Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I managed to roll it outside and take few more pix.

Just barely clearing the door frame -- but it made it.

Things are coming along though...


Even though I know every parent thinks their kid's handsome; I like this profile, it took me a while to settle on one profile, but this one's gown on me.

As far as a vent goes, the plan now is to mount it behind the high point of the roof over the table area, but yes, it may have to be installed after exiting the garage.

That really looks good Lester!!!

Lokks fantastic! Your design is very close to what I have in mind. I'll be following your build closely. Thanks for posting.

I got started on the interior, and now have some inside panels up along with the structure that'll support the bed/dinette.


I tinkered a bit with the rear rocker framing some too...


So, it's coming... little by little.

Hi,

Your build looks good!

What (white) material are you using to cover (skin) the inside of the trailer?

Great progress. Looking real good!

WOW Lester! That is looking great!! And it is coming along so fast! I can't wait to see it come together!

Very nice...I like it alot! Can't wait to see it when its done.

The white panels on the interior, I'm almost ashamed to disclose.
They are inexpensive (repeat cheap) "oak" prefinished 1/8" thick paneling.
I place quotes around the word oak because the only thing oak about it, is it has an oak-like grain pattern under the white finish.

I bought the material at Lowe's, for about $13 a sheet. The main reason I bought it was the fact it was 1/8" thick, lightweight, and cheap.

I won't be able to varnish and show off any wood grain, but the primary objective for its selection was the weight, this stuff was like 10 or 12 pounds a sheet! after trimming to length the eleven sheets will proablably only add 75 to 85 pounds to the camper!

For the outside, I'm currently scanning local lumber yards and big-box stores for more 1/8" thick AND lightwieght material. If I have to, I'll go 1/4" thick, but my goal is 1/8". (I'm currently contemplating door skin luan that's 1/8" x 3' x 7')

I appreciate the compliments, and I'll try to add pix that show some continued progress.

Oh yeah -- and it's great what a low-rez picture will hide inthe way of errors and flaws!

Looking good Lester.

How high are the sidewalls? About 60"?

It's going to look nice when it's done, albeit a bit familar!



Mike...

Could you post the length and width also, please?

Your build reminds me of a giant balsa wood model.
Looks great!

For the outside, I'm currently scanning local lumber yards and big-box stores for more 1/8" thick AND lightwieght material. If I have to, I'll go 1/4" thick, but my goal is 1/8". (I'm currently contemplating door skin luan that's 1/8" x 3' x 7') Thinking

If you check the real lumber yards they should be able to order you 1/8 Birch (4x8) and you have to be sure they order 4x8. Got mine for $14.00 but they are very thin veneered. You really have to not sand much. They do bend really well though.

The inside panels look great. Nice an light.

How high are the sidewalls? About 60"?

It's going to look nice when it's done, albeit a bit familiar!

Could you post the length and width also, please?

Your build reminds me of a giant balsa wood model.

The inside panels look great. Nice an light.

There's the profile as it is being built. (Give or take an inch underneath).

The shape itself was driven by several design parameters...
84" opening on the garage door.
72" for interior headroom (over the dropped floor).
Fit to an extended HF 4x8 trailer (extended to 114")
About 65" wide for both fitting a queen size sleeping area AND
narrow enough that I wouldn't need extended mirrors on the car.
Sitting headroom over the dinette area.
Standing headroom in the 'head'.
Ground clearance similar to the axle clearance.

I had the whole shape laid out with just arcs and started the build when I realized I could get a bit more headroom over the dinette area if I changed the top curve to an ellipse. A benefit of the change made it where I could draw the profile now from inside the garage! (The original profile included a 120” arc radius!)

Strangely enough, when laid out, it became basically a big Benroy clone. - Can you say Baja?
(Ya know, they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.)

To scavenge every bit of interior height I could, I placed the plywood deck (floor) right on the trailer frame, and placed the wooden cross members in the same plane as the trailer cross members.
The deck itself is only 15/32" thick (and plenty strong).
The only thick "deck" is the bottom of the drop well, it is 23/32" material, with no frame.

All of the structure is regular 1x2's and the curves are cut from the same 23/32" plywood. The side framing is biscuitted and glued, where the spars are glued and screwed.

As far as a "balsa wood model", the principle is the same. The curves of the profile only have straight runs front and back, and they're kept as short as possible. The curve lends great strength to the construction, and a secondary benefit is that it will shed rain without any flat areas to collect water.

I have a long way to go, but so far, it’s been smooth, and I’m having fun.
I’ll try to keep the photos in the album up to date, and post often if I can.

I appreciate the compliments, especially from a group as talented as we have here!