In Great Company

[drewbtaylor]

Greetings all and Thank You. I have been lurking at the site since Jan. I started my build on Jan 23rd and have been "stealing" everyones great ideas since then. I have had maybe 1 unique thought of my own since then.

I definately agree with the "crack" comment. I am fortunate enough to work from home and I have 3 screens set up in front of me and I always have this site up on one of them.

I finally had something to contribute today, so I created a profile and added my 2 cents. Not a bad deal though, all this education and cool ideas and novel approaches only cost me 2 cents. :-)

My build is progressing nicely, I have been keeping a Blog of this jouney (you can use he www button below). We will be taking a short trip in June and then our real voyage is to DC for the 4th of July. The kids will still "tent camp" but no more sleepig on the ground for us.

[BillandMarijo]

Drew
Your Tear looks great. And welcome to the forum.
Enjoy
Bill and Marijo

[chorizon]

Wow! That's progress! Your build looks great, and reminds me that I've been dragging my build out way too long!

[Dean_A]

You can't steal what's given for free! Welcome, and you're build looks great. Keep up the good work!

[lisasweetie]

Drew, you do pretty work. What is your day job? I want your galley, it's beautiful. What size is your build, 5x8?
Welcome and great work.

[drewbtaylor]

Thanks all, It is an absolute blast and I have enjoyed every minute... so far.

The trailer size is a 4x8, I added about 8 inches out over the tongue and the curve adds another 5 inches.

My "day job" is as a Training Consultant. The joy of working from home means that I am really always working especially when supporting a global company. So trying to squeeze a few minutes into the build is a challenge some days.

[tearhead]

I work out of home too (distance education) and because our internet speed was so slow before we got DSL, I got into the habit of running two computers simultaneously. It's kind of crazy-making, but it's more efficient.

Congratulations on getting going on your build! As our friends opined on my newby thread about this being like crack, that's the cure! Of course, they could be in denial!

Pat

[jdarkoregon]

Nice build, is that a solid blank or strip roof?

Nice Galley



John

[Senior Ninja]

Don't look at it as stealing, people following you will use some of your ideas. You're paying it forward.
Steve

[Downunder Dave]

Hi Drew welcome to the forum. Very impressive build so far the pictures look great. I am so envious of the excellent range of timber available to you in the states, and you have made great use of them. You are right, there is a great sense of pride when you can show off you hard work and watch the disbelief on their face when you tell them you built it yourself.

Look forward to seeing more in the coming weeks,

Cheers Dave

[High Desert]

looking great, very nice work!

[Dagny]

WOW, Drew! Your blog is great. I am happy to have another person here planning on camping with kids. Hope my husband and I can take it by ourselves once in awhile, but mostly it will be me and 3 little ones. I will keep an eye on your blog as you travel and steal some tips from you.

[John T. Hodgen]

Welcome Drew and family,
I just checked out your blog and really like your build. Different woods blended together as a stripper is Kewl! I also have my galley set up like what your doing with your doors/hatch.
For my build/camping pixs you can go to: http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc145/panheadjohn60/ and see it on Stacey David's GEARZ TV site here: http://www.gearztv.com/index.php?conten ... c=12_14178.
It took 23 trips to Lowes and $1600.00 (Budget?). OH, and about 4 months total work time. Enjoy your build and we, Linda and I tested camped in our front yard--I had that same SMILE on my face that you talked about in your blog.
Til later by the fire---John T.

[drewbtaylor]

Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments. This has been a very "dynamic" project. Originally it was going to be a very typical "woody" but the more I pondered the more I realized I could have something that would better reflect my woodworking background. And as a result have "blown" the budget by a larger margin... much to my lovely wife's chagrin. But it is all worth it in the end.

A couple of questions answered or responses to comments:

tearhead: Happy to see another training professional here "in the family".

jdarkoregeon: The roof is stripped cedar and continues all the way to the hatch hinge and will follow down the hatch as well. the ends have been dadoed so that the roof doesn't sit on top of the framing for the sides but captures it and there is an 1 1/4 inch overhang on both sides.

Dagny: We so much enjoy camping with the kids and last year loved our Epic Trip, but tents are a young persons game and the kids love the fact that the whole tent is theirs now.

John T: I was scoping out your build a few days ago and was interested in the simialarities. It really is true, there aren't many unique ideas left in the world. Only 23 trips.... I am impressed, I feel like i have had 23 trip weekends. And I am sorry to say that I have already spent a ton more on my build, but it really isn't about the cost at all and my lovely wife couldn't be more supportive.

For 2 days I have done nothing but obsess over wooden fenders, originally I had convinced myself that I was going to be fine with the stock ones for now and think about it later. What was I thinking... So I have read every post of every thread that even mentions wooden fenders.... I only wish I had more time. Well, I think I have plan and may even be able to pull it off especially if the trailer fairy's decide they are going to spray finish for me during the night

A quiet day at work today, shhh don't tell anyone, I'll be in the shop.

Who am I kidding, I'll be chained to the desk all day.

[cdfnchico]

Loved your blog...enjoyed both your build and your "Epic Trip"! Your trailer is beautiful!