Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

The 4 ft. width is something that is bothering the hubby too. Although I think we have a total of 4 feet sleeping width in our present camper. We have a 19 ft. Salem which we intend to keep. This is a fun challenge project for us.

I'll have to check out local tractor supply. It looks like they are going to be a great supply source

Mary

Mary,

Of course, you can make your teardrop any width you like, and maybe you and your hubby can easily sleep in a double bed (4' wide teardrop), but just wait until you are on a camping trip and it is raining all day. Sure, you can get under your tarp or auxilary tent, but if you want to get into the teardrop, a 4' wide tear would be pretty confining, I'd think. Personally, I'm going for the 5' wide for that very reason. I've been stuck in too many backpacking tents in the rain and it's no fun at all after a little while.

madjack wrote:Jeff if you find that info please post it, I rmember the post and will try and find it....
madjack

Madjack,

I can't find it on my computer, but I still have the fenders in the box at my shop, so it should have an address on it. As soon as I find something, I'll post it.

It seems like the last set of fenders he listed on ebay only brought about $125 - $150 plus freight. The quality is not bad, there were a few small chips in the gelcoat along the edges, but nothing serious.

Hey Larry,

I"m wondering if you ran into any problems with supplies when you went with the 5 ft. trailer width. What I mean is that paneling sheets and plywood usually come in 4 x 8. I haven't looked into aluminum yet but is that 4x8 also?


The extra foot of width is kinda growing on me but for a first project I'm tempted to keep it simple.

Mary

dakotamouse wrote:Hey Larry,

I"m wondering if you ran into any problems with supplies when you went with the 5 ft. trailer width. What I mean is that paneling sheets and plywood usually come in 4 x 8. I haven't looked into aluminum yet but is that 4x8 also?


The extra foot of width is kinda growing on me but for a first project I'm tempted to keep it simple.

Mary

Mary there are definite supply problems at 5' width but they are solvable. 5' wide ply can be hard to find and pricey...Baltic Birch can often be found in 5x5 sheets from specialty shops and cabinet shops or even MoM and PoP lumber yards. The AL can be found in 5' widths fairly easily and if not then 102" width by as long as you like from 18wheeler trailer repair shops. There is more waste in a 5'er but proper planing can make use of the cutoffs for interior cabinets and other projects
madjack

Dakotamouse,

I picked up my 5' wide aluminum in Denver. It's availible, but you have to look for it. I called every aluminum supplier I could find in western South Dakota, and eastern Wyoming and couldn't get any unless I wanted to pay $200 extra for shipping for a special order. I found a couple of places in Denver that stock it, but many of them told me it was not availible.

I'm using 5' x 5' Baltic Birch for the top, had to get it from a hardwood supplier here in Rapid, the big box stores didn't carry it here. For the floor, I am using 3 sheets of standard 4' x 8' plywood (my tear is 54" x 106").

JunkMan wrote:

madjack wrote:Jeff if you find that info please post it, I rmember the post and will try and find it....
madjack

Madjack,

I can't find it on my computer, but I still have the fenders in the box at my shop, so it should have an address on it. As soon as I find something, I'll post it.

It seems like the last set of fenders he listed on ebay only brought about $125 - $150 plus freight. The quality is not bad, there were a few small chips in the gelcoat along the edges, but nothing serious.

Hi Guys,

I talked to the fender guy you are refering too about 4 times. I really wanted to buy some fenders from him... Had some problems though, maybe he has worked them out by now. Here are a few of the things he told me. He wasn't going to sell on ebay anymore, or so he said because he wasn't getting the price he wanted. New price was $200 plus shipping. He also told me he was getting new resin spraying equipment, to make better quality... A plus I guess. He also said he had a custormer in CA that was wanting to buy in 10 set lots. He offered White or Black gelcoat. Problem I had was he gave me times and days to call back andhe never answered his shop phone at those times.... So I went with the Aero fenders. Same price as his and an established business with a real storefront. Hope this info helps... If he had just answered the phone I would have sent him the cash, check or MO.... Used the card with Aero... (gives you some piece of mind, that your money didn't grow wings) Sorry now I threw away his phone number, I could give it to ya...

Steve

....thanks for the info Steve, at 200bucks, there is no savings and for "no savings" I would much rather deal with an established store front....
madjack

Mary:

The only problem I encountered was finding 5' wide sheet aluminum. One of my customers located a supplier in Virginia and had it shipped to them.

I cut two sheets of 4X8 plywood down to 4X5 and seamed them for the floor.

I figured that I probably had 10-15% waste going to 5X8 compared to 4X8, but I figure it was worth it.

Also, most contractor oriented lumber yards, not Lowes nor Home Depot, can order you 5X8 sheets of plywood.

Larry

hey guys,
im makin my weee kender 5x8,theres not a lot of waste if you use it for cabnets and counters and such or even on another project...

I have not gotten far enough on my build to do this but I came across this website and it might help here.

http://www.venturetape.com/ventureshield/

Dennis

Chris C wrote:............I've been stuck in too many backpacking tents in the rain and it's no fun at all after a little while.

But Chris, isn't most backpacking tents only 3 feet wide?

Have a good day.

The secret in building a teardrop of any size is to think things out and ask questions (which you are). Example: You can get 5'x9'x1/2" ply at most any lumber yard/store (it's ping pong table size). I have not heard of 5x8, but you can get 5x10 all day long, but not 1/8" (as far as I know). Only thing, for the most part, it has to be ordered even from Lowe's. So be sure to do your home work. Don't just jump in. And if your thinking 5' wide, you might as well think 9' long. And yes, in building a 5' wide teardrop, you will come across a few more stumbling blocks than if you were building a 4x8. And if your going to skin it, 1/8" ply laid crosswise will work just fine for the roof.

Just my 5 cents on the subject. Have a good day.