So, I built a teardrop camper. (Pic heavy)

Site Notices

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - So, I built a teardrop camper. (Pic heavy) (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:25:43 PM EDT

I built this a year ago and I'm just getting around to making a thread. It's not an innovative design. People have been making these since the 30's. it's simply my take on a classic that is suited to our needs. My wife and I do a lot of mountain biking.

The frame is 12 and 14 gauge square tubing. A mix of 2x2 for the side rails and 2x3 for the bumper, gussets and tongue.

I wasn't exactly sure where the axle would be located so I gave myself a couple options for weight distribution.
The torsion axle was manufactured to my specs by redneck trailer supply. Good people.

Rolling chassis. After I made the wiring harness for stop, turn, runners, side markers, future brakes and vehicle to camper charging system. I removed the harness and painted the frame. Then reassembled and decked it. At that stage I got it titled. It weighed about 350lbs by the truck stop cat scale.

The walls are laminated .120" aluminum 5'x12' sheets+1" styrofoam insulation+lujan door skin with the wall wiring placed before gluing it up.

Here's my buddy Mark showing off his glue bottle skilz.

Posted: 7/18/2014 1:25:58 PM EDT

[#1]

Quick mock up.

Gluing the bulkhead in place.

All the ply is 1/2" birch. 5'x5' sheets.
A few of the 1"x2" laminated birch ply joists in place.

Another view of that stage. The joists are set in to pockets cut in the inner laminate and foam. Heavily glued and screwed with a finish head screw through the outer aluminum skin. The corner trim hides the screw on the outside.
The joists are laid out with consideration for the front window, the roof vent and making a nice transition around the front curve of the cab. They're about 9"-10" apart.

I held off on further joists at that time so I could get some of the cabinets built while I had room to stand.

A later pic of the finished cabinet.

The roof is something like .060" aluminum sheet glued in the field and screwed at the edges. The corner trim hides these screws as well. There is a joint in the sheeting right at the front of the roof vent. I overlapped the sheet and squeezed a strip of butyl between them.
The front of the cab is aluminum diamond plate as well as the cargo deck up front.

The ceiling inside the cab is glued lujan door skin. No fasteners. This required quite the cumbersome jig. It was done before the aluminum outer skin and after all the wiring was strung through the joists. Layers of 1" styrofoam insulation were placed between the joists. Kerf cuts were made with a razor knife to make the radius at the front.
Here it is, starting to look like something.

Posted: 7/18/2014 1:26:08 PM EDT

[#2]

The kitchen and rear hatch were the most labor intensive parts of this project. Especially the placement of the gas struts that hold the hatch up.

FML. For like two days on the struts.
Beginning framework for cabinets to include: two drawers. Propane and battery space. And a pull out ice chest.
Also starting the arrangement of the galley hatch.

This is the drawer for the ice chest. It's the same birch ply with rabbet jointed corners and a dado'd aluminum bottom. The other two drawers are made the same way. Sorry, no dovetails.

Skipping forward a bit.

A bit more.....

Galley lid ribs cut.

Spars......

Hinge and lighting conduit for the hatch lights.

Galley hatch in place before aluminum skin.

FIRE!!!!!

And finally, here she is in her natural habitat. The mountains of beautiful New Mexico. (Haters be damned)

Happy wife. Happy life.

Thanks honey for letting me go totally batshit crazy in the garage for seven months.

Posted: 7/18/2014 1:38:44 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Saved

View Quote

Tag

Eta: that is so cool.
I may be inspired enough to give that a shot. ( probably on an existing trailer)
Thanks op.

Posted: 7/18/2014 1:40:32 PM EDT

[#4]

Taggage.

Posted: 7/18/2014 2:00:04 PM EDT

[#5]

you the man!

Posted: 7/18/2014 2:02:29 PM EDT

[#6]

Nice!
I started filling all the screw heads on mine today.

Where I'm at:

The original plan:

ETA: Mine is a 9'6"x5'x4' based on the Weekend Warrior profile.

Kharn

Posted: 7/18/2014 2:05:01 PM EDT

[#7]

Neat!

Posted: 7/18/2014 2:22:36 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Nice!
I started filling all the screw heads on mine today.

Where I'm at:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/10389028_10101735922634034_3081036323530859156_n.jpg

The original plan:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t1.0-9/10154003_10101553221144284_1979185995_n.jpg

ETA: Mine is a 9'6"x5'x4' based on the Weekend Warrior profile.

Kharn

View Quote

Nice Kharn! Keep goin man!
I never made a drawing for mine. The whole thing was contained in my head. It was exhausting.

Posted: 7/18/2014 2:27:00 PM EDT

[#9]

wow, that is freaking sweet

Posted: 7/18/2014 2:35:09 PM EDT

[#10]

Thanks you guys!
Mods, would you mind locking this one and just leaving the GD linked thread open. My head is spinning.

Or better yet, just move this to GD? sorry for the dupe.

Posted: 7/18/2014 3:41:04 PM EDT

[#11]

Nice camper , so give us a rough idea of cost and things you would change after using it ?

Posted: 7/18/2014 3:45:08 PM EDT

[#12]

Nice work. That thing is awesome.

Posted: 7/18/2014 3:49:37 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Nice camper , so give us a rough idea of cost and things you would change after using it ?

View Quote

Between $5000-$5500
I'd make the doors two inches lower in the wall so the door frame doesn't hurt the back of my leg when I get in and out. The mattress isn't sticking up far enough above the door frame to fully support me when I slide in.
That's it.

Posted: 7/18/2014 3:59:25 PM EDT

[#14]

freaking awesome !

Id love to travel in the USA with one, especially around the rockies

Posted: 7/18/2014 4:01:20 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Nice camper , so give us a rough idea of cost and things you would change after using it ?

View Quote

My initial cost estimate for the "big stuff" (trailer frame, electrical system, $1400 of MDO plywood which is $80-140 per sheet, RV specialty parts at $330 per door, etc) was $3500. I'm estimating cost at completion to be $5500ish. You could definitely build it cheaper than I did, most people skip the MDO plywood and the fiberglass/epoxy coatings and just paint the hell out of it, which would save you like $1k, but I figure I won't be building a second one so I went all-out. I also have an air conditioner, drawers, tons of cabinetry, a traverse cot (for if we ever have a kid, 5' tall, 22" wide fabric bunk stretched between two dowels), and a heavy duty electrical system (making sure we always have battery power for our CPAPs, when most people just need to keep the lights on and fan turning)

One of my friends is on his third home-built, he sold the first two basically for the cost of materials, each time making it bigger (went from 4x8x4 to 5x10x4 to 5x10x5'), now he's considering building basic ones to sell. The best building resource is Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers, and for when you need friends to camp with, Tearjerkers.

Kharn

Posted: 7/18/2014 4:17:57 PM EDT

[#16]

Nice. I want to build one that's more off-road equipped. Something that fits the profile of my truck or the wife's FJ Cruiser.

Posted: 7/18/2014 4:19:45 PM EDT

[#17]

That is sweet! If I tried to make something like that, it would end up out in the woods in a smoldering pile and I'd be at the camper store spending money.

Posted: 7/18/2014 4:30:28 PM EDT

[#18]

Nice job!

I built a camper out of a cargo trailer (thread is in Survival Gear). It's pretty rewarding to build your own.

Posted: 7/18/2014 4:40:10 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Nice job!

I built a camper out of a cargo trailer (thread is in Survival Gear). It's pretty rewarding to build your own.

View Quote

I saw your thread. Nice camper.

Posted: 7/18/2014 4:48:01 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

That is sweet! If I tried to make something like that, it would end up out in the woods in a smoldering pile and I'd be at the camper store spending money.

View Quote

LOL at smoldering pile.

Posted: 7/18/2014 4:55:58 PM EDT

[#21]

I hate a motherfucker thats got skills.

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:11:47 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Nice job!

I built a camper out of a cargo trailer (thread is in Survival Gear). It's pretty rewarding to build your own.

View Quote

Link?

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:16:36 PM EDT

[#23]

SWEET

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:25:26 PM EDT

[#24]

I'll move this thread for you, and lock the other.

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:31:20 PM EDT

[#25]

This is an awesome thread.

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:33:32 PM EDT

[#26]

Link to locked thread on same topic

seca40,
On your hatch hinge, have you had any problems with water wicking around the edge of it? When I bought my hinge they recommended I leave a 1" overhang on each side of the tear so that it would divert water off the roof and prevent it from hitting the hatch.

Kharn

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:34:40 PM EDT

[#27]

Neat looking setup you've gotten there. That's some real talent and work.

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:38:37 PM EDT

[#28]

Nice.

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:42:11 PM EDT

[#29]

That's very cool! Came out awesome, I'm impressed!

Third tear drop thread I've seen this week on different forums. Is this the new thing? I'm sorta intrigued.....

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:42:39 PM EDT

[#30]

That is awesome, and you sir are quite a craftsman! Enjoy!

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:49:58 PM EDT

[#31]

Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing OP!

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:51:02 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:

Link?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Nice job!

I built a camper out of a cargo trailer (thread is in Survival Gear). It's pretty rewarding to build your own.

Link?

Here

Posted: 7/18/2014 5:56:18 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Link to locked thread on same topic

seca40,
On your hatch hinge, have you had any problems with water wicking around the edge of it? When I bought my hinge they recommended I leave a 1" overhang on each side of the tear so that it would divert water off the roof and prevent it from hitting the hatch.

Kharn

View Quote

No problem so far. It's only been in the rain once but it was pouring and we were on the road. When we stopped I checked it at that spot and it was dry.

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:00:29 PM EDT

[#34]

That is badass. Right on!

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:03:44 PM EDT

[#35]

If I'm ever on my own, I'm gonna need something like that for my "Bigfoot" hunting......

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:04:15 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
I hate a motherfucker thats got skills.

View Quote

Haha. Thanks.

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:05:39 PM EDT

[#37]

I came over here, such a badass camper.

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:07:49 PM EDT

[#38]

Very cool. I remember when I built mine...sadly it didnt last, not due to workmanship but to materials, ended up with mold throughout mine.

Mine was built on off roading platform.

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:08:07 PM EDT

[#39]

I gotta go do 12s in the hospital for a couple days but if you guys have questions I'll check the thread on Monday and answer them.
That oughta give you guys time to get all wound up to start building campers.
MWAHAHAHAHAHA.....MWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:08:35 PM EDT

[#40]

Very nice OP!

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:11:16 PM EDT

[#41]

So inside is just the matress and the wall cabinets?
Any additonal stowage?

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:11:25 PM EDT

[#42]

There is a outfit about 50 miles away that specializes in those types of trailers. When you see a bunch of different types on one place it's pretty impressive.

Believe me when I say what the OP is building it for it's dirt cheap.....And gets it the way he wants it.

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:12:09 PM EDT

[#43]

Really awesome, good job OP!

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:13:23 PM EDT

[#44]

That's pretty cool

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:19:29 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
So inside is just the matress and the wall cabinets?
Any additonal stowage?

View Quote

Yup, that's it. We haven't come close to using the available space. There is an empty space at the foot of the bed that I left for another cabinet. I wanted to use it for a while to get a feel for what would be the best use of that space. Right now, I'm leaning toward leaving it empty.

Posted: 7/18/2014 6:30:07 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
Nice. I want to build one that's more off-road equipped. Something that fits the profile of my truck or the wife's FJ Cruiser.

View Quote

FJ's aren't old enough yet, but there are a number of XJ Cherokee trailers out there. You find one for a song (usually with serious problems, but you're going to gut it anyway), cut the Unibody, usually just forward of the back doors, and put a panel on front. You keep the back doors, liftgate, and sheet metal aft. Usually you use a trailer axle, but I've seen the factory axle kept, on the grounds that you have a spare for anything.

As for more off-road equipped, both Maggiethecat and I are building trailers with off-roading more in mind:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1625343_Off_road_Trailer_Build_thread__It_s_ALIVE_pg_3_.html&page=4&anc=48291023#i48291023