Curved square weekender?

[Laredo]

on how big you want it modelled. i am still in the handsaw and miter box league toolwise.

don't laugh too hard out there, folks.

i downloaded that cad program and got noplace fast, by the way.

winterwarrior for Texas? whoa ... but i like that modernistic look in that rounded-squared-weekender .... i do like that a lot ... did y'all get any volunteers to build the 2+2 yet?

[mikeschn]

The miter box is all you need to cut your framing. A circular saw might help with the plywood though.

If you like the curves, then better get a jig saw too!

As for the 2+2, you'd have to ask Andrew. It sounded like he was thinking about that for his family. I haven't heard any more on that design since he posted it. Andrew, when does construction start?

And back to you Laredo, for the Texas model, I would go with the curved Modernistic, with an a/c. Just put the a/c on the roof!!!

The other otion is to turn the Winter Warrior into a "Heatwave Hideaway", and install that 7100 BTU a/c to cool down 48 sq ft. Just think "meat locker!!!

Mike...

[mikeschn]

Hey Laredo,

Here ya go,... so now you can start building...

Mike...

[angib]

Is the roof open that far on the 'Heatwave Hideaway' because that IS the a/c (hot air rising, etc)?

Don't wait for the 2+2, as my interest is in designing not building.
I would like to build but you get the lesson in international economics to explain why not: :study:
- the USA has an average of 60 people per square mile;
- England has an average of 920 people per square mile.
As a result, this is my 6 foot wide back yard:

So you can imagine I get a bit jealous looking at all you guys' workshops/double garages - just having the space to put a garage would add $40,000 to the price of my house!

Are you all crying now? I thought not. :-({|= Back to designing trailers, then.

Andrew the compressed

[mikeschn]

Oh Andrew, you can be sooooo silly sometimes...

The roof is open that far to show folks how the roof moves, and the back wall flips into the vertical position.

But that's okay, I forgive you!!!

Regarding your backyard, similar to parts of Germany I've been in... my suggestion is to sell your house, rent until the real estate market bubble bursts over there, and then buy a house with a garage.

To talk to other Englanders over there about your bubble, go to
http://www.dailyreckoning.com and click on the "discussion board" button

Mike...

[RC]

I like the squared off version best. It lends itself to be the weekender, where the curved version tends to be a lot longer project.

[tdthinker]

I like them both but it is up to your personal desires, just my 2 cents, bye

[Laredo]

complicated thing, that heatwave looks ....... :shock

Mike, can you do a dimensioned drawing here for the round-sided weekender since it looks a little different at the front and back upper edges compared to the chipboard buildout? How many sheets of chipboard did you use building your weekender model?


It looks to me like you ought to be able to cut the front and back slanted panels a little longer than you have, and raise the roof so that you could rout a groove in a 2x3 to ride over the top of the curved plywood sides, and you could then fasten your not-curved roof pieces to the 2x3. Once you had it on each sidewall, you could drill it and put dowels or other framing across (think wagon bows) for reinforcement/shaping/deck support. If you wanted to build something more than 4' wide, might you also want to buy an extra half sheet of plywood and cut it into pieces and clamp them together and do repeats of the top curves of your profile from them to give you internal lengthwise ribs? I would think a technique like this would allow you to extend the overall height without having to bulk up your weight a lot.

[mikeschn]

Mike, can you do a dimensioned drawing here for the round-sided weekender since it looks a little different at the front and back upper edges compared to the chipboard buildout? How many sheets of chipboard did you use building your weekender model?

I'll measure how many sheet it took to do the mockup tonight.

And if I have time I'll lay the rounded weekender on a grid today so you can lay out the points!!!

Mike...

[robert]

I like the square ender it looks fasr and easy to built :boy did i just curse myself : I was thanking about building the rimple but i like the weekender better. and remember IT'S HIP TO BE SQUARE.
ROBERT

[mikeschn]

Robert,

Thanks for reminding me to go out and measure the material... hold on, brb...

Okay here's my estimate...
3 sheets for the side
1 sheet for the floor
and then
17"
21"
31"
52"
40"
6"
16"
and 9"

or roughly 8 sheets of plywood to build it...

Anyone got a good price on plywood? Oh forget the good priced stuff... lets go for top dollar... Lets see... top dollar oak plywood is about $40 a sheet. So I can build a complete oak plywood teardrop for $320. : WOW, compare that to a $16,000 T@B!

Mike...

[tdthinker]

Ply wood here is 20 a sheet for half inch but for my 5x10 sheets it will be 150 to 200 bucks. Luck I only need 2 of them for the walls! bye

[Ron Dickey]

Mike,

thanks for sending me the weekender site via email the other day.

I have had some time for thought.

My attraction to the teardrop has always been the design. And modern ideas I love too.

Your winter trailer became a campmaster with hard sides.

I do not have a lot of spare change to go buy press would let alone plywood to play with.

As I said in my return email there was a guy who did his first in cardboard and took it out camping in a Utility trailer and found it to be in need of some fine tuning.

I think I would first figure the height and length that I needed. Play around with several shapes. Use a couple of boxes from cerial play with the design some more. Then get the side wood that I wish to use. Cut it out to the shape I wanted ... and leaving it flat on the bottom so I could later cut out parts for axel and frame as needed.

Then I would make it into a BOX KITE.

I would attach cross boards to it 1 by 2's every so many inches more at the nose and less as it went down the back. Take a long bult of cloth and run it from the base of the front curv ... down to the tail. Using a simple stapler to attach it as I go Keeping it tight as I go. except at the end where I could climb in to study and lay out my air mattress and sleep in it.

I could then rent or barrow a utility or boat trailer take it out to a lake (most of the lakes here on the Calf. Central Coast are man made and used to store water for the local towns and cities). Then if that worked I already have the sides and I am well ahead on the follow through for the rest of the steps.

The Original Weekender (not the VW eurovan) that you made did look simple and quick with the right tools time and low skill (which you are lacking in ... I think you have very hight well tuned skills).

In closing I think that you have the right idea for the guy who is unsure whether he (she) wants a true tear or something with a little more leg room or a standup shower and sitdown jon without hitting one head.

This is a beginers trailer that could last for years letting one have time learn new skills and save up some cash for the next new improved Maxi tear (like Jerry's) which I have been in and it is nice and I (almost 6 ft) could stand up in. It has to rooms a kitchen and at bedroom a true bed-n-breakfast feel. But they still use an outside Public jon or portapody

A site like yours should always include the bare basics so we all have an even chance at understanding that if you really want a better trailer and want to have others tell you how to improve your trailer or make a new one they are there for you.

And know I have not built my teardrop yet but I am almost finished with my work bench that will help build it and the ever piling honey do's that are waiting too.

My plan still is ...in 2005 I will come alive.

For my future tear. I have my eye on to older trailers (one big enough to do a campmaster) that I will be striping to make a "Gage" style tear with.

Your Idea my help the finished product happen much faster.

Ron Dickey
Los Osos, Ca

[tdthinker]

You have really though this out, that is good.

[Laredo]

Thanks, Mike.

I'm watching you build the insulated weekender on the other topic.
Is the framing contributing to a significant difference in the amount of plywood you're using?

Saw somebody reference making plywood strips for framing. There's a website called rqriley.com where there's a plan for a pickup bed/cabover camper that calls for replacing the stick-built frame with one made from plywood (probably router cut by the look of the exploded drawing, which suggests a honeycomb effect) for sturdiness/offroading. Got me thinking ... always dangerous ...

What if, instead of stick-building your framing, you draw it out on a ply sheet and cut out the openings for your insulation? Does this increase or decrease the complexity of the building vs. a stick-built frame (quicker? harder?) and does the gain in sturdiness of the frame compensate for the added weight? If you do this with, say, 3/4'' ply, can you then use the cutouts as source material for cabinet sides, shelves, and doors?