another first time teardrop builder (update 4/10/18)

[clamlamp]

Have you considered poor man's fiberglass?

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[paintm4u]

Wow your build is very much like mine. I followed the same path you did and I love my trailer, its just a little longer than yours but surprisingly similar in build and shape.
I'll see if I can figure out how to post pics without Photobucket and let you see mine. I built my own frame also.
click pic to enlarge
figured it out....Since the pics were taken I've cut the bottom off those long fenders and added a roof rack, then changed out the center mounted tongue jack for swing away one, just about drug the center mount off. Its a 5x9 box with a tongue box about 16". The frame box size is 5x10 with 15" wheels, I also put passenger radial tires on it and it works alot better than the trailer tires from China that self destruct at highway speeds. Good luck on your build.

[Jeremy757]

Have you considered poor man's fiberglass?

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I have not. Will you explain?

[Jeremy757]

Wow your build is very much like mine. I followed the same path you did and I love my trailer, its just a little longer than yours but surprisingly similar in build and shape.
I'll see if I can figure out how to post pics without Photobucket and let you see mine. I built my own frame also.
click pic to enlarge
figured it out....Since the pics were taken I've cut the bottom off those long fenders and added a roof rack, then changed out the center mounted tongue jack for swing away one, just about drug the center mount off. Its a 5x9 box with a tongue box about 16". The frame box size is 5x10 with 15" wheels, I also put passenger radial tires on it and it works alot better than the trailer tires from China that self destruct at highway speeds. Good luck on your build.

Wow yours looks great! What would you say your trailer weight and tongue weight is? How does your jeep do pulling it?

[paintm4u]

Fully loaded it weighs around 1300# and the jeep does OK pulling it but mine is the 2011 with the anemic 3.8 engine. If yours is a newer model with the 3.6 it probably will do much better. You know I never did a tongue weight test so I don't know what it is. I think I'll do a weight on soon and see, I know it's pretty heavy because the tongue jack wasn't fully latched when i unhitched it last summer and it went to the ground. I had to use the winch to pick it up to get the jack back in position so it's pretty heavy. I have the tongue box and the batteries are in there and all my emergency gear and a few other items with some weight to them but it pulls great, no wiggle or any problems. The Jeep has a 3" lift on it and pretty strong springs so I get almost no drop when I hitch it up. I rushed my build so I could use it that year to go fishing in Colo. so I completed it in 6 weeks, of course I'm retired so I worked full time on it. I think I may build another one, maybe next winter and take my time and put a few more amenities in it. Keep us posted on yours and good luck on the build.

[Jeremy757]

So I have been trying to figure out how I’m going to wire this thing up.

I have an a/c unit that will take 120v

Interior lighting and fan will be 12v

I Will be doing mostly primitive camping but I will have a 2000 watt Honda inverter generator.

120v shore power in -to a dedicated 120v outlet for a/c -to a 12v converter charger panel to battery and a inverter for misc outlets for tv and coffee maker.

Does this make sense?

[clamlamp]

Have you considered poor man's fiberglass?

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I have not. Will you explain?

Pmf is canvas dipped in wood glue then layed on wood like fiberglass. Primer then use 3 layers of exterior paint. I'm planning on doing that for my TD later.

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[Jeremy757]

What did you guys use for your interior ceiling or headliner? I attempted to use a piece of 1/4 luan but it kicked my ass.
Help me please

[jsnbergman]

What did you guys use for your interior ceiling or headliner? I attempted to use a piece of 1/4 luan but it kicked my ass.
Help me please

I used 1/8 baltic birch, 5x5 panels from a local millwork. Still isnt easy and it only bends one way.

[Jeremy757]

Ok.... so I was trying to use 1/4 inch luan for my headliner and I broke 2 sheets in half trying to bend it. I wanted to make the headliner seamless but I gave up and now I have seams. Oh well. I wet the luan and bent it with the grain and it kinda worked out.

[Jeremy757]

I wish I would have got more work done to this thing over the holidays but it didn't happen.

I did get couple free windows from a fellow TNTTT member I found in the for sale section. Big thanks to tac422.


the window is 1 1/2" thick and my walls are 3/4" so I made a piece of trim to fill the gap nice and snug


here is the door, roof vent, and window


I started cutting out and installing my receptacle boxes.




I plan on installing the receptacles with USB ports in them.

I also ordered a convertor charger panel but won't have it for another week more so.

[tac422]

I did get couple free windows from a fellow TNTTT member I found in the for sale section. Big thanks to tac422.

Looks great ! Glad you were able to use it !


The Big Pink

[Jeremy757]

Its been a while since I have updated my build but some progress has been made.

I got some work done on the interior cabinets


I figured out how I was going to power this thing and started the wiring

I got some LED lights for the interior that are controlled by a dimmer



the converter panel got wired and installed




installed a 12v outlet/ USB charger with a voltage meter



I finally got a door



That is how she is sitting right now. I'm waiting to get my power inverter and then I'm going to insulate the roof and cover it.

[jsnbergman]

Glad your still rollin

[davidAndshannon]

Did you use PMF or Poor man's Fiberglass on your roof? If so, do you have any photos of implementing the process?