Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

What tools are a must when building a TD and how much of a carpenter do you have to be build a quality TD?

Thanks in advance,

Chuck

I never really built anything before, and am on build #2 lol. Find. A style you like and read peopes builds about them and ask lots of questions.

I could have built either build with a screwgun and a circular saw, sander, square and ruler...oh yeah a squeeze bottle for glue.. now. Tthe table saw and chop saw were pluses lol

Hey Chuck!

Welcome to the forum.

My wife is a second grade teacher. I've been in publishing for my career. The closest I've gotten to actual woodworking is the work I did for a building contractor one summer. Mostly, I ran bundles of cedar shakes up a ladder all day.

We ended up using a circular saw and chop saw more than other saws. We picked up a router that was a nice addition. Drills are important. You're going to need a boat load of clamps. I don't think there's anything that's unusual.

The uncommon tool that we invested in is an electric pair of sheet metal sheers like these...

They're a good investment because we know where they've been. The ones at the rental place look like they were abused pretty badly.

Long and short, we came up with this trailer.



No, the Packard isn't ours. But we are awful proud of the trailer...

utmck wrote:... how much of a carpenter do you have to be build a quality TD?

I had never built anything before I built my tear. Take your time and research.

A small table saw can cut miters as well as rip so I chose it over a miter (aka chop) saw. A router comes in handy as well. A drill, jig saw and circular saw are must haves. A belt sander is nice too. Remember, its just a box.

dh wrote:A small table saw can cut miters as well as rip so I chose it over a miter (aka chop) saw. A router comes in handy as well. A drill, jig saw and circular saw are must haves. A belt sander is nice too. Remember, its just a box.

DH said it pretty well. This is the list of tools that I used (and am still using) to build my teardrop. They are listed from most used to least used. I would say that #1 and #5 are a minimum to have or at least have access to.

1. Drill - Actually it is handy to have two - one for drilling and one for driving screws. Corded works, but cordless is much more handy.

2. Jig saw - If your teardrop profile has curves, this is the best way to cut them. I used mine to cut wood and aluminum. Note: if you can afford a better quality jig saw, like Bosch, you'll be amazed at the difference in power, control and qulaity of cuts.

3. Router - Not necessary, but if you have one (or more) it is very handy. Take a look on Youtube to see basic operation of a router. You don't need to go crazy on spending money on a router. A moderate-priced, fixed-case router like a Porter Cable can handle most cuts. Make sure it can handle 1/2" shaft bits and use carbide bits if you can afford them.

4. Table saw and miter saw - I used these because I had them. They are not necessary, though. You can make all of the same cuts with a circular saw.

5. Circular saw - I didn't use mine much, but having one is handy. For long, straight cuts in plywood, make yourself a straight-edge jig for the circular saw. For cutting boards to length, use a speed square.

Oh, and don't forget clamps.

There are a lot of other tools I used, but they are luxuries and not necessary.

Good luck and take care,
Tom

I was wanting a roller mill to roll dimand sheets of alumum to fit my curves on my hatch to use like the rock guards on the front of my teardrop.

Did you go with diamond plate? If so how did you get the curves without a roller? I was thinking of different was to do it.