"Casa Del Amore" Build

[casadelamour]

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to our build journal!! We just recently joined the forum (you can see our introduction here: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=55223&p=1004104#p1003965).

Build Highlights

Classic Teardrop style
Built on 4x8 HF frame (TD will be 10' at it's widest point)
4x3 "Moonroof"
Roof rack for kayak
Mountain bikes at front or on receiver hitch
Tow vehicle - 2013 VW GTI (AKA Greg's Baby)
Skin - this is an undecided issue! We love the woodie look but we are now considering an aluminum top and woodie sides. We could end up with paint. Who knows!

Pros (things we *think* we have in our favor! LOL)

We work really well together
Greg's an electrical engineer by trade (this is a pro because I (Sarah) glaze over at any mention of the words wiring, voltage, current, electric, battery, etc!)
We both have a good amount of "project" experience
I (Sarah) can cut a long, straight line with a circular saw and love painting and staining (both of which are not Greg's specialty!)

Cons

Small build space - we only have a 1 car garage so we'll be pulling the trailer in and out a lot to work
Timing - we want to camp by June. We're totally OK with the idea that some of the finish work won't be done by then. Our schedule is pretty tight though so it should be interesting.
Locating 4x10 plywood in our area

Current Build Status
Greg began building the frame in the living room. Yep, you read that correctly!


Happily this build has moved into the garage now (click to see larger image).


Tonight Greg is going to clean and repack the bearings using brake klean and a high temp lithium grease as suggested on various threads. I'll be spray painting the frame black tonight or tomorrow.

Excited to get started!!

[KCStudly]

Welcome! You have come to the right place. You will get all of the advice you can stand and probably more options and opinions to choose from than you can stand.

But that is part of the beauty of this site. All of the information is here for you to decide what will and will not work for you, and there are always people ready, willing and able to help solve any problems that you may run into.

I am looking forward to following along, so please don't be shy and do post lots of pic's.

[casadelamour]

Thanks so much for the welcome! I'm a researcher by nature so this site is awesome for me!

Right now the issue that is keeping me up at night is the skin. We just can't make a decision. If time and money were no issue, we know exactly what we would do - black aluminum top, wood sides and aluminum trim. But since we want to be camping in less than 2 months (yep, we're nuts), we're trying to decide what's best. Logically I know painting the whole thing is the quickest method but it's really not my preference. I got in touch with a sheet metal place in my area yesterday and it looks like the cost for the roof aluminum will be around $150. We don't have any experience with aluminum which makes me a little nervous but it looks from the threads like we could handle it.

[webbaldo]

I like the build spec!

Don't be put off by the small working space, Im working in a small shed and you just have to think things out first if any large moving or shifting is required.

Aluminium isn't cheap but I hadn't really worked with much sheet metal prior to mine. Good tools are the answer, router with a flush trim bit, sheet metal cutter (electric or air) and an angle grinder or mitre saw with TCT blade for the trim.

Plus it looks cool and is SHINY!




If you do prefer the woody look how about you just epoxy or seal the wood. Then it'd be ready quicker, AND if you change your mind later, you can always glue aluminium on later? Just make sure you only screw the side trims on (and seal using silicone, not adhesive) then if you did change your mind it wouldn't damage the TD removing the trim to fit the Aluminium.

[casadelamour]

If you do prefer the woody look how about you just epoxy or seal the wood. Then it'd be ready quicker, AND if you change your mind later, you can always glue aluminium on later? Just make sure you only screw the side trims on (and seal using silicone, not adhesive) then if you did change your mind it wouldn't damage the TD removing the trim to fit the Aluminium.

Wow - I really love that aluminum look! I'm so torn which is why ideally I'd like to do both. BUT.... I've spent hours tonight researching the skin issue and watching video after video after aluminum and epoxy and fiberglass - my head is swimming! LOL

I think the tools and time required for aluminum is a major deterrent for us right now because we are on a tight time frame. So we've decided to do a full woodie with some (hopefully) interesting color stains. Now I'm wondering REALLY how difficult is it to bend the aluminum molding (because we still want that for sure). I've read varying opinions on that. More research to be done I guess!

[Junkboy999]

Sarah & Greg

Take some time to read ( look at the pictures ) this build member design log.
Good stuff here. Simple and lightweight.


Northern Lite Traveler

[webbaldo]

If you do prefer the woody look how about you just epoxy or seal the wood. Then it'd be ready quicker, AND if you change your mind later, you can always glue aluminium on later? Just make sure you only screw the side trims on (and seal using silicone, not adhesive) then if you did change your mind it wouldn't damage the TD removing the trim to fit the Aluminium.

Wow - I really love that aluminum look! I'm so torn which is why ideally I'd like to do both. BUT.... I've spent hours tonight researching the skin issue and watching video after video after aluminum and epoxy and fiberglass - my head is swimming! LOL

I think the tools and time required for aluminum is a major deterrent for us right now because we are on a tight time frame. So we've decided to do a full woodie with some (hopefully) interesting color stains. Now I'm wondering REALLY how difficult is it to bend the aluminum molding (because we still want that for sure). I've read varying opinions on that. More research to be done I guess!

The corner moldings are actually really easy to bend, just take your time. Door frame moldings are ok too. The only one I found a PITA was the TMolding round the door. But I think I used quite stiff stuff

[casadelamour]

The corner moldings are actually really easy to bend, just take your time. Door frame moldings are ok too. The only one I found a PITA was the TMolding round the door. But I think I used quite stiff stuff

Did you buy your molding from somewhere specific to teardrops (like Lil Bear) or just generic hardware store aluminum trim?

[casadelamour]

Progress!

Last night Greg cleaned and repacked the bearings and the frame has been primed and painted! I also ordered the 4x10 sheets for the side walls from Menards and they should be here in 5-7 days. We opted to spend a little more and get the 4x10 sheets to make things a little easier on us (again - first build, short time frame). If what I'm hearing is accurate, this probably won't be our "forever trailer"! We've already been talking about designs for "next time"!


Next up...

I'm ready with our materials list and hopefully we'll be able to go tonight or tomorrow to get everything (except for the side walls) and start building the floor.

[AlgoDan]

I like your progress, you have a plan and looking good. Good luck and keep posting pics, pics are good.

[rmef27]

I look forward to watching your build,good luck and hopefully everything goes relatively smoothly.

[webbaldo]

The corner moldings are actually really easy to bend, just take your time. Door frame moldings are ok too. The only one I found a PITA was the TMolding round the door. But I think I used quite stiff stuff

Did you buy your molding from somewhere specific to teardrops (like Lil Bear) or just generic hardware store aluminum trim?

Im in the UK so I got most it from a UK Aluminium specialist. I did get my hurricane offset hinge from the US and a few other small bits.

The post/tax is a killer though, so tried to source most stuff from over here.

[casadelamour]

Update...

We spent about 3 hours at Menards last night but we were able to get everything on our list which included all the major building supplies! Our special order 4x10 plywood for the sides had arrived as well. Man those things are HEAVY! Yikes!



We are holding off on the build until Sunday because we have company staying with us. Sunday we're hoping to get the floor done. Right now the weather is NOT cooperating and so if it's still raining that might be difficult because we really need to pull the trailer out of the garage to work. We can work around the rain if we have too though.

Have a great weekend everyone!

[casadelamour]

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the delay in updating. We got back to working on the trailer Sunday. So far it's very standard - frame completed, storage box built, insulation and tar applied! Here are some photos from this part of the build. You'll notice in a few pictures that Greg is making circular holes and testing vent covers. I'd love to explain EXACTLY what this is for but to be honest, I don't think I could do it justice. LOL! It has to do with the computer fans that Greg is using for venting as we won't have a roof vent (because we'll have a moonroof!). Tonight I'll get Greg to explain it in detail and post more info.

*Click to see larger images*






Up Next...
Here are the 2 computer fans and the fan controller. You can read more about the controller at http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/accessories/recon/.
Tonight I'll get Greg to detail the wiring and fan info to post.

[spbiknut]

Great start....looking forward to the explanation about about the moon roof and floor vents....

Keep us posted...

-Troy