Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well, I finally got started on the frame and walls. I had built the frame from scratch awhile ago and tested it out in the woods and also used it as a utility trailer a bit. I guess folks here would call it a "slouchie" since its over 4 feet high but not high enough to stand up in, for me anyway. The wife is 5 ft 3 " so she can stand in it. The interior height is 5 ft 4" from the middle to the back, its a shade over 5 ft wide and 8 1/2 ft long. The last picture shows a roof sitting on top, I bought a starcraft pop - up roof at an auction for $5. It is a 1" insulated foam piece and after typing this I will head out to the garage to do a final position on it then mark and trim it to fit. It will have only 1 door and unlike traditional teardrops we will sleep at the back leaving a 2 ft wide area at the foot of the bed to access the door. No rear hatch since in spring, summer and fall I like cooking outside. For cold weather it will have a small fold down shelf at the front drivers side for a propane stove for that all important morning coffee.



Last but not least, many thanks for all the info. The Kreg jig I got was invaluable and until coming to this site I never knew such a thing existed.

Hey great start, now get some sides on that baby and get camping.

I got the roof fastened down today and roughed in my 2 rear windows, the door frame and ordered 2 more of those scotty serro type windows plus some butytl tape and a teardrop style door latch from an e- bay vendor. By this Saturday I should have all 3 of the side window frames roughed in plus some of the interior panelling up. Will post up another picture by Sunday.

Nice job Hugh! I know how good a feeling it is to get the roof on.

todays [sunday] progress. Got the pass side wall roughed in for the door and window. Also applied spar varnish to the 2x2 frame pieces. Then off to Home Depot for some 1/4 GIS plywood and some 1 1/2 rigid foam. A friend helped put up the 2 biggest side pieces which were then fastened with a few screws and the window outline and rear angle were traced onto the wood. I can fill in all the plywood on the passenger side, front and rear ends then remove the pieces for marine paint application. Also as soon as Frank Bear,s windows and butyl tape and teardrop door handle arrive more progress can be achieved. For the roof and end wall seams I ordered a 50 ft roll of white UV proof Eternabond seal tape and it should arrive this week. If anyone reads this I have a question, if the walls are coated with Spar Varnish can I paint over it? I will be using Interlux enamel marine paint.

Well I got a couple of good days work done, the front and back and passenger side outer walls are glued and screwed on. The screw holes are filled and sanded and just need the 2 windows and door handle from an e-bay vendor named Frank Bear to arrive. I found a marine store nearby and bought some resin and some yacht 1 part poly primer and a couple cans of paint. As soon as the windows arrive they will be fitted then the bare plywood body will be coated then painted. It pouring rain here but once I can roll it out of the garage a couple of pictures will follow. What a blast it,s been building this trailer. All the reading of posts has paid off like crazy. It won,t be a work of art like many seen here but it will be mine and all original A lot of trailer are named, I was thinking of JeepInn

Nice Hugh! Very nice.

Prem

hugh wrote: A lot of trailer are named, I was thinking of JeepInn

I like the name!

Well except for 1 tiny little piece on the top front left the walls are all glued and screwed on with all 5 window openings framed in and cut out. Tonight I filled the screw holes [ they were all sunk into the plywood] with a plastic wood product by elmers. Tomorrow they will be sanded and the seams will be filled in with some fibreglass body work putty and when the seams are dry and sanded the whole outside will be coated with resin. Here,s a couple of pictures from inside the garage, I would of rolled it out but some of the neighbors have taken an interest in the build and they like to stop by to talk and well it got a bit dark out, summer here is drawing to a close so night is falling a bit earlier every day

for some reason I am unable to post pictures now.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42131173@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42131173@N ... otostream/
2 newer photos of my build, for some reason photobucket wasn,t working but flickr does. Anyway the outside has so far 2 coats of paint and the windows are now installed and the door was put on tonight but no pictures yet. I will be painting the top1/3 white since its so green and am now starting on the inside also.

My computer is on its way out I think, for some reason I can,t post pictures. But anyway the inside is all insulated, the windows are in and the door has been fitted. Tomorrow after work I will fit the folding bed/ chair I built today into the camper and add a cabinet a neighbor gave me to the front inside. The 12 v lighting is in and the 110 is wired and installed. Since I work only 2 and a half days this week I may try the camper for the first time this week on an overnighter. The weather here is supposed to go down to just below freezing with maybe a bit of rain so it should be great for camping. My wife is even helping me now, we went to Walmart and got some curtains, I think she is a little bit excited to see it come together. If all goes well I want to take it to Utah next summer, always wanted to see the Parks there.

Wow Hugh! Your work pace makes me look like I'm in a creeper gear.

Wonderful job on the design and execution!

Tom