A Lesson for New Builders Here

[Jiminsav]

At the IRG I cleaned Joannes dutch oven for free (well most of it) and it sure was good

Gaston, eating the food out of it isn't part of the clean-up.

[Woody]

I have a brand-new window AC that I'm giving to Rusty today--a friend of Woody whom he's helping build his TD. It was used for 1 week while my main unit died in the house, and I have no use for it. (He's going to have the coldest TD in Florida--8,000 btus.)

The large black iron crab on my hatch was cut and powder-coated by Raul (Kai'sTear) who lives in Mexico. For free. I just gave him a Fedex number to use for shipping.

I sent two beautiful wicker and iron fish to the builder of that big Fish trailer. (Where did he go, and what was the name of that trailer?)

Mike sent me a great Budweiser sign that arrived when I was out of power--and out of BEER--during the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma.

And there have been countless similar examples and offers of "just pay the shipping and you can have it."

Pretty cool huh?

I've known one neighbor for years and the bastard never even offered me a Bud.

I can attest to Ira's generosity on be half of Rusty with the A/C. I have yet to met a teardropper that I didn't like. Although we may not have seen eye to eye on some topics. Camping is what it is about and the good times putting faces to screen names finally. I have made many good friends for life from teardropping. People I would have never meet any other way in a lifetime. A gathering is the people attending, not just trailers in a row. It is the ultimate in networking with no strings attached and no hidden agenda just goodtimes and memories. I had just wish I had found out about it sooner than 6 years ago. I wouldn't trade one moment or the people I have meet

[Juneaudave]

When your talking about sharing...don't forget Andrew!!! This is a guy who has generously posted a remarkable design library, individually helped builders with custom work, and helped with so many building details on so many Tears you can't count them. Thanks Andrew!!!!

[Podunkfla]

When your talking about sharing...don't forget Andrew!!! This is a guy who has generously posted a remarkable design library, individually helped builders with custom work, and helped with so many building details on so many Tears you can't count them. Thanks Andrew!!!!

I'll sure second that! How fortunate we are to have a "resident engineer" and brilliant talent give so much of his time and effort to this forum. I can't imagine how many tears have been built from his plans... prolly in the hundreds. Thank you Andrew for being such a friend to the teardrop community!

[apratt]

When your talking about sharing...don't forget Andrew!!! This is a guy who has generously posted a remarkable design library, individually helped builders with custom work, and helped with so many building details on so many Tears you can't count them. Thanks Andrew!!!!

I'll sure second that! How fortunate we are to have a "resident engineer" and brilliant talent give so much of his time and effort to this forum. I can't imagine how many tears have been built from his plans... prolly in the hundreds. Thank you Andrew for being such a friend to the teardrop community!

I'll third that. I am truely amazed at Andrew's talent and timeless devotation to helping others, mysellf included. He has changed my mind at least 3 times now, I find a profile that I like and Andrew comes up with another profile I like better I am sure he will come up with another by the time when I am ready to start to build mine. Thank you Andrew.

[Ira]

OH! ANDREW IS AMAZING! I FORGOT TO MENTION HIM!

He must have spent 40 hours with me helping me ruin his great fender design.

And Jim (Jiminsav)--who prevented me from destroying yet another tongue box by backing up my trailer for me when I got to my site at Anastasia. (I kept passing my site and circled the loop 3 times out of embarrassment.)

And Ellen (Woody's wife)--who got in the car and found me walking around drunk in the pitch-black of night trying to find where the pot luck was. (I couldn't unhitch the trailer from my truck because of a swing-back jack problem. Well, I could have---but I was too lazy.)

I was drunk during the daylight hours too, but that didn't require a rescue.

And Ellen again--for not getting TOO mad at me when I refused to drink her concoctions. (I may be an idiot, but I'm not THAT much of an idiot.)

And Woody, for lending me a jacket when we fished Sunday morning and I was freezing my ass off. Because who the hell thought to bring a jacket?

And of course, to Steve Cox--who taught me what it's like to make love to a man. Steve, I will cherish those few hours we had together FOREVER.

Thank you for being gentle and patient with me.

[Jiminsav]

Ira said:

And of course, to Steve Cox--who taught me what it's like to make love to a man. Steve, I will cherish those few hours we had together FOREVER.

what happens in the Crab, stays in the Crab.

[Bobgorilla]

[quote="Ira"]I have a brand-new window AC that I'm giving to Rusty today--a friend of Woody whom he's helping build his TD. It was used for 1 week while my main unit died in the house, and I have no use for it. (He's going to have the coldest TD in Florida--8,000 btus.)

quote] Ira, I going to replace my very old central a/c with window unit(s), how big was the space you used 8,000 BTUs? I've only got about 460 sq. ft. so I think I need slightly more about 9200 but I was curious about your experience

[Ira]

My living room isn't all big, so 8,000 was plenty for that. It also took the "edge" off the hallway and the adjacent kitchen/dining room. Didn't do a thing though for any of the bedrooms.

If you're going to replace a central, I think your best bet is to buy the biggest you can afford with the lowest draw, or two of the SMALLEST with the lowest draw and use them in the rooms as needed. Don't know what's the most energy efficient way to go.

I used it for literally just a week while my main unit was replaced.

[cracker39]

Ira, I going to replace my very old central a/c with window unit(s), how big was the space you used 8,000 BTUs? I've only got about 460 sq. ft. so I think I need slightly more about 9200 but I was curious about your experience

My (late) Dad's house had an AC I think was about 8000 btus to cool the living room and dining room/kitchen, which was probably a little over 460 square feet and did a reasonable job (In Florida, yet).

[Bobgorilla]

In the 460 sq. ft. I've got a tiny bathroom, a tiny bedroom, a reasonable size bedroom, and a living room/kitchen. The current a/c air handler is over 40 years old and is a conversion from a propane furnace (who'd thunk it). I can replace it for $1200 or by 2 window units for $350. There is also power concerns with the central air in that pulling the main fuse for the house doesn't shut off all the power to the air handler. So 1 in the kitchen and 1 in the bigger bedroom seems reasonable.

[Mary K]

I cooled most of the house (1250 sq ft) after Katrina with a 5,000 BTU a/c and 2 fans pulling the air through the house. I did shut the nonessential rooms doors though, 2nd & 3rd BR. Power was only out for 24 hrs. Wished I had that generator after Dennis.

Mk

[Ira]

I'm telling you--that's a PLAN.

I paid around $180 for the 8,000 at HD. You can probably find it cheaper if you look around. And you can get an energy efficient 5,000 for PEANUTS, which will handle a bedroom, for like 80, 90 bucks.

So you could have THREE units for like $350, depending on your use of that second bedroom and whether you really need it.

Main thing is, you can start saving some MONEY for once by just cooling the areas you're using. I am getting KILLED by electric bills because of that central unit and 3 bedrooms...a wife and two kids...and the AC is always on. Someone is ALWAYS home and in the house--especially since my wife works overnight. (She has to, to help pay that FPL bill.)

Yeah, they were getting significantly lower since I got the new, more efficient unit, but now the rates are going up ANYWAY! Plus, the wife and kids don't know how to turn a light off when they leave a room.

Oh my God--I sound like my father now.

By the way--my 8,000 wasn't QUIET by most measures, but it wasn't something that would really bother you. Just pointing this out because I didn't even think of considering the noise levels of these things.

It was the day before school was starting for the kids and I was sweating my cojones off.

[Bobgorilla]

My thought is to get 8,000 for front of house (LR, K, and small BR) and 6000 for back (big BR) accord to specs this should give me a little overkill (about 600 sq. ft. of cooling) and both those areas have grounded plugs (most of my plugs aren't) in close proximity to windows. No surprise you bought at HD, Ira but Lowes has slightly better prices on a/c. Thanks for the advice.

[BigWally]

I'm grateful to have found you Cyber Folks!

Do you think if I sent ANDREW a Greyhound Bus ticket he'd ride out to California and help me?? I'd get a First Class ticket of course. I just wanted to check in here and get out of the NEWBIE section. I'll be in touch.

Another picture of myself for the picture cops.




This was taken at the beach, I didn't want any of the lilly liver's to think I was in my underwear.

Wallace