Mambo 5'5"

[jackdaw]

Having spent most of last year rebuilding the splitty, I'm really happy to be back making saw dust again. This time around I'm using a workshop It's proper luxury after building the last 4 in less than ideal conditions. When we fitted out the bus i found some really nice ply and thought it would be really cool to use it on a trailer build

The chassis's been cut down, the brake rod shorten and re threaded....
I've made the floor up the same as previous builds using a CLS frame and thin ply floor. I've glues up the walls out of 9mm ply and a sheet of 3.6mm crown cut oak ply for the interior.....
The profiles are cut out and sanded before putting in posistion. The ribs are cut and fixed. The inner roof is all glued in place so there's no fixings seen.
The rear bulkhead/footboard fixed in place...

Here's the photos

The short chassis


floor made up , Its 5'5" wide so plenty of room T:



The walls all glued up with a 25mm ply sheet on top and as much weight as i could find to hold it together over night



New profile transferred to the boards and cut out together..



The profiles have been notched to allow for the mild drop side.



First side in place



A better view of the profile



Trial fitting of the mudguards to check the door's going in the right place. I'm planning on taking molds from the mudguards when i've re worked them. We don't have any really nice ones available over here.



Front sheet glued in place



A few tempory supports to push it in place



Nice bit of glue ooooze




A little bit of lush grain



Second sheet in place



Back board in place



And finally one to show the width



Happy building y'all

[mikeschn]

Very nice!!! Let me guess... that was 1 day's work?

Mike...

P.S. Just kidding!

[jackdaw]

Very nice!!! Let me guess... that was 1 day's work?

Mike...

P.S. Just kidding!

Cheers Mike

That reminds me I must try to keep a little check on how long a build takes I get asked all the time and really don't know.

So far the strip down of the caravan was 2 days, Altering the frame ...1/2 day...Building sub floor and gluing up the walls 1 day. Cutting out profiles, roof spars and fitting first sheet to roof ply, 1 day. Glue up second roof sheet and make up and fit foot board 1/2 day.... total so far ...5 days. or 40 hours....
It's definitely no race, but more just keeping track .

[mezmo]

You've been Busy !!!

Lookin' real good there, 'hope you can feature the
ply's woodgrain - it's quite nice to say the least.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Rlowell]

Jackdaw,
You have done this before!! Looking nice and very nice piece of ply. That will look great all finished up.


Rod

[Vindi_andy]

Looking great Jackdaw. Im envious

Hopefully I will get mine done this year. its only been 3 years so far and only got as far as the deck

[jackdaw]

Cheers Guys,
I still get a real buzz from building trailers.....The bus was a great project, that will probably be taking more of our hard earned dosh in the future. But the teardrops are my real passion.
The plan for Mambo is to Ali clad the outside. I'm planning on using teak oil and then waxing the inside. The oil really seems to bring the grain out



Andy Do you thing you'll be done for July ? We're planning a meet at Elveston Steam again this year. It's only up the road from Leicester. Last years steam was cancelled because of the weather, but we had a great time the year before. It would be great if you could join us

I've only got one day on the trailer this weekend, so hopefully it will be a good one We ordered all the aluminium this week and that should be coming tomorrow.
I'll let you know how we get on

[Vindi_andy]

Ill give it my best shot.

Ill talk to her indoors about elveston steam, depends on when main hols falls.

It may not be finished but should be able to get to a campable state

but just as I say something plans change. Was planning on getting a full day in the garage sunday for clearing, dad rang last night saying could they come round sunday Doh!

[jackdaw]

Had another day on the teardrop today ....Made a bit more progress ....
I've put the wires in for the front marker lights...as required on trailers over 1.6m wide. there's also a pair of wires in for the interior light.
I've made up the frame for the roof vent, and cut in through the inner board in readiness to fit the outer skin . The rest of the day was spent making up the frames for the internal cupboards and fitting them.

So here's the front ...about ready for the outer skin



The roof vent sitting between the spars



The roof vent frame fitted prior to cutting the inner board





The interior cupboard.......


Hoping to get some more done tomorrow

[Rlowell]

Jackdaw,
She is looking real good. I like you "work" very much with all the detail. Keep it up.

Rod

[jackdaw]

Jackdaw,
She is looking real good. I like you "work" very much with all the detail. Keep it up.

Rod

Thanks Rod... Best I go and do a bit more as the suns shining today

[Rlowell]

Do you really get sunshine? LOL

Rod

[Oldragbaggers]

Love the profile and layout. You're going gangbusters on this thing. Wish I could build that fast!

[jackdaw]

Thanks Becky... When i'm not actually building, I'm thinking of how I'm going to do things, so when I get to the workshop it's just a case of doing it
Number six is already assembled....In my head
I've had another good day on the teardrop and got a fair bit done....
First off i got the ply on the roof, then notched the galley area, Played around with the hurricane hinge to see if i could combine a drip on the end... Then made up a hatch frame and had a play with some stays to get them in position, and got the inner skin on the hatch...

Front of the trailer with the wires poking out for front markers. I've still got to finish the lower section...but that can wait for another day



The join has been sanded back



The roof vent has been cut in......I'm going to see if i can squeeze a bit of timber between the ply and the aluminium skins to flatten the area where the vent sits...When the time comes.... There is some flex in the frame, but I don't want to strain it too much.



I've notched the top part of the hinge that's fixed to the body of the trailer.


Here's a front view of the same



The hatch frame made up...ubba light.... Being held up with hatch stays.....



I've used some more oak ply to line the hatch.








I've trimmed the bottom with a bit of aluminium angle....




And that it for today....I might get chance to do a bit in the week....There's a lot of cupboard doors to make up.......and decorate

Happy building

[S. Heisley]

Jackdaw, your trailers are always beautiful and it is a pleasure to watch your builds. Thanks for sharing!