Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Let me introduce myself, my name is Mark , only being 25, I have noticed that I am much yonger than most of you on this board. I hae been reasearching tears for about a month now and have finally decided to start planning my winter build, I am at the point right now where im considering either doing the build totally on my own learning each step of the way, or possibily making it easer and buying some of the more difficult parts to fabricate pre-made such as the frame and sidewalls and constructing the tear at my home.

The part I scares me the most is the sides and hatch. I have done some basic carpentry in the past (deck building, framing walls, ect) but am having a hard time trying to figure out how to frame the curved sections of the frame and interior and exterior walls and hatch. What is the easiest way to do this for a beginner?
I am planning a woody, possibily 54 or so high, 10-11 long and 5 wide i would like to build something in style along the lines of the lil diner that Mike and Steve built but possibily with a polished aluminum roof. I dont plan in doing any off-road type camping and want the trailer to have a very low stance trying to kep the trailer under 1200lbs. I want to build the tear one time and one time only and build it correctly!
I know most of you will probably think this is a difficult build for someone with limited experience but I am a quick learner and will finish whatever I start no matter how long it takes, I am mechanically enclined i have built some incredible custom Audi's and VW's one even was featured in a magazine! I have experience with metal but an totally new to wood.
Another concern of mine is the exterior wood skin, I would like to use 1/4 plywood/ luaun, possibily 2-3 different species of wood and give the trailer a art-deco look.

Please posts your comments and concerns and any links to good information with working with these new metairls (plywood, luaun, and fiberglass,epoxy) would be much appreciated.

THANKS GUYS! I look forward to posting my projects progress as I begin!

Welcome aboard Mark...we have had some folks build some incredible TD and they had no experience at the beginning...after reading your post, my BIGGEST and BEST recommendation would be to buy Steve Fredericks build CD...it will be an absolute invaluable resource to you...the main thing is to have fun and take lotssa pics because the pics are what we charge for all the advice you can use(and then some)......
madjack

Welcome!

I had never built anything before, and using Steve's manual I completed my tear in just over 4 months! Here's what I've been camping in this summer. I've got some modifications to do in the winter, but it's been awesome! I say go for it...you've got carpentry skills...you'll do great!

Welcome Mark,

If building skills were required, we would still be looking at a bare trailer.
It seems to be a trial and error process. If you want to look at a larger trailer, check Miriam C.'s album. We just completed ours and took it out camping last weekend. With your basic carpentry skills, it should be no problem, just take it slow and think about it before you do it. And if you have a question, just ask. We are all more than happy to give you our opinion. And sometimes it is even the correct one.

to the playground.

At least you will know how to sink a screw with a drill. We did it with basic home upkeep skills, and a lot of tv build stuff. If I can do it most people can.

Now you carpenters need to pay extra attention and make sure to take lots of Cause the information needed is all here, mostly free---we need da pics.

thanks guys!

Since I am planning something larger than 4x8 possibily 5x10 or 5x11, I will odviously have to join 2 or more pieces of plywood on the exterior skin. how do you hide the seam other than the way Steve did on Lil' Diner? also what is the easiest way to fabricated the curved framing for the sidewalls and hatch? these seem to be my 2 most difficult concerns.


o yeah.....any recommendations on a free- easy to use cad program for someone who has never used cad before??

Follow the blue road to some answers. The other solution is to go into the build forums and look at the many different ways to do the framing. It is amazing what you will pick up along the way.

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=18554

Hello, Mark, and welcome to the group!
A couple of suggestions: You can use solid plywood walls, which eliminates complicated framing, and use the "build the hatch in place, then cut it free" method to save some work. I used these methods and avoided probably 90% of the problems that some people encounter. Check my build photos if you like, and look through the Hall of Fame for tons of good ideas from others!
Sam

VW Mark wrote:Since I am planning something larger than 4x8 possibily 5x10 or 5x11, I will odviously have to join 2 or more pieces of plywood on the exterior skin. how do you hide the seam other than the way Steve did on Lil' Diner?

If you find a lumberyard that caters to boatbuilders, you can buy 1/4 inch plywood in some larger sizes - I know you can get 5 X 10 sheets

Don

Madjack,

Where do I connect to buy Steve's Build CD? I have some questions about fastening the side walls to the platform. It seems this could be a potential weak spot in the construction.

Also, when I start building which is the best forum to start a thread with pictures?

I haven't been a member on T & TTT only since yesterday so I haven't been able to browse all the good information that has already been posted so I hope you all don't object if I ask some questions from time to time that have already been answered. I keep looking but then a question occurs to me that I would like to have answered right now and being the impatient guy I am, I tend sometimes to take the easy road.

I am leaning towards building a Cabin Car replica like 48Rob has. So far I have searched and found some awesome pictures that he provided. One of the things I am looking to find out is the dimension from the bottom of the wood on the side to the ground.

This looks like it is going to be an awesome experience with some great fellow tear drop guys and gals to guide me. I am starting to get excited.

Dave

Dave...here ya go... http://www.steve-frederick.com/shopman05 ...along with the Generic Benroy plans at the top of this page and all the good advice available here, you should be good to go...placing your thread in "General Discussion" or "Member Designs" forums will work as well as any........
madjack

Thanks Madjack,

And after I read some more, I found one of Steve's posts and clicked on the link.

I have already spent my discretionary money this week, so next week I'll order his CD.

I also have been looking at the benroy plans and see lots of good stuff there too.

Thanks again,

Dave