Hello from Nova Scotia, Canada

[julesap]

Wow! What a great site with amazing people! I have just started my teardrop camper and stumbled across this site. Everyone on here seems to have an amazing amount of experience. When I told my friends what I was up too, for the most part they all can not wait to see what the final produce is going to look like. I have been looking at small boler's and scamps for years but never really liked them. I came across this design via a commercial site of a company in Quebec who manufactures them and not with the same smallness and they want $24,000.00 for them. Nice but I do not have the $$. I have the trailer purchased, a home made 4' X 8' trailer. Made a plan. A little concerned about tongue weight? Going to look at used windows from a 17' boler soon. PLEASE PLEASE, do not hesitate to give me any advise. I am a single female going to do this for me but am not too proud to take any advice.

[Roly Nelson]

Welcome to the forum, Julesap. Good for you, already got your trailer frame and are ready to start your build. When I began my trailer construction, I was told that 2/3 of your trailer should be in front of the wheels and 1/3 should be behind the wheels. It worked for me and my tongue weight is just fine. In my humble opinion, I feel most teardrops are made way too heavy, using too thick material for the floor and walls. It is a matter of choice, and insulation and interior paneling may be a consideration where you live.

Here in So Calif, 1/4 inch sides worked well for me, but I have yet to see another built that way. Perhaps you could post a sketch of your plans, so we can provide some feed back, as you suggested. Wow, a gal going for a TD build, great, I love it. Good luck on your build, take pics and post em and remember, we are here to help.
Roly

[Steve_Cox]

Hello Jules,

We are really glad you found us. We have lots of very capable lady tiny trailer builders here on the forum and it is always nice to add another.

I agree with Roly about the location of the wheels/axle. As drawn you would have a negative tongue weight and the trailer would sway back and forth badly at highway speeds.

Another advantage of moving the axle back would allow the door to be placed farther back, that way getting into the trailer would be more ergonomically pleasing. As you sit down in the door you could swing your legs in and just lay down. With the door forward as drawn you would always have to get in in an upright position and scoot down the bed to be in the reclining position.

Other than that, like the drawing

[Shadow Catcher]

One thing to remember is that tongue weight is controlled by wheel placement, fore and aft which might have to be altered. There are formula for ascertaining where they need to be for weight and towability.

[julesap]

Thanks everyone for the advice on the axel placement. I was thinking about making the camper a little longer by extending it to the front but have since rethought that. I found a local person who can weld and he is going to remove the axel and push it back about a foot. This should resolve the issue? I am trying to attach what I am talking about to this, if you can not see it, go to my galley. Thanks again for any suggestions you can give. I have a feeling I am going to be asking a few questions...lol

[julesap]

Hi Roly,

I like your idea but I already have the plywood. it is going to have solid 3/4 select spruce plywood and the roof is 1/2 plywood. I notice alot of people frame and skin both sides with insulation on the inside. I thought for me, the easiest construction is cut it out of a solid sheet of plywood, rotor notches across the roof area to inset the spars instead of using L brackets. Will see how this works and update my gallery as i go along.

Jules

[Steve_Cox]

[julesap]

My trailer is still in the shop getting it's modifications so I am taking some time to research windows and other hardware. I purchase some old windows which came out of an old boler. they are aprox. 18 x 23. not sure if I like them. I can purchase windows on ebay for about $50.00 but then the shipping will cost the same if not more. Anyone know of any Canadian suppliers. also, what is the standard size of the door opening?

[julesap]

The build is progressing. Got the base trailer back and am working on the sides. Any suggestions from the pics would be greatly appreciated.

[julesap]

Been a real challenge getting all the stuff I need. Not being a builder, every time I made a cut, I would measure it about 3 or 4 times and then do the cut. My dad is the builder and have had to pic his brain a few times but other than that, it has been all me. I am getting down to the harder stuff and going to hopefully get my dad to give me a hand. I think I can do the roof by myself, but I will get my dad involved when it comes time to cut the galley hatch out. I think that is the easiest way to do it. Also going to get him to take care of the trim and help with the wiring. Having a blast doing this project though! I use think I like sewing but I like doing this much better. I think wood is much more forgiving than material. Will keep my photo gallery up to date but it anyone is interested, I also started a blog on the project as well. You can check it out if you like: http://julesteardropcamper.blogspot.com/