The LT... Thomas' Luxury Tent

[2bits]

Thanks guys! Now for the OTHER side!

[2bits]

Finished the driver's side trim tonight...

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[teardrop_focus]

Looks great, Thomas!

[Catoosa Grani]

Lookin good Thomas! Lookin forward to seeing you both this week.

Grani

[GeoDrop]

Thomas,

Where did you source the aluminum trim with vinyl insert? How long was the 'short leg' (the part that covers the edge of the plywood)? I think I have a similar setup where the outside galley plywood will overlap the sidewalls. I need some trim to cover the ends. I am currently planning on using just the regular stuff that Gran sells but then I have the issue of hiding rivets. If I can find the vinyl insert trim with a short side leg, that would be great.

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!!!

[2bits]

Thomas,

Where did you source the aluminum trim with vinyl insert? How long was the 'short leg' (the part that covers the edge of the plywood)? I think I have a similar setup where the outside galley plywood will overlap the sidewalls. I need some trim to cover the ends. I am currently planning on using just the regular stuff that Grant sells but then I have the issue of hiding rivets. If I can find the vinyl insert trim with a short side leg, that would be great.

Hey there,

Well, this might be what you are looking for because their uneven trim is what I got and the short leg was about 1/8" overhang. It hung over just enough, and was super easy to bend around my tight radius. They also have an even trim (no leg) too. I got it from Redneck Trailer, click the link below and then download the last choice "Entire Section" and then go to page 15:

http://www.redneck-trailer.com/2009/H.htm

They have a location at 10606 E 26th St. North, Wichita, KS 67226
Phone: 316-263-6090

Good luck!

[atahoekid]

So I just finished all 53 pages of your build thread and now my head hurts. There is so much great information in that thread. I love the way you tackle the problems and I love the fact that there are so many others willing to offer their advice and expertise. I won't be starting on my build until the spring so for right now I'm just gathering info and ideas. Your build is a great inspiration

I really like the style, clean and classic...

Not that I'm trying to make this a competition but you've really set the bar high. If mine turns out half as good as yours, I'll be ecstatic Great Job

[2bits]

Hey, I always love it when someone comes in and reads all of the build! I have done that so many times and I am always glad that my posts are valuable to others and that it can contribute to anyone. I took my first inspiration from Doug Hodder's Road Titan, and a bunch of others followed. I never tried to be as good or even compare my build to anyone else's. I just always tried to make it exactly what *I* wanted, and build it with the style that most spoke to me and I think I got pretty close. Ideas are shared freely and openly here and I could NOT have done it without the input from others and without the countless hours reading and learning and getting new ideas for every little detail! Thank you for the huge compliment and I will look forward to watching your build from start to "finish". as you will learn, finished is a relative term haha...

What's the most important thing that I have learned the hard way? Plan 10 steps ahead, and seal the end grain!

Thanks again!

[Lookfar]

Thomas, I've only read your entire thread once since I'm on wireless internet, which is only marginally faster than dial up. That was some very interesting reading, and the result is still very impressive. Even more so in person. Simple design, carried out very well.
Mine is not even close, but wasnt' meant to be. I certainly understand the 10 steps ahead part, wish I'd done more of that. Look forward to seeing you and the LT again at Beavers Bend.

[2bits]

Hey Beavers Bend is a staple too!!! It is like a family reunion!

[wax]

hiya Thomas,

Hey, I always love it when someone comes in and reads all of the build!

glad to hear it, ive just done that too, really fantastic, ive shown the pix of your trailer to lots of people all who thought it looked great, its up there with the best ive seen and ive been lurking the forum for 3 years, on and off and this is the best build thread of seen, very inspiring(altho a wee bit intimidating).

im starting my first build on thursday, and im planning to copy some of your basic design elements -if you dont mind(black roof, mahogany stained sides and the trims to cover the screw holes) my build is set to be finished before christmas, so im doing the weekender basic design, tho i cant live without curves so il be sticking to a classic shape, it wont be any sort of rival to your awesome trailer, not even close, the trailer frame im working off is dictating some fairly hideous shapes(the whole trailer will be ABOVE the silly little wheels...) but i guess its gunna be what you americans call a GIT-ER-DUN job, bang it up, save the bucks.

thanx for a great read, youve given me lots of good ideas and most of all excited the hell out of me, it is just like a clubhouse/fort ive wanted since i was small, i even dreamed of a mobile fortress i could roll around with with my girlfriend when i was a kid.

[2bits]

Hey there Wax,

Thank you much! I think you hit it right! I have always built Forts and clubhouses and tree houses when I was a kid, and when I discovered teardrop trailers I found "it". I totally understand the Git er done philosophy. That tends (or at least with me) to happen near the end of the build when you see the light at the end of the tunnel. I could never put together model cars when I was young, I would rip them out of the box and immediately put them together. No painting, details work, just wanted to see it! I had to really work not to do that too much, but if you are planing it that way from the beginning then that gives you alot of freedom to be really creative!

Good luck on your build and thanks a bunch!

[Keith.B.Nimble]

I love this build. I love the color that you chose, that gunstock stain looks really nice.

I admit that I didn't read every word of all 53 pages so please excuse me for asking something that may have already been brought out. Where did you get your moon roof? If you had to do it again would you still put it in?

Thanks
Keith

[gunn]

wow not only a great how too. but great pictures also.
i'm new here and i love everyones build that i've read. yours is over the top and filled with great info for a newbie.
i have a question what was your final cost or close to it.
second question what did the camper weigh after it was finished.
i have a new harbor freight trailor 3 years old never used just sitting in the garage and im thinking of building something on it. probblem is i think its only rated at 950 lbs. and is 4 x 8 fold up. not sure if this would work for one of these tear drops.
thanks for any info you can give me..lee

[GuyllFyre]

i have a new harbor freight trailor 3 years old never used just sitting in the garage and im thinking of building something on it. probblem is i think its only rated at 950 lbs. and is 4 x 8 fold up. not sure if this would work for one of these tear drops.
thanks for any info you can give me..lee

It'll work fine if you pay attention to weight in your build.
If you do it right and don't over-build, you can keep the teardrop to around 600 lbs, allowing leeway to add the gear.

The folding feature isn't a big deal, just eliminate it. There's lots of info regarding how to do that.