Hello from Owensboro,Ky

[Lonewolf42301]

I'm a newbie here and will be layin low reading a lot for a while. What i am interested in ismreading about whats been built close to what i'm looking to build and see what they ran into. Maybe i can prevent some mistakes along the way... I want to build a very light weight aerodynamic teardrop to pull behind a Motorcycle that can sleep 2... And have decided to build it completely out of aluminum. I want capability to be able to pull off road and sleep overnight with very minimal setup but be able to haul what i need to camp for a week at a time without running to get too many supplies... As far as skills, i have done bodywork(welding, painting,frame,sheetmetal and some mechanical) since i was 15yrs old. Plus a lot of woodworking skills too.. so i think i have capabilities to do it.... So if anyone else has done something like this, i would truely love to hear about your experiences... also want to hear from those who live extended stays in teardrops and what you found that you needed and overlooked....

[Mary C]

Welcome Lonewolf from Owensboro, KY, I do see you have lots of questions , Have you thought about making yours out of Foam a couple of guys talked about building a foamie for a motorcycle to keep down the weight it was on the thrifty thread, just look for the pictures of the big trailer behind the motorcycle. I think the one is really fiberglass over foam but you will get the Idea. It was a big one for the size but didn't weigh a lot. The whole thing is he was living in it for an extended length of time. I believe the man made it so he could have 2 places to sleep for a partner and from what I can remember it was a lift up. The Top fit over the bottom and he just lifted it up and it made into a 6 ft high and 8ft long trailer. Sorry I cant tell you exactally where I saw it but you can ask in the foamie section and I am sure someone will be glad to help.

Mary C.

[bc toys]

welcome to this great site hope you enjoy it

[Lonewolf42301]

Welcome Lonewolf from Owensboro, KY, I do see you have lots of questions , Have you thought about making yours out of Foam a couple of guys talked about building a foamie for a motorcycle to keep down the weight it was on the thrifty thread, just look for the pictures of the big trailer behind the motorcycle. I think the one is really fiberglass over foam but you will get the Idea. It was a big one for the size but didn't weigh a lot. The whole thing is he was living in it for an extended length of time. I believe the man made it so he could have 2 places to sleep for a partner and from what I can remember it was a lift up. The Top fit over the bottom and he just lifted it up and it made into a 6 ft high and 8ft long trailer. Sorry I cant tell you exactally where I saw it but you can ask in the foamie section and I am sure someone will be glad to help.

Mary C.

Been reading a lot on here as I cant do any thing else( home from work right now with broken rt forarm) I do hane a couple questions about foamies tho.... First, has anyone hade one a few years? I'm wondering how they hold up to the roads bumps and vibrations? wont the foam deteriorate with age?

[Lonewolf42301]

I Just dove right into what im looking for and didn't really introduce myself..... Soooooo....
the name is Steve here, a 54yr old from Owensboro, ky. I'm a motorcycle rider when time allows and we love to travel and camp when we can ( this years big trip for us was a 5500 mile round trip to Idaho, Yellowstone and Sturgis then back home)....We are just getting too old to do it in a tent and sleep on the ground any more. When touring, We tow a heavy trailer with cook stoves(2), grille topper, canopy, a heavy3 1/2 season tent, folding aluminum tables and chairs and all supporting gear.... well, you get the drift....Anyways, that's why i'm looking at building a light-weight setup to be able to sleep in, with very little camp set-up time involved( something that we can pull off road and sleep overnight when traveling). I have looked at the pop-up campers but really don't want to go that route as the offer little storage for extras needed. and really want to get away from a tent, reguardless if its on ground or on wheels. The teardrop designs look very inviting to me and someone on here pointed me towards a site that showed what a guy in Sweden is doing and it looks too good to be true!! but exactly what I want.... the site is: http://www.goldbrand.info/index.html
A couple weeks ago, I broke my right arm cutting a very large tree that a storm took down in neighbors yard and drive so I am laid up and reading to pass the time. So, I've spent many hours on here reading since I have joined up! This sure has gotten my mind going and hopefully I will be able to start a build later this winter. I have a background is in bodyshop repairs and painting with mechanical experience and also have some woodworking experience to.I Have most of the tools needed(welders,saws,sanders ect) and access to most I don't have. So which ever route I take, i'm sure I can get it done in time. What I am lacking in is the knowledge (and experience in these design concepts and materials ) that everyone on here possess.
Thanks to all who have said hello or offered advice already and look forward to getting to know all of you here either in print or at a meet somewhere in the future.... Till then, safe travels to all of you....

[pjo129]

LoneWolf, Welcome from across the river in Newburgh. From what I've read a foamie would hold up just fine. Once the canvas is painted on, it locks everything down solid as a rock. I think it would be a perfect application for motorcycle.