Long time lurker - First time post

[deserthawk]

Hi,

I just wanted to introduce myself. I have been lurking and learning from this website for quite some time so maybe it's time for me to give back a little. I might be a bit crazier than most td'ers.......a year ago I opted to go "Full Time". I am now an official "Full Time Teardroper" much to my wife's dismay No, really .....she loves the lifestyle as long as I agree not to travel too far north. We are currently in Yuma Arizona working on our 4th teardrop. When this one is finished we are off to the Florida keys as long as there are no fresh hurricanes brewing.

The new build is dubbed the "Silver Bullet" and is 12 feet long with a 54" interior width. It will sport three doors, six windows (lots of fresh air) and a galley hatch. The third door is for separate entrance to a computer desk/seating area. I uploaded a few photos of our progress to the image gallery.

Hope to meet some of you guys at the gatherings.

Deserthawk

[Mike C.]

Welcome Deserthawk,

Boy you've got it bad. I would say you are definitely addicted. Looked at your album and your website, looking good.

Well the only treatment for your addiction, is to post often, asking many questions and showing us updated pictures of your build often.

[deserthawk]

Hi Uncle M,

Thanks for the warm welcome. I admit it...I have the bug.....I lucive dream about TD additions. Last night I designed an entire solar electric system in my sleep...*chuckle*

Deserthawk

[Mike C.]

Boy do you have it bad.

Don't worry I'm sending out our TD response team. Just relax and read for awhile and you will be fine. Just remember to breathe deep.

[Miriam C.]

officially to the playground. Oh how I wish we could go full time, at least for a few months. I'd miss my grandkids but I guess I could visit house to house.

The new build look great. I am looking forward to seeing the finish. And of course the travel pictures.

Keep the bubble oil level and GitRdun

[deserthawk]

This new build will be all .040 aluminum with fiberglass Kit style fenders on a modified Scotty Sportman frame. It's a Modernistic/Cub style with a couple of extra feet squeezed in and will sport a built in waterheater, outside collapsible shower stall unit, 12V refrigerator/freezer, 12V HiDef TV, low profile 12V satellite TV/Internet system, XM Radio, 4 Hard Plate Solar Panels incorporated into roof, A/C and a few other goodies I have up my sleave. The advantage of being a full time TD'er is you get to try out all your new toys immediately. Also, the mortgage payment goes into cool stuff

Here is my current camp site. Home sweet home.....I need to be near electricity and water to finish up the new "Silver Bullet" prototype.
After that we'll be boondocking it.


<img src="http://www.freedomteardrops.com/ft/images/homesweethome.jpg">
Note the deployed Hughes dish mounted to the front of the Lil'Guy Sport. The new tear will make this unit look like something out of Flash Gordon!


Deserthawk

[jdarkoregon]

Pretty cool design there Deserthauk. I'm looking forward to seeing this build through to completion. I think you are crazy, but the build looks interesting

John Keep us posted, and thanks.

[sdtripper2]

So Desert Hawk...

Welcome

Your living full time in a TD at Quartzsite, Arizona?
You Boondock it out there in your TD eh?

Tell me you got A/C and some power source?

Can be real warm out there this time of year.

Look forward to seeing your new build progress.
Thanks for the start off pictures.

[Roly Nelson]

Welcome to our link to trailer information. Looks like you have an original design, with your 3 door teardrop trailer. I can relate to your eagerness to go full-timing. The most stress free 8 years of our lives were when the sweet wife and I traveled 46 of the 48 states in our 22 & 28 foot motorhomes. No mortgage payments, and met 285 of our friends, relatives, highschool and army buddies during our travels, parking in their driveways, sideyards or pastures. Keep us up to date on the progress of the Silver Bullet. Good luck.

Roly, So Calif woody guy

[Trackstriper]

Deserthawk,

Welcome. Thanks for posting some pictures from your new build. I noticed the eight-hole aluminum wheels. They appear to be a reasonable match to the wheels that I have on my tow vehicle. Can you give me the manufacturer and/or source? What specific size do you have? They look great on the frame.

J.B.

[deserthawk]

Hi J.B.,

I don't know the specific manufacturer of those wheels but I picked them up at the Discount Tire store in Yuma ...that's the name of the store ...not much of a discount as I recall. They are 15" wheels X 6 I bought these for the same reason, they are a great match for the aluminum wheels on my main tow vehicle.

Hope this helps some,

Deserthawk

[deserthawk]

Roly,

I took a look at your website. You are quite the pro wood worker! Wish I had skills like that. My method is to splice and glue everything into one mass and then shape it with a sanding block until it is presentable

Noticed a link to Gage Enoch's Scotty build. I think he used the exact model Scotty for his teardrop frame as I am using on the Silver Bullet. I stumbled on the old Scotty Sportsman in the Arizona desert being occupied by a prune faced old desert rat in desperate need of moisture, libation and a change of scenery. He sold me the trailer for just $450.00 but I had to air it out for a month before tearin' into it. It was just plain RIPE! I really like the look of the suspension with those coiled steel springs and they look durable. So far they made it a half a century without breaking so I like my chances.

Deserthawk

[Trackstriper]

Deserthawk,

Thanks for the info on the wheels. I'll check with my local Discount Tire to see what their price might be. I have 16x8 eight-hole Mickey Thompson's on my van and it would be nice to have a near match.

J.B.