The perfect winter project in Seattle.

[Playtym]

Hello to all of the members of this site/forum. Before I introduce myself and my project, I would like to thank all of you and especially the administrators of the site for all of the valuable information you have imparted and collected here. There is an amazing amount of useful information to be found here, and the supportive nature of the members is also appreciated.

My name is Buff Little and I have never built a Teardrop before, but I am having a great time working this thing out. We are long time campers and until recently had a pop-up tent trailer. Now that our kids have grown, and we don't need multiple bunks, I just knew that a teardrop was the right choice for us.

Now to convince the wife! On this last Fourth of July we were graciously welcomed to a gathering at Ken and Marty Madsen's place in Carnation Washington. My wife was rather timid as we started to look at the outside of the tears from the roadway that led through the property. That changed in short order as we encountered the first group of campers getting ready to have their lunch. Although our timing was obviously not the best, these people couldn't have been more inviting in letting us look their rigs over. In fact they were intent on showing us more things than we were able to take in, or were ready to appreciate (I love the openness). This attitude repeated itself over and over again as we made our way through the camp area.

My wife thought they were cute, but wasn't convinced that they were for us until we came to Larry Snedden's camp. When he asked if we had ever been inside a teardrop, we both admitted the we hadn't. Larry took over and announced that he loved to get strange women into his bed and insisted that my wife check his trailer out make sure that the tight area wouldn't cause any feelings of claustrophobia. She checked it out and was hooked. She asked me when ours would be done. I also would like to thank Jeremy Draper (Rainbassador) and Marty Boehme for the time they took in discussing some of the dos and don'ts of building Teardrop trailers.

I started my in depth research as soon as we got home. I welded the frame over the Labor Day weekend and have been getting in a few evening hours each week and most of my Saturdays are being gobbled up. This thing is my OBSESSION.

I know from all of your replies to newbies, that you WANT TO SEE PICTURES. So I waited to introduce myself until I figured out how to resize and post pictures for you. So here they are. My build is a 5x10 that in no way could be considered light weight. I will be towed by a Toyota FJ Cruiser and we tend to camp in non-improved areas, so it will have onboard water and lots of battery capacity. The axel is a 3500lb Torflex, de-rated to 2500lbs to cushion the ride.

OK so thats enough detail for now. Thanks again for the information so far and I look forward to tapping this brain-trust as my Tear takes shape.

[Hector]

Well Buff some one has been busy.I got a feeling you will turn out a great product.Keep up the great work and keep the pics coming.

[mikeschn]

Hey Buff,

Welcome to the forum.

Good start on your trailer so far!



It can't be any heavier than my Baja Benroy was!!!



Mike...

[jdarkoregon]

Buff, We know where you are coming from. Your story sounded exactly the same as mine.

It won't be long and you'll be getting strange women and men into your bed.

good to have you around

John

[Walt M]

Welcome Buff. For sure TD people are a differant lot. After I finished, I took my td to it's first gathering in Ma. I didn't know anybody but the wife and I were looking forward to meeting some new people. When the first group of folks came by to say hello they were all over our td inside and out. (nothings sacred) All I can say is Lynny and I can't wait for our next gathering. Good Luck and God bless. Walt

[Miriam C.]

to the playground. Wonderful start to your teardrop. I love the trailer and the storage boxes.

Just wondering what a "water block flashing" is and where to get it.


Thanks for the pictures and for sharing your build with us. Love it.

[glider]

Hello and welcome,

I say old chap that realy is a truly spiffing start you have there

[tinksdad]

Just wondering what a "water block flashing" is and where to get it.

When I lived back up North, we called them water dams. It's just a big rubbery kind of sheet that goes down before you run the first rows of shingles on your house. The idea was that ice and snow that melted from the houses heat and re-froze when it hit the gutter wouldn't back up under the layers of shingles and get to the sheathing underneath. Don't know where to get it down South; but up North it's available wherever they sell shingles and roofing.

[dreadcptflint]

Hello and welcome aboard. I look forward to seeing what you do since we are just on the other side of the mountains and also do the more rustic of sites when camping.

[BillandMarijo]

Buff,
Dang I like the storage idea. Wish I would have seen that at the beginning of my build. Man the great ideas floating around here.
My wife saw her 1st Tear on the show RV Crazy and that was it she had to have one. Then she got me hooked. It is an obsession. Once you start building thats it your hooked.
Have fun and enjoy her.
Bill and Marijo

[Playtym]

I don't know if I am responding in the correct method, but we'll know soon.
Hi Aunti M, The Waterblock product i am using is a flexible flashing membrane that is very sticky rubber under the facing sheet. The rubber seals around any nail or screws that pass through it. It is used around window and door openings in a lot of new residential and commercial construction. I thought it would be a good way to seal the area where the floor box fits into the surrounding Aluminum T. I also have used it to isolate the aluminum under floor from the steel of the frame. The only actual place where there is a physical mating of the aluminum and the steel is through the floor bolts. Since it also takes moisture for any electrolysis to occur, I thought the water block would be a good product to seal the bolt penetrations. If that isn't enough explanation, here is the website for Waterblock. www.waterblocksystems.com There are other brands on the market, this manufacture just happens to be the Seattle area.

Thanks for the interest. Buff

[Miriam C.]

Thank you for the information. Really interesting stuff and should like a great idea.

[halfdome, Danny]

Welcome to the forum Buff.
I guess we missed meeting you & your wife at Ken & Marty's, maybe because we were half way down the hill. It sounds like you were up on the flat area (high rent district ) Larry Snedden is very friendly & accommodating and I'm happy he got your wife to try his out. He has a very nice side tent, something I'd like to have some day. Maybe we will see you at the next Carnation gathering. Your build looks great . Danny