Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

My name is Cye (like Sigh) I have been creeping on the forums for over a year now. I got interested in building my own teardrop after years of tent camping, and when the father in law gave me his broken pop-up i figured i had a good trailer to start with. Over the last year my wife and i had a son so my plans have progressed to a bigger build, then i started reading about the "Foamies"... The possibilities started running wild in my head . . Latest is a foamie hybrid standie with a hinged rear wall to haul the toys or perhaps a golf cart on our adventures.... I don't really have plans more than a few hand sketches mostly trying to figure out the inside layout. But this will mostly be done by the seat of my pants so any advice would be great..

So i started my build a bit late last year and was interrupted by winter. I finally got some time so i figured i should start my Build thread before i get back to work on the camper.

I started with a Pop up that was given to me by my father in law. The cables for the top had broken a few times in the last few years and the top never sealed right. So the inside had some water damage.

Starting the Teardown, I Tried taking things apart in case i could use some of the parts and pieces. Plus I thought I could Scrap all the good aluminum and other parts i couldn't use.

Stripped the pop up and the trailer was smaller than i thought..

So i decided to add a few feet before and after the axle. I also upgraded the Axle and wheels to give me a little more room to carry some weight. (Probably a golf cart or an ATV)

2 feet added to each side of the Axle. Welded new frame and supports.

I wanted to keep this light as possible and still strong enough to load a golf cart inside and tow it. I looked at using 2x2 steel studs since they are light weight and easy to work with but the prices threw me for a loop. My dad suggested making my own framing from the planks he had made when a giant pine tree had fallen in his yard years ago. So all of the wood framing for the walls is saw mill cut planks cut down to 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 strips. It didnt take much time to set up the tale saw and rip all the boards and it saved me a ton of money.

Bolting wood Framing to the steel for Deck and foam attachments.

Starting the Decking. I wrapped the bottom side with Water and Ice roofing shield. All the plywood is screwed down with self tapping metal screws and I tarred all the joints with roofing tar once they were installed. I was considering adding foam under the deck to help insulate it but i think ill see how this works out first.

I didnt really have a drawing or plans for this other than what i imagined so it was a little rough getting started. The walls are framed with my homemade 2x2s with foam cut and gorilla glued in between each stud. Wood framing is air nailed and gorilla glued together. I had picked up an RV door and 3 windows earlier in the year from Bontrager's Surplus, so I rough framed for them.



First wall started.

If i could do it again i would have built the walls on the ground to make sure they were perfect matches and i could have skinned the inside as well. My second wall ended up being about and inch longer than the first at the nose i dont think anyone would have noticed but it bothered me enough that I had to fix it.


Second wall and Door Framed in.

After i fixed the wall to make them even I was able to get the front started.


Starting on the Front.

Making sure every thing was square and working on the front.

I was worried about rocks being kicked up and blowing through the canvas and foam at the front of the trailer. I added a sheet of plywood for extra protection on the bottom at the front.


Added Rock Guard to the bottom in the front.

The roof was probably the hardest part at this point. I didnt want to let water sit on a flat roof so I tried to come up with a way to bow the boards i had made but thought it would put too much strain on the side walls. My dad actually brought up the idea of cutting 2x4s with the "bow". He did each one on the table saw by hand. I was skeptical but impressed with the results. I added plywood for the rear around the door to help keep everything Square.


Cut 2x4s to give the roof a bow to keep water from sitting.

Overhang at the back Cargo door.