Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Dear friends

I need some pro advice in cutting the lower front piece and getting it screwed to the front lower frame bar..

Weve been forecasted cold weather and I just dont want to wait for the new Approved Towbar..

My question is what is the best way I can go about cutting the lower fiberglass to get it bent over under the front of frame...and sealed?

Here is a pic of what I mean... sort of nervous on this one..

and here is a newer photo of the fiberglass just resting on the towbar.. it should be cut to go with the angle of the bar and it spreads out as you get under it.. its tricky..has anyone done this?



even though this is an older pic already I have that still open with the ply and fiberglass..

The cutting would be easier if the towbar is off however its not as of yet.
till next week..

I was hoping that it could be bent under without cutting then it would look cleaner under there instead of cuts..

Classic Finn

Heikki, I hope I'm understanding what you are trying to accomplish. Get a stiff piece of cardboard about 16" x TD width and do some trial cuts to match the chassis members your trying to build around. When you have mastered the notches add about 1/4" for trim & check that they are the same distance to keep everything square. Lay your template against the TD and make marks on the left and right. Now measure that distance between the marks (both sides) and your seam on the upper sheet and add the 16" for your cardboard template. Cut your sheet to that dimension and trace the notches using your cardboard template. Dry fit to make sure everything works and then go for it. Danny
P.S. You also could cut some 1/8" scraps about 2" wide and tape them around your tongue/tow bar obstruction leaving about 1" hanging down below tow bar. Youll need to take a straight edge to the scraps while still taped to TD and mark a level line on the bottom for trimming. Transfer those angled notches to a cardboard template like described above.

halfdome, Danny wrote:Heikki, I hope I'm understanding what you are trying to accomplish. Get a stiff piece of cardboard about 16" x TD width and do some trial cuts to match the chassis members your trying to build around. When you have mastered the notches add about 1/4" for trim & check that they are the same distance to keep everything square. Lay your template against the TD and make marks on the left and right. Now measure that distance between the marks (both sides) and your seam on the upper sheet and add the 16" for your cardboard template. Cut your sheet to that dimension and trace the notches using your cardboard template. Dry fit to make sure everything works and then go for it. Danny

Bingo Danny

I really appreciate your advice and Im shakin in my shorts since I dont want to destroy this fiberglass by cutting wrong... Cardboard it is...

Im glad you understood my sometimes bad English... Apologies...

Yes you understand it fully... its not much to do and I can have it done in an hour but just to get it there may take some doing..

This is one of those times that I could kill the EU Directives.. here. causing this to happen...

Thanks Danny

I was wondering if it could be cut on each side as if your looking straight down at the towbar from the top.. 2 cuts each the width of the bar?

Classic Finn

halfdome, Danny wrote:Heikki, glad to be of some help. Please check out the P.S. I added to the above post of mine. Danny

Danny can you somehow get that drawn on paper.. or ? Im not 100 percent sure of what you mean 1/8 inch yes and 2 inches ..and then?

The exact width of the tear is 61 inches.. just for info..

Danny I,ll make up that section template according to your directions and I,ll get some pics posted to check with you..1st.

Heikki

halfdome, Danny wrote:Heikki, I'd stay with the cardboard template, it's your friend. Your dealing with a radius and angles that can change and fool experts. You may need to allow about 1/16" or more play on each side so as not to fracture the fiberglass panel when installing it and to allow for expansion since your working in the cold. Danny

Danny is it so that a section 61 inches wide (width of tear) and 16 inches high template correct?
I take it I will need to do the same when cutting the diamond plate for that section as well?

Heikki

Classic Finn wrote:

halfdome, Danny wrote:Heikki, glad to be of some help. Please check out the P.S. I added to the above post of mine. Danny

Danny can you somehow get that drawn on paper.. or ? Im not 100 percent sure of what you mean 1/8 inch yes and 2 inches ..and then?

The exact width of the tear is 61 inches.. just for info..

Danny I,ll make up that section template according to your directions and I,ll get some pics posted to check with you..1st.

Heikki

Heikki, basicilly what I'm saying is to put scraps around the tow bar where it contacts the TD at the point where your final sheet would be. It's a mini template so you don't have to figure out the angles, if any. Then transfer that to your 16" x TD width cardboard template. It's going to take some trial and error that's why I'd use cardboard. Got to go to my Physical Therapy session so later, Danny