Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well, my wife and daughter went back east for a week to visit family, so I finally got some time to work on the trailer again.
I was able to to get the hatch built, skinned and insulated, and the supports attached.
Still shooting for a July completion date so I can make the IRG!

Very Cool!

Looking good, Dean!!

Way cool. Can you tell me about the hatch supports or where I can get detailed information? I might have to change my plan.

I think you will at least be campable by July.

Miriam C. wrote::applause:
Way cool. Can you tell me about the hatch supports or where I can get detailed information? I might have to change my plan.

I think you will at least be campable by July.

Miriam, I got the hatch supports through Austin Hardware. I like the low-tech nature of these props vs. the gas lifts. I did have to do some modification to these though. Shortened them up and removed one of the brackets. Easy stuff. They have more sizes and configurations now, but at the time I got mine, they only had one length and one type of bracket, so I had to make do. I ended up cutting mine down to about 18.5" Let me know if you want more info, or better pics.
Here's a link to the right page.
http://www.austinhardware.com/subcatego ... bCatID=203
They have various lengths and bracket types. No pictures or drawings on the site anymore, unfortunately. AH's new website is a shadow of its former self.

July shouldn't be a problem (crosses fingers). The interior's all done. About all I have left is the galley cabinets, the doors, and the skin (and about a million other little details that I'm sure I'm forgetting).
--Dean

Thanks Dean. Per my usual I got in a hurry. What I really would like to know is how much weight it will support, if it locks when raised and how do you get it to shut.

Miriam C. wrote:Thanks Dean. Per my usual I got in a hurry. What I really would like to know is how much weight it will support, if it locks when raised and how do you get it to shut.

Miriam, They're supposed to hold some insane amount of weight. 500 lbs or some such. No problems with a teardrop hatch, unless you're gold-plating yours!
They are a star wheel type support, so they automatically lock open at full extension. Then to release them, you just lift it up a bit to release the mechanism. The only way it could accidentally release is if a REALLY strong wind lifted the hatch up, but there are holes in the supports for a pin to prevent that from happening.

Thank you so much.

Made lots of sawdust over the long weekend and was able to get doors and a partial galley done! My lovely wife has graciously agreed to park in the driveway until the IRG so I don't have to set up/tear down my workshop every day. I think my odds of actually having my trailer at IRG are improving!

Dean, it's looking good! I do have a question about the hatch supports. How did you know which ones to order? I see different lengths in there and I am assuming you ordered the ones that were 19" long. My galley lid must weigh a ton so I would need some heavy duty ones like those and I would still use the steel rod for extra peace of mind. It was overbuilt and I may have to strip it to get the weight down.

CAJUN LADY wrote:Dean, it's looking good! I do have a question about the hatch supports. How did you know which ones to order? I see different lengths in there and I am assuming you ordered the ones that were 19" long. My galley lid must weigh a ton so I would need some heavy duty ones like those and I would still use the steel rod for extra peace of mind. It was overbuilt and I may have to strip it to get the weight down.

Becca,
If you want heavy duty, these will do the trick. The only down side is that you don't get any help opening the hatch like you do with the gas struts. FYI, they do have holes to put pins through, so no need for a back-up solution.
The ones I ordered were actually about 27" long when opened, but I ended up cutting them down to the length I needed to fit my particular galley layout. Any length will work, it all depends on where you want to mount the ends.

Dean, I don't think they make gas struts strong enough to lift this hatch! Seriously, that sucker is too heavy...way over built. I think the guy insulated it with lead.

Dean that is looking Finntastic..

Have you heard the sayin... You,ll be camping in no time..

Classic Finn

Nice job

Well, after 4.5 years, I'm finally done!!!*

Thanks to everyone for all the help and advice. I couldn't have done it without all the ideas and encouragement from the great folks on this board.

I finished it this week and couldn't wait to take it out for a little shake down cruise. We took it 10 miles down the road to the Sweetwater campground where they used to have the SCTT gathering for a quick overnight of hot dogs and s'mores, then bacon and eggs for breakfast, then back home. It was a little nerve-wracking to tow it for the first time. It's been sitting stationary for so long, that the idea of it flying down the road at 50 miles an hour was a bit unsettling. It surprised my 4 y/o daughter too, as her idea of "camping" was playing in the trailer in the garage. She had no idea her play house was mobile, or that camping involved leaving the house.

The trailer towed fine. Just a bit bouncy, but I've heard short trailers can do that. Maybe I'll drop the tire pressure 5 pounds and see if that makes a difference.

Anyway, we had a fantastic time, and my lovely wife, who has always had a wait-and-see attitude about the teardrop is now stocking the pantry and want to go camping every weekend!

Here are some pics, and there are a couple more in my album. Thanks again, and hopefiully I can see you all on the road now instead of just online!

--Dean
* OK, so I'm not really done. I finished the trip with a million ideas for improvements. Does this ever stop?