The "Club Car" build. Updated 10-11-11 FINISHED!

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The "Club Car" build. Updated 10-11-11 FINISHED!

Postby Woodbutcher » Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:30 pm

I have been working on this for a short time and thought I would try a build journal, so here goes. I hope no one has used "Club Car" as a build name yet. It seemed to fit what I was thinking as I go maybe you will see why. This is my second teardrop build. I finished a Woody style tear about 3 years ago. I started this build with a 4X8 1750 lb Harbour Freight trailer. To allow for a drop floor I removed 2 cross braces and installed them in the long frame rails to bridge the seam where the 2 four foot sections fit together. I also moved the axle back 6".

Here is what the frame looks like with the cross pieces removed.
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This is what the cross members look like installed in the long frame rails.

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Here is what the floor looks like. I used a 3/4" exterior fir plywood for the deck. Because the heads of the bolts that hold the trailer frame together stick up the floor (see pic above) would not sit flat on the frame rails. So I cut 1 1/2" strips the thickness of the bolt heads and stapled them to the floor where the rails are. Now everything sits firmly on the rails.

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This is a picture of the floor upside down showing the bottom Notice the strips.

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This is how I did the rear, bumper area. I wanted a radius so I framed it out and skinned it with 1/8" Baltic Birch. The whole floor measures 4 " thick with the framing I dropped down. This will cover the from from being seen and give me a mock fender for the tire.


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Everything was then covered with the white roofing sealer, sorry I forgot the name, but it's been used here before. At the end I will undercoat everything again. This allowed me to get a good seal everywhere before joining the floor to the trailer.

Here is a picture of the floor mounted to the frame. I installed peal and stick 18" square tile as my floor. It was being discontinued at Lowes and was real cheap. So I overlooked the pattern. I lined the inside of the drop floor with 1/4" birch stained black and sealed with Minwax Helsman. The top edge of the drop has an aluminum channel mitered around to protect the edges.

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I used 3/4 4X10 Birch for my sides. I needed to add a 12" strip to the bottom to make up my 60" height. The joint was made with a tongue and groove bit. Then I added a small strip of solid pine to the exposed plywood lower edge.

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I sealed the pine strip and 4" up on the inside of the sides with Helmsman. The outside 4" part of the floor assembly got Helmsman as well. The thought was to seal real well the seam between the floor and the walls. Hoping to keep water from wicking up. When I attached the walls I used a liberal amount of Liquid nails and screws. I got a nice amount of bleed out of the glue to let me know I had a good seal.
Here is a pic of the side attached to the floor.
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The doors will be about 24 wide and 50" tall. I made a pattern to cut out the doors as I want the blanks to be used as the doors. This keeps all the grain matching on the inside. The router base runs around the inside of the frame with a 1/4" bit doing the cutting. I don't have a plunge router so I just made 2 passes with my trusty Porter Cable router. The strips you see in the cutout area is there to keep the door from falling out when the cut is done.
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Next came the port hole windows. These are 12" diameter non opening windows. I again made a pattern but this one was only the size of the window hole itself. Because I was not using the drop I cut with a 1/2" straight bit with a bearing on the bottom. The bearing follows the inside edge of my pattern leaving me a perfect circle. PS. I made the perfect circle pattern by adding a piece if 1/4" wood to my router base that was about 12" longer then the router base. Drill a small hole in the longer base and turn the router into a compass of sorts. So for a 12" circle set the pivot screw 6" from the outside edge of the cutting bit.

This pic shows the pattern on the underside (outside) of the wall. Screwed it on as it will be covered with aluminum later.
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I needed a hole to drop the bit through so I could run it around the pattern below.
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Finished hole!
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After the walls were up I started putting in the roof Spares. I have a 60 1/2" inside ID between the walls. This meant that I could not use a single piece of 1/8" Baltic Birch. So there was a need for a center rib up the middle.

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With all the roof spares in I put in the inside ceiling using 1/8" Baltic Birch. It's glued and stapled at all the seams and cross spares. The staples will be covered later with a thin strip of a contrasting wood for design interest.
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Rolled the whole mess outside to get a better look and clean the shop. Here is a profile of the "Cabin Car".
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Front with the inside ceiling showing. I will seal all this with Helmsman before insulating and covering with another 1/8" Baltic Birch layer.Image

Sitting inside are 2 metal folding bed mechanisms out of a full size leisure van. This will make seating facing each other. A removeable table will be attached to the drop floor. The parts will break down and store under the seats. When you want a bed just fold them open and you have a 60X78" queen size mattress. Now maybe the Cabin Car theme makes sense. Like a train set up I guess.
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That is where I am as of July 30th 2010. More to come.

Started the inside storage cabinets. There will be 2 pretty good sizes cabinets with an open section between them for some type of AV equipment. I've got 2 110 outlets, one DC outlet and a coaxial cable outlet installed.

The paneled wall is the divider between the galley and the sleeping area. Did it this way for less weight. Used 3/4 maple with 1/8th" Baltic Birch cut offs in the panels .

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The headboard end matches the foot board. Because the trailer angles out in front there is a well created behind the headboard. Great place for pillows and bedding when the seats are up.

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Started the galley cabinets. Used Maple with some Baltic Birch for backs.
I used the side of the trailer and one of the cabinet walls. Saved a few pounds.

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Cabinet set in place.
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To drill the adjustable shelf holes on the trailer wall, I made a matching hole pattern and cut a small stop block so the drill would only go far enough for the clip to fit and not out the side of the trailer.

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Here it is in action.
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Between the 2 tall storage cabinets will be a short hanging cabinet with doors. Below will be a real small section that will have a 110 and DC outlet in it, with an open area for whatever. There will be a back that separates the galley from the sleeping area, it's just not sitting there now.

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Below will be 2 small drawers and 2 big drawers. Big drawers are heavy duty to hold cast iron! There will be drawer fronts on these when done. Cooler will slide out on the left.

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Behind the cooler will be the Inverter and maybe the battery. If I need the weight on the tongue I will move it up front.

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Ran the wiring for the sconce lights the Fantastic Fan and the porch lights.

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Put in the 1" foam insulation and another layer of 1/8th" Baltic Birch. to close it up.

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Here is the roof on.

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Put on a third coat inside of Helmsman Spar Ureathane on the inside and a coat of exterior house paint on the outside. Under the insulation is sealed with Helmsman as well. The outside will be skinned with metal so this was just a little extra protection.

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Working on the galley now.....more to follow!
Last edited by Woodbutcher on Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:02 pm, edited 5 times in total.
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Postby pete42 » Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:34 pm

Look'in good, very nice.
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Postby grizz » Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:01 am

Just said to Nicola, looking at your build so far.... you are building a very neat trailer.

Love the underside of the floor.
Greetings from England.

Rian.


Hoping to get it all done in time.
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Postby Woodbutcher » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:29 am

Thanks for the replies. I have more to post with the first thing, getting the name right. In the middle of the night I realized I put the name in wrong. I knew there was a Cabin Car. But I wanted to call mine a Club Car. So I am editing the original post to fix that.
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Postby Wolfgang92025 » Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:29 am

Woodbutcher,

Very nice, and real good progress. :thumbsup: At this rate, you'll be done in no time.
Looking forward to seeing some more pic's of the interior and bed and the build progresses.


wolfgang
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Postby caseydog » Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:57 pm

That's a very clean looking build. :thumbsup:

Keep the pictures coming.

CD
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My build journal is HERE
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Postby Juneaudave » Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:41 pm

Very Nice!!! So...any further thoughts on the seat? It looks like it is going to work great!
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Postby teardrop_focus » Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:09 pm

Love the folding bed. Few have done this in a tear. :thumbsup:

Another source for something like this might be the bed/bench from a late-'60s/early-'70s VW Westphalia...

:thinking:
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"There is something about these little trailers that brings out the best in people." - BigAl, Scotland, 2010

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into the trees...
The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away like autumn leaves..." - John Muir, 1898


Chris Squier / teardrop_focus :-)~
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Postby steve smoot » Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:37 pm

Woodbutcher, you sure make it look easy...great start... :thumbsup:
I am not a complete idiot, some parts are missing...
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Postby Woodbutcher » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:30 pm

Thanks for the compliments. I have spent lots of time thinking about the second build after finishing the first on. The one thing that bothered me was what to do when the weather outside is bad. Climbing onto the mattress with wet or dirty clothes is no fun. So I really wanted a place to sit and read, plan the next days activity or watch TV or work on my pictures on the computer.
I had seen a TV program where someone in Europe had fixed up a VW van for camping. Not the Westphalia but a folding bed. I book marked it on my computer ages ago and have since lost it. But that is where the idea for the seating came from. The upholstery will be a slight challenge. The foam has to be mitered to allow the 2 folding pieces to fit together. I have played with some scrap pieces so I think it will work. Wish me luck!
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Postby TLC » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:58 pm

WB:
Nice start to a great build. I'll be following it till it's done. Are you going to be a 2 TD family now? If this build turns out as nice as your first one, it'll be first rate. You have some clever ideas.
Good job on the photos too.
Tom :applause:
PS (must be the lousy weather at CNTL that inspired this build) LOL
I can drink all day.....provided I don't start till 11PM
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Postby absolutsnwbrdr » Sun Aug 01, 2010 1:39 pm

Looks great! You certainly have some skills!
Zach
Coming Soon...
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Postby Woodbutcher » Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:38 am

Tom...I will most likely sell this one after using it a few times. But who knows maybe I'll like this one better and the Woody will get sold. Just don't know yet. I am having fun building it.
Thanks Zack for the kind words. I do my best. Now it's out to make some more sawdust. Closing in on finishing the cabin and galley cabinets. Pictures to follow.
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Postby starleen2 » Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:57 am

Nice build so far! The bed/seat idea is a neat innovation
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Postby Woodbutcher » Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:32 pm

Ok, I need help. I added an update to my build thread. How to I get it to go back to the top of the pile? I just used the edit to add my new stuff and it went back where it was. I'm better with a saw then a computer!
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