Z3R0's Budget Build

[Z3R0]

Hey all,

First post on the site! Seems like the best TearDrop website, you guys have helped me a lot with my design and my troling abilities. The girlfriend and I are tired of tent camping and I need a winter project so this is where I am. I got an old pop up camper frame recently and started the tear down. Got the axle out and painted, sanding some rough spots in the frame and going to start welding in some cross members for the supports. First project like this so bare with me as this is my first build. I'm a budget builder as my GF seems to think getting a pop-up camper is the way to go, so shes set a budget at like $3000. I'm terrible at saving so I figured just start building little by little to cure my bordem around the house. Well more to come on the progress, I'll keep this updated as often as possible with pictures and ideas I got. I'm also a designer so lots of renderings I'm sure.

Original 4x8 design, too small for my liking.



Original Trailer:

[Z3R0]

Trailer striped down to do some sanding and axle work.


Axle out and Sanded


Axle primed with self etching primer.

[Z3R0]

As of right now I have to do some welding of some more braces and give it a nice cleaning and paint the frame. Since the frame is C-channel I'm not going to be able to get into all the cracks. Hopefully a trip up to the car wash and a pressure washer will get most of the dirt out. I'm going to use rustoleum rust reformer in areas I can't get to that well to cover up some of the rust. Then self etch primer on the whole thing. Than some Orange paint for some color. Let me know what you guys think!

Axle Painted with some High Temp, Oil and Gas Resistant paint.


My new design, Playing with some lighting in my design software.

[mikeschn]

Hey Z,

What kind of design software are you using?

The 4x8 is a little small. What size are you actually building?

Mike...

[Z3R0]

I'm using CatiaV5R18. Only software I have a license for rendering.

My G/F and I laid next to each other on a 4x8 sheet and with the dog its a little too cuddly for us. So I wanted to up it. I believe its right around a 6x11 platform. Only issue I think I'm going to run into is that the trailer is an under axle so its 24 inch from ground to the platform of the trailer. If i went with a side axle I would lower it probably 6 inches. So the initial kitchen design will be basically bar height counter tops in the hatch so if I lower it eventually it will be standard counter top height. Just a minor work around. Thanks for looking!

[bc toys]

Cut some of the frame off and drop trailer between wheels and build it 5x11 plenty of room for 2 people and a dog love your design work

[Z3R0]

That involves more work hahah. I might be going offroad a little, some dirt 2 tracks so the higher clearance might be nice for some of the sand pits we run through some times. Guess we will have to see. I'm pulling this with a Sierra Denali so its going to be shorter width wise than my truck and I know my truck can pull what ever I can afford to put behind it. That was a concern of mine to see how wide I can go. I'm actually going to be dragging it out of my garage here to clean up inside of the C-Channel frame, put some drop cloth down and get ready for some paint. Thanks for your input guys, keep it coming.

[Z3R0]

Well, got some more work done on the trailer. Gave her a wash and stood it up to start painting the bottom. The tops all sanded down ready for some more plate for some more cross supports. Testing out some of this rustoleum rust reform paint. We will see in the morning. Going to design so more things on my model and then tomorrow starts. Thank god for this weekend. All about the TT weekend. So heres some more

Showing the sanding job. Really wanted to make sure I got the top because I wont be able to get at it again.

[Z3R0]

This thing was a lot heavier than expected. Do NOT attempt this at home.


Testing the rustoleum rust reformer paint... We will see tomorrow.

[Z3R0]

Got some more rendering done. Added some windows and lower shelves on the interior. Really liking this lighting thing. Pretty cool to figure out your shadows and such. Let me know if you guys see anything that seems pointless. Check out the !

[mikeschn]

Z,

Can I talk you into uploading your photos to an album here, and using the [album] [/album] tags to show your photos.

It's pretty hard to view your photos the way you do it now (uploading as an attachment). I'm having to scroll up and down and sideways at the same time!

Thanks,

Mike...

P.S. Here's how to upload pictures...

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=48774

Here's how to post pictures...

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=48764

but use the album tags instead of the image tags...

Mike...

[Z3R0]

Sorry about that guys. My computer is hooked up to my big screen right now so it works fine for me. I'll see if I can redo it when I get to work. Thanks for letting me know.

[Z3R0]

Think I fixed it. Let me know if you guys have any problems. It was working fine on my work computer but we have 32 inch monitors. Hopefully this works. Thanks for letting me know. Its actually easier anyways!

[Z3R0]

Question for you guys!!! Go with a WFCO 8725 convertor or go with Guest 2611A Charge Pro Series Marine Battery Charger? There right around the same price range and if i went with the battery charger I would just plug it into a 110v outlet so if I plug into shorePower it will turn on automatically. But I will always be running from battery while charging as well, also I believe I need a voltage regulator. The converter allows for easy use. Plug and play. Let me know what you guys have done and what works the best. My system will be 4 12v sockets for chargers and lights all LED 12v.

I actually just bought a LED strip light off ebay for 10 bucks so I'm going to attempt to split it into 10 parts, as it is 15 feet long. Plan on using it for accent lighting under cabinets and for inside all the cabinets with auto switches. Just hope I can seperate them as they are waterproof and have a rubber coating on them. I'll see if I can find a how to on it and post it!

[mikeschn]

That fixed it, thanks..

32" monitors eh? Wow. I'll have to talk to my boss about that.

This is just a test...

Click to enlarge...


And just for fun, do you have a stp file of this design? Can you post it, or email it to me: [email protected]

As step files can get rather large, you might want to zip it.

Mike...