Aero-1, the build....

[Arne]

I added one paragraph with 2 pics.. all it shows is the painted box... finally, one color. Used Benjamin Moore house paint. The box needs some additional work on plugged holes, etc., but will deal with all that down the road... so to speak.

www.freewebs.com/aero-1 bottom of page 5, april 23

[Arne]

I added another paragraph, APRIL 23A. I cut the hatch off today. Troublesome, but done...

page 5, bottom

http://www.freewebs.com/aero-1

[chgrsteve67]

Looking damn good

[Arne]

Added a new paragraph with 4 pics. Bottom of page 5 (MAY 4)...

http://www.freewebs.com/aero-1

[Arne]

The hatch is mounted and the centaflex hinge is now in place.... use above link, page no. 6

[01Sport]

Arne, looks good. I'm interested in that hinge. I'm having a hard time understanding exactly how it works. Does anyone have any better pics or an explanation of it?

[Arne]

If you go to this link, at the bottom under 'hinges', you will see a pic of it..

This will be my last tear build, as I'm moving to a place where no construction is possible... I wanted to give it a try. It is a 'live hinge', meaning, one piece, no gaps, low profile. The middle section just bends like some cooler hinges. And, unlike the hurricane hinge, it won't slide from side to side, so nothing is needed to prevent that problem.

But, it is very expensive. It is 118" long, I used 65" of it.... they cut it for me to cut down on shipping, but it cost me around 100 for the hinge, plus about 60 for shipping and an import tax from Canada to the USA, total around 160... but again, I wanted this tear to everything I wanted on it, and I wanted this low profile hinge.

Same reason I built with a more aerodynamic shape, pet cool, better insulation, lower frame weight, etc.

http://www.itb.ca/Images/Glossary/pages/h.htm

[01Sport]

Thanks Arne, I appreciate your time.

[Arne]

I've added one pic and one paragraph to page 6... this shows how NOT to mount a torsion axle to the frame...

No animals, or teardrop trailers, were injured doing this film....

www.freewebs.com/aero-1

I will be off line after today for a week or so.... and I'll be doing the finishing work at my new digs... and will then continue to post more pics.

[chorizon]

Looks great! That's an interesting way to quickly shave weight from your trailer!

[Miriam C.]

Sorry about your axle. Your teardrop is really beautiful. I love the curves.

[Arne]

All in all, it was not a big deal... but wasted some time I really don't have. Took me less than 1/2 hour to get some blocks and using a 2/x4 as a lever, got it up on jacks, then put the axle back in place. Aside from a bit of paint scratched off the rear of the frame, no damage.. teardrops are tough, especially if it happens at about 3 mph...

[Arne]

This will be my last post for about a week.... have all the pet cool sewer connectors and hoses bought.. Will post some more pics after I get settled down in my new digs with Kathleen.

Now that the hatch is on, will be doing the doors and then winding down with the minor details...

[Arne]

the aero-1 build has come to a screeching halt. I have moved it into a 2 car garage where I now live... see note on garage at bottom. But, we are having a tag sale at the end of this month, and the other bay is full of tag sale items (I almost said 'junk').

Anyway, all my tools are heaped in and around aero-1. I was going to put everything into the other parking spot and get organized. Since that is not possible, I really can't plow through everything to put it all away. So, will have to wait till after the tag sale... then I can set up my shop and get going again.

So, we will be taking no. 1 tear up to the Americade motorcycle rally in Lake George, NY, the first week in June.. and when I get back will get going on the build again....

note on 2 car garages with one large door. You lose the center space that you would normally have if you had 2 single car garage doors. It might look nice, but that couple of feet in the middle being gone is very noticeable.

Then, we only have about 3 feet on the left side of the parking and a bit less on the right side. Trying to set up any kind of working area is difficult, especially given that the garages seem to be made to hold only cars and have a bit of walking space around the front.....

But, I have some industrial steel shelves up, and will take a few pics after I get things going again. After 2 weeks of hauling stuff in my little trailer, I get to unload the last of it today and then will rest for a while... my old body and stiff from lifting, carrying and dragging things up and down stairs..

[Arne]

Added new paragraph to bottom of page 6. Shows installation of petcool feed and return into front of tear.