Metzican's Dream off-road Teardrop Trailer

M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So today I go the final two pieces mounted on the interior. It was a good and busy day. Time to move on to other stuff then just plywood.

The first piece mounted in the morning. By late afternoon I could do the last piece.
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Just shows some of the arches in the clamps.
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The last piece mounted and clamped. This one was so easy!!
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B

brett

Bought an X
Location
Little Rock, AR
metzican said:
So you are waiting for the construction of the one of the two things I'm dreading.

1. Cabinets
2. Hatch
Click to expand...

I think I would rather do the cabinets :) I remember examining the hatch on Little Guy teardrops, the old design vs. the new. The older design used a steel frame, the newer models just had a bonded wood structure, gas struts, piano hinge. There was a simple thin section of rv roof rubber stuck down with silicone across the hinge (I remember thinking that detail looked a little ghetto compared to everything else). But, I suppose that was the only way to guarantee no leaks.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Im using a hurricane hinge to ensure water tight seal. Just google it. It has been around since the beginning of td. Now days they offer pastic hinges that just bend over a thin sheet of plastic.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Today's progress

Took all the clamps off the ceiling and this is what I was left with. I love it. I love the grains and the color. Can't wait to lightly sand it and stain it to make it all pop.
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Started working on the false floor. Putting these 1"x2" strips up to support the bed floor. The water tank will sit below it with the pump along with a storage area.
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Installing a strip across the front.
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Installed a strip across the back. Also going to make a false wall under the floor to separate water tank vs storage area.
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Test fitting the water tank! The blocks on top are going to be the mounting points. To hold it down.
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Cut the opening for the fan out. Perfect spot and did not mess up the wires like I thought I would of!
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Had to chisel out a little spot for the wires to drop down into the cabinets for all the wiring.
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Cut down and fitted the "firewall plywood. This is just a test fit. Have to install the false floor first.
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B

brett

Bought an X
Location
Little Rock, AR
metzican said:
Im using a hurricane hinge to ensure water tight seal. Just google it. It has been around since the beginning of td. Now days they offer pastic hinges that just bend over a thin sheet of plastic.
Click to expand...

I like the hurricane hinge, I was not familiar with that. Clearly you've done your research.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Thanks guys,

The blocks mounted to the floor is for the straps holding the water tank.
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The middle divider and support between the storage and the water tank.
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The false floor all cut out with the access ports.
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Mounting the false floor supports for the removable hatch.
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M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Please due send me clamps. I think I have ran out of appropriate clamps everyday on this thing.

So I mounted the false floor today. Tomorrow will be the ultimate test when I put in the center panels and see if they can support my weight!
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I also picked up some of the fittings for the water tank, Still trying to find a few. But I will do that whole water tank at once.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
After today I feel like the camper is finally coming together.

So this is what the false floors look like after the panels are installed.
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Then I installed the firewall. Fit perfectly.
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From the Galley area.
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Then I started installing the frame work for the inside cabinets.
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I decided to install cross braces figured it be easier to get everything to line up properly.
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The first panel installed for the cabinets.
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Tomorrow hopefully I will finish the interior cabinets besides the doors and start working on the galley.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
I got another cupboard face panel mounted today. I also picked up some hardwood for the doors along with hinges.

Here is the main face panel for the inside cupboards.
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Put the bottom shelf in the smaller underneath cupboard.
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I installed 3 bulk heads through the fire wall for wires. the two smaller ones are for appliances (12volt & 120volt) the larger one is for the main power cables coming from the batteries.
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I installed a large bulk head along the floor for the water fill up line, pressurized line, along with the power cables to the pump.
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M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So today was a very slow day due to it raining all day and not having much room to work on anything. But don't fret I did get some stuff done.

So I decided to enclose my fenders on one side and did not feel like paying someone to weld it up. So I bought some sheets of metal and cut them to fit then rivet them in. I have not decided if I will paint them or not. They are zinc plated.
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I also cut out some panels for the doors I recessed the outside of the back so they can sit in a little. It will not be a perfect fit but good enough.
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I glued together a few boards to make the larger doors.
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M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So this is what the cabinet doors are going to look at. This is one of the pieces I had to glue together.
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What it looks like from the edge.
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All 4 interior doors trimmed and cut. With the hinges attached. You can also see the recessed cut on the back of the doors.
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The first door mounted.
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All four doors mounted. I like the way they are turning out. Now I just have to cut the hole for the latch to make sure they stay shut during transport.
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Just a close up of the bottom two doors.
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So the inside is coming to a close here shortly next step galley and hatch.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
I hope it does. I have decided to do a darker stain on the outside. A slightly lighter stain on the inside with the doors the darker color on the outside. You only get one chance. I just don't want to go too dark as I'm putting on 3 coats of epoxy and 3-4 coats of varnish on the outside. And probably 4 coats of varnish on the inside. the sub floor will be epoxy only and the galley with be just like the outside.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
The Varnish offers UV protections. while the epoxy does not. Therefore the epoxy will yellow over time is what i'm being told. I am going to use some extreme high grade marine varnish crap.
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Now that I have 3 days left at work after today I'm starting to think of what i need to do and buy so I can stay on track and finish this thing in time.

Need to do:
All interior trim
Galley cabinets, self, table, drawers, fridge/freezer slide,
Finish plumbing water tank and pumps
Run electrical for Galley and inside cabinets.
Build Galley Door with light.

This will probably be the cut off point this time then next time.

Stain inside
Stain cabinet doors
Stain galley and outside
Epoxy sub floor area
Varnish inside
Exoxy Galley
Varnish Galley
Epoxy outside
Varnish outside
Stain, epoxy, varnish galley door
Roofing material buy & cut
Metal trim and seals

Also depending on when Insain Fab starts shipping me some goodies I have to install that all too!!!
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
I got some connectors for my rigids that will be porch lights.
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I also got this for my trip. From safety points through work. Nice chain saw for safety!!!
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Last edited:
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So I started working on the Galley! Did not get as far as I wanted today. But I did get some stuff done today. More things to face tomorrow.

So here I started working on the slide out for the fridge. This height will make the cabinet size and drawer sizes.
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Just a little demonstration of how far out the fridge can slide.
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Here it is with the floor board on it. There is room under neither it. I'm thinking of using this for plates and silverware.
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Now here go the cabinets for food and other supplies.
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So I got home and this was waiting on me. Guess what it is!!
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M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Timrich said:
Fridge?
Click to expand...

Wrong but I do have one of those too. 62 quart duel fridge freezer.

akuria said:
A solar panel.

You are correct sure. I bit the bullet and got one. I was not going to. Then I started thinking. What happens if I'm out camping enjoying myself and I drain all the batteries. I better have a generator to charge them or a solar panel.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

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Jack Stilts said:
Just checked in for the first time in a month or two...you've made awesome progress! Keep it up, Metz.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir it is a labor of passion and necessity at this point. I'm also a little obsessed with it too. And please don't tell people my last name it is a Giant secret. Shhhh
 
M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So today's work,

I got the bottom and front face panel mounted up for the cabinet.
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Soaking some wood to help it bend better.
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Putting the nice face lift on the cabinets.
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Top panel being mounted up.
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Also made all three doors for the cabinets in the galley. Just like the ones for the inside.
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M

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So today was all cabinet work,

Nice little vertical divider installed between the fridge and lower cupboards. You like my little counter weight there to make sure it is vertical.
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Mounted the doors on the upper cabinets. I like the way they turned out. Not perfect but I wounder how many can actually tell.
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Cutting a hole in a perfectly good outside wall.
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Oh that what goes there. A water fill up spot.
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Closer view, you can see the vent in the upper left.
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With the pressure water attachment hooked up. This is where I will hook up the external shower or faucet.
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Putting together the lower cabinet. Adding the top to it.
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Face plated added to the cabinet. The cabinet will be divided inside.
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D

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
metzican said:
Compared to the old timers in the industry I work I have not noticed anything wrong with your hands.

It's the best saw out there it was free and runs.
Click to expand...

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1420860100.550827.jpg
I lost my middle two tendons .. They my middle fingers are now attached to the outer fingers.

April 8th 1997 11:30 am

It was nice to see your own bones ;-)
I was very lucky
 
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