my first teardrop updated 1-16-11

[emtgared]

well this is my first teardrop build.. its not gonna be perfect, but all im looking for is something better than a tent lol.. im not much of a carpenter, but its turning out pretty good so far..


got the fever and started doing some research..

same day, found this on craigslist for free..



so i took it home, stripped it down re greased the bearings, and wire wheeled the frame to get a little rust off.. all in all its in great shape, just a little surface rust..


i then painted it with a high quality rust inhibiting primer..

and then forgot to take a picture i was so excited lol..

i then started planning it out.. after several computer drawings and playing, i came up with a home design similar to a benroy i guess, but mainly just kinda making it up as i go lol.. it will be 4 feet tall, 8 ft long, and about 6 ft wide, since the trailer is that wide and i dont wanna modify it..

since the wheels are interior and needed clearance, i thought about floor with raised wheel wells for the wells, but theres not enough space between them for a full size bed which is my plan. so i then thought about raising the whole floor, which i ended up doing.. this allows me to have a 7 inch tall storage space under the entire floor pretty much, and i really like the extra storage.. it cuts down on the headroom, but i still will be able to sit up no problem..

so i built the frame with 2x8s ripped down to 6.5 inches, which with the plywood on both sides gives 7 inches for the tires (tires stick up 4 inches plus 3 inches travel until the axle will hit the frame, so max travel.)

yes i know it is pretty overbuilt.. i considered using a sandwich type sides to the base, but after figuring the weight saved it really wasnt a whole lot difference and a lot more work.. and the sides of the base gives me an excellent place to attach the sides.

heres the base semi built, enough for the wheel wells built and me to be able to cover it with the lovely black gooy mess..



and again i forgot to take a picture after i covered it and myself with blackness lol.. if only i could train my dog to take photos id be set..

after a few days at work i returned home and put it on the trailer..



i then finished putting in my bracing ( again probably overbuilt)



you can see where all my storage will be

i then built the interior floor panels. this are all able to be removed, so i can get to the storage.. oh and im plannng on using a futon style mattress inside, so it will allow me to fold the mattress out of the way to get to the storage. i will probably use this storage for items for camp set up, things i wont be needing access alot so i dont have to keep moving my bed.



then, back to work for a few days.. im an EMT, so i took advantage of my down time at the shop, playing with the projector and the computer playing with the deign of the walls on a full size scale lol..

i came home. drew out some walls, and build away i went lol..

first wall up.. you can see some of the supports for the interior cabinets i had planned up.. these helped setting the wall on the base, i then screwed the walls to the base..



both walls up



since they are attatched to the base so well, even wothout any roof spars in place they are really sturdy.. helps in this oklahoma wind lol..

i then began placing the roof spars in. i also framed in the roof vent ( i framed in one one both sides, in case i ever want to add a second one.. i just have one fantastic vent to go in now, but i figured a few extra boards wouldnt hurt in case i ever want to add another vent or something later.. also put in the interior upper cabinent frame to give extra stabilization.. this cabinent will have doors on both the galley side and bed side, so i can access items from both sides if needed.. im gonna have a small galley, but i like it simple.. probably wont have a sink or anything, just mainly storage.





i also started placing in the nailing strips for the walls and roof..





oh and my workshop.. at least my landlord is very nice



and my helper.. he supervises me through the window, but hes not much for running power tools..


thats about where i am right now.. im back to work until saturday, and if the weathers nice ill be back at it.. hoping to get the wall insulation and wiring in, then the walls and interior ceiling in this weekend..

[Juneaudave]

Really, really nice!!!!! Give yourself a big pat on the back!

[starleen2]

you're coming along real good - don't forget to take plenty of - you might need them later on!

[StPatron]

You're moving right along!

Congratulations and welcome to the forum.

[Miriam C.]

You have one heck of a start! Good job!

[emtgared]

ive been slacking on the updates so i figured id catch up today.


insulated and ran some wiring in the walls.



dad came over and had to work on something. so he helped me on the inner wall panels



inner walls in, and inner ceiling skin being put in place









roof insulated and skinned





a couple of coats of cpes.









started framing up the hatch



hatch skinned





filled the seams and screw holes





painted exterior with a high quality exterior paint. will probably cover with aluminum in the future, but for now paint will work.





framed up doors




doors hung






stained doors and interior







built interior electrical panel


cabinent doors made and mounted. counter top and backsplash covered with stick on floor tiles from lowes (glued on though for better hold) carried in to electrical panel inside.







now just to finish tiling the floor, figure out what handles to use on the cabinents, and some more trim work tomorrow.

[YuGun]

Hello, Ä°t is going well!.
Have good chance of your build!

[StPatron]

Outstanding! Thanks for all the pics.

[mezmo]

Hi emtgared,

Great Going!

You've made significant progress so far, best of luck as you
get towards the finish.

I like the radius-ed corners on the non-hinge side of your doors.
Nice and distinctive, but still clean and simple. I think it's a good
example of the design providing the ornamentation.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[aggie79]

Good...ness! You have really been working! The teardrop is looking incredible!

Are you going to make the Beavers Bend outing?

Take care, Tom

[emtgared]

Hi emtgared,

Great Going!

You've made significant progress so far, best of luck as you
get towards the finish.

I like the radius-ed corners on the non-hinge side of your doors.
Nice and distinctive, but still clean and simple. I think it's a good
example of the design providing the ornamentation.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

thanks, those corners turned out to be a major pain. t molding wouldnt work, even with heating it it kept breaking. so i ended up using some alluminum angle from lowes. heated it and bent it around a mold. took forever and lots of heat, but made it out ok. ill take some pics of the mold i made and up close of the doors today.

[emtgared]

thanks everyone for the replies. ill be making it to as many meets as i can this year, so i hope to meet some of you. the tear is not perfect, but for a home built camper in my driveway, with little experience i think its turning out ok. one mistake you can see is the interior cabinet face, i cpes the luan on the ceiling, and it gets kinda messy upside down, and i got some on the cabinet face. since it soaks into the wood, i sanded and sanded but never really got deep enough to get past it, so it left a pattern when i stained the cabinet frame. oh well it adds character lol

you can see it above the cabinet doors in this photo.

[parnold]

Wow!

I really like the "wide body". Your carpentry looks just fine too!

Keep up the good work.

[b.bodemer]

Lookin good. I just love watching all the trailer builds!

Barb

[Facemeltingly Epic]

Very nice work! I hope mine turns out that well (once I decide what exactly I want to build, and THEN once I get off my duff and start building it ).