Howdy from cool Arizona

[vrman369]

And if you believe that, then you have never visited Arizona in the summer! We are Frank and Joani. We are looking at retiring in the foreseeable future. A couple of weeks ago we went to a dealer, saw a teardrop and got the bug. We soon decided that we needed to build to obtain the features that we are looking for:

Ten 15 - 45 days trips over the next ten years.
An average travel 1650 miles to center (min 675 miles, max 2750 miles), travel 150 mile radius around that center, then return average of 1650 miles
Since we llive near Phoenix, but will soon have time to see the deserts during the winter
Joani’s first (and last) tenting experience in Yellowstone in June (on the ground in 35 degrees)
Joani wants to go back to Yellowstone
During the trip we will stay on average at motel once a week
No off-road travel
We would rather see national forests rather than big cities
The trailer needs to require minimal maintenance
Unlike some in this group, we will only build one trailer
We will use a 2006 Honda Civic to tow the trailer
The trailer must be lite weight
The trailer must fit in our garage
The trailer must be low cost
The 4 x 8 trailer must be easy to build
The trailer will originally have 12 v wiring
A galley is a must
2 doors are a must
We are neither cabinet makers nor carpenters
Frank’s druthers: 4 X 8 weekender, foamie or sandwich, skinned with canvas and paint, 6 inch mattress, room for AC, heater and 110 volts later
Joani's druthers: Do I get to talk now???? LOL...I did like the tent camping, but 35 was cold!! and then there is the bears!! I worried about becoming a vinyl wrapped human burrito!! I love the idea of the teardrop/weekender, with a cute galley. I want it to be simple to build, easy to pull, and fun to camp in and nothing that will end our marriage during the build!

We are looking for guidance to build it right, using the best simple but sound techniques that will best meet our above needs.

[tony.latham]

I remember waking one morning with my wife. There was a noise that sounded like we had a mouse in our teardrop. Was that even possible? It was a light crunching or grinding. As I stirred, I realized that we were parked in the Mammoth campground in Yellowstone. Listening to the sound, I decided it was coming from outside our 'drop. Easing up, the sunflower-colored rump of an elk stared back through the window. She was almost touching our teardrop, munching on the first greens of spring.

Welcome.



I'd suggest you consider getting a copy of Steve Fredrick's Teardrop Building Manual. Google around on the forum. I was lucky I stumbled on it before I started making sawdust.

Tony

[vrman369]

lol...beautiful animals!!! We once went to the Grand Canyon and had a mule deer poke her entire head into the car. I was talking to Frank at the time, smelled something odd and the look on his face was priceless!! I turned to look at what he was staring at and there she was, her whole head IN the car. I don't know who was more shocked...the mule deer or me!! She backed up and the whole bunch took off like I had was about to bite them!! We have had some fun in our travels with the wildlife! Some day I'll tell you the story of the buffalo who walked right up to our car!
Thanks for the tip about the manual..I go hunt it down! Our big concern re the teardrop is the roof and how to make it out of something that curves....at least that is my concern!

[tony.latham]

Our big concern re the teardrop is the roof and how to make it out of something that curves....

The traditional curves of a teardrop are easily constructed. Good quality 1/8" plywood wants to bend.



Tony

p.s. We had a 4-wide teardrop for many years. We now have a 5-wide. Unless you two are built like marathoners, I'd suggest you consider a 5-wide.

[bc toys]

There is a gathering coming up at Parker Az at Buckskin State Park there will be many tear drops there
if you want great ideals and see some of the best craftsmanship in the world. You might come on over and check
them out on Saturday and bring a plate for the pot luck dinner. Oh ya it is the weekend of Dec.3rd

[vrman369]

That sounds like a winner!! Marked the day on the calendar already!!! By the way, that buffalo in our photo was in Yellowstone. He was on the side of the road on a slight little hill, he stumbled down to the road, shook himself off and turned right toward us...we just stopped the car, and he ambled just down the road. He got right up to the car, and I am sure he had to hear me saying oh S--- over and over....he got within two feet of the car, stopped as though he had just seen us, and honestly looked shocked to see us! He just went right around us, brushing the rear view mirror on the side of the car. We just looked at each other and took a breath and said, well okay!!

[vrman369]

Well I guess this is getting real! Frank just bought the HF 1720 and has his sights set on the finished deal. He is definitely interested in the foam constructions with the canvas/paint shell. I on the other hand, have some serious doubts about construction with that stuff. What holds it together, is it sturdy, how do you screw it all together????? I don't want to pull into the campground to find that my camper consists of a trailer and a floor...the rest of it strewn about the countryside cause it was all glued together....I am open to the idea though....

Frank is following Mike's plans at the moment....and I see that Mike's wife in the beginning had her doubts also....anyone have some words of wisdom for this doubting wife? How long have you had your foamie? How far have you gone with it? Where do you store it? Will it hold up to miles of traveling? the doubt list is endless, but I am willing....I think.....

[CharlieL]

go over to Foamies section and look at several of the ones alreadyuilt. One was in a wreck. very slight damage and NONE has, of yey imploded, exploded or otherwise disintegrated as it travels down the highway LOL Charlie

[noseoil]

Welcome from Tucson, the "Baked Apple"

[Lucy25]

lol...beautiful animals!!! We once went to the Grand Canyon and had a mule deer poke her entire head into the car. I was talking to Frank at the time, smelled something odd and the look on his face was priceless!! I turned to look at what he was staring at and there she was, her whole head IN the car. I don't know who was more shocked...the mule deer or me!! She backed up and the whole bunch took off like I had was about to bite them!! We have had some fun in our travels with the wildlife! Some day I'll tell you the story of the buffalo who walked right up to our car!
Thanks for the tip about the manual..I go hunt it down! Our big concern re the teardrop is the roof and how to make it out of something that curves....at least that is my concern!

I just finished my build here in Arizona. "Timber" is a great wood supplier located in mesa. They have the 1/8 baltic birch. It bends beautifully and is very strong. Let me know if you need any tips sourcing items here in AZ. I am located in Mesa and found most of my supplies locally. I mention a few places in my video tour. https://youtu.be/us8o8eNV9To Good luck!

[Mary C]

Welcome. I did read your post and would like you to consider a Foamie, Never worked in Foam? well let me tell you what tools you will need, professional plastic scraper, I made one from a plastic plate, a knife, the debate is still going on as to what type and what one works the best but a jig saw works great and so does a turkey carving electric knife. I used a small paint pan and foam roller 4 inch for the glue. You can use it for gluing on the canvas. Sand paper, lots of sandpaper and ruler, measure 3 times and then go back and write it down, so paper and pencil. See I am 65 and built mine by my self. I am not a cabnet maker either but I had lots of fun!!! Will look for you when I go on my Big Out West trip. and oh did i mention I am a widow and had very little help.

Mary C.

[vrman369]

hello all and sorry for being so absent! Work has been crazy!!! Well we are pretty much into this. We've decided on a foamie, mostly because of the weight factor. We live in an area with HOA's and they don't allow trailers on properties, and we don't want to store it, so garage is it. Also we don't have a truck and don't necessarily want to buy one initially, so we will tow it with the Honda. All of you have convinced me that this can be done, especially Mary C....built one herself??? Now that is quite a woman!!! LOL...I built a cake once!! Alright, and a table, a couple of homecoming floats, and a footstool. But measuring is not my forte'.
We had to go to Albuquerque to get the foam! Up and back in two days, AND fit the hot air balloon festival in as well...from the sidelines. We didn't quite get the gist of having to get up at 3 in the morning to be able to get the bus! I thought 4:00 was good enough....wrong!! But the parking lot by Home Depot gave us the perfect panorama view!!! Next year maybe with our Foamie!!!

The trailer is built, and I guess my next job will be to paint it black so it doesn't stand out so much...thanks to those who gave us that suggestion. We didn't realize that the foam would have scoring lines for some reason, so we are trying to figure a way to strengthen them...I thought drywall taping, Frank thinks gorilla glue forced into the score lines with a meat injector....anyone have a better idea????? As it is now, I will have foam alllllll over the house as it is supposed to rain today and Frank wants to try the glue...guess it can't hurt!

[vrman369]

I just finished my build here in Arizona. "Timber" is a great wood supplier located in mesa. They have the 1/8 baltic birch. It bends beautifully and is very strong. Let me know if you need any tips sourcing items here in AZ. I am located in Mesa and found most of my supplies locally. I mention a few places in my video tour. https://youtu.be/us8o8eNV9To Good luck!

Thanks for the hint!! We'll take a look at that...we decided to build a foamie so we could tow with our Honda. Afraid the wood was going to be too much for our older car. I LOVED the interior of the galley and the sleeping "nook"....it looked like real rock, was it something we used to call z-brick? We used a similar product around our fileplace but it seems as though that would be too heavy. What salvage yard did you go to for the windows and doors?

Your teardrop is just wonderful! I hope ours works out as well, although we are building a "weekender" not the traditional teardrop. The exterior paint on yours was amazing! I'm thinking the sanding was the trick....

Thanks for giving us such good ideas!

Joani

[Lucy25]

I just finished my build here in Arizona. "Timber" is a great wood supplier located in mesa. They have the 1/8 baltic birch. It bends beautifully and is very strong. Let me know if you need any tips sourcing items here in AZ. I am located in Mesa and found most of my supplies locally. I mention a few places in my video tour. https://youtu.be/us8o8eNV9To Good luck!

Thanks for the hint!! We'll take a look at that...we decided to build a foamie so we could tow with our Honda. Afraid the wood was going to be too much for our older car. I LOVED the interior of the galley and the sleeping "nook"....it looked like real rock, was it something we used to call z-brick? We used a similar product around our fileplace but it seems as though that would be too heavy. What salvage yard did you go to for the windows and doors?

Your teardrop is just wonderful! I hope ours works out as well, although we are building a "weekender" not the traditional teardrop. The exterior paint on yours was amazing! I'm thinking the sanding was the trick....

Thanks for giving us such good ideas!

Joani

The stone look is actually really cool wall paper from Lowes. It looks 3d when when you are standing right next to it.
Here is the link for the salvage yardhttp://azrvsalvage.com/
Good luck with your build!!