Hello From Salmon Arm, BC!

[MarkusMasonis]

Hello everyone -- what a great place to learn and get inspiration. Looking forward to picking all your brains.

Waiting for a custom frame to find its way out of the shop at the moment (we need trailer VINs here in BC, and it was touch to find a used frame in the size I wanted) and I've been getting lots of time to do some planning, designing, and most importantly, sourcing and buying materials! I'll be well-prepped by the time the frame is here! In truth, I've been picking away at prep work for some time now, and I might even start cutting out the walls before I get the frame.

Here's a blog with progress thus far: http://thundereggcamping.blogspot.ca/. Here also is a live spreadsheet where I'm keeping track of every nut and bolt and buy and where I get it from: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YBb4Rc9EdNqsbuADwB5AP1JDv5M9umdptNvtWs66enA/edit?usp=sharing. Could be informative for new builders in the future.

I'm excited to start this thing!

[Vedette]

Welcome to the Forum from a fellow B.C. Teardropper.
We have a fast growing Chapter of the Tear Jerkers here in B.C. of which I am the Chapter Director.
We held our first Gathering this past Summer in Westbank B.C.
We would love to have you on board.
As for Vin #'s for TD trailers?.........Who told you that????
They are not required!!
Under 2500 lbs you are in & out of the Insurance office with your trailer plate and insurance in hand in under 5 minutes.
Please PM me if you need any further information.

[Vedette]

Just a PS to my response to your first post.
The Chassis for Miss Piggy (my TD pictured in this post) took two of us 1 hour and 10 min. to build in my shop!
And like I said less than 5 minutes to register, licence, and insure, once it was finished.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[MarkusMasonis]

Fair comment, >1400kg at any rate. Still tough to find a used trailer that worked. TD gathering sound fun -- possibly in 2016! I will likely be still building this coming summer.

[Vedette]

I have a 7' Bonair Tent trailer that would provide a great start for a teardrop. $200.00 takes it away c/w trailer wheels, springs, hitch, stove, furnace, tank mount, lights, sink, ......everything.
Or just use it as a Pop up Tent trailer if you want.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Vedette]

Are you planning a Teardrop or a Standie?
What types of suspension have you researched?
Brian

[MarkusMasonis]

Thanks, but I have a specific size I'm interested in. Already ordered and getting built.

It'll be a teardrop. Fairly standard, 5 x 10.

[Vedette]

Sounds Great!
5x10 is the perfect size.
Can't wait to see some pictures once you get underway.
I too have just started a new build "Kermit" (my second TD) and it will be nice to have someone close to chat with.
One of our Chapter members is a pro builder in Coldstream.
Remember there is so much information here to assist you with your planning and purchasing.
Just ask and ye shall receive.
ebay is your friend when it comes to shore line receivers, shore lines, converters, clearance lights etc.
Less than 1/2 of the price you will pay from RV Dealers here in Canada.
And whether or not your TD is finished we would love for you to join us for our Farm Gathering in July.
You are not going to believe how wonderful the people are in the Teardrop community.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[MarkusMasonis]

Yeah, thanks! And I notice that Amazon Canada is a good source now also. Though anything I can get locally, I do.

The great thing about the 3 month lead time with the frame build is that I was able to get most things sourced and purchased and a lot of planning and prep done. That's the part I find tedious with any project. I've got about 80% of that taken care of, which is nice.

My blog has some pics, but nothing is really "shaped" yet. I plan to start cutting some templates and possibly walls this weekend.

Looking forward to chatting! I hope Kermit and Piggy will be very happy together, though they may have to go on separate vacations.

Mark

[Vedette]

Hi Mark
Just read your blog.
Have you bought your converter or shore line receptacle yet?
Brian

[MarkusMasonis]

I haven't bought the shore line receptacle yet. I've got most of the other electrical components already, including a tender / charger. Decided to go the trickle charge route for simplicity. There aren't many electrical components at all, and I think it'll easily make it through a weekend on the battery alone. Plus, we don't often camp in sites with electrical.

[Vedette]

Hi Mark
On my first build I bought a Marinco Park Power 30 Amp receptacle model # 304RV-0-9
Love it so much....I just bought a second one for my current build on ebay (same price as 2 years ago).
We did not really know how much we would use shoreline power while camping as we were tent campers that never used "Electrical Sites" but I wanted to install everything we "might" need, rather than having to add it after our build was completed.
Now that we have TD camped for two seasons, we realized how important power is to our TD.
So much so, that we have just purchased a portable Solar Charging system for those times we are at Gatherings or just camping where power is not available.
And yes your battery will stay charged over a weekend if you don't have a "power user" like a fridge??
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[MarkusMasonis]

Yeah, no fridge or heater or anything. Trying to keep weight and complexity to a minimum. Just cabin and hatch lights (all LED), a venting fan, and 12V / USB outlets for people who MUST charge something. There are 110V plugs also ... thinking of the "guest room" use when it's parked at home. Plugging in will charge the battery slowly but won't immediately flash up the electrical system. I have a guy looking into prices for the power inlet. I won't need it for quite awhile -- I'll need the size of it when I build the electrical raceway, but it will be one of the last things to get actually installed after finishing.

Solar is a great idea. The battery is readily accessible and I'm leaving clamp room to add something later. It could all get stored in the tongue box. Just the basics for now.

Looks like you're doing automotive finishes, I guess? Do you use a full spray booth finish route, or something more basic? Looks like you have a background in auto finishing. I'll be going the plywood route, and I'm looking for a durable, reasonably priced finish I can do in my garage. It's last thing I haven't really worked out. That's fine I guess, because it'll be many, many months before I'm ready!

Mark

[Vedette]

Hi Mark
Yeah, I am not good with wood??
And yes! I have been building cars for over 47 years, and I own a Street Rod & Restoration Business.
I have access to everything (including a $110,000.00 spray booth) to build anything! As long as it is not wood?
So building Teardrops out of cars is right up my alley.......But, I joined the Forum three years ago to do research on the technical stuff I would need for my build. There is so much knowledge here it is amazing.
The advice and recommendations from members here helped make my first build a joy to tow, and camp in, without having to do anything twice or add anything later. Not to mention how much money I was able to save!!
Good Luck with the rest of your build.
Hope you get to camp in it sooner than later.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi