Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well I have been making a list of parts I need to purchase.
The question I have is... do I make a door or buy one?
One door or two?
How did you make your doors?
If you bought it . from where and what kind?
is there an advantage to either one?

I am building a 4x8 tear drop with aluminum skins.
where I live it rains alot!

I am making mine. It all part of the "using Jeep Parts" on this build. WHat I have found is that mine are heavy and I am sure if I bought it would be much lighter, but then the look wouldnt be the same. Going to route out some of the wood to hopefully make them a little lighter. Let the sawdust fly.

The door is one of the big decisions isn't it....a tough one too. Custom shape doors are very attractive, but are difficult and, time consuming, and sometimes expensive to make. Prefab doors are also expensive, but save you a literal TON of time and effort.

Two doors is the way to go. I have had both, and will never do 1 door again.

There isn't a wrong choice, it all depends on how much time, energy and money you are willing and able to invest in this aspect of the trailer.

Good luck on your build whichever route you choose.

It all depends on what you want to do?

After 20+ years of trial and error, I buy my Doors. (unless a customer wants otherwise.)

By the time you figure in all the expenses, $90-100 for a window, $35-40 for a GOOD lock, another $40-50 for moldings and the same for the rest of the materials, hinges, sealant, mistakes, blunders, hours of standing around scratching you head and the weekend or 2 it will take to do it, just to see if what you've done will work......Its a real coin toss.

I will say this, Manufactured doors won't leak, go in easy and the Lock always works.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RV-Teardrop-Tea ... es&vxp=mtr

But if your looking for a Project, as some people are. Make them!

Happy Trails

Len

thanks for the input, after what you said len, I think I am going to buy a door. after What oregon guy said, I'm going to buy two. now that is going to change all of my plans. I'll see oregon guy in a few weeks. maybe I can get a trailer base built buy him.
thanks again
Rivermouth

do you have a picture? was the door you found in good shape?

len19070 wrote:It all depends on what you want to do?

After 20+ years of trial and error, I buy my Doors. (unless a customer wants otherwise.)

By the time you figure in all the expenses, $90-100 for a window, $35-40 for a GOOD lock, another $40-50 for moldings and the same for the rest of the materials, hinges, sealant, mistakes, blunders, hours of standing around scratching you head and the weekend or 2 it will take to do it, just to see if what you've done will work......Its a real coin toss.

I will say this, Manufactured doors won't leak, go in easy and the Lock always works.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RV-Teardrop-Tea ... es&vxp=mtr

But if your looking for a Project, as some people are. Make them!

Happy Trails

Len

You're quite a salesman Len. I'm ready to place my order.

Becky

I just rec'd both my doors in the mail yesterday from Frank Bear (eBay). They are nicer then I expected and the install is going to be far simpler then I expected. I have never built a door but I am beyond happy with these and think the money was well worth how long it would have taken to make them. The other thing I love about them is the window opens up from the bottom allowing a breeze across your face when laying down. Hope this helps.

urbanfixie wrote:I just rec'd both my doors in the mail yesterday from Frank Bear (eBay). They are nicer then I expected and the install is going to be far simpler then I expected. I have never built a door but I am beyond happy with these and think the money was well worth how long it would have taken to make them. The other thing I love about them is the window opens up from the bottom allowing a breeze across your face when laying down. Hope this helps.

I'm ordering mine on Friday. I have purchased from Frank before and talked to him several times. Nice guy. We're stimulating the economy, right??

I own a Little Guy and jus love the way the windows slide UP to open and ya have that fresh air right ON yer face !

If ever I build a door, it'll hafta have a LOW window, but this time I want it to open from the bottom with a hinge at the top of the window so I can open it even when it rains !

Two things I have discovered camping with the pre-made doors is:

Make sure you install them at the correct height for you mattress. The door edge is just rolled aluminum and can make exiting painful if your mattress is too low.

The doors shut tight and take a little technique to close. It may be that my weatherstripping needs to break in a little more. But, it is easy to sneak out in the middle and close the door from the outside, but once you return you really have to pull hard on the door from the inside to close it, which could wake up your partner.