying them down for the last time and then using the roof tar stuff to seal the joint between the wood and metal too underneath. Thinking

Thomas, isnt funny you should mention that cause I have plans to actually put washers under the framing to leave somewhat of a gap. but i am also sealing all of my wood with cpes before i do the bolting down. just the framing will be in the angle iron, the floor and wall will be above it. i am covering the bottom with the black goo as well. sooo...hopefully all of this will keep the rot away!!

[2bits]

Dang... Now I feel really validated haha. I think you have your act together!

Hey I was just thinking, are you going to store it outside, in a garage or under a carport, or tarp or ??? When I finish my teardrop (yeah finish is a relative term), I plan on putting a floor and walls in my cabin that is in my backyard, and moving the wood shop in there and doing my best to squeeze my truck and the tear in my garage together. I think I can *just* about make it...

[toypusher]

How about some washers on the vertical bolts between the wood and frame. This may or may not be a good idea depending on how level the trailer will be as it may cause pooling too, but I'm "stewin" on this greatly as well. Isn't it nice so many strangers are thinking about your trailer too? Laughing

It might actually be as simple as sealing the 2x4's with epoxy before laying them down for the last time and then using the roof tar stuff to seal the joint between the wood and metal too underneath. Thinking

Thomas, isnt funny you should mention that cause I have plans to actually put washers under the framing to leave somewhat of a gap. but i am also sealing all of my wood with cpes before i do the bolting down. just the framing will be in the angle iron, the floor and wall will be above it. i am covering the bottom with the black goo as well. sooo...hopefully all of this will keep the rot away!!

As well as washers under the wood, you might consider making the wood framing just a bit smaller than the frame inside (1/8" or so all the way around) and that would also keep water from being trapped around the sides. Your vertical bolts will then hold it in place (or you could put some shims around the outside too.

[rhltechie]

THanks for the continued advice ya'all.

Thomas, I am building in my carport. once I am done I think she shall stay in the carport pushed towards the rear which leaves me just enough room to put the front half of my jeep into the carport...

I just cannot imagine leaving it out in the elements after I have spent so much time working on it.

I wish i had some time to do the epoxy today to let it cure, but we are off to the carolina renaissance festival for the day. by the time i get back it will be way too late to start such. Hopefully I can get to some stuff tomorrow as I did take the day off. I do not forsee much happening over the next few weeks as next weekend is our annual halloween party. the next weekend is a friends halloween party.....GRRR....I just wanna play with my TD dammit!!

oh well...such is life!

[2bits]

I have always ended up doing most of my automotive work until the wee hours on the night, I did my first two coats of epoxy in the dark too. You can't really do too much work on the teardrop after dark really just because alot of times you're using power tools which is not too nice for the neighbors otherwise, I am out there at night if I can!

[dmckruit]

Mandy,

Where did you get your leveling jacks from? Those look pretty neat!

I started working on my trailer this weekend as well. I got the fenders cut off, and I swapped out the 12" wheels with 15" wheels. (Note: The tractor supply 15" wheels fit perfectly on this trailer and there is plenty of room between the frame and the tire).

I am currently in a holding pattern until I can buy some 2x3" rectangular steel tubing so that I can replace the tongue with a longer one, and install some A-frame gussets similar to yours.

I should be starting a build thread by next weekend as I took my photos on a regular film camera as opposed to a digital.

Dave

[rhltechie]

Hi Dave,

The jacks are the atwood jacks people speak of around here a bit. some like em, some hate em. I have only used them a few times, but so far I like them fine.

Atwood Jacks

A lot of people like the BAL type jacks as well, I suppose its just a matter of preference. Along with these two, some have no jacks...also a matter of preference!!

I had thought about changing the fenders and wheels, but decided just to leave them as they are. my colors are black,garnet,white...so its not really a clash to have them stock with a little spiffed up paint

You wont be sorry you did the tongue a frame. before it was done, I could stand on a corner of the trailer and the it just wiggled and felt very flimsey. After my dad so graciously put the steel on for me that thing is solid as a rock!! It really helped, it even towes better.

You def gotta get a good camera, these people on the forum crave their " Teardrop porn"

Good luck with your build!

[glider]

Hi Mandy. Just wanted to congratulate you on the outset of your build. You have set off at a blistering pace dont forget to chill at will. Suck a few suds I believe is a real help when the going gets tough. Just to keep a cool head.
I watch with interest.
Mark.

[Mary K]

Hey Mandy, I somehow missed this thread. Sorry.

It's great to see you starting on the teardrop!!

WooHOoo do a little Dance!!!


MK

[S. Heisley]

I'm glad you're using CPES, Mandy. Please remember to also coat the places where you drill holes to attach it to the frame. Edges of the wood and drilled holes are the most vulnerable. Whenever you need just a little CPES, you can mix it in a clean, dry margarine tub. If you need to take a break for lunch or something, pop the margarine tub lid on and it will slow down the congealing of the mixture. It will also keep the fumes at bay somewhat. One coat of CPES makes the wood water resistant; but, supposedly, 3 coats of it will make the wood waterproof. If you were to use 3 coats, you wouldn't need the black tar stuff. During the rainy season, diesel fuel from the road can splash up underneath and liquefy the tar stuff.

When you get ready to drill the holes to attach the wood to the metal and have the CPES'd wood clamped to the metal, remember not to push down on the drill. Let the drill do the work slowly, using the slowest speed. Assist your drill by using only enough pressure to keep the drill where you want it, no more than that. It will take longer this way but will help your drill stay cooler and keep your drill bits sharper longer. I suggest this because people assume we already know to do this; so, sometimes don't mention it for fear of insulting us. (I had to learn this from a book.) I think you know I mean well.

[rhltechie]

Thanks for the comments all. I had taken today off a while back for a reason i cant even remember, but i used it on the TD but I feel like today was a waste...i started at 10, ended at 3:30 ish and all i got done was to get cpes on all of the subframe and flooring. I did make a trip to lowes for the new drill. I have to say, the corded one I got made it through the steel without even flinching. I will use it instead for tough jobs on the TD. It just seems like one could have gotten more done in the span of 5 hours. I know, I know...it takes time..be patient. I just like to see progres! This was basically all I got to see today:




I think this was the highlight of my day:



I did also get the profile I made, out and do some drawing on it. I think it was too late in the day for my head to make sense of much because all of the drawings I did made no sense at the end. I kept looking at the benroy plans going...hmm..ok, yeah..thats not right. but then i have to keep reminding myself these were just a really good start. I think I will have to come up with a lot of the rest on my own!

also...along with not feeling like I did much, I am exhausted!! Now how much sense does that make!

Oh well, the cpes should be all soaked in soon and I will be able to put the floor down. I was hoping to be done with the floor this weekend but as I stated in a previous post the first thing I learned when i started my first day of TD building is that something you think will take an hour..usually ends up taking 3 if you are lucky...4-5 if you are having an off day

[toypusher]

Mandy,

You should not post porn like this:

So sexy!!!

Great to see that you got the respirator. If you think you are tired now, just think how bad you would have felt breathing fumes all day!!!