New guy from Northern California

[hafley]

Hi everyone.

I learned about teardrop trailers about 2 weeks ago. I've been looking and planning.

So far this is what I have. I plan to pick up materials and start building in a few days.

[hafley]

Starting my design. Trying to keep the golden ratio in mind.

[hafley]

I'm going to use 3/4 thick plywood, so I'm going to to need to cut out a bunch of of the free space out so I can keep the weight down.

[hafley]

I guess I'm going to keep some notes here until I start my build and corresponding build journal.

Looking at http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-3-4-in-x-4-ft-x-8ft-PureBond-Birch-FSC-332941/202887466 $47.97 / each

Columbia Forest Products North American grown formaldehyde-free PureBond 3/4" birch plywood. I debated on wall thickness for a while but I think with cutting out so many holes in the wall for insulation that weight won't matter so a thicker wall I'd imagine is easier to wire and build.

http://www.columbiaforestproducts.com/PureBond

[bc toys]

welcome to this great site hope you fine the info you need looks like you have a great start you have a ideal and a dream thats more then some have {like me}

[working on it]

Starting my design. Trying to keep the golden ratio in mind.

1.618 I see in your drawing that you note "standard 4x8 ply". Have you figured out that the golden ratio for the wheel centerline in a 4x8 is roughly at 61.875" front/38.1875" rear? Very close to the "magic" trailer balance ratio of 60/40. Coincidence? I considered building on the "golden" plan, but also wanted to follow the "rule of thirds" for dynamic impact on the outline. My abilities to do so, in either case, were hampered by my own rule of "function first, over form". Since my decision to build angular shapes (for ease of build, and material choices), instead of curved, pretty much eliminated the Fibonacci "snail" shell curves at front or back, I leaned more toward the rule of thirds; this was followed (to some extent). It was difficult to get items or materials to match those proportions, without extensive modifications, so in the end, function triumphed over form. I did try for some hidden adherence to the "golden"/"magic" balance ratio from the start, as I always intended to travel with major weight items in the nose, thus affecting the overall balance (unseen). The outward appearance doesn't reflect the internal. However, that will change soon. I'm adding a larger tonguebox, and moving more items forward (still hidden), thus the sideview will be more conventional/golden/magic. If you can achieve the "golden" ratio throughout your build, in and out, with materials and items not all modified to fit, then that's the mold that I had wished to follow, but could not. I will watch your build with great interest! Good luck!