Could use advice

[HMK]

I went to look at a home built TD today. I didn't buy it though. I wanted to ask you guys some questions. While I was looking it over I noticed a few things. They may or may not be problems.

1. It's a 5 x 10 on Northern Tool trailer. It has 2 feet of the teardrop sticking off the rear of the trailer. Is that a problem?
2. It has some screw holes that need patching. They are from door hinges that were replaced with piano type hinges.
3. The galley doesn't close up good and tight.
4. Have you ever seen a Yeti type cooler? That's the type of closure that's on the galley door. It has 3 of those rubber hinges that pull into metal clasps. It had 3 per side.
5. It doesn't have a way to keep galley door raised. They use a stick.
6. There are places that didn't get painted well. He told me it was painted with Marine paint. It was a pretty smooth surface and what did get painted looked good, he just missed a couple of small places.
7. Some of the latches need replaced.
8. It is electric, but doesn't have a way to run off a battery.
9. Has a small Ac and a vent without a fan.
10. Windows do NOT open.

He wants 3 G's. Am I being to picky?

[Martiangod]

Yeti cooler, good, they start at around $350 and go up from there...bear proof and they use jeeps style rubber catches
http://www.basspro.com/Brand-Yeti/Type- ... pt2011_CFM
sounds like theres a lot of things not quite right, 3 g for mediocher, hmmmm.
do you have pics?
3 g for a homebuilt?
not that i'm questioning price based on homebuilt, as theres a few trailers on here that are worth mega $$$$ based on some builds here, but if its an experiment in home building that went bad, then hmmmmm.
as for too picky, maybe, maybe not, you have to weigh what your getting, verses what you are willing to pay verses what your capable of building yourself.
\pics would make it easier for someone to give better opinions on

[Woodbutcher]

Some of that stuff seems like it could be fixed, but when you get to the "windows don't open" you got me. Remember the movie "Cool Hand Luke" ? The punishment was 3 days in the box. Ventilation is a huge part of sleeping in an enclosed space.

[citylights]

3 g sounds a little steep for what you describe. He probably has that much in parts in it, but if it is not built right it is going to be difficult to fix.

If you want it for parts, go for it at 2 g... Maybe a little more.

If you want a finished, ready to use teardrop, keep looking!

Here is one on craigs list now for comparison. 5 g, factory built, pristine.

https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/rvs/4413185461.html

[HMK]

Here ya go.

[citylights]

The pictures help. It looks functional, just not pretty. Some of the construction is questionable, but probably still functional.

If I bought that, I would plan on at least $1k rework, maybe $2k. If you want a jump start on a project, that is fine, but that puts the finish price at $4k to $5K, or right where the good looking ones are selling at.

I would pass. There are better looking teardrops that come up occasionally.

[aggie79]

I went to look at a home built TD today. I didn't buy it though. I wanted to ask you guys some questions. While I was looking it over I noticed a few things. They may or may not be problems.

1. It's a 5 x 10 on Northern Tool trailer. It has 2 feet of the teardrop sticking off the rear of the trailer. Is that a problem?

Not necessarily a problem. A rule of thumb for axle location - centerline of the hub - the distance from the back of the teardrop to axle centerline should be 35-40% of the length of the shell of the teardrop (not including tongue length.)

2. It has some screw holes that need patching. They are from door hinges that were replaced with piano type hinges.

Open screw holes will lead to rotting. They can be made watertight fairly easy, but to make them watertight and blend in with the paint will take some work.

3. The galley doesn't close up good and tight.

More information is needed here. This can be difficult to impossible to repair without rebuilding the hatch.

4. Have you ever seen a Yeti type cooler? That's the type of closure that's on the galley door. It has 3 of those rubber hinges that pull into metal clasps. It had 3 per side.

I use a similar type latch on my hatch and they work well. That said, the location of the rubber draw latches seem to be an attempt to address the hatch not fitting well.

5. It doesn't have a way to keep galley door raised. They use a stick.

This method works for many. You probably want to have a way to pin both ends of the prop so that wind doesn't lift the hatch and the prop stick falls out.

6. There are places that didn't get painted well. He told me it was painted with Marine paint. It was a pretty smooth surface and what did get painted looked good, he just missed a couple of small places.

Missing paint equals potential for water intrusion and rotting. All surfaces should be weather protected. With some marine paints, it may be difficult to blend new paint with old.

7. Some of the latches need replaced.

Which latches need to be replaced?

8. It is electric, but doesn't have a way to run off a battery.

I have a small battery but really don't need it since we only camp at sites with electricity. If you plan to do the same, a battery is not needed.

9. Has a small Ac and a vent without a fan.

A small AC is more than enough for a teardrop even here in Texas in the middle of the summer. A vent without a fan is not necessarily bad, but without openable windows, it will be difficult to get good air flow.

10. Windows do NOT open.

Personally, I always open windows when we camp even if it below 40 degrees or above 90 degrees. If the sidewalls are constructed from solid plywood it is not too hard to exchange windows.

He wants 3 G's. Am I being to picky?

If the hatch doesn't need to be rebuilt, the other items can be addressed if you can or are willing to do the work. $3000 sounds a little high, but if the hatch is okay I think the price is close to reasonable.

[HMK]

Thanks guys. I think I'm gonna pass on this one. I have a few more to check out

[danlott]

Here is a teardrop that you might look at https://tulsa.craigslist.org/rvs/4446668694.html.

[HMK]

Yes, I've been talking back and forth to him. It's looks like a real nice one. He was at Beavers Bend with some members of this forum last weekend.

[citylights]

Here is a teardrop that you might look at https://tulsa.craigslist.org/rvs/4446668694.html.

Sweet! I like that one. Worlds of difference n the quality of this one and the first post. If I hadn't made mine, I would buy this one. I have $4 k in materials in mine. At $5.5 k this one os a great deal.