Teardrop Camper

Joshuajayg

Joshuajayg

Line Up and Wait
Joined
Sep 1, 2015
Messages
907
Location
'Merica
Display Name
Joshua
Home Airfield
KGWS
Anyone else ever build one?

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It has been quite a challenge thus far but I am nearing the end of the build.
 
holy s h eye t.

am I allowed to say that? cause if any thread deserves it, it's this one.
 
is it bad that I'm diggin the LED trailer lights as much as the camper itself?
 
eman1200 said:
is it bad that I'm diggin the LED trailer lights as much as the camper itself?
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I grew up dealing with stock trailers and oil field trailers and got tired of all the light issues they had so I decided LED was the way to go. I also have LED mood lighting inside. Mmmm...
 
Seen several... never built one...

Some of the one's I've seen have a nice kitchen built into the back end.

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Is that from a kit or plans built? Always wanted one, but no room to put it anywhere.
 
Thanks, ryanb.
JB1842 said:
Is that from a kit or plans built? Always wanted one, but no room to put it anywhere.
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Neither. Just built it as I wanted. 0 plans, 0 kit. I built the trailer frame from the ground up including welding the spindles into a piece of square tubing. Then after using it as a utility trailer for half a year I decided to start the teardrop build.

All original.
 
Did you leave room for the kegerator?
 
Joshuajayg said:
Thanks, ryanb.

Neither. Just built it as I wanted. 0 plans, 0 kit. I built the trailer frame from the ground up including welding the spindles into a piece of square tubing. Then after using it as a utility trailer for half a year I decided to start the teardrop build.

All original.
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It look's great. You have way more building skill than I do.
 
My husband is one of those MacGyver-like carpenters who can build a house from a paperclip and rubber band. Been wanting him to build us something like this with a little more of a gypsy caravan kinda feel. Very cool... great job!
 
Wowzers. I've thought about building one but never got around to it. However, the one I was thinking of building would have been an appliance. Yours, sir, is a work of art.

Interesting that your roof looks like a continuous curve with no flat spot. Any issues mounting the fan?
 
That looks nice, very good work. If I built anything like that it would resemble a cardboard box.
 
asicer said:
Wowzers. I've thought about building one but never got around to it. However, the one I was thinking of building would have been an appliance. Yours, sir, is a work of art.

Interesting that your roof looks like a continuous curve with no flat spot. Any issues mounting the fan?
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For the fan I framed out where I had to screw it down, applied glue between the frame and outer skin, the screwed the fan down until the glue dried. Now the skin is bent flat where the fan sits but returns to a curved shape near the sides of the camper.
 
So, I'm guessing 3/4" ply for the sides, and 1/4"ply for the curved top? Can't tell exactly from the pics.

I'm curious about the frame of the rear hatch. Did you just cut the curved pieces of frame out of ply?
 
OkieFlyer said:
So, I'm guessing 3/4" ply for the sides, and 1/4"ply for the curved top? Can't tell exactly from the pics.

I'm curious about the frame of the rear hatch. Did you just cut the curved pieces of frame out of ply?
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Yes, yes, and yes.

I ended up with 1/8" meranti for the hatch because the 1/4" luan was too stiff for the hatch.
 
I have wanted a tear drop trailer. I used to do primitive winter camping, like sleeping on the ground with coals underneath me to stay warm type of camping. But my wife doesn't do that. She wants a solid roof over her head.

Since buying a teardrop cost over 10 grand, looks like building one is in my future.

Your looks great.!! And yes, LED lights are the way to go. Can't wait to see the inside.
 
Nicely done. After all that work I'd be reluctant to take it out on the road and get it beat up!
 
I wish I had the patience to build something that nice. I have welded and fabricated many things as a heavy equipment mechanic but I guess I am better as a rough carpenter then a finish carpenter. That trailer is a thing of beauty.
 
Man, I think I may build one. I have a 5 x 8 trailer that I should be able to modify. I'm looking for something more rugged than nice, so maybe I'll just use pine plywood, cover it in fiberglass mat, and roll on some marine paint.
 
I'm lazy, I bought mine.
 

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OkieFlyer said:
Man, I think I may build one. I have a 5 x 8 trailer that I should be able to modify. I'm looking for something more rugged than nice, so maybe I'll just use pine plywood, cover it in fiberglass mat, and roll on some marine paint.
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My sides are pine plywood with luan over the outside. Then 1x2 furing strips on the inside to add insulation then a layer of luan inside. Not really that complicated.

No interior photos today. I flew to KLXV instead and got lunch.
 
OkieFlyer said:
That's a nice little rig too. Build it yourself?
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Yup...4x8. 1/8" ply skin (doubled on the roof) over 1x2 framing.

Unfortunately when we moved to Kansas, it had to live outside and died from black mold.:(

I ended up building a small utility trailer on the frame.
 
OkieFlyer said:
Man, I think I may build one. I have a 5 x 8 trailer that I should be able to modify. I'm looking for something more rugged than nice, so maybe I'll just use pine plywood, cover it in fiberglass mat, and roll on some marine paint.
Click to expand...

Traditional is to cover it in aluminum sheets from surplus aircraft skin.
 
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