Soft-Sided Teardrops

[TJinPgh]

New here so forgive me if this isn't the proper place to pose this question.

I had done a search for soft-sided and canvas covered teardrops. I found a couple of discussions but I didn't find where anybody had actually completed one.

So, my general thought is about the idea of doing the entire skin of a teardrop in canvas as a means of keeping the weight down.

In the discussions I've seen, two questions seemed to pop up.

1. How would it hold up to being pulled down a highway.
2. How to waterproof it if it's not bonded to wood (luan, etc.).

The first question I can't really answer. It would seem logical that it would depend on how strong the skelleton of the teardrop is, but I'm sure most of you have enough experience to know if that thinking is correct or not.

With respect to waterproofing, I've taken what I know of regular tents and what I've read about TTTs and it seems to me that if you're using canvas (vs. nylon) that the biggest issue with respect to leaking would be the roof. Good canvas should have a tight enough weave that this shouldn't be a big issue on the vertical surfaces. At least, that's true of the canvas tents I've used.

To that end, I did a search for something that I didn't find any hits on. But, has anybody used or considered using Flex Seal as a coating for canvas?

I'm sure that most of us have seen the commercials for this product by now. The salesman removes the bottom of a boat, mounts a screen door sprayed with Flex Seal in it's place and the boat doesn't sink?

For those who may not be from the states or haven't seen it for whatever reason, it's essentially a spray on rubber coating that resists extreme heat and extreme cold. Remains flexible and doesn't crack.

From the few reviews I've read online about the product, it actually works fairly well (though I doubt anybody has been crazy enough to actually try the boat trick to see if it works).

So, my thought would be to coat the roof and perhaps the seems with that.

From what I've read, the large can weighs about 14 oz and covers about 12 square feet, depending on how thick you make it. So, enough of it to cover the roof of a 4x8 teardrop (trying to account for the curves and such) should add maybe 5-6 pounds to the total weight. Still, less than a wood skin would weigh.

Anybody used it? Thoughts for and against?

TJ

[TJinPgh]

Found another thread regarding the Flex Seal question. So, I'll address that over there to keep from duplicating things.

Still, I have the general question of a TD that's completely canvas skinned.

-TJ

[jdarkoregon]

I think you have a good line of thought. Waterproof is no issue how about longivity

John

[TJinPgh]

Good question.

I figure that it would be stored someplace somewhat out of the weather in the winter. Snow and ice, I suspect, would not go well with canvas (although no doubt better than vinyl).

In general usage it would seem logical that it would hold up as well as any canvas tent would. I've seen army tents that last decades, though that might be a heavier grade canvas?

I do have concerns about how well it would hold up to the wind, dust and such of being on the highway.

I've seen how well nylon holds up to highway wind... or rather, how well it doesn't hold up. I would think that canvas would fair better, but I'm not sure.

-TJ

[jdarkoregon]

I think I saw somewhere that some of the early tears were covered with painted canvas

There are a few people who might post that are good historians

Stay with it, would you consider some sort metal or rubber or ? Guard on the front to help protect the canvas?

John

[TJinPgh]

Stay with it, would you consider some sort metal or rubber or ? Guard on the front to help protect the canvas?

John

No reason why not. Although, if it turns out that the Flex Seal idea actually works, the front of it would likely be rubber coated anyway. So, that might not be as much of an issue.

The other idea I had, if it would take too much of a beating was a variation on the tent top box that Backwoods Guy built.

Rather than using a tent top, do a simple pop up design based on the Maggiolina roof top tents...



I think the top could be made rather light weight if it were canvas rather than the fiberglass. Even in it's stock form it only weighs about 120 pounds.

The 4x8 trailer I'm guessing comes in at under 200 pounds. So, that would bring it up to 320.

Not sure about the weight of the box it would be sitting on, though. Would think it could be held to under 180 pounds for a total weight of no more than 500 pounds dry, though.

Not a teardrop, of course. But, still an interesting idea, though, I thought.

-TJ

[GPW]

TJ, just consider antique airplanes ... framework , fabric covered ... flew over 100+ mph , and some are still around ...

[iSpy]

my first 'sleeping Pod' had canvas sides.



it sat on top of the vehicle .......... just like the Maggiolina. It was built out of a large roof box, it has full single matress. I still use it now for extra accommodation ... when there is more that 2 of us going away.



....... and I have had this for over 8 years

[pete42]

Fabric covered airplanes, piper cub, taylorcraft, areonica all used fabric to cover a frame of welded pipe.
the material of choice on the last airplane I covered was dacron and airplane dope
the trouble is airplane dope is heavy as is paint neither would end up light.
head over to the "FOAMIES" section they have a lot of good Ideas.
they use several different coverings and "glues"
pete

[TJinPgh]

my first 'sleeping Pod' had canvas sides.

it sat on top of the vehicle .......... just like the Maggiolina. It was built out of a large roof box, it has full single matress. I still use it now for extra accommodation ... when there is more that 2 of us going away.

....... and I have had this for over 8 years

What did you use to support the top of the box? I'm guessing that it was in the down position while driving?

[iSpy]

Hi, Yes in the down position for travelling




The roof is supported by two 'over centre' arches (leaning out) inside the pod, one at the back the other at the front. To errect ..... the hinge pins (R pins) are removed from the front of the box. The rear arch is lifted and fitted to a U channel in the roof section. Next the front is lifted and again the arch is fitted to a U channel. The canvas is hung from the top and is secured by a long horizontal zip all around the base. This compresses the top to the base allowing giving regidity. There is a vertical zip in the rear which allows access from the rear ladder to the pod.

[jstrubberg]

Maybe a dumb question, but even in aircraft isn't the wind force fairly predictable and even?

My worry would be the constant buffet you get on busy roads tearing the canvas up in a short time.

[TJinPgh]

iSpy,
Very interesting design I'll have to keep that in mind if I go the box route.

j,
I thought that as well. I suppose the real question would be less whether or not the canvas would hold up than whether or not the strength the framework of walls and roof necessary to keep a softsided tear secure would offset any potential weight benefit.

[robfisher]

Way back in the summer of '06 Ross Wade built a fabulous copy of a Runlite. If this works follow this link. It wasn't soft sided but it was a softtop. The original Runlite goes way way back and was doped muslin.

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... ht=runlite

[jandmz]

There was a guy named Dean Tennis on the teardrop scene several years ago, who built a canvas teardrop-like camper called the Chummy. It was made to blend with an antique (Model A?) that he towed it with. Unfortunately the whole rig was destroyed a few years back.

Dean's plans are still on the Plans section of this site. You may want to look at it.