Starting my first teardrop. Campable...

[Oldragbaggers]

I wouldn't butcher those pretty walls for NOTHING. That wood is gorgeous.

I think insulation can have it's advantages, but there are plenty of people out there camping in teardrops without it and they are perfectly happy (and comfortable).

I insulated mine, but if I had it to do over again I wouldn't. It cost me a lot of extra time and money and I doubt that the difference it makes will be proportionate to what it cost. If you ventilate properly that will take care of your condensation problem and if you're not camping in extreme temperatures, I wouldn't worry about it.

[cop1406]

I wouldn't butcher those pretty walls for NOTHING. That wood is gorgeous.

I think insulation can have it's advantages, but there are plenty of people out there camping in teardrops without it and they are perfectly happy (and comfortable).

I insulated mine, but if I had it to do over again I wouldn't. It cost me a lot of extra time and money and I doubt that the difference it makes will be proportionate to what it cost. If you ventilate properly that will take care of your condensation problem and if you're not camping in extreme temperatures, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks. I lucked out. Lowes had some very nice oak ply and I picked through the stack to find the one with the blue/gray grain. Thanks for the info. Would be a lot easier build without insulation.

[cop1406]

I cut a door and put up some spars. Only did one door because it was stressful!! I will cut the other one in the next few days. Ordered my led lights, Progressive Dynamics power center, and marine ice chest.

Any advice on bending the Luan. Just messing with it and it does not seem like it wants to bend enough to make the front curve... Anyway trailer is coming along and I am having fun with it...

[cop1406]

Well, I got the interior skin in. I tried with 1/4 Luan.... No way, broke it pretty bad. So off I went to the hardware store and bought 1/8 inch Mahogony Plywood. I got it in with some drama and had to use screws on the inside as It would pull out the brad nails.

I could probably take out the screws now and patch the holes because the glue has dried but I will probably leave them in for insurance and they are dark colored screws and do not stick out. All in all, the interior skinning was frustrating. Hopefully the exterior skinning will be easier....

[Oldragbaggers]

It was also our experience that the interior skinning was MUCH harder than the exterior skinning. If you've got the interior done you're pretty much home free!! Congrats on completing that major step. You have a "roof over your head" now.

[cop1406]

I'm really enjoying it excluding the interior skinning. I am looking forward to the Cabinet build. I think I am going to mount the cooler on the tongue so I can use the full galley cabinets. The ice chest would take up 3/4 of the lower cabinets.

[Woodbutcher]

Some one on here attaches the inside roof to the spars first, then bend it in and attach each spar to the sides as you go. One of these times I am going to try that. He screwed a block to the outside of the spar and screwed the block down to the top edge of the side first. Then he screwed the spar in and removed the block. Looked like a real good way to solve the interior roof problem.

[cop1406]

That proves that there is more than one way to skin a cat.....errrrr trailer.

[LDK]

Some one on here attaches the inside roof to the spars first, then bend it in and attach each spar to the sides as you go. One of these times I am going to try that. He screwed a block to the outside of the spar and screwed the block down to the top edge of the side first. Then he screwed the spar in and removed the block. Looked like a real good way to solve the interior roof problem.

I remember seeing that thread too but I can't remember who it was.

[Vedette]

Very inspirational!
Keep op the good work.
Welcome to the Forum.

[pappaw]

That's going to be a kewl tear

Like your Mini too

Cheers

[kinto]

I could probably take out the screws now and patch the holes because the glue has dried but I will probably leave them in for insurance and they are dark colored screws and do not stick out.

on mine once the glue was dry i took the screws out one by one, countersunk the hole a tiny bit, put the screw back in, used a dab of woodfiller then sanded. mainly for the insurance purpose that you mentioned but also because i figured other than building the camper i didn't really have a need for a couple hundred extra screws.

looking good man, keep it up!

kent

[cop1406]

Thanks y'all, couldn't do it without the people of this forum.

My progressive dynamics 4045 converter charger was delivered today. I know I will need some moral support for the wiring.

[cop1406]

Okay, as you can see, I worked on the galley a wee bit. Picked up a piece of laminate at Lowes and cut it to fit. Now I am working on the lower cabinets and trying to figure out how I am going to do the uppers. I also put in my power center but have not started wiring yet.

All in all it is going well. Wiring will be tough considering the instruction for the PD 4045 are pretty much nonexistent. That gap you see the daylight through ain't nearly as big as it looks. Maybe 1/8 inch. Nothing that some good trim or caulking won't fix.

[finleycraft]

Very Nice! At this rate you should be done before summer is up some good fall camping is in store for you