6' x 9' Teardrop Build

[OCD]

I've been reading the board for a few months now and have finally started my build. I really wanted to build a 5' wide but couldn't find a decent trailer in my price range.

Here's my 'diamond in the rough', "more old junk" says my wife.




Getting things cleaned up. There was numerous pieces of angle iron hanging down underneath waiting to be trimmed off. Wire wheeled everything and gave it a couple of good coats of rust paint.

Added three receivers at the rear/sides: left for stove, middle for bike rack and right for a table/umbrella holder.


Today welded on the mount for the front wheel/jack and have 4 levelling jacks for the corners to install next, soon to be followed by fenders.

[LDK]

That trailer frame looks good. I like the idea of using those receivers. That will come in handy.

[OCD]

A trip to the auto scrap yard produced these four leveling jacks.


I 'borrowed' the receiver idea from those that I've seen here on the board. The right side one will have a fold-up table and patio umbrella holder.

[OCD]

It has been very cold for working outside in the shop this winter, as well we've just returned from five weeks vacation, time to get back to the build! Here's the 5/8" deck cut to fit and covered with 2 coats of oil based undercoat.


The three pieces of deck were glued together with construction adhesive, clamped in place, drilled, counter-bored and screwed down with #10 metal screws. A belt sander was run along the joints to make sure everything had a smooth transition. In the background you may just be able to see I've cut the door openings for the sides too.

[OCD]

This is how Baltic Birch side panels looked after staining and three coats of epoxy before I cut the door openings


Here's a pic that uses the side template to show the overall size of the trailer and has the removable stove in place.

[Corwin C]

Interesting stove set up... Filing the idea away for future use.

[OCD]

Interesting stove set up... Filing the idea away for future use.

I think the local Home Hardware had them on sale for $30 after Thanksgiving. My wife originally bought it for cooking outside in the summer, I thought this would be a great alternate use and help keep the build budget down. It's nice to have sites like this to browse through and see what works (or not) for people and change it to suite your needs.

[halfdome, Danny]

That bike carry rack worries me.
We had one by Smitty Built and the key locked top popped on old West Valley Highway from all the torsional action on the back of a trailer that you can't see happening.
If it weren't for the cable lock around the 2 bikes they would have been all over the highway.
The best bike racks are the ones with a ratcheting hook to the bike frame and hoops for the bike wheels.
Here's mine folded with the stop, turn, clearance light that I added.

Danny

[OCD]

Although I've been using this rack 2x week to carry one 40lb downhill mountain bike for 5 years without incident, I see your point. If I intend on carrying 2 bikes I'd need a rack upgrade anyway. As is often stated in retail advertising 'this is for illustration purposes only'.

[halfdome, Danny]

I used mine for several years with 2 bikes on the back of the Blazer without incident.
First time on the teardrop rear and all hell broke loose. Danny

[OCD]

Had a chance to get a bit done this weekend. My local Winsor Plywood store happened to have a special on 3/4" birch ply so I grabbed a couple of sheets to do my galley counter, bulkhead and hatch frame. As you can see I now have my sides mounted, doors openings and counter/lower bulkhead pieces cut. I have since stained them and will be putting a couple of coats of epoxy on them before installing.


At this point I'm beginning to mock up how the fridge will fit under the counter and where the supports/cabinets will be. The plan is to have an opening for a cooler next to the fridge and a cupboard or two with doors next to that, no sink. Above the counter there'll be a space between the cabinets and have a TV mounted so it can swivel around so we can watch movies outside on nice evenings or inside if it rains.

[pappaw]

Nice start on your rig!

Cheers: Jeff

[OCD]

Thanks Jeff:

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I'm hoping to have things moving along a bit more quickly. I've started epoxy coating the lower bulkhead and gallery countertop but even with 'fast' hardener, things are still tacky in places which means more than 24 hours to cure.

[OCD]

A little bit of galley progress

[Woodstramp]

Outstanding start. Really like the multiple receivers in the frame (will rip that idea off for next one!)

You will really like the 6' width. Costs more with wind drag, but really nice when camping out.