The LT... Thomas' Luxury Tent

[2bits]

Hatch too short? Make it longer!


I see from the pic about that I shold have cut a strip if 1/8" plywood and glued it to the 1x2 first, oh well, I'll slip it in there later and it won't be going anywhere with the hatch hinge screws running through it.



I have no idea how I am going to do the ends of the hatch hinge too! It's fun figuring stuff out!

[2bits]

Alot of pics today... We now live in a world where I have tail lights! I also finally trimmed to the 1x2's from my floor that stuck out the back. I did NOT like cutting the tail light holes, too nerve racking but in typical fashion when I was done, it was like "That was it???" I just cut the holes and stuck the lights in. I didn't install the license plate yet because I want to think about how to make sure it is waterproof.

[2bits]

I was thinking about this before and now that I see what it actually looks like, I took it into Photoshop and a doubled the tail lights and I think it looks like it has much more personality like this. I think I will buy two more tail lights tomorrow and put them in like this.

I also photoshopped the license plate in the center and I don't like it. I think I will toss it on the back of the wheel well instead and keep the back of it clean since I still need to add the latch too.

[Anthony J Grant]

Thomas,

Looking good! Ive been thinking 4 insted of 2 as well.

[Arne]

where did you get the lights? I'm adding some to mine and like the flush mount... pep boys only carries surface mount lights that stick out...

Also, what was the height of the hole? not the light... I have a 'bumper' and am wondering if it is high enough to accept the light you have. I've seen them on many factory built trailers, but have not been able to locate any around here.

[2bits]

Thanks guys! I am just getting rolling for the day, lets see if I can get that hatch mounted eh! I am kind of at a loss on how to drill the holes for the bars for the latch that go all the way across, but I will come up with something!

For the hatch hinge, I was thinking there should be nothing wrong with laying the (plastic continuous) hinge down, then laying a 3/4" strip of aluminum all the way across on both sides with screws every couple inches. The let everything extend a little bit over the edge maybe 1/2-3/4" and if the hinge sags right there, I could put a rivet through it.

Arne, I actually got them at Wal-Mart! The hole I cut for the lights was 2 1/2" x 6 3/4" when they are installed the rubber gasket spreads out maybe 1/2 on top of that on both sides. These are pretty flush, I was thinking about yellow for turn signals or clear for back up lights (which I still will put in probably below the hatch) but I decided that I like the look of the dual Red lenses.

[Arne]

thank you... never thought of wal-mart... will take a look now that I know.

have to measure my 'bumper', but can always let them hang out the bottom with the top flush.

[2bits]

Yeah, I stumbled on their trailer section one day and they have lots of goodies there!

[Arne]

went to w/m and found the lights.... just slightly too big for my bumper..... bummer.... will use the surface mounted lights I got from pep boys... not supposed to be backing into things, anyway.... I hope.

[2bits]

Dang, I just picked up two more at Lowes, same brand and all. I'd post a pic but it looks just like the Photoshop version LOL. Too bad yours didn't work, that's what it's al about though making changes.

I am in the same boat right now. I am going to have to mount my hatch latch on the exposed section of the underside of the hatch because I did not predrill for the rods that go all the way across. I am just about ready to drill the holes through the aluminum, but my brain is cooking and I need a break before I mess something up, I have to be sure it's not gonna hit the counter top too. I decided to put my license plate back on the hatch too right below the latch handle, that way I don't have to wait until I get fenders to drive it around and it is already wired to go there anyway.

[2bits]

Well, I ran out of light and this is a big step that involves black goo so I stopped right before putting the hinge on, but as I was packing up, I realized that if I turned the teardrop around, I could close the garage door and work all night right underneath two bright light bulbs! So I turned it around and am now taking a break for dinner. We will see if I get back out there.

I did alot though, I trimmed the top of the hatch back of the excess black aluminum, trimmed the edge trim back to let the hinge pass through, and I finally trimmed back the galley notch. I was waiting to be absolutely sure it was time, and it was what I needed to do because I wasn't sure if I was going to extend the roofline, or extend the hatch. Now that it is done, I feel good about it.



I also installed my two inner tail lights, cut the hole for the hatch handle (the assembly is not installed yet) and installed the license plate light/hangar.


Lastly, this is my hinge setup being predrilled onto a 2x4. It is just two strips of aluminum with the hinge underneath with windshield sealant under that when I install it. I set a screw hole every 2 inches.

[teardrop_focus]

Thomas! That gorgeous trailer is coming along very nicely... love the doors.

The hatch looks great, too. Love the plate and hatch handle placement. The dual lamps per side is hawt!

[mallymal]

hey Thomas,
I've spent ages lurking on this forum, and that is one of the sweetest tears I've seen. The shape is really elegant, and your build quality is just amazing.

It's probably covered elsewhere & I've missed it, but what have you skinned the roof with? It's a FABULOUS finish & colour!

[2bits]

Hey Chris,

Thanks man! I am feeling very good about how it is coming together these past few days!

Thank you too Mally, My main concern once it is done is if I should cover the entire thing in caulk!! ! I am so afraid of leaks and black rot and having to rebuild an entire piece of it.

To answer your question, I used .063 prefinished black aluminum. I was going to go for regular anodized aluminum because that is all I could afford, but then a buddy on this forum posted that a guy a couple hours away from me had a stack of these 4x8 sheets for I think $40 ea if I remember correctly. That is like $100 off regular price so I bought enough for two teardrops! The rest are for a buddy of mine's teardrop when we get around to building his. I had been saying this was .040 recently untilI looked up my original posts, and I was surprised to see that it was so thick! Cool! That has probably helped my jigsaw and router from melting it which can be an issue sometimes.

I put on the galley wall cap last night around midnight, and decided that the new spar I added to the hatch was hitting the galley wall when closing due to the different angle. (I THEN remembered this was a problem I had thought about a long time ago that I would solve "now" haha) so I couldn't think of any other solution that to change the angle so I cranked up the jigsaw, changed the base angle and proceeded to jack that board all up! The jigsaw blade moved all around, but it had to be done. (I had the garage door closed so I wouldn't bug the neighbors TOO much). This was just a rough cut anyway and I will get after it with the belt sander and make it right probably Thursday or Friday when I can work on it next. Then I can get it installed.

Still pondering those dang $75 refrigerator hinges for the doors too...

[aggie79]

I put on the galley wall cap last night around midnight, and decided that the new spar I added to the hatch was hitting the galley wall when closing due to the different angle. (I THEN remembered this was a problem I had thought about a long time ago that I would solve "now" haha) so I couldn't think of any other solution that to change the angle so I cranked up the jigsaw, changed the base angle and proceeded to jack that board all up! The jigsaw blade moved all around, but it had to be done. (I had the garage door closed so I wouldn't bug the neighbors TOO much). This was just a rough cut anyway and I will get after it with the belt sander and make it right probably Thursday or Friday when I can work on it next. Then I can get it installed.

Thomas - As is your teardrop, your "heat of the battle" problem solving skills are impressive. I hope you don't mind me "following in your wake" and using your experiences to cut down on my mistakes. (Mine still actually outnumber yours; I'm just not that forthright with them.)

Still pondering those dang $75 refrigerator hinges for the doors too...

Not to confuse things even more, I have four of the hinges, but then Mark brought up the question of two versus three per door. I'm leaning toward three but I don't want to spend the money.

Tom