2+2 in Colorado (continued from other thread)

[rxsamar]

Hi folks,

Accidentally created to seperate threads, here is the beginning excerpt.

Apologies!

Hi folks, see my newbie post below to explain where I'm coming from.

Firstly, thanks for all your posts - this site is fantastic! So much useful information, I certainly wouldn't be contemplating building a teardrop if it hadn't been for this site.

My name is Rohan and I'm an Aussie living currently lucky enough to be living in Denver, Colorado. After spending a summer camping in a tent my wife and I found we were really getting tired of the amount of time and effort it takes us to load/inload our car and setup a campsite. It certainly stopped us from just taking off into the Rockies on a Friday night at the spur of the moment. We also have two dogs (a high maintenance terrier and a silent, not-so-smart Labrador) who complicate matters when camping in the US (no squirrels in Australia,..the possums operate a bit more clandestinely!).

Most of my workmates who camp have RVs with popups being about as small as they get. I contemplated a popup for a while but the size and weight and canvas wall put me off.

Driving to work about 2 months ago after a glorious weekend camping, with the car still laden with camping gear we were too tired to unpack the night before, I saw a Lil' Guy being towed in the opposite direction. It was then that my Teardrop obsession begain.

I started surfing ever manufacturer on the web, I bought the book "Teardrops and Tiny Trailers" and flicked through it while freezing my ass off fishing for trout at eleven mile state park in Colorado (no fish!!). And I read and read posts on this forum. I was also lucky enough to visit SoCal teardrops in California a few weeks ago. I had a good chat with Mike about my project and he let me have a good look at some of the Teardrops he builds.

So after looking at every manufacturer on the market and seeing all the fun many of you have had building a teardrop I pitched the 'boss' on building our own. I am my father's son - he's an engineer by trade but a frustrated carpenter/electrician/plumber/mechanic/welder by heart. I work with computers but enjoy tinkering in my spare time. My aim is to build something that meets our needs, but also is something of a family heirloom. My dad has converted a couple of vans into campers over the years and keeps selling them. I wanted something we could keep, and would use to thoroughly explore Nth America before we go home in a couple of years time. When I was a kid I spent a couple of Aussie summers/US winters with my god parents (who lived in Escondido CA) driving around Nevada, California, Mexico and Arizona in a converted Bedford van - great memories, I'm keen to make some more. I also intend to ship the teardrop back home to Oz.

So the design - I really liked the 2plus2 design but it was Wolfgang's awesome job on his 2plus2 that tipped me over the edge.

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... highlight=

Over the past few months I've oscillated from a 5X10 Kuffel Creek after purchasing plans from Kevin Hauser, then I found the Lil' Diner on this site and the great work Steven Frederick did in completing a couple of version (bought his manual as well). But as I mentioned above I really liked the idea of the 2x2 and for a few of reasons

1. Space - We have two dogs and plan to have children, the move up to a 6x12 didn't seem too much of an upsize (at least in the planning stage). Besides which in a couple of years I would hate to have to give up on the dream of driving around North America because we were lucky enough to have had a child but unlucky enough to have built a slightly bigger trailer.

2. I only want to do this once. It seems many of you are on to your 2nd or even 3rd teardrop or small standie and they seem to get bigger.

3. I could stop thinking about the 2+2 design, particularly after seeing Wolgangs build on this forum.
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pete42
Teardrop Master


Joined: 07 Nov 2009
Posts: 287
Location: Ohio

PostPosted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 1:39 am Post subject: Reply with quote
welcome I haven't built any trailers just modified one to fit my needs.
I'm handicapped and most travel trailers don't fit.
I want to convert a cargo trailer I spent my "trailer" money helping my ex-wife in her time of need (cancer) it looks like I may get to convert one next year unless I just bite the bullet and buy one now.
please keep us upto date on your build and good luck.
ol'pete
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rxsamar
Teardrop Builder


Joined: 28 Nov 2010
Posts: 10
Location: Denver, CO

PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 10:08 pm Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post
Hey pete,

I kinda stuffed up this thread a bit, check out my other thread currently named "the design".

Cheers

Rohan

My plan is a bit of a modification from the original hi-top (5') version of the 2+2. The main difference is the Chassis - I like the idea of 2x2" square tubing and preferred the CAMPSTER 12 style chasis. I'd also already purchased most of my steel and ordered a 5' Dexter Torsion axle so the 2+2 trailer design was out.

http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear56.htm

I've been mulling over width a great deal. Like Wolfgang I like the look of a thinner trailer where the fenders ae big enough to be noticed and give the trailer distinctive character. However I am strongly tempted to build the trailer 78" wide so that we can have a sideways double berth using a similar layout to the Campster. At present I've (well my wife actually) drafted a 76" wide chasis on some graph paper. I'm 5'9" and my wife is shorter, but I'm just not sure that 78" width will be enough after taking into account the wall thickness. Grateful from anyone who has a sideways berth on a 76" wide trailer or smaller to give me their thoughts.

I don't intend to building a dropped floor as I'm trying to keep things pretty simple and am not terribly tall. Some details specs of the trailer are as follows

3500lb Dexter torsion axle trailer
- 5' wide where it meets the frame - 11.8 inches between the main rail and the hub face
-22.5 degree Dn

I've ordered a 20gallon water tank (33.25x17.25x8.75) - a gallon larger than the tanks used by Socal. Australia (and Colorado) can be pretty dry indeed and my Labrador drinks like a fish.

Countering this heavy weight will be a tongue box with a couple of batteries.

The frame is 2x2" 1/8 square tubing except for the tongue which will be 2x2" 1/4 tubing using an A frame design - I am still considering whether I need a center cross bar (i.e. making it a composite style tongue) to ensure it will absolutely be compliant with Australian DOTARS regulations.

I'm estimating the trailer will weight around 1500-1600lbs

Photos and diagrams to be posted after I work out how to do it![/img]

[droid_ca]

sounds interesting cant wait to see some pictures

[Wolfgang92025]

Rohan,

My trailer weights in @ 1900 lb's and I thought I was somewhat careful about trying to keep the weight down.
To get a trailer as big as a 2&2 design under 1600 lbs will take some effort. I don't think I have read on how you plan on building the wall or what kind of finish you plan for the trailer.
Hope you can get you wish.........

for posting pictures, check the center of the teardrop header for help with that.
Keep posting and I,ll be reading and will chine in when I think I can help.

[Weirdnerd]

If you can do a small mod, put the water tank on top of the axle centerline (trailer center on top of the imaginary line between the wheel hubs), that way your center of gravity will not shift due to water load, only your dry weight, also, you can limit a lot of electrical load switching to LED lighting, I went that way and went camping for about 12 days before I had to recharge my 140 amp hour battery, one power inverter rated at 400 watts keeps the lap top happy, and I wired it so I can cut it ( the inverter) off the circuit, that eliminates residual drain... also, a solar powered trickle charger helps a lot to keep the battery somewhat charged ( it depends on wattage, I use a 1.5 amp solar panel, and it helps a little) check the electrical section on the forum index, there are some excellent ideas.

Just remember, weight is fuel, and fuel is money.

PS, My wife and I are 5.8, and my teardrop is 74.5 inch wide inside ( we sleep on the lateral axis) with no problem, It is 74.5 x 60 inches ( like a full size futon) , and we have a " bench" that works as a 28 inch wide bed for my daughter, with storage space under it ( on top of the wheel wells)

[rxsamar]

Thanks for the info wolfgang, I might be somewhat optimistic about weight. I'm thinking my walls will be a sandwich of 1/4" ply outside, 3/4" foam and 1/8" ply for the interior. I'm Hoping the walls will be a little heavier than the 75 pounds your walls weighed. I'll post some estimations next post.

Thanks for the tip regarding photos- if all goes well there should be some posted by this weekend.

Regarding weight I'm lucky to have considerable leeway provided my car continues to run okay (never buy a late 90s/ early 2000s Volvo,...nice car but the parts are ridiculously expensive when they fail. I have a volvo awd (99 xc70) which has a rated tow weight of 3300lbs and a tongue weight max of 300 lbs. Even if my trailer ends up around the 2000lb mark, all should be okay although I'll have to buy minimum 6 cylinder vehicle when I return to Oz.

Weird nerd, I'd love to see your trailer sometime once I've found a place in Denver that sells a good six pack of Aussie beer for you to try. I work out at Aurora and live downtown-ish.

Cheers

Rohan

[Weirdnerd]

We can arrange it ( I live about Evans and Broadway ( on the east side of Broadway...), and you are welcome to come and see my TD, it looks better on the pictures, but its very comfortable and has 1.5 inch insulation all around, even at 100 degrees outside, it was good for naps with the windows open and the fan running, I am still waiting to have a single digit degree night to test the teardrop ( sleep in it)...last time I built an igloo I did the same and it was somewhat comfortable...had a candle in it, and a dawn sleeping bag.

[rxsamar]

2nd question weird nerd. Where did you get your insulation? Is this standard product at home depot? (couldn't find any at lowes the other day, but then US hardware stores are even bigger than bunnings warehouses in Oz. Perhaps I was looking in the wrong acre of store shelving)

[Weirdnerd]

I used "R-tech" white styrofoam insulation, they usually have it at Home Depot, on the building material section, they have it in different thicknesses. Some people has told me the blue or the pink foam works better ( more "R" rating) but I thought that the white will do fine...

[RockyMountainTeardrops]

I used "R-tech" white styrofoam insulation, they usually have it at Home Depot, on the building material section, they have it in different thicknesses. Some people has told me the blue or the pink foam works better ( more "R" rating) but I thought that the white will do fine...

I've not had any luck with finding the pink or blue foam in 3/4"
The white is usually available in 3/4" (at least that's what I'm using on my TD)

Rohan,
Are you going to glue the plywood straight to the foam? (composite / sandwich construction?)
The white insulation has a film on it that might cause problems with shearing or adhesion.

Lee

[Weirdnerd]

They have it....

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=styrofoam&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

[RockyMountainTeardrops]

They have it....

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=styrofoam&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

??

I should have said "I haven't had any luck finding pink or blue in 3/4" at my local HD or Lowes"
Pink or blue would be better to use IMHO, if you can get it easily.
But I'm with Weirdnerd, the white will work just fine for insulation.

Lee

[rxsamar]

Thanks guys, just found the building section and hardwood ply at home depot.

Cheers

Rohan

[rxsamar]

Well tomorrow, I hope to purchase a bit more steel and weld the frame. I'm a member of Club Workshop Denver. www.clubworkshop.com . For a nominal fee I get to use their commercial grade gear machinery. An awesome initiative. CNC router, TIG and MIG welders, plasma cutters, fully equipped wood and auto shops - and a good bunch of folks.

Cheers all

R

[Weirdnerd]

I never knew such a place existed!!!!...I have to scout it up, I am itching to build some prototypes...do they have vacuum systems/ computer monitored heaters? for composites?...( I used to build composite aircraft..more than 12,500 lb each)

[rxsamar]

No, I don't think they have that equipment. Still you should check it out, works great for me as I don't have many tools.