Building The Atma Travelear Teardrop

[Junkboy999]

Looking good Dave.

I got another question for you. What is the cross section look like for the aluminum Door trim you used for the entry doors. Do you have a Link on the net for it. I really need to redo the doors on my used TD.

Thanks Terry
Junkboy999

[DMcCam]

Thank you Terry! I got my door trim from Grant at Lil' Bear here's the link: http://www.lilbear.teardrops.net/parts.html#molding He has several sizes to choose from. My walls are 1" thick so I bought the 1 1/4" then ripped it down on the table saw.

Cheers,

Dave

[TRP]

Looking great Dave!

What battery did you go with for your build? I'm rebuilding an original 55 Benroy and I'm about at the stage where I should start to think about where to mount a battery and fuse block. I'm not quite ready for final fit and finish yet, but it would be easier to test to make sure I didn't blast a nail through any wires at this stage.

I only plan to run a dome light in the interior cabin, the galley dome light, the Fantastic Fan, and two small reading lights. I may also install a 12v charger receptacle for phones, tablets, and similar devices.

Any advice you can offer would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Ted

[DMcCam]

Hi Ted, I just got a standard marine 12 volt deep cycle for about $100. It specs out about the same output as the high end sealed batteries at half the price. I'm going to have a few small vents in the top of the tongue box and one or two in the bottom of the battery compartment. I isolated my 12 volt plugs and Fantastic fan on separate circuits and used 14 gauge wire throughout (I know, a bit overkill but there it is). I'll be doing my final electrical installation soon I hope.

All the best,

Dave

[DMcCam]

Hi Everyone, I had only a little teardrop time this weekend.


After installing the second roof edge trim I wanted to see how the vinyl insert molding would look. This shot shows the lower front edge molding installed too.


Here's a high view of the way the molding and hinge worked out.


A high close up of the joint between them.


This is how they mate together.


Passenger side view. I left the tails long on the roof edge molding so I can trim it to length after the bottom edge molding's installed.


Today I bent the door edge molding and temporarily installed it with small screws. The 'T' molding is next then final assembly with sealer.

All the best,

Dave

[danlott]

Looks very good Dave. Really looking forward to seeing the finished teardrop in person.

Dan

[Captain Monkeyshines]

Here's a high view of the way the molding and hinge worked out.


A high close up of the joint between them.

Dave, I've got a couple of things to say things:
A) that's an awesome looking teardrop, you've definitely got it going on

and 2) the trim looks very well fitted, and I was wondering (not to throw a monkey in your wrench, but) that area near the hinge looks to me like it will hold water when it rains. This might potentially seep down into your cabinets or your galley. Shouldn't there be a small open area for any water to drain off the roof? Not that I've ever built a teardrop or anything, though, just askin'

C) Love the whole design!

[kinto]

Nice!

Looking forward to seeing it in the wilds! My girl & I were into camping before, but we go probably 2x as much now since it's only a matter of hitching up the tear/ no set-up unless you feel like it/ no more hauling camp crap (see: necessities) up & down from the basement...

*Almost* everything 'in there' is an amazing feeling... just grab clothes & beer!


Cheers!

kent

[DMcCam]

Dave, I've got a couple of things to say things:
A) that's an awesome looking teardrop, you've definitely got it going on and 2) the trim looks very well fitted, and I was wondering (not to throw a monkey in your wrench, but) that area near the hinge looks to me like it will hold water when it rains. This might potentially seep down into your cabinets or your galley. Shouldn't there be a small open area for any water to drain off the roof? Not that I've ever built a teardrop or anything, though, just askin'
C) Love the whole design!

Hi Captain, Thank you for your kind compliments on my little trailer build. Your question came up as we were installing the trim and we decided to go ahead with it even though it will have a pool of catch water when it rains. With the amount of sealer we used the area is very water tight. If it becomes an issue I'll make a pathway for the water through the mitered joint to the hinge edge. Come to think of it, it's probably a good idea to do anyway. We camp mostly in the high sierra range in good weather. Rainstorms are very infrequent.

Hey Kent, I can't wait to be out camping...too good to miss.

All the best,

Dave

[DMcCam]

Hi Everyone, Got a few things accomplished this week. Mostly I was fitting and bending the .063 aluminum. Man is that stuff stiff!


We had to figured out a way to bend the aluminum around the tongue box hatch, the lower bottom pan and the hatch. You can see how extreme the bend needed to be looking at the TB hatch.


Using a 6" steal pipe as a crude form, we placed spacers under both ends and added a side guide to keep the bends square.


This image shows equal distance marks on the back side of the TB hatch aluminum.


Taking our time, we bent the TB hatch little by little.


Here you can see that it worked pretty well. The contact cement and trim will easily hold it to the curve now.


Here's how the little bottom pan shaped up. We cut a kerf in the back side of the sheet aluminum then bent it to fit the deck end. It's held in place with small screws that will be replaced with the screw nails once the contact cement is applied.


You can see how tight the fit is with the galley walls.


I think it will flatten out and fit nicely with the contact cement and trim.

Now on to fitting the aluminum for the hatch!

All the best,

Dave

[Richard Miller]

Looking great Dave, I really look forward to the updates, getting close

[KCStudly]

Dave, I haven't commented too much, but I have to tell you just how much I know we all appreciate your eye for design and the continuity of your theme. The Atma "is" the "Ultimate".

[nevadatear]

Keep on plugging Dave! Three weeks an counting. We don't care if it is finished, just street legal. You could always license it in lovelock. Just got to get it this far! See you soon. You will be camping at twain and tears! I think u can, I think u can.

[DMcCam]

Looking great Dave, I really look forward to the updates, getting close

Thank you Richard!

Dave, I haven't commented too much, but I have to tell you just how much I know we all appreciate your eye for design and the continuity of your theme. The Atma "is" the "Ultimate".

You are very kind KC. I hope she measures up when she's all done. The pictures don't show many of the oopses.

Keep on plugging Dave! Three weeks an counting. We don't care if it is finished, just street legal. You could always license it in lovelock. Just got to get it this far! See you soon. You will be camping at twain and tears! I think u can, I think u can.

Hi Debbie, I'm a working on it girl! Unionville here we come...

Cheers,

Dave

[DMcCam]

Hi Everyone, We finally got around to the 'T' molding on the doors this long weekend. I followed Grants method of relieving the inside edge.


This is the underside of the 'T' molding relieved to about 3/16". We pre-drilled the mounting holes after laying out the corners.


I've got the first screw in holding the molding in place.


Each stick is 12' long because my doors are a bit over 11' in circumference. Here you can see two of the relieved edges on the inside of the molding.


This shot shows the 'T' molding attached with a screw to the outside door edge. You can see that I hadn't cleaned up the silicon yet from the edge molding install.


Working very slowly and carefully, I bent the molding around the corners securing it in place with screws.




I'm pleased the way they turned out although I do have a few wrinkles in the curves. I hope I can figure out a way to smooth them out. The seam will be hidden behind my hinges.


The inside looks like this all ready for final installation and seals.

All the best,

Dave