"BB Chgr" TearDrop

[Miriam C.]

You have done a great job on the profile. I am wondering if the curve on the door drops off too soon. Does that make sense? I am thinking when you sit in the doorway you might have less head room than you need.

[chgrsteve67]

I'm waiting to get my fenders before finalizing the door. It may get bigger or smaller.

Also remember I'm not building a camp trailer it will be a utility trailer to haul the luggage and car show stuff in. No kitchen.

[chgrsteve67]

Progress has been slow. Have had to wait on people to deliver what they promised. My metal crafter went MIA on me and still hasn't surfaced. Had to make my own template and bend the steel for the frame myself. Still have the doors to do.

Fenders finally arrived and the Steel Smoothies are going to work out perfect. I need to position the fenders and weld in the mounts.





Got my Charger back from the media blaster today.
Time for the body work.




Steve (Its only money - just wish a had a lot more of it)

[chgrsteve67]

Got the sides on and the door opening cut.
Still have to put the fenders on to see when I need to add support.

[starleen2]

looking good - both the tear and the Charger

[chgrsteve67]

So I finished my tow vehicle and I'm now back working on the Teardrop.

Got it out from under the cover and had a fair amount of clean up to do.
The outer walls did not fare well during the winter so they will need to be replaced. I have some surface rust on the tubing so I need to finish sanding that off and primer the tubing so it does not do that again.

I got the floor cut and fit but could not find any sealer at the local Home Depot so it will have to come back out.

I found some rubberized asphalt based paint today at the Tractor Supply store so next weekend I will seal the floor.

I also got the two inner walls cut and fit but I cannot secure them in place until the floor is permanently in.

Sorry I don’t have any new pictures. Maybe I will take some next weekend.

Steve

[planovet]

So I finished my tow vehicle and I'm now back working on the Teardrop.

Nice!

[chgrsteve67]

Water proofed the floor and installed.

Also installed the inner walls.









Not a lot of progress but prgress none the less.

[switterstx]

Steve,

Excellent progress. I just have my skeleton built but not the sides done and I've been at it almost a year now.

I'm curious how you are fastening the plywood to the metal. And, although I'm already beyond bending the square tubing, I wonder how you did it. I wish I could have pulled off that many curves on mine.

Thanks,
Tom

[aggie79]

Steve, Excellent progress.

I agree. Keep things moving along on the great design and build method.

I'm curious how you are fastening the plywood to the metal.

So am I (and how you plan to attached your exterior skin.)

Thanks, Tom

[chgrsteve67]

For some of the smaller pieces I made a sqare tubing bender out of a old truck brake pad and a 6 foot piece of pipe. A propane torch to heat up the tubing makes it more plyable.

For the big pieces I used two 1\2 inch sheets of plywood screwed together, cut out to the shape of the trailier, I made a lever that could be positioned in several locations that I used to pull the heated pipe around the template. I made several ancors so after its pulled around the template I could keep the tubing in place and then spray it with water. THis hardens the steel so it keeps its shape and puts out the burning plywood.

I thought about taking pictures of the process but I figured people would laugh.

The walls are secured to the frame with tapered steel screws. When its done you will be able to see about 5 or 6 of them however with a little wood putty I don't think they will be that noticable.

Outer skin will be attached with a combination of liqued nails and finishing screws or rivits.

I just got my exterior clearence lights. But not my Brake lights.
I will be ordering my molding and door hinges tonight.

I still need to make the box to recess my license plate in the rear of the trailer and tail light placement.

I will order my outer skin when I get a lot closer to actually skinning the trailer.

I need to also goto the home improvement store and buy foam insulation for the walls.

I'm just figuring out things as I go along. No plans.

Don't really know how its all going to trun out when all is said and done.

Steve

[teardrop_focus]

I guess this thread was buried when I signed up here a couple of months ago... this trailer of yours, Steve, is going to look great behind that cherry Charger of yours! Good job on both!

chgrsteve67 - Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:55 pm

Before I finalize my design I have to get the ride hight correct so I don't make the tear taller than my Charger.

I agree! I feel the same way about the 48-inch-tall tear I've got planned... it's going to match the ride and roof height of my tow car... minus one inch; the tow car's 49 inches from rocker to roof.

chgrsteve67


I just can't leave anything alone and love to screw it up my own way.

LOL. I can't leave much of anything "stock", either.

chgrsteve67


I promise you if nothing else this will be a very entertaining build and one of a kind.

Probably should start a new section called "How not to build a Teardrop"

chgrsteve67 - Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:14 pm

I thought about taking pictures of the [tube-bending] process but I figured people would laugh.

I like your sense of humor, sir!

chgrsteve67

I'm just figuring out things as I go along. No plans.

Don't really know how its all going to trun out when all is said and done.

That's livin' on the edge, my good man... and we all know if you're not living on the edge then you're taking up too much space.




Looks like it's going to turn out great! You'll more than likely want to build another teardrop but with a galley just so you can go camping and gorge yourself on some of the Northwest's best dutch oven camp cuisine!



Looking forward to seeing the finished tear! Again, great work so far on both the Charger and the trailer!

[planovet]

I'm just figuring out things as I go along. No plans.

That's what I did. Looking good so far!

[chgrsteve67]

Been a little while since I posted any progress pictures.

Progress has been slow, today I got the rest of the insulation installed and the side boards cut.

I need to get my door latches figured out before I can finish skinning and installing them. Next on the list.

Also picked up my aluminum skin today

[kennyrayandersen]

couple of GREAT projects