An Intro from Idaho

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An Intro from Idaho

Postby planewoodworker » Mon Apr 11, 2016 11:31 pm

Hello group,

Where to start?
Well. My wife and I are from the sparsely populated state of Idaho.

I became interested in Teardrops a few years ago. I have owned camp trailers and tent trailers but have always preferred tent camping. I like keeping it simple when it comes to camping and I see a Teardrop as a step towards simplicity. Although tent camping is as basic as it gets, having everything ready to go in the TD will make life easier/simpler.

In the fall of 2014, I started my build. I cannot say it is done but it is very close. We started using it last summer but I have spent the past year working on the finishing touches.

Although I had good intention, I wanted to keep a build log, I failed to do that. I was under time constraints and all free time went to building, with none left for documenting on the forum. I did take many pictures though. It is my intention now to post my experience on the forum.

I am not sure where to post. I want to start a build log but technically most of the work is done. Even so, I would like to present my experience as a build log. Does anyone have any input on that idea?

A little about me.
Some of my earliest memories as a youngster are of stacking blocks, one on top of the other. I have been building something ever since. Presently most of my energy goes towards woodworking.


A note about the pictures. They view great on a computer. However, I checked my post on a mobile device and was surprised to see the pictures were truncated in ways I did not like. All pictures are stored at photobucket so if you touch the picture you will see the entire picture.



Image
Here is a picture of my TD from last fall. One of the last things I need to do is add some interest to that boring white finish. It needs color and some sort of graphic. I am leaning towards stripes like I see on many TD.



My design is a morphed Grumman 2. I used baltic birch plywood that came as 5' x 5' sheets, so I decided to stretch the height to make use of the 5' sheet width.

I know most builds have a name and I have considered calling mine Grum-orphed (Grumman and morphed). Or possibly Moby Dick? It looks like a white whale doesn't it? And it is large in comparison to most TD's. :lol:

I will go into detail when I start my build log but for now here are some of the specs for my trailer.

10' long, 5' wide and 5' high
Walls, floor and ceiling are 1/8" (3 mm) baltic birch, inside and out.
The exterior is fiberglass and epoxy. The white finish is Monstaliner.
The interior is large enough for a queen size mattress. (well, technically it is an inch or two shy in width).
I built the chassis. I used a Dexter torsion axel.

It is apparent I need to find my notes because I am drawing a blank with some of the other basic details such as weight. (I'm thinking it weighed 1100 lbs. without gear)

Before I end this post I want to thank all who have came before. If not for all those that have contributed to this forum, I am sure there are many of us that would never have build a TD. I am indebted to the bunch of you.

I will include a few more pictures now and will return soon with the beginnings of my retroactive build log.
G


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Last edited by planewoodworker on Fri Apr 22, 2016 8:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: An Intro from Idaho

Postby tony.latham » Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:14 am

Greg:

Great looking teardrop! :applause: I'll betcha it doesn't flap in the southern Idaho wind like your tent did. :shock:

But yeah, a post-build log would be great. :thumbsup:

Tony
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Re: An Intro from Idaho

Postby halfdome, Danny » Tue Apr 12, 2016 12:00 pm

Welcome to the forum Greg. :shake hands:
Looks like a mighty fine teardrop you've built there.
Some of my earliest memories as a youngster are of stacking blocks, one on top of the other. I have been building something ever since. Presently most of my energy goes towards woodworking.


On my nursery school report card the teacher said "Danny has a fascination with stacking blocks" :lol: .
I would stack, hollow shoe box sized, wooden blocks in a particular way so a ball could be placed in a slot on top and it would end up exiting at the bottom.
I spent all my working years as a Cabinetmaker and still go out to the shop every day to work on something.
:D Danny
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Re: An Intro from Idaho

Postby Vedette » Tue Apr 12, 2016 2:42 pm

Great Job!
You are going to experience a whole new Camping Lifestyle........and meet a whole new world of Campers you may not have interacted with before. :thinking:
We now refer to it, as our new "Teardrop Family". :thumbsup:
Gatherings are currently being organized all over the Pacific North West, and growing in numbers each year. Each one being different, and having their own mystique and attraction to Teardrop Campers.
We now have a very active Tear Jerkers Chapter here in the PNW. And would love to have you join our Family.
Please check out some of the activities planned for 2016 under the North West Section of this and the Tear Jerkers Forums.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to PM me.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
Here is a link to my Build Journal
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=50912
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Re: An Intro from Idaho

Postby planewoodworker » Tue Apr 12, 2016 11:18 pm

Hello Tony, good to see a fellow Idahoan on the forum. Even if it is just the two of us, that make Idaho well represented when you consider our population. :)
I just spent 3 weeks in the TD and there was plenty of wind. The small profile and its curviness made the wind barely noticeable.

Hello Danny, I am very slow when it comes to making things so woodworking is only my hobby (lucky you, to have made a living at it). I accept my slowness, my only two objectives are 1) to be transported to that place where time seems to dissolve away (you know, the enjoyment level is so high, time ceases) and 2) leave the world with a few things that I have built and can be proud of.

...You are going to experience a whole new Camping Lifestyle........and meet a whole new world of Campers you may not have interacted with before. :thinking:
We now refer to it, as our new "Teardrop Family". :thumbsup:
Gatherings are currently being organized all over the Pacific North West, and growing in numbers each year. Each one being different, and having their own mystique and attraction to Teardrop Campers.
We now have a very active Tear Jerkers Chapter here in the PNW. And would love to have you join our Family....


Brian, I am looking forward to this very thing. I like the idea of gathering with other Teardropers. The beauty of the TD is the ease that it can be pulled all over the country. Makes it easier to gather with others that are enjoying the TD life. We are nearly empty nesters so I can see the possibility for such events.

Thanks for the warm welcomes,
G
Last edited by planewoodworker on Fri Apr 22, 2016 8:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: An Intro from Idaho

Postby Vedette » Wed Apr 13, 2016 10:21 am

Hi Greg
It is not just you and Tony out there in Idaho.
We have a number of active PNW Tear Jerkers on our Roster from Idaho. Some are very close to you.
And Yes, we are currently trying to plan more events "IN" Idaho or eastern Washington.
Teardrop Camping, Events, and Gatherings have a very high percentage of "Empty Nesters" in attendance, as Teardrop Trailers lend themselves to there camping needs.
The time for adventure begins when you leave the driveway with your significant other, and your trailer in tow! :thumbsup:
We have an event scheduled for April 22-24 in Union Gap Wa. if you would like to com e over to meet some Teardrop folks.
There is also a T.O.W. Gathering held each year in Stevenson Wa. on the Memorial Day weekend. :thinking:
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
Last edited by Vedette on Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
Here is a link to my Build Journal
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=50912
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Re: An Intro from Idaho

Postby Vedette » Wed Apr 13, 2016 10:21 am

Hopefully you will hear from some more of our members from Idaho very soon. ;)

Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
Here is a link to my Build Journal
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=50912
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Re: An Intro from Idaho

Postby halfdome, Danny » Wed Apr 13, 2016 11:24 am

There is also a large Gathering held each year in Stevenson Wa. on the Memorial Day weekend.

Actually that is a T.O.W (Teardroppers Of Oregon & Washington) event.
Come and join us, it's the largest teardrop event in the Pacific Northwest and one that shouldn't be missed. :thumbsup:
Here's the registration form pdf
:D Danny
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"Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing". William Feather
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Re: An Intro from Idaho

Postby Vedette » Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:20 pm

Thanks Danny
I thought I typed that? :oops:
Since both organizations share a most of our membership and promotion. I sometimes forget who is who (even though it doesn't matter as long as we are Camping!)
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
Tear Jerkers PNW Chapter Director
& T.O.W. Member
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
Here is a link to my Build Journal
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=50912
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