The LT... Thomas' Luxury Tent

[planovet]

Get well soon Thomas and get that tear finished!

[Mauleskinner]

Thanks man, just hangin in there!

Sounds like what the inept chaplain said to the prisoner who was going to the gallows..."Hang in there!"

And just so you don't think I'm picking on you, he told the guy who was going to the electric chair "More power to ya, man!"

Ah, i love the oldies but moldies.

Your build is looking great, though...I tend to get too impatient towards the end (and in the middle sometimes).

get well soon!

David

[Senior Ninja]

Thomas,
That's an awesome trailer, certainly something to be proud of. A work of art.
Now let the memories begin.
Steve

[2bits]

Well, I probably shoudn't even be bothering with this until tomorrow but this was a big step started. I was sitting around contemplating the whole hatch skinning thing and it struck me that I could go out there right then and just put it on (this has happened a number of times to me). So I went out, cut an aluminum sheet to size and molded the trim around the edges and clamped everything into place. I went and got some longer rivets and a flat strip for the bottom, and did a couple of test runs and all seems ok.

I was just about to start and then the sun went down and it was really humid and I petered out. I didn't want to do it in the dark when I am not 100% mentally and the skeeters were drivin me nuts too. The good news is that my boss told me not to come in tomorrow so I can get up and lay some sealant down and immediately start drilling and skinning the hatch. I am leaving an inch over of aluminum and trim at the hinge area since I need to bridge an extra gap and I am not sure if I will extend the hatch or the body, but since I have the extra already on the hatch, it looks like the hatch will get the extra 1x2 attached to it.

Here is a lame but exciting pic, I can't wait to see it on the Teardrop!!!

[RandyRP]

Thank you for posting so much info on your trailer build, it looks great. I am new to the site, but have been kurking and inspired by your work. I am wondering what size ply you cut the sides from?

Thanks and get well soon.

Randy

[Mauleskinner]

Looks good!

I wish MY boss would tell me not to come into work just so I could work on my trailer...

[2bits]

hehe well those weren't exactly his words, I think it was more like Keep your germs away from here! haha but I'll take that~

Randy, my trailer is 10 foot long and alot of people use a buscuit joint or some other method to extend a regular sheet of 4x8 plywood, but since I am building a woody, I wanted all the grain to match (not to mention it is just easier to avoid doing the joint). I went to a "real" lumberyard anf picked up some 4x10 cabinet grade, 3/4" Maple plywood. You will PAY for this convenience. I paid I think a little over $125 per sheet. but it was worth it to me!

[RandyRP]

Thanks Thomas, It seems 4 X 10 is a lot easier to find than 5 X 10 and I was curious if it made it harder to cut out the profile. Your project looks great. I think a woody style Modernistic will be awesome.

Randy

[2bits]

I don't think the size would matter too much about cutting out the profile, I got the full size template for the Modernaire from Grant and traced it on the plywood and just trimmed off the edges so it was no problem. Thanks for the compliment! I am putting part of myself into this just like writing a song.

On that note, I am feeling pretty good today so after exhausting all my local sources for T-moulding (trying to think ahead for the weekend), I bought all the wood for my boat project instead (Just a one man skiff) and I picked up some screws I needed and I skinned the hatch!
Just Finished:

The underside. I used a hand held pop rivet gun with med rivets:

Looks good but then I realized I hadn't added the vinyl insert yet, but I kept the pic because it was a cool angle.

Here it is!

I got the bottom 1 1/2" aluminum strip from the orange box and I used my existing roof trim which will match, and I plan to do profile trim all the way around so I realized that instead of making the hatch trim hang down, I can make the side trim go up a little to cover the seal so it will look the same all the way back.

I am going to do the hinge using the same orange box aluminum to hold down the plastic hinge.

[planovet]

Nice Thomas! Where did you get your insert trim?

[rvsixer]

Gorgeous work! Feel better soon.

[Miriam C.]

Now that is beautiful! Good job. One of these days I am gonna get a pop-rivet thing and play around..

[RandyRP]

Thanks Thomas

I am starting to plan a build, so I have been following this post closely.

I thinking building a teardrop is an expression of one's self just like writing a song. But really that bums me out casue when I play the blues, it's exactly what people get becasue I just can't get it. yikes.

I am dying to see some close ups of how your hatch seal and hinge work out. I think keeping it "high and dry" is vital. I saw a nice webite of an original Kenskill rebuild and it was in nice shape from the gally forward, but sadly lot's of rot from the galley aft.

Thank you

Randy

[S. Heisley]

You're doing great, flu bug and all!

[2bits]

Thanks all! I feel better every day

Mark, I got my Insert trim at Redneck trailer in Arlington, the guy didn't even know he had the overhang trim, I had to make him look it up in the catalog, he is not the friendliest of people but I got it haha

Miriam, the rivet gun cost me like $8 I think and it is very easy and useful, just drill the hole, stick the rivet through, and two clicks and you are done! It holds up really well.

Randy, I picked up some EDPM (EPDM?) Rubber seal at the Orange box the other day (we always say orange box or blue box to keep from endorsing them I think) Seem like it will work pretty goo, I plan on sealing the end of the hatch that the rivets go through then putting the seal on that side with aluminum "Galley Cap" trim on the tops of the galley side walls. The plastic hinge is completely weather proof as long as I think of a way to manage the ends of it ok, and I haven't thought about the bottom yet, but so far I have a piece of door threshold or possibly aluminum angle that I will put down with a seal on the door side as well. After the first rair, I will check for leaks and might need to add an additional layer of seal on the galley cap wall.