Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **green_eyed_diablito** » Wed May 27, 2009 12:54 pm

your TD looks really good. i like the lines and the black alum is sexxy!
:applause:

by **Mauleskinner** » Wed May 27, 2009 7:13 pm

Looking great, Thomas!

2bits wrote:Lastly, this is my hinge setup being predrilled onto a 2x4. It is just two strips of aluminum with the hinge underneath with windshield sealant under that when I install it. I set a screw hole every 2 inches.

So you predrilled your hinge and aluminum strips, and then you'll stick it to the tear with windshield sealant, and then drill pilot holes into the hatch and roof through these holes and screw it down?

David

by **2bits** » Thu May 28, 2009 1:24 am

Hello David, you got that exactly right! I ended up with 1/2" hanging over each end and it looks just fine that way I think. I think the aluminum hinge attachment matches well with the two other joints that are aluminum so it keeps with the same theme. Keepin it simple and sexy haha

"Preparing for catastrophe is half the battle to never seeing one." I just made that up!
:lol:

Tom, I have some GREAT hinge discoveries to disclose to you and Rex in my next post when I am sober

I found some perfect hinges

by **Russ B** » Thu May 28, 2009 11:46 pm

2bits wrote: I was thinking about yellow for turn signals or clear for back up lights (which I still will put in probably below the hatch) but I decided that I like the look of the dual Red lenses.

I've been pondering the same thing (as I lurk and slowly build a trailer in my head), but I came to the conclusion that one would have to do a custom wiring harness to get it to work. Seems like most standard 4/7-pin trailer plugs assume that you are using all red signal/tail/brake light combos. Not a problem if you only tow the teardrop, but kind of a pain if you want to tow a utility trailer or something else.

by **2bits** » Fri May 29, 2009 12:25 am

Russ B wrote:
2bits wrote: I was thinking about yellow for turn signals or clear for back up lights (which I still will put in probably below the hatch) but I decided that I like the look of the dual Red lenses.

I've been pondering the same thing (as I lurk and slowly build a trailer in my head), but I came to the conclusion that one would have to do a custom wiring harness to get it to work. Seems like most standard 4/7-pin trailer plugs assume that you are using all red signal/tail/brake light combos. Not a problem if you only tow the teardrop, but kind of a pain if you want to tow a utility trailer or something else.

I am sure there has to be a harness out there for a separate turn signal light but hey it's all custom right! Just run them wires! haha

by **teardrop_focus** » Fri May 29, 2009 1:11 am

Just run them wires! haha...

git-R-done! rofl...

by **2bits** » Fri May 29, 2009 9:15 pm

Alrighty. Put this in the lessons learned category. All mistakes are OK... Once they are FIXED or HIDDEN.

So I guess it is OK to show my poxy jigsaw cut I needed to make so the hatch will sit in position without my new added spar smacking into the galley wall each time. I just needed 1/4" or so. I scribed the cut with my angle finder then went to town. The problem was that I only had fine tooth blades and I really needed a rough cut blade because the blade kept bending so I just focused on getting the big "chunks" off:

"My belt sander is my friend" 5 min later looking downright smooth:

A little more light sanding and stain and we are good to go again:

The hatch sits nicely now and can be pushed down from here easily, but this is where it will sit with the weatherstripping. You are also see that I added the galley wall cap trim the other day too.

I am really thinking about skinning the inside of the hatch before installing it now since the weekend is here and it will be a bit of a hassle to do it once it is installed. It is HARD to resist the Git er Done feeling I have though! ! !

by **teardrop_focus** » Sat May 30, 2009 1:40 am

So I guess it is OK to show my poxy jigsaw cut I needed to make so the hatch will sit in position...

"My belt sander is my friend" 5 min later looking downright smooth...

A little more light sanding and stain and we are good to go again.

Nice save!

That stain is a great color...

It is HARD to resist the Git er Done feeling I have though! ! !

It must be... but hang in there, mang. I know you don't want to abbreviate an outstanding build.

by **planovet** » Sat May 30, 2009 10:22 am

2bits wrote:Alrighty. Put this in the lessons learned category. All mistakes are OK... Once they are FIXED or HIDDEN.

Ain't that the truth :roll:

Nice job!

by **2bits** » Sat May 30, 2009 10:17 pm

Well, I didn't get much done today, I got up at a decent time, I found a plywood shop open on Sat who had a 1/8" sheet of Baltic Birch and I went and picked it up. I then realized that I needed to be at a housewarming party right when I got home! So I hung out there for a little while then my Lincoln freaking Town Car breaks down! I was cruising around on the way home and I stopped to take a leak and everything just went dead when I tried to start it again. I called a tow truck and it turns out that this was the original battery (9 years old). So I guess I can cut it a little slack eh. He jump started me and I drove home OK and here I am

Tomorrow I will work on the hatch more but as you can see, I decided to go ahead and wait and finish it before putting it on.

by **Arne** » Sun May 31, 2009 9:58 am

famous house builders saying: don't worry, the sheet rockers will cover it up.

by **Mauleskinner** » Sun May 31, 2009 10:26 pm

Arne wrote:famous house builders saying: don't worry, the sheet rockers will cover it up.

Famous sheet rockers saying: don't worry, the mudders will cover it up. :lol:

I guess that's why my brother can't find a corner in his house square enough to hang his corner shelf...

by **aggie79** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:01 am

2bits wrote:Well, I didn't get much done today, I got up at a decent time, I found a plywood shop open on Sat who had a 1/8" sheet of Baltic Birch and I went and picked it up. I then realized that I needed to be at a housewarming party right when I got home!

Thomas - sorry to hear about your car. Good news is that it is just a battery.

Can you say which place was open on Saturday that had the 1/8" baltic birch? Since I'm still on probation at my new job (m-f, 8-5+), I can't really pick up anything during the week.

Thanks, Tom

by **FireLion** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:40 am

Famous mudders saying "The sanders will fix it". :lol:

by **planovet** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:54 am

aggie79 wrote:Can you say which place was open on Saturday that had the 1/8" baltic birch? Since I'm still on probation at my new job (m-f, 8-5+), I can't really pick up anything during the week.

I got my 1/8 birch at WoodWorld and they are open on Saturdays from 9-5. They are just off North Central Expressway near TI.

http://woodworldtx.com/

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