First post, first set of questions

[Oak]

Hello everyone! This is my first official post here and let me tell you, this site has been a treasure trove of information regarding the construction and repair of these awesome little trailers! I hope to get to know alot of you on here and have to opportunity to meet you all on the road.
I have spent countless hours designing my very own "tear". I use quotations because this won't actually be a classic tear shape. More of a Grasshopper or weekender style. I will post a few drawings in the near future to give you all an idea of what I am designing. I pretty well have it all planned and all I really need to do is finish the drawings and start acquiring materials.
This will be a survival tear, I am calling it my "Mobile Command Unit". A place to make home base when on the road and in the woods. I want to know I will have a warm, safe, secure little camper.
I want a trailer that could be used for a long term affair as well as short comfy trips. I plan on taking many trips in the future, some lasting as long as 2 months or more and some less. I want to create something durable enough to handle daily living by me and my dogs and maybe a second person. I figured a conventional trailer could neither afford me any sense of freedom or portablilty or for for that matter, affordability. I will be pulling it with a 1999 Chevy S-10 so it has to be small. Not that an S-10 couldn't pull anything larger, but you get the idea. I want to keep the gas mileage low.
I want this trailer to be able to last for decades. I want a trailer that is functional and efficient, and that can withstand the elements like a champ. It has to have sufficient storage and the ability to be a completely self sustained living "pod". This will be an all purpose trailer that will get tons of use and I want it to last so long that my future grandkids will use it.
The galley I have designed has ample storage, a sink, room for around 10-20 gallons of water, a fold out table, and a few other amenities. The rear of this trailer will be flat rather than curved when open, and will be a nice 5'x 4'-5' eave. I figure that will offer more coverage than normal tears and offer me more cabinet space.
The interior will be quite cozy as well, with storage cabinets at both ends. Interior dome with swivel lamps for lighting. It will include a t.v., c.d., as well as a c.b. radio. Hatch door to galley storage cabinet, and a small window that opens to the galley. I have made many custom plans for this interior so it will be as comfortable as possible. Large 4.5'x 6' sleeping floor. I'm only 5'5" so I can fit in smaller areas, and this will be more than enough room for me and my dogs! I haven't decided on A/C yet, but I don't think I will use it for the sake of space. I will do fine with an interior ceiling vent fan and maybe a small automobile clip on fan. Plus, I'd rather not have to carry around an A/C unit
The exterior hasn't been decided on yet. I've been tossing around all wood, wood sides and aluminum roof, and all aluminum. I'm still trying to figure out which would be more cost efficient but at the same time the sturdiest. It will include roof racks for hauling gear and/or a small boat. It will also have antennas for the radio, c.b., and t.v..It will need to be solar charged as well. Exterior lights will be above door and side window and the front and rear. I imagine it might look like a small ufo when lit up. They will be on separate switches so that I can control which ones are on, i.e. when the hatch is open and don't wanna shine my light up in the air or when I am sleeping and might want to turn only the outside door light on. It will have 12v outlets inside and out and and home outlets.
All electrical work will lead to the front storage box that will house the batteries, fuses, charger, solar panel and tear down antenna. And with more storage to spare!
It would like to also have a spare tire on the underbody and a floor storage box.
Although, I do still have a literal ton of questions for all of you. At the moment though, I only have a few-ish to ask. If I wanted to ask all I want to know, it would take at least an hour to read it all, so I will spare the lot of you. I have a penchant for detail and perfection and I can be quite inquisitive.
So let's get to my first set of questions:
1. Weather proofing? What would last the longest, be the driest, and be the sturdiest method of finishing the exterior?
2.Antennas for top quality t.v. and radio reception: any suggestions? How are yours' wired up?
3. Water supply. How do I hook up water? I want to be able to not only pump from a personal water source but also be able to hook up water from a campsite. Do I need a water pump? Can a purifier be out on and has anyone done so? How is that all hooked up? A diagram would be sweet...
4.Would this be strong enough to carry a canoe or small jon boat on top?
5.How warm can they get in the wintertime with a small ceramic heater? How hot do they get in the summer? What is the best type of insulation to use?
6.What is the best, but reasonably priced wood to use for exterior and interior, also cabinets? I hear alot of birch and oak. What would last the longest and be the strongest?
7. What is the best size of wood for the frame? And again; the lightest yet sturdiest, and longest lasting.
8. Would it be hard to put 13 or 14 inch tires on a HF 4x8 trailer and how would I do so if possible? What kind of other mods would I have to do to accommodate?
9. If I build it 5x8 on the 4x8 trailer, how would the wheel wells affect the cabin? Would I have 2 big boxes on each side of me while sleeping? Has anyone done this and if so, do you have a picture of what it looks like with the interior finished and the bed out?
10. On the interior I want to use Nordic pine paneling, then 5/8 birch, then insulation and framing then 1/2 birch for the exterior. Any suggestions? Does that sound good and strong, yet not too heavy? If I decided to put aluminum skin on it would that be overkill? What should be the nominal thickness of the walls?
Well, that does it for my first set of questions. I appreciate any and all help you have to give. Pics and links are appreciated. I'll post mine soon.
I'm glad to be a part of the T & TTT online community and hope to make some new friends on here!
Thanks!
Jody

[Jeeper92]

youve coem to the right place, these are some of the nicest and helpful people that Ive ever come across. Im jsut like you and had a ton of questions. Only piece of advice i can give is to just use common sense in your build and dotn over build. When i torn down the trailer i purchsed I was in SHOCK at how flimsy it was put together. Good luck and welcome

[Oak]

Thanks! I want it to be very sturdy yet lightweight so I am trying to figure out the best way to do so. Cost efficiency and timelessness are big factors. I will literally live in this thing for extended periods of time. I have a few cross country trips I plan on taking in the near future and can't afford a flimsy structure that won't take the heat (or cold for that matter).
Not to mention, as of late, I have also had this sort of paranoia about WWIII happening and things getting bad, so I'd like to know that I could just take it deep in the forest up north and have a completely self sustained sleeping cabin and galley w/electric (for radio) and insulation and heat. But mostly, I hope, it'll just be used for recreation. You get the idea. Storage isn't that big of a deal because I'd just throw extras in my pickup, but I plan on a bigger galley for some extra space. Definitely a project in the works. Plus I will be working on a very limited budget so this will take me some time to finish. I want to get it all figured out before I spend all of the money I don't have so I don't end up wasting anything.

[Ron Dickey]

Welcome aboard....

It is best to break your questions down by catagory.
break them in to even smaller questions....

and you may have to ask it more then once sometimes a tread goes off in never never land when somehow the subject gets changed.

Barrow a digital camera if you do not have one and send us photo's of drawings, or your project as it gets started .... but they must be at
640x480 or below to get seen or click on the box at the top "Img" before and after PDF's.... is what you will get. and the image should show. also open up you album and start down loading drawings and attempts so they have an idea of where your at.

I to tend to write to much and often loose them in the translation.

Welcome once again

Ron D.

[Miriam C.]

Some suggestions"

Waterproofing is done a lot of ways. You can coat with Epoxy if you are up to it. Fiberglass or paint works too. Any of the above can be done in combination with alum. sheeting too. You can also use fiberglass panels...

Water storage for long term use can be done in tanks but that makes your td heavier.. For water that will not be boiled and is for drinking I would get sealed bottles and store it in my truck...

If you are going to the woods and there are animals you might look into a food safe (bear proof)

best wood---wood will last as long as you take care of it... I used baltic birch on the sides because it was 5' high.. 1/8 Birch panels on the inside and roof.

You might want to read some of the build threads and get a better idea of what others are doing for their conditions.

Enjoy

[critter]

Hey Oak,
some suggestions,First get a new martin with the neck on the right end,The ck out my build.Kinda sounds alot like I did mine but I used ceader inside,1layer 1/2 foam ontop of a layer of 3/4 with 2x2 framing covered with 1/2 ply then epoxie then paint.If I did it all over I wouldnt run 12v as I got a eu2000i honda genny to run everything,tv air lights ect..If you have any more ? just holler.I know bout the guitar cause im the pround owner of a 37 year old hd-28 myself and a couple of old gibson mastertones so maybe one day we can git together and scrub one off! ANYBODY GOIN TO GAYLAX?

[Joanne]

Hey Jody,

I don't have all the answers for you, but I have documented my build of a trailer that meets some of your criteria. I'm not saying the way I did it was the best, just that it is one way to approach it.

Keep in mind that there are many tradeoffs as you start building. Including all the features you listed while keeping the trailer light weight will be THE challenge of your build. It's amazing how the pounds add up.

For those who don't want a huge RV, teardrops are just the best little camping trailers around. They are convenient, lightweight, fast to set up at camp, and just a lot of fun.

I just got back from a weekend in the mountains just outside of town. It is just such a joy to sleep in, and cook out of, without all the effort of setting up and tearing down tents. Oh, there was a good bit of rain and nothing got wet. That didn't happen when I was tent camping.

Welcome aboard!
Joanne

[Oak]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I have spent countless hours planning my build and the questions I asked were ones I couldn't find the right answers for.

To Joanne: Thanks for your advice. The Desert Dawg is indeed splendid! I spent the better part of an entire night last week reading your build. I like the way you approached it. I have taken some ideas from yours' and many others for my design. My design is similar to yours, but it will stray a little from the weekender design and be a bit more square. And no I don't mean lame But yeah, weight is my big concern so I thank you for your input!

Critter: I WISH it was a Martin! Its actually an Aria. But from afar, it certainly has the style of one and the name on the headstock looks similar too. I'm left handed so guitars are always a pain it the neck to find and when I do they are usually cheapos. But that time I found a good sounding and well made guitar. Normally if you want one ordered they cost almost double the price of a righty and if it was a Martin lefty, you can bet I'd have to sell my truck to buy it! Us southpaws always get the shaft when it comes to quality guitars at a decent price. Ho-hum...anyway. I thank you for your advice on the walls. But I still am going to run 12v inside as the situation may arise to use it. Not probable but possible. Thanks again! Keep pickin! And yes, I hope to one day pick a lick with ya'. p.s. sorry for the guitar deception

Miriam: I thought about have wood sides with an aluminum skin on top, or all aluminum. Question though; can the aluminum be painted? Also, is aluminum what is used on enclosed utility trailers? Some look like it but also look like some sort of plastic sheeting or thin osb painted white.

You have to forgive my ignorance, I only picked up on this teardrop idea about a month ago. I never knew these things existed. What an awesome thing they are!
Now that I know of these trailers, the whole month of July was spent right here on these forums and on my couch scribbling away. I have learned alot from you all. Most of the stuff I asked I have read partial posts about, but it still didn't seem to quench my thirst. So forgive me if I ask about things that have already been answered. I tend to do that. I'm just particular about my answers and will prod and poke until I get the right one that fits my ideas.
I'm getting close to finishing my plans and will get started building as soon as I get a trailer. Which might take a while because delivery has been slow lately so I'm not making the tips that I make during the winter months. So I'll be going at a slower pace than usual.
I do have a friend who is going to let me salvage some parts from an old over-the-cab camper that his dad is tearing the aluminum off of, so that will be a little help. Plus I'll poke around anywhere I see a pile of wood on bulk trash day for usable materials. But for the most part I will be buying all new materials. I'm a bit frugal when it comes to spending money (mostly because I make very little sometimes and it can vary from day to day ), but this is one of those things I don't want to be a skimp on. I want this to be the project I have been waiting for all my life! I'm so pumped!
Thanks again everyone!
Jody

[Esteban]

Jody,

Larry and Diane document the construction of their off road teardrop very well on their website: Outback Teardrop. Theirs isn't cheap construction but it can give you ideas how to build one that's good for back country use and built to last.