Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Today I welded up the shelf for my Dutch Oven to sit on so I don’t have to cook on the ground. It’s made of 1/8" x 13" x 26" diamond plate steel with 1/8" x 3/4" steel edge. There is enough room to hold our 12" Dutch Oven and the lid when it’s hot. I cut down my old smitty (shi**y) Built bike rack that didn’t hold the bikes safely . It was too tall to cook on and after trying in the rear hitch receiver I’ll need to cut it down the other way since it sits too far from the tear. The plan is to weld another 2" x 6" hitch receiver on the passenger side of the chassis so as not to block the galley. The top is removable by undoing four 3/8" wing nuts. I welded 4 leftover elevator bolts to the underside of the top and my plan is to make an alternate top in plywood covered with plam. It was a good project to practice more welding before I make my next tear. Danny

Hey what a good idea. That looks like it will work really good. You might need to plan for a wind skirt too.

Just remember to not go to the counter and back up the wrong way. Ouch! hot buns.

Looks GOOD, Danny.
Now all ya gotta do is come up with some sort of wind break to protect the coals from breezes. Some of us use old license plates connected together with keyrings. If you have any of that diamond plate left over I'm sure it would make a nice unit to clip onto what you already have.

Miriam C. wrote::woohoo: Hey what a good idea. That looks like it will work really good. You might need to plan for a wind skirt too.

Just remember to not go to the counter and back up the wrong way. Ouch! hot buns.

Thanks Miriam, It won't be in that hitch receiver but on the right side and it will be very close to the end of the TD. Danny

Kevin A wrote:Looks GOOD, Danny.
Now all ya gotta do is come up with some sort of wind break to protect the coals from breezes. Some of us use old license plates connected together with keyrings. If you have any of that diamond plate left over I'm sure it would make a nice unit to clip onto what you already have.

Kevin, I had that piece cut to size and there's no more, besides it was $38. I have plenty of old license plates in the garage. Thanks for the great wind break idea, cheap & light weight. Danny

Good use of the old bike rack. Since you have a welder now, you may want to make yourself one of these lid lifters. Probably just some round bar and washers is all it'll take.

They work really well, they allow you to lift the lid straight up (reduce the chance of getting ashes in the food) and they also allow you to lift the lid and hold it sideways to dump the ashes off the lid.

Nice job Danny.... looks like you're getting pretty darn good and "creative" with that welder.

Very clever design, and nicely done, Danny!

Danny...if you have any of the aluminum left over from your skin...cut up 3 flat pieces that fit the sides of your oven deck and rivit them to aluminum piano hinge...your wind break will fold down flat for storage, and a clean design to go with your deck...but you might need to peen the rivits to make it lay real flat...just an idea...Doug

Hey Aisian,
How bout some detailed pics of the lid lifter fer us d o folks,So we can build one.

doug hodder wrote:Danny...if you have any of the aluminum left over from your skin...cut up 3 flat pieces that fit the sides of your oven deck and rivit them to aluminum piano hinge...your wind break will fold down flat for storage, and a clean design to go with your deck...but you might need to peen the rivits to make it lay real flat...just an idea...Doug

DO I have scrap aluminum, I was thinking of getting a piece of diamond plate aluminum but your idea of utilizing some of my scrap is a good idea.
Danny

critter wrote:Hey Aisian,
How bout some detailed pics of the lid lifter fer us d o folks,So we can build one.

Critter, the lid lifter in this photo was only $12 and it works great, so why bother making one. Danny

Hey Halfdone,
I got one or two like that,Tired of dumping ashes in the stew. although enough a-1 on them ashes make em taste better!Besides i dont think i have enough neet junk yet!

I finished welding a hitch receiver to the chassis side for the Dutch Oven shelf and alternate plam clad plywood shelf for when we don’t use the D.O. Each shelf is easily removed with wing nuts. Danny