Monte's Ramblin' Rose 4' x 8' teardrop build

[MonteQuest]

The weather has finally warmed up enough to do the contact cement work and attach the Filon. Here I have installed the Filon on the galley hatch over the FRP panel. The 1/16" FRP panel provides plenty of support for the Filon. It's much easier to work with and bend than plywood. I had to buy 20' of 8' 6" wide Filon to cover my teardrop. The cost was $571.00. When it came, it had a scratch in the gel coat across the entire width. Luckily, I was able to do my layout around the scratch. RecPro refunded me $125.00 on my cost.

[MonteQuest]

I installed the tail lights, lighted license plate, and hurricane hinge. Next comes the side panels. I believe it will be a 3-man job. The margin for error is zero with contact cement.

[steve cowan]

I installed the tail lights, lighted license plate, and hurricane hinge. Next comes the side panels. I believe it will be a 3-man job. The margin for error is zero with contact cement.

Nice "clean" look.

[MonteQuest]

Filon has been installed on the sides and top, along with the fenders, running lights, air vents, portholes, sky lite, roof vent, porch light, AC inlet, 12v outlet, and edge trim. Total weight is now 772 lbs. Tongue weight: 90 lbs. Cost to date $4337.02.

Filon was installed over 1/2" Baltic Birch on the sides, and 1/16" FRP on the top and galley. I used 3M 1357 contact cement. Took 1 gallon. The top was installed over the side panels, making a tight seam.

[MonteQuest]

The door was made by sandwiching 1/2" rigid insulation between 1/2" and 1/4" Baltic Birch. I used 4" wide solid wood on the sides and 2" on the top and bottom. Skinned with 1/16" Filon. I used aluminum countertop edging for the trim on the door inside and out (waiting for a shipment to finish the door trim). I used 1/2" x 1" L aluminum for the body inside trim that the seal fits over in one piece. I saw kerfed the top piece every 6" to easily follow the curve. The door weighs 24 lbs. Total weight to date: 797 lbs. Total cost: $4,532.14

[MonteQuest]

I added the diamond plate gravel guard and welded in a mount for my spare tire. I had waited to see what my tongue weight was going to be. Adding the spare will put me in the ballpark of 10 to 15% of the tow weight estimated to be about 900 lbs with fridge, mattress, stove, etc.

[MonteQuest]

To seal my galley hatch, I used ½” x ½” x 1/16” aluminum L-metal saw kerfed every 2” to allow me to bend it to the curve. The seal fits over the L in one piece. I used 1 ½” x 1/16” flat aluminum stock screwed to the hatch to contact the rubber tube seal. I used two latches at the galley hatch bottom to pull the hatch tight down against the seals.

[steve cowan]

I added the diamond plate gravel guard and welded in a mount for my spare tire. I had waited to see what my tongue weight was going to be. Adding the spare will put me in the ballpark of 10 to 15% of the tow weight.

Have lost a couple of those tire covers mounted on front even though they were on tight.Good luck.

[MonteQuest]

Have lost a couple of those tire covers mounted on front even though they were on tight.Good luck.

This one fits quite snuggly, but thanks for the warning.

[MonteQuest]

The interior has a 4" high-density foam mattress with a 2" topper. The headboard is padded and has reading lights and a USB port.


The foot area sports an 8" storage shelf and a 12-volt heater.


!0" porthole windows with custom screens and cup holders.


The roof has a 12" x 36" skylight and LED lights.

[MonteQuest]

Ramblin’ Rose has been a fun project. I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome at a total cost of about $6,000 and a towing weight of 900 lbs. The cabin is 4 feet wide and 8 feet 4 ½ inches long. The total length is 11 feet with the tongue. Ground clearance is 11 inches. Cabin height is 5 feet 2 inches from the ground. The tongue weight is 110 lbs. The teardrop tows like a dream at 80 mph. On a 1,400-mile maiden trip to Michigan, I got 29 mpg towing it with my 2006 Toyota Solara which gets 30.5 mpg.

[MonteQuest]

The galley hatch has two overhead lights and is supported by gas shocks. The sink has a 2 gal storage tank with an exterior fill.


The 12-volt/110 volt refrigerator/freezer slides out for access.


The propane stove sits on an exterior shelf that folds up and slides under the counter for storage.

[MonteQuest]

On a 3,400-mile trip out West, I got 27 mpg towing through the mountains. Here we are at 9,600 feet. Teardrop has a 2-way, 6-speed roof fan that pulls fresh air into the cabin via fresh air vents at each side of the camper.

[S. Heisley]

It looks really, really good! Congratuĺations!

[MonteQuest]

It looks really, really good! Congratuĺations!

Thank you!