Taking a MIG welding class to begin my build!

[deleted]

Hello!

To be honest, all I know about building a trailer is what I've learned by lurking here for the past two months, reading countless build blogs, and watching build videos I found on Google. I feel I already owe a thank you to all of you I've already learned from.

That said I'll be using http://TechShop.ws, their classes, instructors, dream coaches, equipment and tools to tackle this project. The reason I'm building, instead of buying a vintage trailer, is because I want a 4'x6' trailer for one (5' 2" tall person), that has a teardrop's rear hatch but it will be taller than a teardrop for (mostly) overnight or two night excursions around Northern California. The two feet I'm giving up in length I'm turning into an extra foot in height so that I can comfortably sit upright in the trailer. And I want the galley to be in the trailer cabin like a canned ham, not off the rear so that I can access the sink, cooler, etc from inside.

I'll be blogging my entire build on my personal blog and kicked off with today's post about the MIG welding class I just signed up for. I could buy a HF trailer but since I have access to the equipment and how to learn the knowledge I've decided to challenge myself by doing it all from scratch.

Here's my first post I published today that gives a very superficial overview of the design http://theflirtyguide.blogspot.com/2012/10/im-taking-mig-welding-class-to-build-my.html

[nevadatear]

Not to throw a wrench in your build, but have a we have a normal sized height teardrop, it is about five feet from the ground to the top of the tear, and at 5'6" i have no trouble sitting on our bed without coming anywhere close to hitting my head..there is a good 8 " or more above my head. Most everone i know with a tear can also sit completely unpright on their bed as well. Just remember the taller you tear drop it is actually harder to pull because of the wind resistance, and worse gas mileage. I would much rather pull a longer tear than a taller one. I can't tell ours is behind us, it is about the same height as our RAV. Just my opinion in living with ours for 3 years

Debbie.

[Junkboy999]

Welcome to the forum Stacie

You got a good start on most of the other newbies. Looking through the build logs are great inspiration. Taking a welding class is a + .

I hope you got a chance to see this thread
New Design - Stubby Standy
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=32462& ... bby+standy you can size it to your liking.


Check out this link as well

THE WANDERER 8 AND 10
http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear59.htm


Ps love the your avatar. If you made that your self, you’ll fit in nicely here.

Terry
Junkboy999

[deleted]

Thanks for the advice Debbie. I do appreciate it. The few 4x6 teardrops I've seen available online haven't had the height you describe. Perhaps I've been looking in the wrong places? I'd love to find a vintage trailer rather than build one but I've been scouring the internet every day for a couple of months now and since I want one by spring I figure I need to start building now if it's going to be ready to go next April.

I also went to the TCT West Coast Vintage Trailer Rally last weekend. There were 4 teardrops there, all were long and none had the kind of interior height I am looking for. I did however see a MInit which I'd never heard of before and fell in love with. If one were available right now I would snap it up in a heartbeat since it seems to be the only egg style trailer that weighs in well under 1000 lbs (my car's tow limit). You make a good point about the height slowing things down and taking more gas but I'm only pushing the overall height up by 6.5 inches over a 5' high teardrop which is a sacrifice I'm willing to make for the added comfort of being able to have more space when I'm in the trailer. I've even figured out a way to take an actual shower in the trailer by adding in that extra height! I guess my reasoning is I've read over and over how people get or build a starter trailer then have to get or build another one a year or two later. I only want to have to build a tiny trailer once. I do still want a Minit thought. I'd love to have a tiny trailer for just me and the Minit for if I'm bringing a friend along or will be conducting interviews while on the road. The Minit would be perfect for interviews! If I never spot one I'll build a similar size or go for a Scamp or Boler someday when I've upgraded my tow vehicle.

Thanks for the encouragement Junkboy999. I'm really excited for the class. It's tonight! I've decided to practice with all of the tools and machinery I'll be learning to use at TechShop I'm going to build a half scale model as I go along. The 2'x3' trailer will give me some perspective of the build before I commit on the final and it'll make a perfect dog house for my pup which has the added bonus of being hilarious that he and I will have matching trailers

The Stubby is exactly what I want! But right now I'm trying to keep the trailer weight to around or under 700 lbs and it seems most wood trailers will push beyond that. Though I am exploring other materials to keep the weight down as low as possible if I do build something larger someday.

Thanks about the avatar. I did design it. I have 30+ illustrations I've done to mock the entire trailer out. I'll be posting them in a day or two and would really appreciate people here picking the design apart and sharing advice with me. Things I'm most concerned about are the weight balance and related weight issues.

[nevadatear]

Stacie, since you are in San Jose you should come over to treasure island on the weekend of the 23rd. There will be about 11 teardrops there on display, including ours. We will be glad to let you get inside and see what they are like! There will also be a tall but short TTT vintage there as well. Come visit us! Check out the TI thread for more info.

I am sure you are right about the 4 x 6. To keep a teardrop shape and not look top heavy, they are probably shorter than ours is. We are 5 x 10. Have you actually climbed in a tear? I highly recommend it. It feels way different on the inside than looking in. I see you did a cardboard mock up, that really helps. You I think you should actually come down and get a standard 5 foot tear and see if you can kneel and have your room. One other reason most folks don't go larger is the sixe of ply wood. a standart 4 x 8 on its side will make your sides. If you go higher you will have to seam one way or another.

Not trying to discourage you from what you what, you need to build what you want, but as you said, you only want to build once. !

[bdosborn]

Stacie, since you are in San Jose you should come over to treasure island on the weekend of the 23rd.

Boy you should go to this. I sure would have built my first trailer differently if I had actually seen one before I built one. I might not have needed to build two of them to get one how I wanted it.

Bruce

[deleted]

Thanks so much for the invite! I will have to come by Treasure Island to see everyone's trailers. Just a bit confused since the 23rd is a Tuesday. More details would be great so I'll try to find the thread you mentioned. I sat in the doorway of one and leaned into another for a picture so I do have a better sense of space than from just looking at them in photos online. It felt weird to see them in person at the rally after admiring them from afar for so long.

Thanks for tips. I do only want to do this once. If anything I've probably over-thought my design but that's just how I am. I keep reading most people over-build their first trailer. I'd rather over-think and build just right the first time LOL. If I build another it will be to do something really fun and creative. Going over 4 feet high on the side will mean two pieces of plywood but since it's only going to be 6' long I figure it's something I'll be able to handle.

On the upside a friend saw my blog post and just happened to help someone clean out a storage unit yesterday. The guy had a bunch of welding stuff, two masks, a leather apron, and a single sleeve. Just picked up the whole bag for $20.

[deleted]

Found the Treasure Island thread. I'll definitely stop by! Thanks for letting me know about it.

[nevadatear]

Hey, on the welding stuff! Sorry about the misdirect on the date for the TI thing. I was at work when I posted (bad me bad me) and didn't bother to check the date. It is the 27th of course. Look forward to meeting you. My husband is a machinist and welder, owns his own machine shop, and welded our frame as well. See you in a couple of weeks.

[deleted]

Hi Debbie,

Thanks! I'll come by for sure.

[cuyeda]

If your build will be anything like your avatar you designed, I am sure it will be nice looking build. Just for fun, I think you might like a few of the mantras that a friend of mine is involved with. http://www.Trailerchix.com Checked out your blog out, and your sense of design and style would blend nicely. I only know one of the gals, Mona. Some of the things they plan and are going to do is very creative. No teardroppers in the group, but it's the concepts toward living in small spaces which you may like. Check it out when you have time.

Good luck on your welding class.

[razorback]

In California you should not have a big problem in buying plywood sheets that are 5 X 10 feet.
Only problem is that they may only come 3/4 inch thick.
You could cut out a lot of the plywood and only use it as a frame.
Like your avatar.
Larry

[deleted]

Thanks for the link cuyeda! Love the Trailerchix website. They link to some very cool and innovative products and ideas. And thanks for the good wishes on my class. The only problem I ran into is that the tables are set too high for me to get the proper vertical position I need to hold the welding gun in an upright position. Which means I'll need to stand on a step stool or platform. Hubby's a bit concerned that that doesn't sound safe to him but I'm only going to be welding 2" tube steel so I don't think it's an issue since I don't need to move my feet at all, just my hand and forearm.

That's good to know about the 5'x10' plywood. I had no idea. But everyone and I mean EVERYONE has urged me to stick to 4'x8' since that's the size of a standard board and to join two pieces together for an extra four inches of interior height doesn't seem worth the trouble I guess. While not planning on long trips I am planning on frequent trips so I thought the extra effort would be worth it. Though now I'm just now sure how I'm going to go about building my sidewalls. With a steel frame? Without? 3/4" plywood only? Insulated with thinner wood? The possibilities are confusing at this point.

I started a thread in the construction forum which is both helping me to sort things out and confusing me more at the same time
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=52714&p=966993#p966993

I posted the design I came up with on my blog:
http://theflirtyguide.blogspot.com/2012 ... ravel.html

[bobhenry]

Stacie :

I am sure this build got lost as it is over 2 years old but has many similarities to what you are trying to do. The weight came in at 525 pounds ready to camp. As you can see I too chose no hatch but did provide for a nice kitchen to be added to the sides with double bat wing tables. Perhaps this link may provide some additional ideas.....

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=38489

P.S. As to your plywood delima just stand up your 4x8 sheets and have the seam fall at the door edge if possible. This area will have extra support and the void for the door minimizes the seam length.

P.S.S. Welcome to the insanity !

[deleted]

Thanks for the welcome, link, and advice Bob!

Just read through your entire thread. CUTE trailer! What I found especially intriguing was the smallest trailer you've ever built. Everyone thinks 4' wide is too small. I can't even imagine what they'd think if I went for 3.5'

Am now leaning to not using wood at all on my sidewalls since I'll be building a steel cage type frame. alaska teardrop said I can skip the exterior wood walls and just go with the aluminum skinned foam and a thin wood interior panel. Then I could do as you suggested and seam it near the bottom of the door as it will be less noticeable than at the top. Especially the side with the cabinets if I decide to keep them on the side.

And while I'm forgoing a rear galley I do still want to have the hatch to be able to enjoy the view, for fresh air, for the sociability factor while at a rally or camping with friends, and to be able to use the trailer to haul objects that won't fit in my car. But I really like your outdoor kitchen idea and even have a pair of crutches handy LOL. But I've already needed them twice so I'm guessing I should hang onto them as I tend to be accident prone and will probably need them again after some future fiasco.