lurking in Ireland

[3nero]

Hey All
Been lurking here a few weeks now so i taught i'd better join.
Just started the process of building a low budget TearDrop.
My daily driver is a 77 Type2 VW tintop camper van that has suddenly become too small. I've owned lots of caravans over the years but never a Teardrop.
The main tow vehicle for the trailer will be a Nissan Micra (sucky car) so i need to try and keep the weight as low as possible, but don't fancy a foam built.
I've already managed to get some parts together for the built and i'm just waiting to hear back about a chassis i have my eye on and then it's time to make some sawdust.

[Woodbutcher]

Welcome to the forum. Good luck and have fun with your teardrop build. If you need help, just holler and don't forget to post pictures.

[clermont cubby]

Welcome,

Good luck with your build.
Larry

[3nero]

Thanks guys
Still lurking...getting lots of ideas..more parts acquired but still no chassis. The chassis i manage to get will kind of determine the size and shape of my trailer. so far i have a 4ft wide kitchen(galley) from an old tent trailer and 2 3ft wide gym crash mats for a mattress (very comfy) , a roof vent and various other bits and bobs. Just going to let the trailer design itself so far i'm only down for 75 euro so well with in budget

[burlesot]

Best of luck! This site is incredibly helpful for lurkers.

Todd

[jss06]

Welcome. I happen to be in Dublin on a tour today and will be leaving in the morning. Best of luck to you on your build.

[Junkboy999]

Welcome aboard.


Check out the The 280lb Pico-Light. about as light as they come.

[3nero]

Thanks for the link Junkboy. It's a nice design but i have been informed that that trailer is not good enough

The trailer is for the GF and it MUST have a rear galley, MUST have cupboards and shelfs inside and MUst sleep 2.
I took her camping a couple of weeks back in my van and it was her first time not in a tent, she insisted on getting her own van but when i mentioned the yearly costs and tests and taxes that idea went out the window and i finally talked her into a teardrop. My van and my car will pull one no problem but she wants to be able to pull it with her little toy car. I ran the numbers and the max it can pull is 750kg or 1653 pounds so i'm hoping to come well under that maybe 550kg or 1200 (ish) pounds. you really should have seen the amount of stuff she packed for a 3 day camp in my van .... Plus she will be dragging along a 7 year old so add in all the necessary toys he NEEDS to stay happy. I've been looking at some of the models online and a big trailer like the 10ft Raindrop is 1400 pounds so i'm guessing my creation won't be anywhere near as heavy.
I think I've settled on 6mm (1/4 inch) ply inside and out with 1 or maybe 2 inch foam sandwiched in the middle. I can't seem to find 1" aeroboard locally anywhere any more so i might be forced to go with the 2" xtratherm foil lined stuff..but i think that's over kill on a small trailer. Designs have been drawn up but are subject to change at a moments notice...I.E. the moment she changes her mind.

[3nero]

Welcome. I happen to be in Dublin on a tour today and will be leaving in the morning. Best of luck to you on your build.

Thanks..I'm only 12 miles from the city centre. I spent some time as a tour guide with an Irish tour company. Where did you visit?

[jss06]

Welcome. I happen to be in Dublin on a tour today and will be leaving in the morning. Best of luck to you on your build.

Thanks..I'm only 12 miles from the city centre. I spent some time as a tour guide with an Irish tour company. Where did you visit?

We went to Trinity College, Guiness, walked through the cathedral district and did a little shopping.

I loved the library at Trinity College.

[3nero]

Welcome. I happen to be in Dublin on a tour today and will be leaving in the morning. Best of luck to you on your build.

Thanks..I'm only 12 miles from the city centre. I spent some time as a tour guide with an Irish tour company. Where did you visit?

We went to Trinity College, Guiness, walked through the cathedral district and did a little shopping.

I loved the library at Trinity College.

Yeap...been there done that...tons of times. It's not so much fun the 500th time around LOL.
But i do like the free pint in the sky bar in Guinness

My normal job is as a model maker and we built all the models in the Guinness tour so i'm sure you've seen some of them.

[3nero]

well here's a sneek preview of the design so far. BTW i'm a pencil and paper sort of guy so no CADup type sketches going on here.
hoping to do a basic 8x4 trailer.








the rear end is based on the already bought tent trailer galley which i may have to cut up to fit in depending on the size chassis i manage to get (not a welder). Once i get a chassis i'll be starting a build thread to keep me motivated.

[donal94]

Looks good looking forward to seeing pictures of your chassis, my local builders providers does 1" aero board, I checked on Saturday, it's €30 plus some for a bale, not entirely sure what coverage was in a bale