new builder from So. Oregon

[Malibusurfer]

Hi everyone,
New member here and wanteed to say hi. You all have some great TD's and the build threads are great!!! I am in the process of getting materials together to build a tear myself. I have a trailer (old boat trailer) that I have fabbed into a tear base ( I'll have some pics later). New Dexter axle and will be starting from scratch during spring break. I am building my tear a little bigger than most. It will be approx. 10'6" x 5'6" x 50" or so tall. I am building it for a trip my family (3 of us) and I are taking out to Texas to check it out for possible relocation out there....
This will be my first build. I am a metal fabricator p/t and paint /body man, but have talked my cabinet maker friend into helping me build the basic frame walls, etc..
I am still deciding on wall thickness and how to contruct. I am debating 3/4 or 1/2 inch with luan/insulation on inside.
Outer walls I am thinkning fiberglass then auto paint instead of aluminum. Any thoughts on this???
I am seeking any build threads that sounds like this or any help I can get would be very helpful.
I have 3 months to build this so I am under time constraint as well....
Thanks and great site!!!!

[parnold]

I built mine very quickly by using 3/4 plywood for walls, and luan for the roof. I coated the entire thing with 5 coats of polyester resin, and painted with acrylic enamel auto paint, with wet look hardener. The only issue is there are some hairline cracks where some screws are in the luan roof. I'm going to redo the entire roof in white truck bed liner. That's flexible enough the screws shouldn't be an issue. The screws were covered with duraglass before applying polyester resin too.

[Malibusurfer]

Paul,
Thanks for the info!!!! Good to know about the Duraglass and screws.... WOnder if kitty hair would be better????
Did you just do resin, or did you add some actual weave glass??? I have some 2oz fiberglass weave I was thinking of using ( especially for the roof ) and then flow into the body with just resin w/ wax added, then sand and epoxy prime, then color...
Good to know I could build this quickly... I have most all my supplies, so hopefully not too many days chasing parts....

[Vedette]

If your forte is metal fab and bodywork, as is mine. Why are building a wooden trardrop?
You might want to check out my album, for pictures of mybuild.
Good Roads
Brian

[Malibusurfer]

Brian,
Very cool stuff you have going there!! Love the old school!!!
Only reason I'm building wood is due to time and ease of materials to get... I more than likely will build this for our trip and see how we like it. If I can improve on it, I may sell it and I'll build another without the time constraint. Weight is an issue as well. Need to keep this under about 1300-16000 if I can. I used to build surfboards and currently restore boats so fiberglass/wood is fun to me and vary familiar with it ( it's just the prices have gotten rediculous!!)