Well you guys at the TearDropTimes message board finally egged me on enough that I started building a TearDrop yesterday (Sunday June 8th, 2003). I’d like to thank you all for the encouragement, ideas, suggestions, and constructive criticism that you’ve all been so free with.
I told you guys that I was really trying to buy a TD, but since it just doesn’t seem to be an option, I got started making one myself. Don’t get your expectations up too high, ok?
I based it on Mike Schneider’s designs – but I have to say I wasn’t feeling very good at reading plans. It’s hard for me to visualize this stuff from a 2D computer, or diagram. So after staring at the various designs for a few months, I just went for it, and fixed whatever I ruined as I went. So if it doesn’t look perfect, you’ll understand that this is not my best skill set.
Based on the discussions here (and the size of common plywood), I went with the 4x8x4 size. I also decided to shift my focus from sturdy & durable to lightweight. The materials cost less, and I have a better opportunity to re-do things without the pain of using expensive materials. Since I’m learning by doing, I hope to learn enough to make a better one next time.
Some time I ago, I discovered that I need to be really really careful about drinking coffee. Although 15 years ago I used to drink 3 cups a day, my metabolism has changed, and now a half cup will blast me into outer space for a day & a half. The flip side of this is that those Starbucks iced coffees in the grocery store are SO TASTY it’s hard to avoid gulping the whole thing down all at once. … Oops.
I awoke feeling all snoozy & tired yesterday morning, and in my stupor, I saw one of Louise’s yummy little coffees in the fridge. Hmmm. A cure! A few hours later, I was in buzzing around in the Jeep, motoring up the alley in search of trailer building materials to scrounge. In a frenzy that lasted less than 10 minutes, I found enough materials to frame & cover a teardrop trailer!
The trailer frame has been a heavy topic of discussion, and I knew I couldn’t do that properly this weekend, but I have a friends 5×10 flatbed sitting in my yard, so I just built on top of that for now, I can move the body to a more suitable chassis later if I want to. I hope he doesn’t come over to visit right away.
Anyway, heavily fueled, I worked fast & got a lot done quickly, not letting anything slow me down, or get in my way.
