Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Wagonofdoom** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:15 am

With winter and dogs involved, I decided it was time to step the game up with the Offroad Subaru. Im not a big fan of the cold, as anyone who knows me is aware of. With having an 80 lb dog who likes to cuddle, it does kind of affect sometimes what I do and where I can go with the RTT. Its still way better than a ground tent, but the other half doesn't like to be cold either. I personally thing winter is amazingly beautiful and don't want to stop while it's here.

By the calculations, based at 150.00 a night (a typical non ****ty hotel) It will take 50 nights to recoup your money on a decent TCTeardrops teardrop camper. Considering it is a long term investment, it really shouldn't be an issue.

Sure I could get a nice canvas tent, and be nice and cozy, but they are heavy, take a while to set up, and I'm just not really game for that. So this is the next best thing. Drive to where you wanna go, drop the trailer, and go wheel. Come on back and its good to go. No setup time, no playing around to get everything set up etc.

Now, this doesn't mean that its' a replacement. For days when its just me out with friends, RTT is the way to go. There is a time and place for everything!

Enough with the jawjackin, more about the awesomeness that is to come with the TCteardrops

I ordered a 5x9 TCTeardrop Model.
Custom-built Frame
Powder-Coated Sides in your choice of stock colors
3/4" Side Walls
Flat Front Storage Platform
2" Coupler and Wheeled Tongue Jack
25 degree 2200 lb torsion axle
Aluminum Diamond Plated Roof
Hurricane Hinge and Spring Supports on Rear Hatch
Two tinted doors with windows and screens
Two tinted windows with screens
Recessed LED Interior Lighting
LED Marker and Tail Lights
12V Dual Port Accessory Outlet in Cabin
Cabinet w/Sunbrella Fabric Doors and Velcro Closure
Insulated Roof with Wood Headliner
Galley shelving, slide-out stove shelf and LED light
Battery Box wired for 12V (Battery not included)
2 All-Weather Passive Side Air Vents
This inserts a queen size bed into the interior (so does the 5x8 though) with a bit extra length and galley depth.
I opted for the ground clearance package to gain some room under the trailer.
I will be running 2015 WRX wheels with 245/65-17 BFG Rugged Terrains (I got a good deal on a set of new ones)
Jeep Fenders
Roof Rack Setup With Yakima Gear
FoxWing Awning
And a few other toys and treats.

But we all know that I never leave anything to sit.

I already ordered the front tool box, a Better Built 60" flush side box. Inside of that box, will be the whole electric setup.
Battery, Charger from shore power, Blue Sea Fuse panel, Kill Switch, and other electrical goodies like a battery and whatever else.

The galley will be modified with a slightly different configuration once I get it in and decide what I need/want. Some drawers and doors will round everything out clean and keep it all in one place. The edgestar fridge will have a home and eventually an AC unit for when Summer comes around for the dog (or at least thats what I claim)

Finally exterior wise, I will be adding some rock rail/guides in front and aft of the wheel, integrated into the frame for protection, winch points, steps and badassery. Also two telescoping poles with an LED light on will be added for campsite illumination.

Eventually I will add a Solar Setup to keep it going for a few more days, but I think its a pretty awesome little trailer IMO.

Contact info:

http://www.tcteardrops.com

Email: [email protected]

Office: 715-573-7247

Mobile: 715-573-7242

by **Wagonofdoom** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:16 am

The excitement is HUGE right now. Todd from TCTeardrops messaged me a few pictures on the progress of the new on the road home for my Subaru Outback. I can't say how ready I am to get this thing.

Progress by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Progress by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

So while it's being laboured away on by the TCTeardrop guys and gals, I am working on the other important part. Providing the energy to power this thing.

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
The parts list so far includes:

Protech 1220 Battery charger
[url="http://amzn.to/1UDSwhg"]Power Guard Battery Box - Battery Box-Group 27[/url]
[url="http://amzn.to/1T3tW8c"]NOCO Genius GCP1 Black 13 Amp 125V AC Port Plug[/url]
[url="http://amzn.to/1T3tXsM"]HELLA H84988001 4-Way Mini Relay Box Kit[/url]
[url="http://amzn.to/1T3u0Fa"]SB 50A Connector #6 Gray[/url]
[url="http://amzn.to/1UDSF4b"]HELLA 007794021 12V 20/40 Amps SPDT Relay x4[/url]
[url="http://amzn.to/1UDSHZX"]Upg D5751 Ub121100 (Group 30H), Sealed Lead Acid Battery[/url]
[url="http://amzn.to/1UDSOVj"]Blue Sea System 6005 Battery Switch Mini On/Off (25103)[/url]
[url="http://amzn.to/1UBUgrl"]Blue Sea Systems ST Blade Fuse Block - 12 Circuits with Negative Bus & Cover[/url]

This pretty much covers the majority of the battery box portion of the tool box, its all about putting it together now!

On off switch and shore power by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
I started by putting the shore power plug on the side of the toolbox, along with the battery cutoff switch. The shore power switch is wired into the battery charger which will keep it nice and topped off. Since all my camera battery chargers and everything is ran off 12v, I don't require the 110v ran in the trailer. In addition, I have a Honda 2000I to run the AC, battery charger if out for a while, or any emergency 110v items (tools etc).

Power Box by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
I tend to be a bit anal when doing wiring projects, so it took a little bit to figure out the locations to have visual pleasing wire runs. I settled on this configuration, as everything will be a relatively short run, enter and exit the box in the rear of it just behind the red battery cutoff switch.

The battery box will reside at the back of the box against the wall, arranged left to right (parallel to the tool box)
I forgot to grab the OEM style crimp connector, so I'm done for the night. The HELLA relay block requires it to crimp the connectors and insert them into the block. Todd and Carol of TCteardops have been amazingly easy to deal with. At my request they are running a number of extra wire lengths so that i can easily wire up everything. There is a 7 wire bundle (14ga) being ran to the galley area to power a 6 switch panel (the 7th is for power to the panel), Fridge wire to the galley (10ga) and a few other key locations so I can add as needed. Overall a VERY great experience so far!

by **Shadow Catcher** » Fri Dec 18, 2015 1:49 pm

Unless you vent the battery box you will need an AGM battery or potentially things can go boom
All of our controls are in the galley along with the converter. solar controllers are on top of the battery.

by **Wagonofdoom** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:19 am

Shadow Catcher wrote:Unless you vent the battery box you will need an AGM battery or potentially things can go boom
All of our controls are in the galley along with the converter. solar controllers are on top of the battery.

Since there will be wire passthroughs to get it out of the box, there is automatically going to be venting built in.

by **Shadow Catcher** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:20 pm

I have two wire entry points and both are more or less sealed against water. The problem is they are some what near the bottom and out gassing hydrogen is lighter than air. There are vented battery boxes.

by **Shadow Catcher** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:22 pm

Ours, with Subaru

by **Wagonofdoom** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:31 pm

Shadow Catcher wrote:I have two wire entry points and both are more or less sealed against water. The problem is they are some what near the bottom and out gassing hydrogen is lighter than air. There are vented battery boxes.

Im not that worried about it. Ive ran similar setups for a long time in other things, without much issue.

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

my subaru

by **Wagonofdoom** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 12:49 pm

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
power wire routing is done finally. waiting on one more connector for negative/ground

by **Wagonofdoom** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:34 pm

Finally got the teardrop delivered by a good friend! Arrived last night

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

This morning i quickly got into it and started
First step was to put my wheels on, but i quickly figured out the bore is too small, so I ordered some wheel spacers to make it all work. Friday!

Then I wired up the trailer lights (interior and hatch) into the fuse block, and stripped the 10 wire bundle so i can work with it. The fridge is now wired in with meter inline.
Next step is to build the galley divider so i can measure for the water tank, then build the rest of the galley, wire in water pump, charger in the rear, and exterior lights among alot of other stuff

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

by **Wagonofdoom** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:47 am

So. FINALLY all done and took it out
The lock and roll hitch is a godsend. im going to put one on my motorcycle trailer. The lack of noise alone makes it worth the investment. its SILENT.

It pulled amazingly. Setup was quick, even with the foxwing i was at around 30 minutes from park to ready to cook.

untitled (35 of 37) by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

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