Greetings from SoCal

[green_eyed_diablito]

Hello All,
I came across your awesome (in the truest sense of the word) site yesterday and can't believe how much info I have already found! Thank you for a great site.

I will be designing/building a teardrop this summer and so far I have drawn a few sketches and read everything I can get my hands on regarding teardrops. I will most likely use the Harbor Freight 4x8 trailer, but I am looking on craigslist every day (many times a day) for a good used trailer. The only thing I do know is that it will be a woody and it will have a tiki theme.

I'm a fan of vintage trailers so I want it to have swoopy, art deco lines, but I'm wondering if I should just build a classic Benroy-type being this will be my first teardrop. I'm sure I won't decide until it's time for me to actually lay-out the design on a piece of plywood.

I'm an avid woodworker, having designed and built my kitchen cabinets as well as most of my furniture and I'm an avid camper (in my big-box travel trailer), so I figured this project would be a great marriage between two passions. I look forward to picking your brains and I thank you in advance.

[Dean_A]

Welcome! I always love it when more SoCal people show up. From what I've learned, the profile you choose doesn't have a whole lot to do with how hard it is to build. Unless you go really simple design with no curves at all. they're all pretty much the same process. I also wanted a vintage look, so I did a sort-of Kenskill profile with some swoopy fenders from http://www.lilbear.teardrops.net/index.html

It's hard to beat the price of the HF trailer. I wanted larger 15", wheels, so I had a frame custom fabricated.

Make sure you post lots of pics of your build! Where in LA are you?

[dreadcptflint]

I really like the idea of a Tiki theme. There is so many things that you can do with that culture. Have you carved any before?


(Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.)

[green_eyed_diablito]

Thank you for the welcome!

Dean,
Love the fenders! Love the tear, in fact! Thanks for the lead. Please tell me more about having the frame custom made. There is an early '30s Ford complete axle with wheels and tires listed on craigslist right now and the thought of buying it and having a frame made crossed my mind.

You make a good point about the complexity of the build. I'm going to go for swoopy.

I live in Hacienda Heights. Are you familiar with the area? Where in Dan Diego are you? I'm an avid motorcyclist and ride down there frequently.

dreadcptflint,
I tried my hand at carving some years back, and, well, I sucked! :-)

[Juneaudave]

Alright...can't go wrong with a woody-swoopy-tiki-art deco style!!!! We have lots of room here for creativity and Enjoy your build!!!!!

[darhymes]

Welcome to the madness! Keep us posted on your build and make sure to post plenty of pictures. I look forward to seeing your TD at one of the local gatherings!

[Esteban]

So you say you like a Tiki theme. Spamboree 10 is coming up Sept. 25th thru 27th at Valley Center @ Woods Valley Kampground. The hosts are Damian and Sandra. Ph. 909-790-1439. They might still have room.

[teardrop_focus]

Goody! Another Angelino!

Our tear fever seem to have had similar gestation times. Hahaha...

I'm in Culver City, myself... I probably won't be able to start my build as soon as yours, so I'm available to lend a hand if need be.

I too am placing special emphasis on "swoopy". I dunno if you're going to get that from a HF or "orange box"-store trailer... consider a simple, custom build for your chassis or at the very least a different axle arrangement; perhaps a rubber torsion axle for a slightly lower ride height with a decent (vintage) tire and wheel size. Trade names would be Torflex by Dexter, Flexride, etc. You can, of course, stay with leaf suspension and use a dropped axle. Now that's would be vintage... but the torsion axles will deliver superior ride and handling.

I'll shoot you my phone number in a Private Message; I'd be more than happy to meet up and to talk trailers, axles and/or to discuss your teardrop plans with you.

Until then, then.


- Chris

[Senior Ninja]

Hello LA,

Gotcha!
You're infected with the madness now, and sorry to say there's no cure.
Good luck with your build.
Remember, you can get outta town fast with your TD in case of emergency.
Many of the gulf builders here have that in mind for the next hurricane.
And of course you always have a place to stay of even for guests to stay.
Some of my guests were dying to try an overnight in my TD. lol
Steve

[Dean_A]

Thank you for the welcome!

Dean,
Love the fenders! Love the tear, in fact! Thanks for the lead. Please tell me more about having the frame custom made. There is an early '30s Ford complete axle with wheels and tires listed on craigslist right now and the thought of buying it and having a frame made crossed my mind.

You make a good point about the complexity of the build. I'm going to go for swoopy.

I live in Hacienda Heights. Are you familiar with the area? Where in Dan Diego are you? I'm an avid motorcyclist and ride down there frequently.

I went to a place that specialized in welding/rv repairs with my plans and had them weld up a trailer to my specs. It allowed me to add some special features I wanted like a removable tongue.

Yeah, I know Hacienda Heights. I grew up in Glendora, which is not that far away. I'm down in east Chula Vista now. Don't miss the smog!

We get a lot of motorcycle clubs doing rides in my neighborhood out Otay Lakes Road to the 94. I'd be surprised if you haven't done that ride before. It's very popular. I'd be happy to give you a tour of my TD if you're ever in the 'hood.

[green_eyed_diablito]

again, thank you all for the welcome and the tips! at one point or anther, i hope to take up all the offers to tour your teardrops and talk shop. i'll buy the beer or the coffee.

as i mentioned above, i have drawn a few sketches. i decided on the design, so i scanned my notebook in order that you folks may take a look. The floor will be 4x8, and the forward bump-out will be 12 inches, so i'm going to have to butt-join two pieces of ply per side to get the extra foot. i'll be searching this site for tips on how to do that best (i'm thinking biscuits and doubler plates...the exterior doubler plate will be one of the vertical trim pieces...but where to put the joint????).

and with all this talk about tiki swoops, i decided to name my rig THE MENEHUNE SWOOP. the Menehune are mythical Hawaiian people who were tiny in stature, lived in the forest, and were known for building structures overnight. kinda fitting, eh?

mahalo,
miguel



editted: re-scanned sketch after redrawing door...scale was off.

[Senior Ninja]

One of the strongest joints can be accomplished using a router.
Don't have one, it's time to buy one.
See how this works, lots of nice new tools.
Remember women can never have enough shoes and men can never have enough tools. lol
Steve

[green_eyed_diablito]

One of the strongest joints can be accomplished using a router.
Don't have one, it's time to buy one.
See how this works, lots of nice new tools.
Remember women can never have enough shoes and men can never have enough tools. lol
Steve

are you talking about a lap joint? i've never tried a lap joint with plywood. thinking about it this afternoon, i thought about a scarf joint. idunno....so many options.

[teardrop_focus]

i thought about a scarf joint. idunno....so many options.

True dat!

Why not, however, use 10' lengths of good ply?

Love the design you've posted!

[Senior Ninja]

G. E. D.

That's it, lap joint.
I think that's the strongest you can make while keeping all the wood the same thickness. Several people have done it and photoed it here.

Steve