New member in South Australia

[Roostew]

Hello to everyone, and what an awsesome site this is. Found this site looking for usefull projects that I could build to increase my income, (self employed) and I'd like to get into something enjoyable to build, that is individual and unique with each new project, and teardrop vans certainly offer that. I was instantly hooked, and hope to start a build very soon. I have a mig, small drill press, a router and circular saw etc. and most boilermakers tools. I am thinking about building the wall frames and roof cross-members with square tube directly off chassis. Has anyone built a TD that way here? Would that be the way to go? I want lots of timber visible but as the frames are not usually seen it shouldn't matter should it? Intersted to hear some ideas from you guys known for your skills and craftmanship, on how ya's reckon I should go about my first build. What you would do or would not do again I suppose! Meanwhile I'll keep up with the study here and see what I can learn.I plan to make jigs and stencils throughout the process so any following build is a bit quicker. My first will be an off road design to go behind my Land Rover Discovery 3.9L V8 4x4. Look forward to any replies and making some new freinds! Bye for now.

[Miriam C.]

to the playground Roostew.

I am betting Paul will be along to give you tons of advice and give you the url for the Aussi group too... Sorry Paul.

We have members who have done the frame work in metal and a couple who have done the whole thing in Aluminum...All work well.........You might start in the Off Road forum. Also the Member design. It will take years to read it all and keep up with the new.

Looking forward to your design and build so take lots of

[PaulC]

Welcome to the group Young Man ( I hope

Another Aussie looking to supplement his meagre income hey
Let's see, we have an Aussie Group at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/teardropcampers/ and we have 3 manufacturers of TD's in this country. One is http://www.aussieteardrops.com/ and Reiner has all the parts you'll ever need. There is Hans Vans in NSW and Little Guy Australia situated in Little Ol' Adelaide.
Don't let this put you off as we/I need to see more of these Vans Down here.

If I can help, and you are close to Hillcrest in Adelaide, e-mail me.

Cheers
Paul

[Roostew]

Hi Paul and Aunty M, and thankyou for the welcome. I apologise for taking so long to get back to ya's, but a busy xmas and new year has made it hard to find time to get my first project started. I have managed to get my shed organised for it, and now ready to buy chassis materials and plywood etc. and get into it. I have decided to build the generic Benroy design with the only change being the shape of the cabin door... so far. I really appreciate your generous offer of assistance Paul, but I'm about 600k's west of you on the Eyre Peninsula, and about 100k's south of the Gawler Ranges. I know you're fond of the Flinders Ranges, so if you ever come over this way for a look (Mt. Wudinna, 2nd largest monolith in southern hemisphere to checkout nearby by the way!!) you're most welcome to drop in, and, if you like spit roasted lamb, cold beer and old classic rock (i'm a muso) you'll have a ball!! Anyway, Paul, I just need to know what wall thickness the 50x50 shs needs to be here in S.A. to pass rego. Is yours 3mm? That's what I plan to use, if it's ok with our laws here in S.A, that is, and rumour has it you're "the man in the know" (won't mention any names....definately not ones that rhyme with, or sound like MIRIAM, or Aunty M.... or any name that sounds even remotely like that!!) I'm making four new trestles at the moment, so I can stay off my knee's a bit, (only 40 but my knee's wanna retire.......... tomorrow!!). I thank everyone for their input on this site as I have learned so much checking out the build journals and The Hall of Fame etc. I live in the middle of knowhere..... ( there's a place nearby called "No-where else"!!)...and finding it hard to get work here, so discovering this site and the FREE plans, along with wonderfull people willing to help others they may not even meet in their lifetime is just awse!! I am confident of being able to make enough $$ to get by if I can build a few of these each year, which I might add, will be a differernt and original design, but really a compilation of ideas and designs seen here and elsewhere since discovering this little world of "Tiny Teardrop Trailers". Thanks again to everyone and hope you're all still enjoying your holidays. Travel safe. Jim & Ranz.

[Shadow Catcher]

Roostew
You if you are capable consider building using aluminum rather than steel i.e. http://www.bushtracker.com or http://www.livinlite.com/camplite-gallery.php
Regardless good luck

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Roostew, from Down Under, Welcome to the forum!
Another one from the Land of Oz! Great, cuz when I get over to dive the Barrier Reef, I'll have lots of people to look up on my travels. (And yes, Paul, I WILL be there someday cuz that's all that's left on my "bucket list" )

I have a student in my class from Australia (she's got dual citizenship) and she brought in some coins/bills to share this past Friday for her weekly display. It's a delight to talk with her Dad, and at conference time her grandparents flew over for a visit and I had a great time talking with them.

Have a fun time connecting with your fellow citizens.
Joanie
The Teardrop Nanny

[PaulC]

Jim, I use 2.5mm wall thickness on the chassis and 3mm on the drawbar with under bracing as well. I'm on number 5 now, so I think it works okay

Cheers
Paul

PS Wudinna's not that far away.
I might just take you up on your offer. Keep in touch Young Man

[Roostew]

Hi Joanie and Shadow Catcher, nice to meet ya's! Yeah ally appeals to me S.C and reckon it's safe to say I will use it on future builds as have done a fair amount of ally welding in boat building trade, but set up for steel at the moment so goin' with that for No.1 to keep cost down and spend more on the finish and electrics. Cheers for the links too mate, I'll check 'em out for sure. Yeah Joanie, us Aussie's are a pretty likeable, down to earth bunch generally, and we do love showin' off our backyard so make sure ya do the last thing on your list, you won't regret it or forget it! I discovered about 3 years ago how big BBQ is over there and found out you guys don't have the traditional aussie BBQ of lamb chops, snags (sausages) and a salad of potatoes and onions in a dressing of chop fat!! You guys REALLY know how to cook a BBQ. I don't know why Paul Hogan offered to throw another shrmp on the barbie for ya's......kind of an insult!! So..... where the bloody hell IS he?......ha ha!! (PaulC will get that....... if it doesn't get banned that is!!) I am absolutely fascinated by the whole process of cooking brisket, pulled pork etc etc in an indirect smoker oven and building a large one of these and learning how to cook BBQ the way you guys do is a HUGE thing for me. It's grown on me over the last couple of years.......not like a wart.....nicer than that......and I have to learn the art. Anyway this is a Teardrop website not some cookin' forum so I better get myself together here and stop dribbling everywhere thinkin' about goin' over to Joanies for a REAL barbie with BEER BOILED SHRIMP!!! No wonder that add did nothing for tourism here!! Now seriously...... thanks heaps for that info Paul, I can get straight into it now, but undecided which to build first, the chassis or the cabin after seeing a video and the bloke said they allways built the cabin first so they could build a better fitting chassis! If everything made to the mm, should it matter? Either way, first job is getting materials from town next shopping trip (gonna eat and drink more so I can get 'em quicker!!) OOPS! yeah I know....teardrops....sorry!! Paul, have you added bracing that isn't in the generic plan on your Benroy? If so, was it to correct some issue that you had or just a precautionary measure? Oh Joanie my wife and I have bet running tryin' to guess what you teach! If I'm right, it's those super, brass led's and fluffy curtains, if I'm wrong it's moonlight through bare windows for me!! Please help!! Bye for now. Jim.

[boomboomtulum]

Hey Roostew
Hows the floods in your area, are you hi and dry?

[Roostew]

Hi BoomBoom, yes mate, we're hi'n'dry thankfully and I did think to mention it in last post after talking to relatives up that way yesterday and watching the all day coverage of the disaster on tv. Imagine an 8 metre high wall of water and debris suddenly heading toward you, what a nightmare. Lots of people missing and loved ones trying to find them, a rising death toll, it's very sad to see. Years of drought then this. Many people would have lost everything they owned. I heard a lady on the news this morning say that people were floating past her still inside their homes screaming for help. A living nightmare, and it isn't over yet! I'm sure we will help in some small way be it a donation or something but would rather help physically if it were possible. Our thoughts are with them and hope all that need it find refuge and are re-united with family and freinds. Jim & family.

[The Teardrop Nanny]

G'day, Jim...to be fair to your wife, why don't you PM me with your guess and I'll let you know if you are correct !? Or, sneak a peek at my profile for immediate success. Also, I love BBQ, but am more careful about what I'm eating to stay healthy. My twin brother is named Jim, and my spouse , Dean, is a sheet metal worker/welder/glazing contractor...common connections...


And since you started this thread, you can talk food/cooking, etc. The forum has a whole section on cooking, recipes, Dutch Ovens, camp cooking. If you haven't already done so, click on the black pot below to see what's cooking in the great outdoors. You'll get a chance to see what & where we camp, cook and BBQ. Quite a variety of foods on our cooking channel. You can also check out the IRG link to see the event we organize and host and the REALLY big deep pit BBQ we do there.

Joanie

TDN Click on the link below to see our cooking channel. Bon appetite!

[Roostew]

Got started planing timber for sub floor today, and cut steel for chassis. So, I'll start a build journal and post progress pics there. Cheers Jim&Ranz.

[honeask]

Wow, sounds like everytime you leave your home there could be adventure! Here in Texas we get the occasional loose cow, sleepy armadillo and right now we are seeing huge numbers of possums getting hit by cars. Yours sounds more fun.

[Roostew]

Hi there Sandy, I haven't mentioned the mouse plague we had last year or the one we are about to have! Whenever the wheat farmers have a good year 'round here the mice numbers grow until we get winter rains and honestly it's disgusting. The stinkin' things poo/wee on everything in ya shed, and then chew their way through whatever they didn't poo/wee on. Not enough wedgies to keep up with 'em worst luck so we're moving soon, from the desert to the snow!! "Tasmoania" as my daughter calls it. I bet your possums over there are just like ours and think it's ok to throw all night possum parties in your roof huh? Fun, cute and fury they ain't right? Well they stew as good as roo's, I wonder how they BBQ?............ Only jokin'!

[honeask]

Roostew,
I don't think I could eat anything with a face that ugly. Good luck on the move and as everyone else says, we love pictures.