My TD/Benroy Project

[tscarbroughdc]

Well here goes...

I started building my TD/Benroy this past weekend 06/21/13.

I'm using a HBF heavy duty NON-folding 4x8 trailer and the Ty Dean plans I found from eBay. Plus making alterations when need be after reading this site.

Currently I am trying to figure out how to drill the holes on my flooring to get them to line up with the pre drilled holes on the trailer.

I'm not a handy man at all!

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[tscarbroughdc]

You can't tell it but I have the:
HBF Trailer
4x8 sheet marine grade plywood
Framed the bottom of the plywood
Painted asphalt paint on the bottom of the floor/frame

So I've done a little more than the pic shows. NOW I'm trying to figure out how to drill the holes in my flooring so everything lines up!

[tscarbroughdc]

Here is the floor bottom. I just finished the second coat of asphalt paint tonight 06-24-13

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[tscarbroughdc]

Alright! Today I got the floor attached to the frame!!!! Yay!

I was having a lot of trouble but others on another thread told me to check the trailer frame to make sure it was square and to my surprise it was WAY off! I called a handyman friend of mine and he checked it and we leveled and straightened the HBF trailer and then my plywood floor fit perfectly!!!!

I got tired of trying to align the bolt holes so I ended up using wood to metal screws which made things go A LOT faster. However I now have quite a few holes in my floor that will need patching! Hahaha

Anyways here are a few pics of where I am.

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As you can see I have a lot of screws and holes in my floor board now! I'm assuming I can put some flooring over it and cover a lot of those holes.

On a good note, I'm learning a LOT and I should be better at my next one!!! Haha.

Thanks for any input!

[tscarbroughdc]

Oh no. I just realized that I didn't put the flash sealant between the floor and they trailer frame before bolting it down!!!

I hope that's not a big problem!

Not that anyone has responded to my build thread since I started it! Hahaha

[be_a_jayhawk]

I hope you are not getting discouraged. I am just getting started on my planning now. Do you like that HF trailer, I have been thinking about buying one myself. I wasn't aware you had to level it, so thanks for the tip. There is a coupon for it to be 299.99 right now, is that about what you paid? I would have pulled the trigger but I'm hoping to land a 5x7 maybe used for a better deal so I don't have to build over the wheels, because I want a queen to fit in it. I would love to hear more of what you have learned and where you are at now.

[bonnie]

HI, I'm watching. The summer camping season is upon us and I've noticed a drop in responses myself. No worries. Looks like your plan will work fine, but I am by no way an expert, so take that thought with a grain of salt.

[Mary C]

Sorry I missed your build thread but now I will watch with interest. I drilled little bitty holes put a lamp under the trailer and eyeballed for the marks I made where the holes in the trailer were. jayhawk I don't think he is using a Harbor Freight trailer. I used one and you can see my build in the foamie section. under grits.I had no problems.

Mary C.

[tscarbroughdc]

Thank you for responding guys/girls! Now I dont feel SO alone! hahaha...

Btw, I AM using a HBF trailer!

I am using the Heavy Duty HBF trailer...I had a 25% off coupon and it was on its usual "sale" like everything at HBF is and I ended up paying $285 for this particular trailer. I am happy with it so far and really it was pretty easy to put together although you DO have to pay close attention to the pictures in the directions because not every hole gets a bolt!!! It was pretty easy to square up with the help of someone who knows more than myself. In the end, I havent pulled it yet, so I cant give you a difinitive answer on how good it actually is.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY TD BUILD SO FAR:

Note 1: I plan on building a better TD hopefully next year (this is my first and more of a test run). On the next one, I plan on using a 5X8 NT trailer. I want more room already. But if you are looking at a 4x8 build, then looking back, I would just get the cheapy folding HBF trailer! I really think I went overboard on the heavy duty for what I am going to be doing with this particular build.

Note 2: I would build the frame and attach it to the trailer FIRST, THEN attach the wood to the frame on my next build! I think it would be easier and Id have a WHOLE lot less holes on my floor!!!!

NOTE 3: I LOVE the wood to metal screws!!!! haha...

NOTE 4: I would NOT go with the marine grade plywood again! I would have gotten regular plywood! But I went overboard just like I did on the trailer and I bought 3 pieces of marine grade 3/4" plywood and will only use one piece on this build...So I plan on using the REST of my marine grade plywood on my next TD that I build hopefully next year!

[tscarbroughdc]

Ok. Starship log 06/27/13:

Well today I went and got some Elmer's Carpenters Interior/Exterior Wood Filler!

I wanted to patch up some of these needless holes that I bore through my TD floor! My plans are to fill the holes and any insertions then laying linoleum over it this weekend.

Also I'm going to flip the trailer over and further silicon any holes I see in the bottom. Then possibly sand the frame and paint it black. Then I think I'll be ready for phase 2 - The Walls.

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[be_a_jayhawk]

I am leaning further away from the HF every day I just want to get a queen bed in there. I can't wait to get to the wall phase that will feel like real progress! Right now though it's still a hunt for the perfect used trailer. I've got some Craigslist searches book marked on my CL app, and have a couple of buddies in construction on the hunt too.

[tscarbroughdc]

I guess that's where I am different. I don't think any camper is perfect so I'm just trying to get something built and learn. I will do a better one this winter hopefully.

[Vedette]

Wow!
I have been on the Forum for over a year and a half now, and am still amazed at how many Teardrop Builds are based on HF trailers.
Guess I take it for granted that I can Weld and Metal is Cheap and that I have the ability to custom build anything to my specifications.
But that being said. Everyone has friends or knows somebody!!
My Chassis, less the $243.00 Dexter Axle (that was shipping included) probably cost me under $100.00 and took two of us just over an hour to build (1 hr and 10 minutes to be exact) took me longer to draft it before we fired up the chop saw.
Once I was finished I knew what I had and have no worries now when I am towing down the hwy. at 86 MPH.
And there are NO bolts to come loose.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[celticquetzel]

I'm closely following. You're a year ahead of me, so hopefully I'll learn a lot. (No need to reinvent the wheel... err... teardrop) Thanks in advance for the details.

[tscarbroughdc]

Well if things go as planned, I will paint my HBF trailer frame today. I sanded on it some yesterday but will try to finish sanding and paint it black.

The plans that I am using recommended putting the deck on THEN painting the frame. We will see how well that works. My brother in law sanded and painted his whole frame BEFORE putting his HBF trailer together and it looks really nice.