The LT... Thomas' Luxury Tent

[2bits]

It's up on eBay, I wonder what I will replace it with to pull the teardrop with?



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150391418887

I took the trailer hitch off of the truck because alot of chevy trucks have the same width frame and that could save me some $$$ We WON'T be finding my teardrop up for sale ever though! ! !

[chrisfoster1971]

Well just spent the last half of the day reading all 40 pages of this thread and have to say if I was to have any level of skill this one would be my inspiration. The look is awesome and minimalist at the same time. Fantastic work hope you managed to sell the Truck, love it.

[2bits]

Well just spent the last half of the day reading all 40 pages of this thread and have to say if I was to have any level of skill this one would be my inspiration. The look is awesome and minimalist at the same time. Fantastic work hope you managed to sell the Truck, love it.

Hi Chris,

Wow! Thank you for taking the time to read my build all the way through to today! That's a great way to describe it, I tried to approach it that exact same way: simplicity with style. I still have loads of work to do, but "life" has put it on the back burner temporarily, I did sell my truck and bought another one to replace it tho. I am glad my work that was inspired by so many, can be an inspiration in itself!

[Sparksalot]

Didja get the garage door open yet?

is the tear still stuck?

[2bits]

Yeah, I got paid, so I am gonna get a guy to replace the torsion springs this weekend finally! I grilled out in the garage the other day, that was interesting with the door down! LOL Yes, it was a gas grille hehe...

[2bits]

I did a little work on the teardrop today. I made the curtain rods and mounts for the moonroof curtains. Won't be doing the grommets for these, just gonna get material with a thick backing and do the hem for the rod to go through since this is a temporary solution because I am tired of laying a tarp over the window to keep the sun out. I still want it to look good though which I think it will. My final plan for it is to build some sliders and do a roll top desk kind of deal for it.

Here's two pics:

Since the bottom is flat on these, the rods can be predrilled and just screwed in as it is unless I decide to use the aluminum C-channel just to make it match the door windows.


The location they will be in:

[aggie79]

Thomas,
I like the detailing on the curtain rods! Very nice.

Tom

[2bits]

I picked out the fabric for the moon roof curtain today, I think it looks kinda retro 40's or 50's. I got enough material to mock up a temporary one with a bunch of tiny gold safety pins to "git er done" and have something cover it until I can get someone to sew up the "real" one the correct way.

I also thought of a neat way to get it to open and close, I don't like how curtains bunch up on the rod without grommets and light getting through a center split worried me, but when I laid it up in place, the solution just presented itself to me, unhook the front rod and bring it down and set it next to the rear rod on some kind of hook! It will just fold in half and out of the way. I sat up straight and my head doesn't touch it when it is hanging down, so I think I will do that.

The pattern:

Closed: (I held it up with my feet!)

Open:

[bobhenry]

Moon roof curtain ??

[S. Heisley]

That's nice material, Thomas. ...Attractive choice.

What you might do for a curtain rod holder for your moon roof is similar to what I plan to do when I get to that point: A "gun rack" style curtain rod holder. To do that, you just add a piece of wood on each side of the window. Drill holes in the sides of the small board that are big enough to slip the rod in; then, finish it to match the surrounding wood. That's the basics and you can take the idea from there, if you want to.

An alternative, temporary thing that you could do is use screw-in cup hooks. They come in many sizes and colors and some even have a latch that keeps the rod/handle from slipping out.

[2bits]

Moon roof curtain ??

Haha well, I like a little privacy once in a while!

I had a similar idea Sharon! Sort like a car sun visor hook in the front, and then in the back have a housing that will hold the rear rod permanently in a side hole, then another sun visor style hook slightly in front and below. I am gonna go see that I can whittle out of a 2x4 right now.

[2bits]

Well, my idea was sound but my implementation was a wash. the wood needed too much thickness, and I could see pretty quick that even if I took my time at it, it was still going to look like a hack job! I stopped at this point and decided to stop wasting my time.



So I went with my same idea of the sun visor hook, but let Japan do the fabricating, and picked these up at the junkyard today, two big ones for the front, and four small ones I will stagger for the rear:



I looked and looked for black or even red, but struck out, so I settled for a middle of the road color, at least it will look professional.

This is how they will be arranged on the double hook side:


I guess I better put them in now eh! I was gonna go camping tonight but the rain just isn't gonna let up so I am home... I did TRY though and drove around with the teardrop for a while today. Here's a couple of pics I snapped.

[planovet]

I looked and looked for black or even red, but struck out, so I settled for a middle of the road color, at least it will look professional.

You could try painting them whatever color you wanted. Nice find!

[2bits]

I thought about it for a second but I really hate painting stuff, and this being a high rub point, the paint would rub off pretty quick and I hate the look of peeling or rubbed off paint. I would rather settle for an off color and have it always look clean and perfect, but thanks!

[S. Heisley]

Good idea, Thomas! Good find, too!

Bob Henry: I would consider it a "SUN" roof curtain, so a fella can sleep in without a rude sun intruding!