Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I wheeled her out of the garage for the first time today. I did a bit of sanding and got a few stares from the neighbors. Tonight's plan is to install the bulkheads (they had only been held in by the pressure of the sides until now), install a few shelves, and frame in the door.
This project is trying to the most with the least. I have only spent about $200.00 so far on the camper (that's obviously not counting the trailer). I have utilized recycled plywood for some of the bulkheads, and I had a large supply of fasteners in the garage before I started. I have also taken donations from friends and family ( the not yet installed window, a foam mattress, the use of some tools). My attempt at a free paint job have failed. I tried to get the truck shop to paint it up like a tiny WalMart trailer, but they wouldn't (actually they couldn't) do it.

http://tinyurl.com/o48f6

Ptomaine,
It looks like you might make it. Looks great.

Get er done!
Aunti M

We have in our town a hazardous waste site, it is where people take their old house paint to dispose of. The place short them all out and give them away for free. My daughter though it was a great deal so she gotten a bunch of the paint for me as I was remodeling a couple of houses. But I made her take it back as I was picky about the colors and had no place to keep them. So maybe you have some hazardous waste disposal in your area. Our is connected with our garbage sanitation place.

Hi,
Here in Washington our local dump/recycling accepts leftover paint and makes it available. You could check your area for something similar. Also, you might find some contractor with enough leftover to do the job.
Kris

Ptomaine wrote:I have utilized recycled plywood for some of the bulkheads, and I had a large supply of fasteners in the garage before I started. I have also taken donations from friends and family ( the not yet installed window, a foam mattress, the use of some tools). My attempt at a free paint job have failed. I tried to get the truck shop to paint it up like a tiny WalMart trailer, but they wouldn't (actually they couldn't) do it.

Free is GOOD and recycling too! I've got alot of that on my teardrop so far, some of the wood for supports in the wall , etc. but once the interior skin is on you won't know. And that doesn't mean it isn't good solid wood either. It's good to have neighbors who had left over Formica, a foam rv bench seat they didn't need (bed! perfect fit!) etc.

My build so far is about $1150 including the trailer frame and I'm pretty sure I'll end up under $1400 for my Jewel Box.

julie

I don't mind spending, BUT I want to get the greatest bang for my buck.
My family went though some lean years when I was a kid, I had to live on military pay back when they didn't make crap, and I learned to live with a 60% loss of income when the company I worked for went bankrupt in '01. To say I am rather tight with my money is an understatement. One of the reason's I love camping so much is the fact you can do it for nearly nothing.

I have been told the local "Pick a Part" has some campers/motorhomes in their lot. I'm going to go check it out to see if there is anything I can adapt for use on my camper. There is also a new home being built a half a block away. Another prime source of salvageable material.

I have a beatiful 7' section of solid oak butcherblock bartop in the garage that only cost me $20. I am saving that for my next camper, as putting it in this one would be like putting lipstick on a pig.