Troy's Tiki Hut

[spbiknut]

I figured I'd start my build thread from the very beginning. I'm custom building a frame with a torsion axle. My inspiration is coming from the So-Cal Tear in the first picture. It will be a 5'x9' design so that I can get a queen bed inside. Frame will be made of 2x3x1/8 tubing. Looking at a Dexter #9 axle with 10 up start angle, 205 75/R14s mounted on black steel, wagon wheel style rims with zero offset. My idea is to have everything I need for camping as part of the tear, no added stuff to haul, everything will fold out, fold down and be part of the tear somehow (grill, table, umbrella, A/C...etc). Also will be adding a tongue mount for a scooter. Steel is ordered and will be here by next weekend and I'll start welding on it. Below are some pictures of a basic layout on the floor with some tape...helps me visualize how the frame will look. Please add any details that you think might be important.

Thanks

-Troy

[jeff0520]

Looking good so far

[spbiknut]

Steel is here! I still have a few things to organize in the garage and will start cutting and mocking up the frame...if everything goes well I think I'll be tacking things together. I've got the stabilizer jacks ordered and should be here about the same time as the axle. Will upload some pictures of my way of welding up a frame if anyone thinks it would be useful for other people doing the same?

-Troy

[Woodbutcher]

Have fun! We will follow along. If you need help, just holler!

[Seca40]

Wow biknut. You and I are like in parallel universes or something. Our designs are VERY similar. I just ordered my axle, trailer metal and stabilizer jacks and would also like to find some wheels like the ones in the picture you posted .

You beat me to the punch on the build thread though. Congrats on getting started.

Now if I could just find some 5' wide aluminum.

[spbiknut]

Wow biknut. You and I are like in parallel universes or something. Our designs are VERY similar. I just ordered my axle, trailer metal and stabilizer jacks and would also like to find some wheels like the ones in the picture you posted .

You beat me to the punch on the build thread though. Congrats on getting started.

Now if I could just find some 5' wide aluminum.

Thanks! I'm painting mine (same color as the solcal) so i don't really have to worry about the finding the 'wide' stuff. As for the wheels I'm using the ones in the link below and going to have them powder coated...not sure on the color for those just yet. Good luck and I'll be following your build thread once you get it started.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wvi-1 ... /overview/

Have fun! We will follow along. If you need help, just holler!

Thanks! I'll have bunches of questions once I get to the body of the tear. I really like your build...is that 2x3 tubing that you used or 2x2?

-Troy

[spbiknut]

So i changed my plans a bit...going to go with an eight foot frame instead of a nine footer. Main reason is the availability of material large enough and since this is my first teardrop build I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew. Still sticking with the 5' wide interior. Total frame width is 63". Pictures are of the main frame pieces cut and clamp together then leveled and squared. I'm about 1/32 off on squaring so I'll mark that as close enough! I've done ground up builds on hot rods so I know how important this is, but as many of you know "perfectly square" is somewhat of an illusion...a 32nd to a 16th is acceptable...it might start an "discussion", but in my experience that's what works. On the same note if you square up a frame within those specs in under an hour you missed something and are not square. This took me 3 hours and I haven't tacked it yet...will take about the same to tack it together and add the two cross sections. Some may have a nice frame table and can do this with their eyes closed, but I assume most of us are like me...working in a garage that is about as level as a john boat in a hurricane and with limited tools and help. So I will tack it and add the cross sections tomorrow night...check square and level about 50 times while doing so...yes that's what it takes! I also came up with inspiration and a name for my build..."The Tiki Tear"...see last picture.

-Troy

[KCStudly]

Nice start.

The best you can do is try to do the best you can do. You will find that you can pick your battles on the quality, paying attention where it matters and letting some things slide where it doesn't matter (we perfectionists can't get it right every time).

Getting the foundation right is worth the extra time because everything else is built on top of that and the straighter that is the easier the rest will come. It sounds like you get that, so we are kindred spirits and I look forward to your build.

I hope that doesn't sound too wishy washy.

[spbiknut]

Nice start.

The best you can do is try to do the best you can do. You will find that you can pick your battles on the quality, paying attention where it matters and letting some things slide where it doesn't matter (we perfectionists can't get it right every time).

Getting the foundation right is worth the extra time because everything else is built on top of that and the straighter that is the easier the rest will come. It sounds like you get that, so we are kindred spirits and I look forward to your build.

I hope that doesn't sound too wishy washy.

Not wishy washy at all and thanks for the comments. I've been reading your build...looking real good and lots of good info in your posts.

To help others out with some welding tips here...a few principles that I think might help aside from safety steps and experience...welding boils down to metal prep, heat control, patients and consistency. Below you can see how I've prepared an end of the tubing that I'm working with on this project. I've cleaned the mill scale and cut the sharp edge off all the way around. This will help the weld get good penetration all the way threw the metal you working with. Also pictured is how I line up the seams when working with square tubing. I put the seams on the inside and line them up for outside appearance and consistency. I know this is redundant for many of you so I won't do this too often in my build thread, but will point out stuff like that I think might help someone doing things for the first time...like me when I get to the wood working!





-Troy

[spbiknut]

Well there was a mix up with my axle order and it was never placed, so I'm still waiting for it. On a good note the FedEx guy left a present yesterday...the stabilizer jacks are here and I've started to mock them up. Will tack in the mounts tomorrow night. Also got the cross members and tongue tacked in and all squared up. I'll be waiting to burn everything in after I get the axle...no telling when that will be...so I'm running about 2 weeks behind on my schedule now. I'm also keeping a running total on time and cost. Cost will include shipping charges and taxes on every single thing that goes into the build. Hours are up to 11 already including planning time and the frame build to this point. Cost is up to $320...not including the axle because I haven't technically paid for it yet.

[dustboy]

As a Tikiphile, I'm looking forward to the Tiki part of your build.

As a fabricator, I applaud your attention to detail on the frame. If the frame ain't square, ain't nothin' square.

[Junkboy999]

Both you and Dustboy will like these. Tiki head party lights. You can hang them around
your camper when it is finished.

Keep up the good work spbiknut.

[AlgoDan]

Looking good, can wait to see another build...Cheers

[spbiknut]

As a Tikiphile, I'm looking forward to the Tiki part of your build.

As a fabricator, I applaud your attention to detail on the frame. If the frame ain't square, ain't nothin' square.

Thanks for the kind words! Most of the tiki details will not be seen until the finishing touches, but I'm planning on bamboo matting on the interior walls, some tiki wood art on the cabinet doors and palm trees painted on the exterior sides...might do a tiki head stick-on on the hatch.

Both you and Dustboy will like these. Tiki head party lights. You can hang them around
your camper when it is finished.

Keep up the good work spbiknut.

Thanks! And thanks for the link...those will go on the list as well!

Looking good, can wait to see another build...Cheers

Been following your build...very nice work...looking forward to more updates from you. Keep up the good work and Cheers back at you!


So not much of an update....just wanted to keep the tread active and post a few detail photos of the stabilizer jacks. I got them mocked up. You can see in the pictures that the crank just fits on the shaft. I really wanted these tucked up as far as possible...even thought about putting them behind the frame rail and drill a hole for the crank...but i think this is good enough. There will be a spare tire mounted between them...just got enough space for it by 1/2 inch on each side.

Waiting for shipping info on the axle...might be another week or two...kind of bummed out about it...really want to burn in everything, but just know I'll have to cut things apart if I do it before the axle gets here and i have a chance to mock it up with everything else. Might start on the floor this week.


-Troy

[spbiknut]

Look what was waiting for me when I got home!!! I've haven't been able to finish welding the frame without this for the past couple of weeks. It did give me time to read through a lot of the build threads and got a bunch of education on wood working.



I should be able to finish the welding and setup the axle before the end of the week...if all goes well I might start making saw dust by the weekend! Rims and tires on order...should be here this week as well. Wish me luck!

-Troy