I've already learned several important things from building a cardboard TearDrop trailer:
1) 4' wide isn't very wide. Louise & I lay down in the Lightweight teardrop, and our elbow collide. Our usual camping air mattresses are 26" wide, so they overlap quite a bit. Suddenly 5' wide is being considered again. 6'3" seems too short, and I'm just 5'10 1/2". 6"5" sleeping area seems plenty long.
2) Apparently most TD's use up a lot of storage space with little cabinets in the galley. I'm guessing that the more small spaces, the more space that is wasted. We are going to make lists of what we expect to carry, and see how it all fits - so we can figure out what is more important; galley storage, or sleeping room storage.
3) If I make a 27" deep shelf in the rear sleeping area, I really like it because both of our big duffle bags will fit endwise, BUT it's a bit too deep to be able to reach the galley pass-thru window. We are considering making that 27" deep shelf fold in half, towards the galley wall. We may want the flexibility in space usage.
4) Something I saw today made me start wondering if I would like to have a 3'x3' pop up sunroof. Or how about a pop up roof with tent around the 4 sides? So we can stand up to change? Just a thought. On the other hand, 4' tall seems plenty of headroom. I can either get a taller hat, or raise the bed for some more storage!
5) Insulation. A lot of the East Coasters & dwellers in humid climates are talking about how important insulation is. According to the TearDroppers we talked with on Saturday, 1/2" plywood is plenty warm & they have to open a window.
UPDATE: Insulation is IMPORTANT! Don't let anyone talk you out of it! No matter what the climate, you want insulation, at least in the roof. Otherwise it won't be any warmer than a thin nylon tent!
6) When you get in, it sloshes fore & aft. I'm surprised that parking brakes aren't more common. I only noticed one with a parking brake. Everybody seems to use chock blocks to keep the TD from rolling around. I'm sold on having jack stands on all 4 corners. At least 2 plus the front.
7) I'll have to be careful in the way the TD body is constructed. I inadvertantly added 1 1/2" to the body length with the way I attached the wood together.
8) I plan to have the side doors go all the way to the floor, (+/- 1 inch). If I sit in the doorway, I don't want the circulation to my legs cut off. Might as well have tall doors too, to make it easy to get in/out.
9) Any water systems will be easily replaceable. Several vintage TD owners have told me they don't use the old water tank because it's yukky.
Dave
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Author: Grant Whipp
Posted: 6/10/2003; 9:01:56 PM
Msg #: 8886 (in response to 8851 )
"8) I plan to have the side doors go all the way to the floor, (+_ 1 inch). If I sit in the doorway, I don't want the circulation to my legs cut off. Might as well have tall doors too, to make it easy to get in/out."
Dave!
For the structural integrity of the plywood walls, may I suggest at least 2 or 2-1/2" under the doors? Your mattress thickness will likely be at least that amount, so you shouldn't experience any cut off of the blood circulation to your legs. You should have 2-1/2 to 3" of wall over the top of your doors, too.
Sounds like a PLAN is coming together ;-} ;-} ...!
CHEERS!
Grant
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Author: Sumner
Posted: 6/10/2003; 3:51:16 PM
Msg #: 8874 (in response to 8851 )
I have one leveling jack on the tongue and the trailer doesn't roll at all with no wheel chucks. I use the screw jack to raise it off of the tow vehicle and then lower the leveling jack to the proper height to level it front to rear and when it is lowered onto the leveling jack it won't go anywhere.
I am not super picky about having the tear exactly level, so I just back into a spot that gets close side to side.
I got my water tank and holding tank from J.C. Whitney and have been happy with them. I'm also using them in the new teardrop. I have an elect. pump, but someday might add one thay works both ways just in case I had a problem with the other one, but so far with about 150 nights in the teardrop I haven't had any problems.
I really like the way my top raises on my one tear. Nice and low going down the road, but roomier and taller than most when parked. I designed it for hard sides as that is what I wanted.
I would definitly insulate no mater what they say about 1/2 inch plywood. It will make the tear a lot more enjoyable in any kind of weather. Mine is quite comfortable in anything from the 20's to the 90's.
I'd say it is time to stop planning and start building.
c ya, Sum
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