What is FIRST!

[donnan]

I have my trailer just about assembled and am wondering what should be the next step.

Should I create a template for the curves in my build?

Where would you go next?

Paul

[Roo Dog]

Paul,

We were very professional and used the back patio and some chalk to get the profile we wanted.
This was done before we made the chassis.
I do not think there are too many dramas in building a Tear.
Good fun and a modicum of common sense is what they are all about.
Take your time and enjoy the process.

Take it easy.

RD

[PaulC]

Paul, download the free plans that Mike has supplied. The generic Benroy plans should be found inside the design resources link at the top of this page. The sequence of events is laid out very nicely there.
Cheers
Paul

[webbaldo]

projector against a bit of 8x4 ply works well for a template

just bring the template you like up on screen and adjust accordingly

[Oldragbaggers]

I bought a $10 sheet of luan underlayment and did my profile on that first. It was really helpful because I was able to stand it up on the teardrop and really get the full effect of what the walls would look like. As a result I modified my front curve and decided I didn't like the look of the original door opening I cut. Something that looks fine on the floor or on paper may not look the same to you once you actually see it in place.

[Todah Tear]

I used an old school overhead projector and a transparency slide to do my profile. This was great because it was easy to draw in doors and such and see the actual size. Then I could take measurements and know if I liked how large/small the features were.

Here's what I did:

1. Put an 8 foot piece of tape horizontally on living room wall.
a. The 8ft piece of tape represented the trailer length.
2. Draw your profile on a transparency slide while it is one the projector.
a. Kinko’s (FedEx) will sell you one or two blank transparency slides or you can get them from an office supply store.
3. Pulled the overhead back away from the wall until the base of the profile covers the 8 ft piece of tape or whatever the length of your trailer is.
4. Draw in your doors, windows, side tables, and such on the transparency
a. This will help with placement of everything).
5. Once everything is as you want it, take a large piece of white cheerleader break-through paper (craft store) or a white canvas or large piece of cardboard and tack or tape it to the wall where the image is projected.
6. Draw the frame and projected profile image onto the paper or material.
7. Use scissor to cut out the drawn image.
8. Now you have a template that can be used several times.

I ended up adding a 1-foot extension to my first tear because my profile was taller than normal.

Todah