Hello From Loch Lomond Scotland

[t4camper]

Hi Guys
Just popped in to say hello and ask a few questions given that Teardrops and the likes are not all that big here in Scotland so not got to many peeps to ask advice from...

I am intending on over winter building something resembling same as only really very expensive options available over here as still pretty new to Uk market it would seen.
We already own a 2000 VW T4 custom camper which is a 2 berth fully fitetd all mod cons model see [www.bebo.com.VWT1], however my problems satarted when i gained custody of my teenage daughter which now makes 3 in a 2 berth don't fit you see, and don't like tents at least not in Scotland as to damn cold and wet most of the time anyway.

So a teardrop or similar trailer was most probably our vest option as it meant we didnt have to adapt the van to a high top or pop top which i dint want which is whay i never bought one in the first place a s i use it a smy everyday driver also, and want to keep its cool custom look, so a trailer was the best and is the best option as an extention my vans white so would look good towing such a trailer hopefully to boot.

I have looked at many examples and know basically what i want and how to do it, however have a few queries for you to answer with regards to both windows and doors etc ....

Doors... is it possible to get ready made doors and frames in one unit that would fit as one unit much like a double glazed window unitand much the same question for the windows.....
Does anyone sell complete fibreglass or ali shells for one and if so links to any supplier for shells and doors etc would be appriciated

Given our weather over here in bonnie Scotland rain rain rain 24/7 what would be the best water resistant material to build the body with ? or to coat it in after building to kep it absolutely watertight.

I think that will do for now, i'm sure i will be posting many times during my winter build however, until then
Slanj

[Mary K]

Hello and welcome!! It's great to see Scotland represented on this forum now. The list of international members is growing and the Teardrop craze is spreading!! Woo Hoo!!

Make sure you check out the links in the top menu. The Generic Benroy plans, Rich's list on finding parts.... and sdtripper2's Index for searching topics on the forum.

I Built a woody and although it is cool, I have to be careful of the weather I expose it too. I would think Aluminum would be the best weather resistant. OR a epoxy finish.... there are other on here that can answer that question better than I.

Good luck on your build, and keep us posted on you progress!!!


Mk

[Mini Renegade]

Hi and welcome to the forum!
If you want ready made doors etc try a caravan breakers for a doorframe and door although you will only need the top half.
I have used a second hand double glazed caravan window in my tear.
Have a look around, get loads of ideas and ask questions, believe it or not a basic galley-less tear is reasonably easy to construct with basic tools.
For UK suppliers etc there is a list on the tearjerkers UK chapter www.tearjerkers.net

[mallymal]

Hi and welcome from another noobie this side of the pond, and south of the border in rainy Manchester. Like you I'm at the early scribbles stage, and weighing up the pros & cons of various materials.

Like you I think the double glazed windows you see fitted to caravans & campers would be pretty much essential in these parts. I found this link to a co selling new ones. Not cheap, but seems a shame to spoil the look of a newly built job with a cruddy old window. Here's the link:
http://www.marcleleisure.co.uk/store

Happy planning - and let's hope this crazy craze spreads across Scotland & England!

[Joseph]

Can't help you much other than to say welcome to the forum. My work used to take me to your area every couple of years and I always made a point of at least one lamb shank dinner at the Hungry Monk!

Joseph

[jackdaw]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

It's good to see the teardrop infection is spreading over here in the UK.

I used an old caravan and striped it of everything useful for our teardrop.
I had so much fun building my first teardrop this year, I'm planning on building a second one next year.

Check out the tearjerkers link for a uk suppliers list.

We are hoping to have a trip up around Scotland next year sometime.

Happy building

Cheers Dave.

[Bristol Delica]

Hi

Welcome to the world of T&TTT.

Good to see another Brit coming into the fold. Hope you enjoy the planning and building as much as the rest of seem to be doing.

Don't be afraid to ask any question, there always seems to be someone with the answer you need.

As a couple of the other guys have said, get over to Tearjerkers too as there is a pretty active UK contingent there.

Don't forget to post pictures as you get building.

IanJ

PS

Dave said:

We are hoping to have a trip up around Scotland next year sometime.

... Wasn't that why you built the first one

[t4camper]

Can't help you much other than to say welcome to the forum. My work used to take me to your area every couple of years and I always made a point of at least one lamb shank dinner at the Hungry Monk!

Joseph

Thanks to all who answered me, nice to know i'm not alone, My VW T4 camper i know most about it having done it all, and written the book, well not actually a web site for likeminded peeps at t4camper.co.uk where we have a growing helpful community but dont think anyone is as crazy as me and wants an extention to their van like i do....

Scottish guys whomever you are if you happen to see a part built or knackered trailer tent in your kneck of the woods do let me know as this could form the start of my project for sure....


Joseph know the hungry well although prefer our local haunts at the winnock or bucky arms way better quality and cost but glad to hear you have been happy in our kneck of the woods so to speak pleanty of overnight spots here and well used also, only pity is i live here so want away from here usually go north or south when we go, Lake District etc

To all i will keep in touch and post soon when i find some sort of base to start with

For now
Slanj

[Arne]

A couple of thoughts. I never considered buying doors, nor double glazed windows. A t/d is a very small volume and if you insulate the walls, double glazing isn't needed. They heat up very easily even in the coldest of weather. I must add I've only camped down to about -3 Celsius.

As far as doors, if you build the walls with the framing inside, you just cut the doors out of the walls and it works fine.

Keep in mind I paint mine, I do not cover them in aluminum. You can look at the link below and get an idea of how i did it (pages 1-3).

I built with the interior framing in place, completed the walls, and coated the walls with cpes (clear penetrating epoxy sealer). That stabilizes the wood so when I cut the doors out, they will not warp.

I cut the doors with a circular saw, running the blade up to the corner of the door from each direction. That left the door in place by the tiny areas where the curve of the blade did not cut all the way to the corner.

After I got to the point where I wanted the doors out, I just finished the cut with a hand saw and popped them out.

[Miriam C.]

to the playground slanj. As you can see we are getting more and more UK and EU members. Andrew is in the UK and can probably lead you to some interesting door places. You can email him by going to the Vintage Plans and getting his email.

Heikki (Finland) Ordered a door kit from one of our manufacturers here.

Now ya need to get busy with the camera cause that is the only way to keep the bubble oil level.

Do I need a Scottish to English to American dictionary? I suppose it is different writing as opposed to hearing.

[t4camper]

"Howdy"Aunti M
You dont need a scottish to whatever dic i speak quite well i thought dont know what you mean .
And by the way Slanj is not my name it is a generic Gaeilic term for cheers, thanks, etc as in "slanjivar"

[Joseph]

Joseph know the hungry well although prefer our local haunts at the winnock or bucky arms way better quality and cost but glad to hear you have been happy in our kneck of the woods so to speak pleanty of overnight spots here and well used also, only pity is i live here so want away from here usually go north or south when we go, Lake District etc

Almost a pity (almost) that I'm retired now and unlikely to be back anytime soon. Would have loved to visit and talk trailers! While (or should I say whilst?) there I invariably stayed at the Ardencaple Hotel in Rhu just north of Helensburgh and more often than not dined there or on haggis from the Lido Takeaway in Helensburgh. I do remember Antonio's Restaurant a bit further north of Helensburgh (Gaerlochead, I think) the owner of which (Antonio, of course) was quite the nutcase! We took a party of about twelve there and he shut the place down so he could personally entertain us. We had one woman in our party and he continued to wax eloquent about "the beyootiful Marie." Quite the host - an Italian in Scotland who wears a sombrero - and the food was fabulous!

Just before I retired I was supposed to go there for two weeks to do an inspection at HM Naval Base, Clyde. I used to work on the Trident Submarine Program(me) and we supported the UK in theirs. But because of my mother's poor health I couldn't be out of the country that long, so someone else went in my stead.

Joseph

[Joseph]

And by the way Slanj is not my name it is a generic Gaeilic term for cheers, thanks, etc as in "slanjivar"

Similar to the Irish "sláinte." I think more Americans are familiar with Irish expressions that Scottish since more of us celebrate St. Patrick's Day than Burns' Night.

I celebrate both and any other excuse for drinking I can find!

Joseph

[t4camper]

It really is a lovely part of the world no doubt in that, although unfortunately when it's right on your doorstep you tend to by in large ignore it somewhat as we see these wonderful sites daily, we live in one of the small villages on the eastern side of Loch Lomond at the gateway to Rowardennan and Balmaha a mecca during the summer months for campers and watersports enthusiasts alike.
Gareloch is an area as is Helensburgh that we tend to go to for a day out in actual fact more like for a quick run out being that close to us but the area is also a good test bed for wild camping offering many such oppurtunities to test my ideas out in practice before venturing further a feild as i often do and can be seen often during our summer months in or around these areas in our VW T4 testing some new idea or other.
We did a week at Roseneath caravan park last summer and loved it only problem was our weather as we had a tent as well for the weins and it bucketed all week making it a chore rather than an adverture, hence my thoughts are now turning to a TD od some sort.
We have a company over here called Sleeperkits at www.sleeperkitcaravan.co.uk who will supply just a chassis and fibreglass body for around £1200gbp which does represent great value and is most probably what i might end up doing and fitting it out myself as ive said already we have no need for cookers sinks and the likes as only required for safe sleeping quarters for the weins after all so why buy a whole load of stuff i don't need and already own in my VW T4 anyway.
I am about to contact then direct to see how bare they can offer their kits and at what costs before finally deciding however as i am able to do a lot of the fit and finish myself and would rather do so anyway as i would be able to get it to look the part to tow behind my beautiful T4 doing it this way.
In the absence of any other suggestions or firm workable ideas i might be forced into this anyway whether i want to or not as nothing is really available other than this at under £4k which is way to much for the use it would get.
Another idea was to build a straightish version and use it aso as a goods trailer at least making some other use out of it which would help to ofset its cost a bit..
For now
Slanj

[t4camper]

And by the way Slanj is not my name it is a generic Gaeilic term for cheers, thanks, etc as in "slanjivar"

Similar to the Irish sláinte. I think more Americans are familiar with Irish expressions that Scottish since more of us celebrate St. Patrick's Day than Burns' Night.

I celebrate both and any other excuse for drinking I can find!

Joseph

Personally neither of us drink at all it's just a simple remider of a lost close friend who used to say it all the time, an is my way of remembering him, on a day to day basis is all..
By the way to one and all my name is actually Dougie