How done do you have to be to travel/camp? seriously....

[oklahomajewel]

I'm sure you're first thought is "just throw a tarp over it "


Of course, but seriously... if I'm trying to make it to the first campout, about three hours away and it may or may not rain, then what will I absolutely have to have done? Of course, battery secured and trailer lights hooked up.

I have the ribs ready and should be doing the hatch this week but don't know if it will be skinned. *** If my hatch is not completely done, and I don't have my hurricane hinge yet then can I strap it tightly in place or just leave it home?


The interior skin is on, one porch light hooked up, and the a/c should be ready (drain and all). I might just leave it home if the temps are looking cooler (today's high is only mid 80s!) Or I could just put it in the trunk of the car for travel.

I have the countertops already secured and the cabin shelf, the spars are on and my neighbor is going to get my roof materials tonite or tomorrow . So the roof will be going on this weekend.

I have the doors done, with windows in. Door handle/latch openings are cut and tight fitting . I have the hinge and some of the door trim and don't know if I'll get those done this weekend. *** Would it be okay to temporarily hang the door on the hinge with some cheap weatherstrip and just duck tape them shut at night !????? hahahah!!!

No seriously.... I'm ready to get this thing done but and and lately..... oh and teenagers and life in general......

So I'm ready to

[halfdome, Danny]

oklahomajewel, I know you are anxious to camp in your creation but with all that exposed wood you could open yourself to a host of problems by changing the moisture content of the unfinished wood components by exposing them to the elements. I would tent camp this time and finish it for the next outing and you & everyone else will enjoy your finished tear even more. IMHO Danny

[Todah Tear]

OK Jewel,

If you had a few extra hands helping on Friday (9/15/06) morning til around 1:00PM get you finished? It's a thought.

Todah

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

Or you could take your unfinished tear, hatch skins, hinges, tarps and tools and get some of the other teardrop folks to help you finish it up at the camp site. Just call it a hands on building seminar. good luck.

[oklahomajewel]

I'm thinking of taking an afternoon off early, maybe today or tomorrow.. and work every other waking minute this weekend! haha

[stjohn]

Jewel I cant improve on any of the advice above, but can not help thinking about my mother when I was in high school,Sumday night
11:45 I'm builld a make shift model of the solar system .and she yelling over my shoulder why do you always wait to the last minute to get your
projects done

Take it or leave it at home I'm sure youwill have a good time either way
thats what it's reallyall about anyway


Mike

[mikeschn]

Jewel,

You should have said something last week. I could have loaned you the Escape Hatch on Sunday when I was done camping...

And seriously, I know Gage took his unfinished teardrop camping a couple years ago. He was fortunate that he didn't have any rain while traveling.

But a three hour drive opens up a lot of potential for getting wet, and you won't like what happens to your teardrop if it gets wet.

I would probably leave it at home, and take the tent again. Finish it at your leisure, and do it right. It's not worth rushing at this point in the game.

Mike...

[Mightydog]

Jewel,

You have the makings for an episode of American Chopper. All you need is some screaming and throwing tools at each other and you're set!

Mrs. Dog and I went through some of the same thinking as you with our trailer (which sounds like it's about as far along as yours.) Take your time and enjoy the well-done project when it's finished.

[emiller]

It dosen't seam like it's ever done.

[SmokeyBob]

Jewel

I've cancelled two camping trips because I wasn't finished. While I wanted to go camping in my camper it just wasn't worth getting it wet and ruining all the hard work I've done. And this is the time of year when we start getting a lot of rain. My advice, if you TD isn't protected from the rain, leave it at home and use a tent.

Have a great day....Bob

[Ira]

... but can not help thinking about my mother when I was in high school,Sumday night 11:45 I'm builld a make shift model of the solar system .and she yelling over my shoulder why do you always wait to the last minute to get your projects done

Oh my God:

We were separated at birth.

That was BRILLIANTLY stated!

[Jiminsav]

Jewel, this is how I went on my first teardrop trip..to Pisgah national forest in the fall..and it rained lightly most of the way there.
the white is primer/sealer.

[Chip]

jewel,, my advise is to try to finish enough to make it weatherrproof, but dont rig up something,,, when ya get home not only do ya have to un rig everything now ya get to start with making corrections that were not thought out and quickly done,,, the doors, the top the sides and the hatch are important,,, dont worry about the pretty pretty stuff, but if there is a good chance of rain, ya might really regret taking ya baby,,, can you say lots of tarps if ya do take it,,, ya might just find a surprise leak at 3am during a sudden downpour,,, try but start dragging the tent pegs out too ,,,just in case

[b.bodemer]

Keep working on it an dif it's not where you want to be then still go and pitch a tent. Even if you tent it just think...........last trip without your td.

Good luck and have fun when you get there,
Barb

[48Rob]

If I "use something" before it is 100% finished, no matter how much I think I'm going to get back to it, I never do...

You, and many others may have the resolve to continue, but I don't, so...

My vote is to wait until it is done.

Rob