6' x 9' Teardrop Build

[nevadatear]

Hum.. One of those pics looks familiar! Glad you found an idea you could use, since we stole if from Hodder! Looking good. Epoxy in the winter is sure fun.

As for doors, are you going with a crosswise bed? If so, then a single door is fine, but if there are two of you and the bed is the usual way, I might rethink that idea. We made our own too, and keeping them leak proof with wood doors is always a challenge as they warp. Probably adding a trim on the outside as well as inside would make it better, we choose not to for the looks. Doug's I think seal a little better. we have made ours pretty well leak free by adequate weatherstripping and raingutters. We followed the door plan per the build manual by Fredricks, available at http://www.campingclassics.com/shopman05.html

[OCD]

We are planning to run the 54" wide 8" thick mattress lengthwise, the cabin will be 72" wide and nearly 5' high inside. One door is one less to warp/leak and the wife feels the tent we're tired of sleeping in at the moment only has one door...we'll see. I do understand to obvious benefit of two doors and may amend the decision later. The extra 18" width I have to play with could be cabinetry or benches with table that drop down into a bed, I may just have enough height. To cut down on the doors warping, I'll build a 1" square tube metal frame with a wooden skin, could even cover the metal with that iron-on veneer around the edges.

[nevadatear]

Okay dokey. Is your tent small enough that you have to crawl over one another to get out? That is the main thing, but the other upside I never realized is the convenience of loading the thing. I go from one side to the other, to avoid crawling in the tear to put clothes in the overhead and foot cabinets, or to make the bed. And I would HATE to have to crawl across the bed to tuck in the sheets. That alone is a huge advantage to two doors (we are five wide). Now, if you are using sleeping bags, that is not an issue either.

But the important thing is, as Doug Hodder says, build what you like, no one has to camp in it but you!.

[OCD]

After Christmas there were deals to be had! I couldn't resist buying this little router table with 1.5hp router for $99, just perfect for making biscuit cuts and cabinet door trim, etc. Also picked up an 80 tooth blade for the saw, hopefully will make nicer cuts with the pine.


Here's the mockup trim, decided I'd practice on the $3 per board wood before moving onto the $2.20/ft clear pine.


Can I assume the pieces should be sanded and stained before I glue them together? I'm thinking of using epoxy and don't want the wood fibres full of glue. Should I sand, stain, glue together and then re-sand, re-stain before epoxying over them?

[Forrest747]

Epoxy in the winter is sure fun.

Not to hijack the tread but why is epoxy fun in winter. I am thinking I may be doing it in late january or Feb.

[OCD]

nevadatear wrote: Epoxy in the winter is sure fun.

Colder the weather, the slower epoxy hardens. I originally thought I could use fast hardener, stoak up the woodstove and have no problems, but it stayed sort of tacky for days. Finally had to move into the house and surround the diningroom table with workmates to support it one side at a time, flipping back and forth until I got three coats both sides of both pieces. In summer even with slow hardener you may not get a full cup spread out before it hardens...I think that's what he meant.

[OCD]

The floor is on, countersunk the holes and used #12 metal screws to secure the decking after construction adhesive was put between the sheets of 5/8" plywood and finished up by using the belt sander to ensure a smooth transition between the ply for the vinyl floor to go on.

A shot of the door pattern I made from OSB after I'd finished routing the door openings. Secured the pattern to the door with screws at each corner where the window will be cut out, drilled a hole at each corner and ran the router around. Not being a woodworker, I was plenty nervous at this step but things worked out really well.

[rand_98201]

youre moving along pretty quickly.I really like youre ideas with the recievers built in for the stove and bike and so on.

[OCD]

Thanks Rand:

I've recently come to realize while travelling I could put my spare tire in one of those receivers too. That way if I need to use it, I won't have to be crawling around underneath like I was planning to do.