The LT... Thomas' Luxury Tent

[aggie79]

Looking great Thomas. I've been away from the internet for awhile, and haven't seen your progress. Your TD looks more incredible each day!

(As a clue to the Thomas versus Tom conundrum, Thomas is the person making progress on his incredible looking teardrop. Tom - me - is the one not making progress on his teardrop.)

[2bits]

Thanks Tom! Haha well remember this is my "restart", I didn't work on it at all for 6mo! Life gets in the way sometimes!

[teardrop_focus]

I made it through this thread all the way from the beginning!

I've read just about every word and have seen every picture...

Thomas, I cannot tell you how impressed I am by your teardrop... it's amazing.

Thank you for taking the time out to post in such detail... srsly.

[2bits]

WOW Thanks Chris! Yes I totally remember those days when I first found this site and I would go through 20 pages of someone's build just eating it all up like candy! It's cool to watch things progress! Sincere thanks to you for the compliment! I'm just an amateur who likes to research, learn, and experiment, and most importantly ask questions haha!

[teardrop_focus]

2bits

Yes I totally remember those days when I first found this site and I would go through 20 pages of someone's build just eating it all up like candy! It's cool to watch things progress!

Trouble is, the candy's all gone now.

I can't wait to see it on the road, and I can't wait to see it in person, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future.

2bits

Sincere thanks to you for the compliment! I'm just an amateur who likes to research, learn, and experiment, and most importantly ask questions haha!

You are most welcome. Again, it is you who's to be thanked... for taking the time to post your progress with such diligence. I didn't even notice the almost-6-month gap, 'cause I only started on the thread last night (although I had seen pics of your tear when it had only the sides up).

I love the Modernaire/Cub profile... and I'm trying to morph it with Kit profile. In other words, a 4 X 4 X 9... but I'm thinking about widening it to 54". Trouble is the exponential increase in materials cost and then labor... we'll see. I may simply have to go ahead and build it 4 X 4 X 9 and hope that Her Ladyship remains a good sport 'cause an interior at 48" is tight.

As I've said elsewhere, although it's agonizing to have to wait to start my build, the delay allows me to fine-tune certain aspects of my plan.

Just the chance to follow along is such a huge help! Until recently I had though to myself, "how in the HELL am I going to build a galley hatch?" Hahaha... You, sir, as others, have made it look a much less daunting task. Well, not only do we all benefit from yet another galley hatch how-to, our eyes are graced with this beautiful creation of yours. You, Sir Thomas, rawk! It's SUCH a nice tear!!!1uno...

:-)~

[2bits]

Thanks man! Wow, I am expecting you to ask for my credit card # any minute with all these compliments! haha just kidding.

Yeah the hatch was not NEAR as bad as you would think. As far as width, I think there is some play between 4 foot wide and 54" wide! I made mine just a couple inches too wide to accomodate a queen size, you might think about doing a Full size bed because that can keep you at 5 feet side on the OUTSIDE which is where alot of your materials come in to play. 4 foot wide is good for couples who are real close, just remember there's some play in the middle there, and I am only working with standard mattress sizes, if you go with a foam mattress, you can do any width you like!

Thanks again! I am only one of a great many builds here, I wish there was a forum just for builds or a place to link builds to because alot of people who post, don't link their builds in their signature line and if they haven't updated in a while, or have finished, you can really miss some treats! Steve and Rob and Doug are a few of the faves!

Take care

[Sparksalot]

Just the chance to follow along is such a huge help! Until recently I had though to myself, "how in the HELL am I going to build a galley hatch?" Hahaha... You, sir, as others, have made it look a much less daunting task.

As Thomas said when he did his, "that's it?" The hatch frame was not very hard it all. I left mine single skin to allow for flex. Double skin will stiffen it right up, but perhaps not squarely.

[2bits]

Yeah, I noticed that once the aluminum skin was on when I set it in place or set it down anywhere, it felt and sounded more like a completed part would sound. It was an odd feeling. I actually said to my self: Now that sounds like a door!

*GULP* well, I just bought the AC/DC Power Center, Door and Hatch latches, 2 12v outlets and a chrome license plate bracket from Frank Bear on eBay!

[Sparksalot]

Yeah, I noticed that once the aluminum skin was on when I set it in place or set it down anywhere, it felt and sounded more like a completed part would sound. It was an odd feeling. I actually said to my self: Now that sounds like a door!

*GULP* well, I just bought the AC/DC Power Center, Door and Hatch latches, 2 12v outlets and a chrome license plate bracket from Frank Bear on eBay!

Just wait til you hear the sound the door latches make when the doors close. It's a mighty big, "it's done" feeling.

[teardrop_focus]

^ I can see that, but it seems so far away for me... I'll just keep putting one foot in front of the other.





Thomas, I may seem a little over the top... hahahaaaaah... but building a tear is all I can think about when I don't have to think about anything else. Even then...

I am, however, sincere. I am also new at this... and as I may have alluded to, I don't have a strong woodworking background. Wrenches? yes. Electrical, yes... but all these shapes and cutting and glue, well, it's a bit initmidating. Your build was the first of many builds I have seen that was in the most detail. I'm excited because you've built yours in a similar fashion and construction materials simplicity to what I have planned, although your trailer is a little larger. I also happen to love the Modernaire/Cub shape.

I'm still finalizing the exact details of the profile I want to use. I was laying awake in bed last night; couldn't sleep, and I was thinking about these profiles. I do know what I want, but the trouble is, it's a combination of three distinct teardrop design features. I also have a desire for a front window, which I can't or won't place too low or up into the roof curve either (a starlight/sunroof up on top such as yours being the exception... but it doesn't face forward). So, for example, the front wall of the tear has to contain some vertical height, but I don't want to do a full Benroy front, either.

Anyway, last night it hit me. I saw in my imagination how this might work. It was pretty cool. I visualized a potentially very cool feature regarding how the roof shape will intersect with the front wall. The brainstorm continued on to where I saw some details of the trailer chassis that would look neat, too. I lay there, intoxicated with all of this!

Today was too busy to get any of it on paper, but it remains clear in my mind's eye. I won't be forgetting these details any time soon. Tomorrow I'll be near a decent little drafting table (no computer drafting skills, yet) where I'll try to sketch a few of these things out with some french curves stencils. I can't wait!

Blah blah blah... thanks for letting me ramble. I suppose stuff like this should go into a thread of my own build. If I may, my good man, I'll leave my thoughts here until I start my build, then copy them over to a thread.

I'll try not to newbie po0p too much in your thread until then! Hahaha....

Thx.

- Chris :-)~

[Anthony J Grant]

Bump!



When I'm making little progress I look to others to inspire me,

Dam it, inspire me!

[planovet]

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

Dang, I wish I had known. I got 3 12' pieces from them but realized that I needed the larger lip rather than the smaller lip. I ended up getting my trim from Camper Capitol. It was pretty dirty stuff but it shined up good. Now I need to figure out what to do with the other trim. It's a long drive to Arlington and a pain to take back. I could have given you a good price on it.

[2bits]

Hey Mark, I got the larger lip too didn't I ? Isn't that the same thing as the offset overhang? How about Tom? He's close by or hmm maybe plan teardrop #2! ! ! I actually do have #2 in the hopper for a buddy of mine and I have alot of spare parts piling up in storage for it. Let me know all the details on it, and I'll let him know and we'll see if he will get it. You can PM me if ya like.

Anthony, I called Frank because I hadn't gotten an invoice from him in 3 days and he said he was slammed with a super fast build! He sent me the invoice right away then and I paid for it yesterday. I got an email that it all shipped today so I am in a holding pattern until then! I am also going to be out of town all weekend so nothing going on there so I'll start back to work on it during the weekdays of next week! Need to get with grant ASAP for my t moulding too.

Chris, It's cool man! I totally understand! I am teardrop obsessed! I feel like I was made for these!

[2bits]

Well yesterday was a blow off since I went camping Friday night on a whim and I was tuckered out on Sat. I didn't plan on staying but by the time I got there it was late so I just slept in the hammock under the stars just like the last time. (I am ready for the Teardrop).

So today, I got both door jambs trimmed! They are mitered to a point. which I forgot to do at first so I get to order a new piece for the galley cap wall...

(Obligitory cool picture first)








I installed the door handle (a little but low, but I didn't want it right in the middle, I wanted it off center so it would look cooler and also be more out of the way of the window). I will need to remove then interior piece and add a backer but I had to get it pseudo installed so I could trim the t moulding correctly.



I used snips and then a file and spent at least 30-45 min working on this notch until I got it where I wanted it. Then I got brave and worked on the edge angle and I found a way to get the angle and promptly cut it WRONG

So that piece is trash, and I need to order a new piece, I think I will order two to plan for the next screw up

I'm not extrememly discouraged tho, at least I CAN order another piece. I could have messed up my door when drilling the hole, but it went just fine.

[aggie79]

Still looking good Thomas. I appreciate your experiences, even the ones that didn't go so well. Hopefully, this will cut down - not eliminate by any means - the number of "oops" on my project.

By the way, next weekend I should have some progress to report on my teardrop. My wife and I squeezed in a vacation and I've had to work some on the weekends to get up to speed at my new job.

Tom