COmbined conversion

[prohandyman]

Here is a not so professional rendition of my converted cargo trailer project. It is a 5x8 cargo, 4 ft tall, with cabin and galley under construction. And I want to add wood sides and trim in the shape of a tear drop trailer to the exterior. Kind of a Tear drop want-a-be. And maybe change out the doors for wood. We shall call it "Tear-Go". Pics to follow soon.

[dwgriff1]

Do I understand you are putting wood sides on your box trailer to simulate a tear?

Sounds wild, crazy and fun. I remember a commercial van with a Porsche painted on the side. Why not.

Besides, since you already own the trailer, it should go fast!!

dave

[angib]

(Lamborghini)

Andrew

[prohandyman]

I thought since I owned the cargo trailer and wasn't using it, I might as well convert to a camper. Plus, it would give me good practice for when I do decide to build a TD from scratch. The tear shape on the side would be for fun and practice as well. Some have suggested that I paint the wood sides on, but I like working with wood, so I will probably use that instead. I friend had a woody street rod painted in areas that didn't have wood! It looked fantastic, and very real, but cost a small fortune. And, I like to dabble!

[dwgriff1]

(Lamborghini)

Andrew

That will give a genuine double take. Thanks Andrew.

dave

[brian_bp]

The Lamborghini van is brilliant. I've seen photos of a great Porsche 911 on a VW van (the engine sound even comes out of the correct end), and the Edmonton (Alberta) transit service has one city bus with a race car (like an Indy or F1 car) on the side, using the bus wheels, in the required huge scale.

The woody tear cargo trailer is an interesting idea, and perhaps with careful colour selection the extra part will "disappear" in side view.

An interesting variation is changing material with paint on the same shape, such as making a rounded fiberglass travel trailer into a faux Airstream with aluminum paint and airbrushed seams and rivets. A friend of mine says some street rod guys have added Buick-style "portholes" in paint to cars, quite convincingly. Some race cars have great phony headlights...

Anyway, has anyone tried a teardrop in some material other than natural-finish wood, then painted on the woodgrain?

[dwgriff1]

Imagine what a good trompe-l'oeil artist could do!

dave

[prohandyman]

Latest Pics of cargo conversion - paneling, mattress, wiring

[prohandyman]

counters installed and galley cabinets framed up

[prohandyman]

Ceiling done!

[dwgriff1]

What is the celing material?

dave

[prohandyman]

I read a thread where someone had found paneling at Menards called American Ivory Elements that worked great for ceilings, so thats what I used. It is 1/8" luan-backed paneling that bends rather easily. Cheap too - $14.97 a sheet. Has a nice ceiling look to it, kind of like a manufactured camper.

[dwgriff1]

It looks really good.

Hiding cheap plywood is part of the challenge here!!

I textured the ply while it was just rough cut, and put on a couple coats of oil enamel. Doesn't look any better than yours though.

dave

[bledsoe3]

Man you're really movin'. And it looks good too.

[prohandyman]

Yes it helps to have slow times during the winter for working on things like campers and such. But I'm running low on funds though. Should have bought all the materials when work was booming! I guess that makes it more of a challenge to use what you have sometimes.