Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hey campers,

I'm in the parts gathering process for my teardrop. In looking at lots of the different builds on the site, I'm seeing that pretty much everyone uses a hurricane hinge on the hatch, and piano hinges for the doors. Is there a practical reason for that, or is it just a matter of "It works, no need to change it."?

I ask because I am wanting to take some styling cues from my Jeep which will be the tow vehicle. I am thinking of using Jeep door hinges for the door and either windshield or hood hinges for the hatch. I think it would be pretty cool to take some styling elements from the Jeep, but I don't want to do something that will cause huge problems.

My first though was waterproofing, but using moulding and gaskets just like on a vehicle door should take care of that.

So am I off my rocker in wanting to use these? Is anyone else using things other than the "standard" hinges?

The Jeep hinge thing has been done, as has the noncontinuous hatch hinge, so it is possible. The big difference that I can see is that the continuous hurricane or EPDM covered piano hinge would allow you to keep your galley hatch up in the rain, where as a separate hinge arrangement on the hatch would be more complicated to seal.

You don't leave your windshield or doors open on your Jeep for long when it is raining, and the engine compartment is exposed to the weather either way, so... not such a big deal there, but you might want to eat out of your galley, even if it is raining.

A lot of people put up a canopy or E-Z-Up style tent over their whole trailer, so maybe it is not such a concern depending on the type of camping and locations/climates that you plan on being in, but if you can build for all types of conditions and options and ease of setup, then so much the better.

Just $.02 from someone who has read a lot about, but not done any TD camping... yet.

+1 on what KC said ... ...!

Good Luck, and ...

CHEERS!

Sweet. The whole eating in the rain thing hadn't occurred to me. Makes sense now. I'll probably still use the door hinges, but hurricane hinge the hatch. Maybe use the other hinges in some other way like a swing out table or something.

Thanks for the answer. I will remember to thank you again the first time I am camping in a monsoon and am dry underneath the hatch.

Practicality certainly plays a large role, but for every problem, someone a long time ago has come up with a solution...
Moldings and gaskets are an important feature for the galley, and cabin, as beyond waterproofing, they help to keep dust out.

The hurricane style hinge works great!
That said, you can use the Jeep, or vintage car style exposed hinges too, and leave the hatch open in the rain if you provide a channel, as the carmakers of yesterday did, to redirect and remove the rainwater that ran down the body toward the open trunk.

A few years ago, someone posted a picture of a 1940's teardrop that employed just such a channel under the hinge area, which actually took the water straight out the sides of the trailer.

For a regular galley, a metal or wood channel in a "U" shape would collect and channel the water to the ground, allowing the hatch to remain open in the rain.

Rob