Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well, I picked up the HF 1740 trailer the other day and got a chance to start my build this weekend. I managed to get the frame put together with the lowered axle with no cuts, burns, or blood (a major accomplishment for me). I "stretched" the frame out by about 11 1/4 inches, so the trailer is just under 9 feet long. And, I scored a "like new" sunroof (one of the SO's requirements) for $16 so, life is good. Picts to follow - when I get to the interesting stuff. Just out of curiosity, what is the preferred way to post build updates? Should I keep a running narrative in a single thread or post a new thread for each update?

CC...good to hear your goin'...as to updates, either way will work...putting them all in one thread makes it easier to follow the whole build but can get long winded...whichever way ya go...we will follow along
madjack

It all begins! When is your first trip?

I should have kept adding and revising my build post. That is what I would recomend.

Congratulations CC. I kept a thread and extra pictures in an album. I know where to look for my stuff if I need to share.
Enjoy

Cool...another Colorado Teardropper! We can never have too many of those.

I completed my build this spring and have put over 7,000 miles on it this summer...so much fun!

You'll have to come to Pam Wright's "Last Gasp of Summer" Gathering down at the Royal Gorge the last weekend in Sept. We're expecting a pretty good bunch this year.

Hope to see you there!

Way to get started, no injuries. Keep it that way.

<img align="left" src="http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=25573">
The frame is together and leveled. Now I can start making some sawdust. The best part is... the wife said she would do the "painting". (I bet that will change once she figures out how much "painting" there is with all the sealing we have to do)

Thank you all for the comments/suggestions, I will keep posting here, to keep everything in the same thread. Also, I am posting on my own web site (www.quisitive.net) the long winded version of the build.

Gerdo, I hope to get it done so I can start camping in the spring, but I tend be on “teardrop time” allot on my projects (even the non-teardrop projects) so that’s why I didn’t specify which spring.

Aunti M. I am keeping all of the photos on my computer and posting some of them here. That way, I might be able to answer a question someday instead of asking.

Shelly, we joined the site at about the same time and you are already out camping. I feel like such a slacker. I saw a post bout the "Last Gasp of Summer" Gathering. I may have to go check it out. And the Royal Gorge area is awesome. I took the rail through there last month. Quite the trip.

Rarin, I am hoping to keep injury free for this project, for a change of pace if nothing else. Actually, I have been doing fairly well on the last couple of projects. The last “big” injury was a broken rib while I was building the bike in my avatar (or was it one of the other bikes? - I can never remember)

ccdell~

Please.... come to The "Last Gasp" of Summer 2007....You will see many 'real' teardrops and be able to talk with builders and owners... Bring a camera, touch the Tears, lay down in them.... Get loads of idea's and keep the one's you want.... You are so welcome and if, yours is not done.... come for the day, camp in a tent.... or whatever. PM your email address to me and I'll send you a flyer.... It's too close to you, and too much fun, for you NOT to come!!!
Hope to see you there!

pam

CC, Drifting off topic, I know, but how did you get your text to flow round your photo in your message above?

Andrew

angib wrote:CC, Drifting off topic, I know, but how did you get your text to flow round your photo in your message above?

Andrew

Quote his message and you can see how he did it (he used html).

CC
You need to come down for the last gasp. Bring what you have done on the Tear also.

Well, I actually managed to work on the tear two days in a row! Wow. Even though it was a short day, I did get a number of the rails cut for the floor. Will probably spend what little time I have tomorrow cutting lap joints and (hopefully) gluing it all together. I know, most people post pictures of their "helpers", so I guess I will post one of my latest garage guest (he got evicted shortly after this picture was taken).

<img src="http://www.quisitive.net/media/spider.jpg">

Andrew, Russ is correct, I did "cheat" and use html, mainly because I am still having trouble posting pictures correctly. I need to go back and read the instructions again.

BTW: I know I read about sealing all of the wood surfaces inside and out during the build, but my search was inconclusive (I am probably using the wrong terms). What should I use? Would an exterior deck sealant be acceptable, or should I look for exterior polyurethane or epoxy resin?

<img src="http://www.quisitive.net/media/teardrop-004.jpg" align="left">
I was able to get the rest of the floor bracing cut and installed. The floor is now glued and screwed together. Once the glue dries and I make a big box store run, we can start sealing the wood.

Decided to narrow the camper slightly (3/4") to take advantage of some nice Baltic birch that I found at a local lumber supplier. They have 60"x60" sheets in several thicknesses. I wish I could get it in longer lengths though. That would save me allot of work because I could make the side out of a single sheet.

BTW: Does anyone know what happened to Cherokee RV surplus? I made the drive up there (Denver) only to find the building empty and a "for rent" sign on the door. I guess I should have called before I wasted over three hours driving there and back.

Greetings from Florence!

I went up to Cherokee RV Salvage early last spring and was really disaapointed with the condition of the place and what they had to offer. I wondered then how long they could hold on...

Looks like you are progressing on your build. Hopefully, you can join us at The Last Gasp at the end of September. It doesn't matter if your trailer is done or not. Come on down and take a look at other trailers.

Take care, George

Completed the application of the asphalt emulsion to the bottom for the floor and attached the whole assembly to the frame. A minor major milestone as we now have a solid foundation to build on Also, over the last few days, we settled on a profile and started the full scale drawings. When the drawing reached the outline stage, I just couldn't wait any longer, and had to match them with the frame/floor. I really like how it looks so far. Now, I have to add the detail to the drawing - and translate the drawing into a finished teardrop.




George, I guess the "move" didn't work out for Cherokee. Did you find any other "local" places for windows/parts? I really would like to see some of the parts in person before I buy them. But, I am actually moving along on the build, so I may have to pick some stuff up online soon.


FWIW: If you are trying to post pictures and it just doesn't work. Make sure "Disable BBCode in this post" is not checked. Mine was, by default, and that's why I couldn't get it to work.