Ok so after 4yrs...what have you learned and BTW great job! I'm looking for advice! I bought a micro trailer "project" for my 65th birthday... I may have bit off more than I can chew! lol I live in San Diego so I have a few month b4 wheather become an issue lol the trailer has good bones but the man who started the build passed away... so the universe thought I should finish it! anyway ... I'm currently researching what is best way to seal exterior? also original builder framed and cut 1 window 26x32 in door in rear of trailer and just framed not yet cut 2 16x16 in windows in sides ideally I'd like to put a galley hatch in rear and doors on sides ? I'm currently looking for any advice or help anyone can offer 😁👍 I dont want to get out my violins ... I have some skills the reason I'm doing this is because I am shooting survivor I actually stayed so busy b4 I I retired I didnt give myself time to think bout it lol but bcuz of progression in my injuries... to eye and face I now need a way to get out and battle my PTSD in a positive way 👍😁 any advice you or your peeps can offer would be VERY APPRECIATED ❣
The doors were from Vintage Technologies. I don’t remember where the lights were from. As I recall, they are called “porch lights” and I found lots of different vendors online. My design was always flexing to the most economical choices - I never got too picky on a particular brand as I wanted to keep costs down.
It was pretty inexpensive. I got the canvas from Big Duck Canvas (be sure when calculating the amount you need to account for shrinkage - you need to wash and dry before putting it on the camper and it shrinks like 10-15% as I recall). If memory serves, canvas, 2 bottles of Titebond and paint was about $150.
Very nicely done!! I like the shape, it's not a square drop but it's not as curved as a traditional teardrop. It's a very nice compromise. I'm planning on starting my own build this winter, I'm definitely taking ideas and inspiration from yours. Did you find your build plans on the internet or did you just make it up as you went? Thanks.
I watched a lot of RU-vid videos and then took time to design it myself. But - as I was building I was somewhat flexible so I could take advantage of parts on sale, etc. The main video that was my inspiration is noted in the notes to my video - it was a woman out of Arizona (I think). The main difference for me was that I used premade doors - something she recommends in hindsight.
Still looks great. I repainted (right over the original paint scheme) with a new design last year and figured it just added more water tight protection.
I had bought some weather stripping on Amazon (I don’t know the exact brand.) the first one wasn’t think enough so I replaced it with a thinker one. self adhesive. on the bottom edge, I used like a 1 1/2 inch flat rubber strip that overhangs the very bottom edge and prevents water from going down the outside and then slipping in. That strip isn’t on the video - I found that was an issue w water later. it works great. The galley isn’t locked - they are just rubber straps - almost like you see on some coolers these days. they pull down and latch onto a post on the bottom of the camper. I’ve never camped anywhere that I was worried about people messing w my camper.
Sure is! I’ve taken it from Delaware to Florida twice. It’s also been to the Carolinas and up to Pennsylvania Amish Country. Headed to the finger lakes in NY this weekend. Cheers!
Good question - I didn’t keep record of it. If you look on Google, you can find resources on how to pick size and placement to make it work. It’s going to depend a lot on the weight of your rear hatch and where you place them as to which weight you get. The old measure twice / cut once adage is important. More like measure three times, diagram it again and then sleep on it before ordering.
@@chipcross1 Mine is similar in structure. The calculations I'm finding is saying 36" long but yours doesn't seem to be that long. I'm guessing around 20" just wondering
@@todddewitt6731 You are in luck. I was able to find the order info - it was 26”, 100 lbs props. I ordered them from siraweb.com - $26.99 each and brackets were $2.99 each.
Great job. I am debating doing one and this video helped me get closer to starting. If you don’t mind how much did you approximately spend on the build?
My best memory/guess is that they were around $340 each. This is the website: www.teardroptrailerparts.com/ I debated building my own doors but from comments I heard from others on other videos I watched before building, I decided that the cost of hinges, insert windows, latches, seals, etc made them not that much more cost-wise and the almost sure promise that a homemade door would leak or cause problems was what went into my decision.
Very, very nice. The ONLY thing wrong is the paper towels roll is on the holder backwards. The paper towel is supposed to flop over the top of the roll. Other than this, great job.
Well done man, was torn on the PMF or aluminum and your PMF looks so good I am going that way. I am assuming lots of sanding between coats, but any other tips on the PMF to make it look as good as you managed?
I lightly sanded between coats. Frankly it isn’t smooth like aluminum or fiberglass. I did wash and then iron the canvas before gluing it to the camper. I used my large kitchen table with blankets spread on it as the surface (to avoid damaging the table).
Perfect Robb - thanks! I don’t have a list. 99% of what I got as accessories (lights, fan, switches, doors, etc) were from Amazon. There are lots of choices there. I tended to buy a few weeks ahead of any stage after early planning and looking at what was out there. The trailer was from Northern Freight. There is a DIY teardrop trailer page on FB where there are hundreds of people who have built similar and happy to give additional tips. Oh - the moonroof was a used side window. The only thing to remember if you use a side window is to cover the weep holes or water will get in at those holes.
I was looking for something that my Equinox could pull for camping and stumbled on your video. This was inspiring and gave me a lot of ideas with what I have to work with and actually make something good. Thank you for posting. By the way nice job I love your trailer.
Marzan - thanks! Good luck with your build. I watched a ton of RU-vid videos to come up w ideas and strategies for my build. She’s made it up and down the east coast and I’m heading out for another adventure to FL next month.
Is there a way to reverse engineer your electric?(detail of how you routed it from start to finish) would help me tremendously, p.s your out door galley is GENIUS!
Hi Like you I am currently building a small caravan, I intended to build a tear drop however when my wife understood what I was building I had to change my scope. I am currently lining my van in 1.6mm sheet fibreglass maybe your PMF would have saved me a lot of money.
