Inspiration

[doug hodder]

Booyah...don't get down. It won't get done unless you go and do it. These projects are a great item to develop your "follow through" determination. I'm on my 7th build and you just need to visualize the final project and just go out and do something towards that goal, whether it be a big deal or not. Self motivation is a tough one to make happen at times. Life does get in the way.

The forum has changed over the years. I've been here over 10 and the "forum action" isn't as heavy as it used to be. For me, a lot of the people that I used to use as encouragement have left the forum, or aren't posting as much. For me, the encouragement from the other members was a great motivator to get a project done.

As a fellow builder, I can guarantee you that once you finish your trailer and finally drag it out camping, the attention your project will garner will all make it all worth while. There is nothing more gratifying than pulling into a gas station and have others come up and ask you questions on it. You'll blow them away with the "I built it" statement. Typically no one ever wants a tour of a high dollar RV when out in a campground, but everyone will want to check out a cute little tear. Keep up the good work....just see it finished and work towards that goal....amaze your friends, and make those that think you can't do it, eat crow. Take care. Doug

[noseoil]

Small sips! If you do just one thing every day, it has to get finished. I'm plenty motivated to finish my build, but environmental concerns (110 degree heat) are draining me every time I do something in the heat. When it's too hot to work, I make a "punch-list" with a small circle next to an activity for the next thing. Once the activity is complete, I fill in the circle and start looking at the next one. I decided to not be in a big hurry & still have a year to go before I "need" to be finished. Nothing more frustrating than setting a timeline goal on something you've never done before, then worrying about it.

[jss06]

Just work through it. It took me 5 years to finish mine. I used camping trips to help me finish each goal. I finished the basic trailer first. Then built out the basic rear galley. Then finished out the galley. Then I started working on the inside. Last week I finally finished the interior. Happy it is all done. But I have enjoyed using the trailer since I completed the basic shell.

[S. Heisley]

It is very rare, to finish a build in 18 or even 30 days. Most of us work in our spare time...and our spare mood. Also, often, we are working alone. A calendar year or two of occasional building is not at all unusual.
Right now, you're into the "bones and flesh" (spars and insulation) and you've committed yourself to doing this. Once you start getting into more of the detail and "skin", you may get a little more excited and it may come easier. Of course, they say the devil is in the details....

[Mary C]

booyah, into my second year of my build I parked it in the barn and kept telling myself I would make time, then in the spring I got it out and saw it in the sunshine. I had a big mess of blackmold. I had put off putting the second coat of paint ant it really turned into a night mare. i spent 8 weeks and with my brothers help, re built and cleaned up the mildew. I find that I will work on it some way some how every week if it is only to change my drinking water. Take a short breakput it off do something else but don't put it off for long. you can do this!!!

Mary C.

[booyah]

Thanks everyone, getting past the funk, I spent a good bit of time this weekend on it and will update the build journal later today.

Got the outside skinned, the front half trimmed, and built the frame for the hatch. Havent skinned that yet, but getting there hopefully tonight.

[Nobody]

Started my TD in May 2006. 'Maiden voyage' trip was Sep '06 to southern Illinois. Exterior was virtually finished ('cept for rear bumper, fenders, & tongue box) but the only thing in the galley was a counter/shelf & no cabinets in the sleeping cabin. We also attended LCG I gathering in Oct '06 with little more work done. Finished up the galley & interior that winter & it has remained basically unchanged through more'n 25K miles & 8yrs... If it's weather tight & 'campable' you're golden!

1st camp-out at Pine Hills NF C/G, Wolf Lake, IL


Camped at Buffalo Bill SP, Cody, WY last year after Walk the Winds Gathering

[aggie79]

Started my TD in May 2006. 'Maiden voyage' trip was Sep '06 to southern Illinois. Exterior was virtually finished ('cept for rear bumper, fenders, & tongue box) but the only thing in the galley was a counter/shelf & no cabinets in the sleeping cabin. We also attended LCG I gathering in Oct '06 with little more work done. Finished up the galley & interior that winter & it has remained basically unchanged through more'n 25K miles & 8yrs... If it's weather tight & 'campable' you're golden!

Our experience is similar to Harvey's. For the first two years of our teardrop construction, we attended gatherings with tents and gear. At around the third year, the teardrop was weather tight, but had not electrical (other than running lights), no galley, and no interior cabinets. This didn't stop us from camping. About year four into the build, our teardrop was at 90-95% complete. Three years later, we've camped several times but I have never finished the last 5-10%.

[Ron Dickey]

How are you doing have we helped. .....

I to am doing a build and at times it sits other things get in the way.

But one day I was talking to a co-worker who said he had a friend who was building a house he did not have a lot of time to give it so he did 15 min. builds.

I do this with mine and have moved along got some more pictures posted and even found some things I did wrong and need to fix but the 15 min workout is working for me with a goal of IRG nex July. My car may break down by then but the trailer will be ready to camp in.

Set a goal sometimes it help and if you miss it set a new one a birthday, a fishing trip, a Gathering. And if you miss it go anyway take a tent and take a rest. And when you come back go back at it.

Is there any one near you that has finished or is working on a trailer too. Talk to them work with them. Steve B. from the next town over helped me put my walls up. he helped me build my doors of my last trailer. So another idea is find a friend to help.

I know you can do it. and send us some pictures.
Ron

[booyah]

Definitly working on it...

Cleaning up the shop helped the most... but it still feels like two steps forward to see the next 10 you need to go...

Latest pics and updates are here
www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63145&start=30

And I've also trimmed up the skin since then. I planned on pulling a bunch of staples last night, and skinning the hatch, but didn't do that as there were tornado warnings in surrounding counties, so I stayed up with the TV on in case they hit my area to wake the family and head downstairs.

[booyah]

Actually, now that I think about it, getting other folks to talk to helped the most.

Really I just want to get out and use this!

I'm not a person who cares much about what he has, but about what he can DO with it. Having a teardrop only matters to me because of the adventures I can take it on

[bobhenry]

Just work through it. It took me 5 years to finish mine.

WHAT ? You can actually get them FINISHED




I have been working on Chubby since 08 and the barn since 10. Is it true that I may some day get them complete

[booyah]

new updates in the build journal

getting there

20150625_194332.jpg (121.38 KiB) Viewed 483 times

[lrrowe]

I think another way to think of inspiration is to compare it to walking or running as an exercise. With me, if I am off my pace and sit too long on the couch, I can always find an excuse not to get up and go walking. So the first 2, 3 or 4 times to get moving again, it is nothing more then forcing me to get up and get out. The same I find holds true for me with projects like my CT.

But just 2 weeks ago, I did force myself to get out and start walking again. Now I find it a "must" that I get out and walk 2, 3 or 5 mi each day. It is raining now and I am waiting for a break in the sky so I can get out. It is like an andrendrin or endorphin high.

At this same time I started my walking exercise again, I started working on my CT. It is the same with it. I must do something on it each day or I feel empty as if I am wasting my day. It feeds on itself.

Now I will admit my back problem feels better thanks to pain pills and other things, so that assists in the wanting to go out and do something.

(but a weired thing happened to my back the other week. I fell off my ladder while working on the CT and landed on my back right where my previous surgery was. Then I fell the following week at my door and landed on the same area. It is weird, but my back actually feels better. Is that possible? I am wanting to believe they are related.) (That better feeling also seems to give me more "Inspiration".)