Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

AeroNautiCal wrote:That long steel tube welded to the trailer and all the bolts being welded will give it a hugely improved level of rigidity, and the basket is a neat and useful addition too.

Great idea on insulating the floor and on adding corner shelves to add support to the wall panels.

I'd seen those videos and was really impressed with how a well built foamie could take whatever nature and winter travel could throw at it and still be absolutely fine.

Thanks.

I did test the trailer for a short drive and I do think it was much better behaved and less noisy then the default configuration, so was real happy with the trailer.

Was going to place a long shelf across the back under the window, but inside space is very tight, so may opt for larger versions of the corner shelves back there too.

Will have a bare bones minimum 12v system, three 12v outlets inside, one 12v outlet outside and two switches, one for an outside light, one for an inside light.

Hope to use aftermarket auto seat butt warmers as a way to heat up the sleeping blankets / area, before climbing in for the night. Suspect that once in, and already toasty...that the warmer will be shut off for the duration of the night.

Plan to carry an instant up shower tent. Like these for the shower,and to be able to stand up, to change clothes in, and can put a lawn chair in there if a daytime storm chases you inside. The trailer itself, great as a 'comfortable bed on wheels'...

Hope to make great use of the rear cargo area to carry most of what I need. Tongue box, will also hold some cargo and the battery. Need to finalize a spare tire location.

But it is coming along :-)

GPW wrote:looking really GOOD JV !!! 8)

Thank you, sir!

Primed the outside (more lightweight spackle and sanding will need to be done):



I agree with George that the glue/canvass will probably stick better to a primed exterior:




And....
The interior has been painted with a soft brown latex. Went on much faster/easier than the primer!



One unintended but very happy circumstance. See that Blue Tooth speaker inside? Let me tell ya, the whole body vibrates and the bass is absolutely outstanding!!

Music has always been vastly more important to me, than most people I know.
I am delighted that the Blue Tooth speaker sounds so absolutely perfect in the foamie!!

Wow! Happy Happy :-)

Cheers all...

Looking good. Weather here is starting to turn so maybe I can get the Bug Out done!

ghcoe wrote:Looking good. Weather here is starting to turn so maybe I can get the Bug Out done!

That would be great, George! I have been waiting on an AC Variac off Ebay to show up, as everything else I have tried to make a hot wire cutter for the last body panel has failed. Hoping the Variac will make this easier.

Then, it will be on to the exterior canvass job. Still a little confused if the sides are to overlap the front and backs, or vice versa.

I applied the sides first then the ends and then the roof. Not sure if it would matter which one overlaps on the sides and ends, but I like the roof to overlap the side walls.

JV, we inherited an old Radio Shack Variac ( ancient) and it made hot wire cutting so easy and predictable ...
Note: There is still AC on the wire , not only is it hot , but it will give you a “tingle” … Insulate everything but the wire …
Good Luck !!!

GPW wrote:JV, we inherited an old Radio Shack Variac ( ancient) and it made hot wire cutting so easy and predictable ... :thumbsup:
Note: There is still AC on the wire , not only is it hot , but it will give you a “tingle” … Insulate everything but the wire … ;)
Good Luck !!! 8)

Hello GPW...

Yessir, back when Dinosaurs roamed the earth, I had some schooling in Electricity/Electronics. I didn't make it a career, but have had it as a hobby, for a long long time. So I am aware that Alternating Current will be what makes the wire hot. Not concerned about being shocked.

But certainly appreciate the reminder.

I need two "well done" 45 degree cuts on a 4 foot wide piece of foam to finish out my body pieces. Hoping the Variac does the trick, and makes this (finally) possible. I got "close" with table saws etc...but foam too wonky to go through nice and straight.

Made a jig out of wood and hope to be able to slide/hot wire cut...

Variac should be delivered today.

You’ll have fun with that …

A little more progress...

Glued on the final body piece for the front end:



Skewers hold it until the glue dries:



Here is a look inside, the last panel innards were already canvassed and primed, just need the final soft brown latex after the caulking dries:



Pretty soon, I will be fresh out of excuses not to get the exterior canvassing done!

And oh my, the acoustics inside, are sooooooooo nice!!

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JazzVinyl wrote:And oh my, the acoustics inside, are sooooooooo nice!!
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Well you wont want to leave the trailer when you go on your trips now...

ghcoe wrote:Well you wont want to leave the trailer when you go on your trips now...

It is going to make for some easy 'getting to sleep' !!




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One thing we haven’t discussed much is how QUIET Foamies are inside … Great for sleeping …

A little more progress...

Got that final panel painted with the latex on the interior:



And have the rest primed ready for canvas) and worked on the lighweight spakle / apply / sanding / smoothing, all day...



and




Tomorrow, my wife is going to help, and we will try our hand at exterior canvassing!!!

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