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Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:47 am

Mike Fisher wrote: It burnt up with our home/business/pictures in '99! :x

Damn man!!! sorry to hear that.

Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:52 pm

The back kitchen was a pretty cool place to cook/haul your stuff!

Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:49 pm

The material I am using are coming from leftovers of efficiency housings. Lite weight, durability, weather proof, and natural recyclable materials. Very green. I have a friend who works in solar panel installations and owns me a few favors too. I think he is ready to pay back. :D

Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:29 pm

This is what I'd like to do.

Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:14 am

Nice!!! Have you started the list of materials yet?

Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:17 am

decobugma07 wrote: Nice!!! Have you started the list of materials yet?

No, still in the dream phase. :cry:

Plan is to have a welded box tube aluminum frame covered with fiberglass or laminated honeycomb panels. Toying with the idea of using some high tech adhesives used in the aircraft and auto industry. Voids to be filled with expanding adhesive foams. Haven't deceided on interior covering. I'd like something traditional like the birch paneling but wood is heavy. Trying to keep wieght down. Goal is to have curb wieght of no more than 750lbs.

Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:19 am

Semper_Dad wrote: decobugma07 wrote: Nice!!! Have you started the list of materials yet?

No, still in the dream phase. :cry:

Mine has been in my dreams for about two decades. It will come, keep dreaming.

Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:34 am

Semper_Dad wrote: This is what I'd like to do.

Ours was bobbed off in the back for the kitchen too. It ruins the Teardrop shape and your legroom/storage/cooking shelf! :evil:

You also need a plastic ice chest/container on the tongue!

Sun Feb 26, 2012 12:34 pm

Mike Fisher wrote:
Ours was bobbed off in the back for the kitchen too. It ruins the Teardrop shape and your legroom/storage/cooking shelf! :evil:

You also need a plastic ice chest/container on the tongue!

I'll would go carefully as I go through all the measurements. Thanks.

Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:34 am

Take a look at the build on this one. Pretty good example of an aluminum framed trailer. It uses a product called Poly-metal for skin. Makes for a very light product. I like the jig they used set the frame.

http://www.oregontrailer.net/Oregon_Trailer/Raptear.html#grid

Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:15 am

That is a very nice job. I which I know how to weld. I have the space, the will, but not the money and the teacher. :(

I am picking up the trailer today. Posting pictures today.

Thanks Semper_dad

Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:05 pm

So I drag the trailer for 65 miles from Rhode Island to Boston. Not a bad trip.
Very windy, but manageable.

At 4'x 6' base trailer I think I can come up with a very lite one.

I have other plans for the fenders. I'll see if I can find a pair of fiberglass rear fenders for this camper.

The wheels are five bolts at 2.75" in between center. Can I find an adapter to use a wide five style?

Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:42 pm

More to do today. Just adapted the wide five wheels to the trailer bed using the wheel adapters but inverted. Not bad at all. I hat to do some grinding on the whole. But they were very close to the original bolt pattern on the trailer. Just a few millimeters here and there.

Now, I'll need to find a pair of wide five hub caps 65-67. :)

Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:13 pm

Very nice work so far... it seems that we are exactly on the same page in the teardrop building process... I've just installed the trailer hitch i received from Jeremy (here in the classifieds)... I have a dual port 1600 71' Bay so I'm less worried about the teardop weight... i still have to be careful though... By the way have you seen this one : http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/teardrop/tear58.htm
It might too late for the chassis but you might take some good ideas from the general design...
Good luck... keep us informed

Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:25 pm

I have seen it. No kitchen!
I just waiting for the rear fenders so I can start doing some placements.
I am very happy how easy it was to fit the vw wheels on the current axles.

Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:02 pm

Today, measurements and fittings. I am adding two more feet of length to make it 4' x 8' and I am going to have to move the axle more to the back for better balance. I cut out the tail lights brackets and did some wheel sanding on some surface rust to get the frame ready for primer.

Tomorrow will have to do a trip to HomeDepot for the birch plywood (three 4' x 8') and the extra metal I need for the addition of the 2 extra feet.

Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:09 pm

way to go brother...
Is this cute or what ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/knoxretrocampers/6219063070/in/set-72157627710815707

Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:21 am

Very nice. It is a tiny one!

Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:16 am

So, so far I added two feet to the rear of the base to make it 4' x 8' and this week I'll pickup the wood material and start crafting the walls.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:53 pm

So what profile did you choose ?
Are you already done with the base ?
Any pictures ?