Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am thinking of building the bulkhead first in my tear and then attaching the sides to it. Has anyone done this.

galley wall

yes i was thinking of building the galley bulkhead this will be easier for me and allow me a better sense of my layout.

I built both sides, front and back bulkheads and then put them all up at the same time. Went together very nicely. I waited and put the back cabinets in afterwards so they would be tight to the walls.

First wall up:



Back bulkhead/wall up:



Second wall up:



Front bulkhead up:

...that is how we build 'em,...when Jim(B52) and I started designing the first Alligator Tear, we wanted it to be all modular, so we could build everything on the bench and then install it...we use aluminum angle as cleats to tie/mount everything together...the floor is laid on the trailer frame, the front box/bulkhead is mounted, the rear bulkhead is mounted and the the walls with the cleats installed are put in place, pulled up tight and mounted...then the main galley shelf and top bulkhead is mounted...this leave the top open to install your cabinets and such...works wonderfully well for us.........
madjack

Also, you know that as long as your bulkhead wall is 100% square, your walls will go up true. Might even be worth paying over the odds and getting it cut absolutely square at a big box store.

I also want to hijack this thread breifly by asking a question of PLANOVET...
What's that beautiful looking inside wall covering on your tear? Some kind of felt or carpet? Not detracting from all you hardcore exposed wood builders, but I think it gives it a lovely cozy look - and very professional too!

mallymal wrote:I also want to hijack this thread breifly by asking a question of PLANOVET...
What's that beautiful looking inside wall covering on your tear? Some kind of felt or carpet? Not detracting from all you hardcore exposed wood builders, but I think it gives it a lovely cozy look - and very professional too!

Thank you mallymal. I didn't want the entire interior to be wood, I thought a little sound dampening would be good. It's a marine hulliner and it went on easily with spray adhesive. Here is a LINK to the material.

Now back to the original thread...

Thanks for quick reply... I shall have a google around the UK marketplace & see what's available. Thanks for the great idea.

It sounds like a good way to go putting the bulkhead in first. Mine was built after the fact and my knees got sore crawling in and out,cutting peices then crawling back in to fit. If there is a next TD build for me the bulkhead will go first. The maiden voyage of my TD was 2,000+ miles without a bulkhead and the walls and etc shifted a little but I was able to straighten it out , the bulkhead makes it much stronger.
jplock

planovet wrote:I built both sides, front and back bulkheads and then put them all up at the same time. Went together very nicely. I waited and put the back cabinets in afterwards so they would be tight to the walls.

I'd doing the same as Mark.

Hmm...
I don't see where it makes a difference. What I would not do next time is install the bulkhead after I build the hatch. That caused untold misalignment problems with the hatch as installing the bulkhead tweaked the walls a bit. Very bad idea. I will not do that again.

If I ever do this again.

...it makes a major diff...it makes everything self supporting...without the need for braces and in our case...all cleats are located before hand so during assembly, you do not have to measure anything in regards to getting everything square and plumb to each other...just pull it up tight and fasten 'em down...........
madjack

And don't be a hero, prefinish everything!

dave

dwgriff1 wrote:And don't be a hero, prefinish everything!

dave

...+1 DEFINITELY...the only way togo any work you can do on the work bench is a BIG PLUS .............

It is easier to build the bulkhead to fit the walls than the walls to fit the bulk head. I'm not sure what you would be saving..... except a couple of strips of wood to keep the walls upright.