Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

This might more properly belong in Build Journals but I don't have a thread there since it's been several years since I 'completed' my TD & that portion of the forum didn't exist then?? We used the TD for a few months after it reached the 'campable' stage but before actual completion. During storage the first winter ('06/'07) I had a small leak at the galley hinge which stained a large portion of the varnished oak ply in the galley . Rather than try to remove the stains which I suspect went all the way thru the veneer, we just found some fabric we liked, used 3M spray adhesive & covered the galley walls & cabinet door panels with the fabric. Looked good & we were well pleased with it. Over the years since, cooking spatters, water spray, sunlight fade, & a persistent 'wicking' problem at bottom of hatch resulted in fabric deterioration as well as de-lamination of the vinyl floor covering at rear of hatch. Couple of weeks ago I stripped all the old fabric off, removed the vinyl floor, aluminum moldings, & attacked all exposed (& some hidden) wood with multiple coats of CPES. Also reinforced bottom of hatch with epoxy & a new seal that appears to have solved the wicking problem. We found some new, brighter fabric that still incorporates our 'stars'n stripes' red, white 'n blue theme, & yesterday I finished applying it to the interior galley walls & door panels. Also epoxied a strip of .022' aluminum to the lower wall just inside the hatch. If I should still be plagued with wicking, the 'shield' should prevent water migration to the walls & fabric. If this lasts 4yrs or more I'm sure Lenora will be ready for new fabric again

The original fabric when newly installed -


Stains from water 'wicking' underneath the hatch -


New fabric installed -


Aluminum 'shield' at locking receptacle -

Hello Harvey greetings to you from all of us here.

Im so sorry to hear about the leak. But looks like you got it nicely taken care of.

Thats such a nice job youve done on it.

Back to camping my friend

You guys did a beautiful job with the fabric.

Good job on the fabric rework! It almost makes me look for the made in USA bumper sticker!

Mike...

mikeschn wrote:Good job on the fabric rework! It almost makes me look for the made in USA bumper sticker!

Mike...

Mike, I have one of parnold's 'Homebuilt 2006' decals (red of course) that I intend to attach just as soon as I give the TD a good wash job. It's been settin' under a tarp type shelter since last fall (except for the Beavers Bend gathering) & really needs to be cleaned up. Actually I have 2 of the decals, thought I'd put one front & back . Reason I'm thinkin' of front'n back, one would go on the hatch & couldn't be seen when we're using the galley, & I usually back into campsites so one on front should be pretty visible but the rear could be seen by anyone following