View Full Version : Tear Drop build anyone ?
48 Pick-up
28-11-09, 09:59 PM
absolutely, keep the updates coming!!
More information please ! size's, suspension units used :)
That looks a big-un!!
Very neat.
Remember to include hidden storage and insulation and ventilation!
Rover V8
29-11-09, 11:49 AM
Hi Andrew,
Looks like a good project, and good work, looking forward to following the build. Hot Roddy enough for sure :)
Cheers,
Mike C.
33 Plymouth
29-11-09, 03:12 PM
Looks a neat project :cool:
If you covered the bottom of the chassis with some thin ply or ally sheet, you could then insulate the gap between the chassis rails :D
.
Blackpopracing
29-11-09, 05:46 PM
Nice project, I spy a Pop rear wing in the background ;o)
langysrodshop
30-11-09, 02:20 AM
look's good Andy, a bit bigger than the norm then ???
just looked at the time you posted your comments my god don't you SLEEP
The lucky whatsit Is in Florida so 5 hours behind us.
Ah there's my thinking he's just come in from the workshop !!!
langysrodshop
01-12-09, 02:39 PM
Martins right, i was just sitting by the pool, it was only 83F so not too hot :D
Andy trailers over 750kg have to have brakes by law, the police are hot on it too.
Not too far from me then Steve, 100 miles south of New Orleans. I was walking the helideck in shorts and T shirt last night. :D
It's a hard life, but someones got to do it. ;)
Martins right, i was just sitting by the pool, it was only 83F so not too hot :D
langysrodshop
01-12-09, 03:48 PM
I was in Key West Paul, A great place to visit, bands playing in all the bars till 4 in the morning.
Not too far from me then Steve, 100 miles south of New Orleans. I was walking the helideck in shorts and T shirt last night. :D
It's a hard life, but someones got to do it. ;)
Hi Steve thanks for the weather check mate! I have just got out of a trench full of rain water so we are havin great weather here too !!!! . I'm going to build the tear drop and then put it over a weigh bridge so may have to put the brakes on yet will have to see how we get on !!! hope you have fun in the sun.
langysrodshop
01-12-09, 06:10 PM
Back in the cold now Andy :eek: can't see you getting your large version under 750kgs to be honest, Mine is 710kgs so just gets in.
Hi Steve thanks for the weather check mate! I have just got out of a trench full of rain water so we are havin great weather here too !!!! . I'm going to build the tear drop and then put it over a weigh bridge so may have to put the brakes on yet will have to see how we get on !!! hope you have fun in the sun.
Ya I think you could be right Steve ! but not a drama I will just have to keep an eye on the tat the mrs puts in it !!!!
As you can see I have cut in the door and started wooding out the top edges .The wood I used was decking its treated and the right thickness spot on .
I had to recess the wood at the ends to fit behind the ali uprights when cut to size they were all sikaflexed and clamped over night.
I also made 2 steel box frames one front and one rear ,
front to hang the door from and the rear as a divide from the sleeping compartment.
These steel frames add a lot of strength to caravan too a sort of roll cage !!!!!
Strange Mark
03-12-09, 05:04 PM
Wots that door and frame your using there, is it one you,ve made up yourself or something bought in ?
Dave Lowe
03-12-09, 06:51 PM
Wots that door and frame your using there, is it one you,ve made up yourself or something bought in ?
Doors are easy, just get 2x1 par timber, lay out what shape you want, pva woodglue between two sheets of 3mm ply, put on a VERY flat surface, cover with another flat suface (thick ply or whatever) and put heavy weights on evenly, leave for a couple of days to make sure its really dry, you can skin the door slightly larger with alloy or whatever your build material is, leaving a lip round the edge to close onto the body/frame.
langysrodshop
03-12-09, 07:00 PM
Took me 2 hours to make my doors start to finish Dave, used Glasonite and trimmed with ally capping :D
Doors are easy, just get 2x1 par timber, lay out what shape you want, pva woodglue between two sheets of 3mm ply, put on a VERY flat surface, cover with another flat suface (thick ply or whatever) and put heavy weights on evenly, leave for a couple of days to make sure its really dry, you can skin the door slightly larger with alloy or whatever your build material is, leaving a lip round the edge to close onto the body/frame.
Dave Lowe
03-12-09, 07:13 PM
Took me 2 hours to make my doors start to finish Dave, used Glasonite and trimmed with ally capping :D
Yeah, but I do everything the hard way Steve !!!! it makes it more interesting
langysrodshop
03-12-09, 07:34 PM
You old boys eh !!! :D:D:D
Yeah, but I do everything the hard way Steve !!!! it makes it more interesting
Hi Mark I used the frame out of a old caravan just cut to hobit size , the door I cut from 13mm marine ply and then used the fiber glass door shaped panel i'd just cut out to line the out side .I stuck the two parts together with an even layer of sikaflex clamped and left over night worked very well.
Tiki Des
03-12-09, 11:21 PM
You old boys eh !!! :D:D:D
Dave is a friend of Old Jack. :)
;)
This were I started to make the roof suports (Wood work whats that about) I just recesed them into the top edge about 30mm and left them a bit proud and then went over them with an electric planer to flush them all off , the timber I used was 50mm X 25mm roof batern .
I also have the side window cut out , the frame is from the donner caravan its raw ali so it will be polished !!
langysrodshop
04-12-09, 06:30 PM
Did mine the same way Andy, Looking good.
This were I started to make the roof suports (Wood work whats that about) I just recesed them into the top edge about 30mm and left them a bit proud and then went over them with an electric planer to flush them all off , the timber I used was 50mm X 25mm roof batern .
I also have the side window cut out , the frame is from the donner caravan its raw ali so it will be polished !!
scottie
04-12-09, 07:02 PM
has anyone thought of making something a bit bigger , airstream style kinda thing
Hi Steve when I saw your tear drop in the flesh it got me inspiered (spellings not one of my strong points)! so I have you to thank for the insparation, as for when my wife saw it she said can you build me one of those?? So thanks Steve.
langysrodshop
04-12-09, 07:07 PM
flattery will get you everywhere Andy :D thanks.
Hi Steve when I saw your tear drop in the flesh it got me inspiered (spellings not one of my strong points)! so I have you to thank for the insparation, as for when my wife saw it she said can you build me one of those?? So thanks Steve.
just found the time to post a few more pics up. showing the window, one of the door frame and one of the partition wall between sleeping quarters and soon to be cooking area!
langysrodshop
06-12-09, 09:24 PM
Andy out of interest what are the exterior dims of yours ???
Hi Steve my tear drop is 1.85 m high 1.4m wide and chassis is 3m long plus the draw bar of about 1m . It didn't seem that big when I started ,I still think It looks ok proportion wise .. DREWID.
langysrodshop
08-12-09, 09:39 AM
Very similair size to mine then but a bit longer, looks big in the pics Andy, Got any side pics ???
Hi Steve my tear drop is 1.85 m high 1.4m wide and chassis is 3m long plus the draw bar of about 1m . It didn't seem that big when I started ,I still think It looks ok proportion wise .. DREWID.
The build progresses !!!!
had a very large sheet of Ali delivered and within a day it was on !!! went a bit over spec
on the thickness shoud of gone for 1mm NOT 1.5 mm I know it dosn't sound much but when you try and bend it ooo it's a bit stiff !!
I cut around the draw bar and pop riveted the Ali to a cross member under the draw bar then stuck the whole lot down with Sikaflex as you can see put 2 ratchet straps over the lot and left it for 2 days .
I have also been playing with the side trim I'v come up with a (J) section gutter upside down if that makes sence I managed to bend it around without putting a kink in It Looks pritty good I reckon, as for fixing it not sure yet.??
See you soon DREWID.
40 Sedan
10-12-09, 12:26 PM
That'll double your fuel bill dragging that thing along :-)
Looking good mate.
Hi Keith
Cheers mate just trying to make it water proof coz when ever we hit the road its always wet .
I have wooded out the patition wall with a hinged access door at the bottom to get the mattress in and out .
Made the rear door frame from 25mm x 25mm x 1.5mm steel box with a stainless piano hinge to hang it all from , made and fitted the rear door latch and handle , the whole lot will be lifted by 2 gas struts now all fitted .
The rear door skin was cut to size and stuck on with sikaflex and as you can see held in place with the old ratchet straps great bits of kit !
I did put 4 poprivets 1 in each corner just incase !!
The builds looking good Andy.
Because of the size of yours, space will probably not be an issue, but what are you going to have in the back with regards to cooker, fridge ect, and have you pre-planned for where they will fit. I`ve managed to fit a caravan 2 hob cooker (with grill), a fridge, battery for lighting and water container in quite a small space, but it does take some planning. Langy even has a hot water heater in his and a small wash basin. Yep, everything and the kitchen sink :cool:.
Also, have you thought about some kind of sealing for the rear lid piano hinge ?, water gets in there very easily and the last thing you want is the kitchen area swimming in water...
langysrodshop
16-12-09, 02:12 PM
And a 40 gallon water tank :D
The builds looking good Andy.
Because of the size of yours, space will probably not be an issue, but what are you going to have in the back with regards to cooker, fridge ect, and have you pre-planned for where they will fit. I`ve managed to fit a caravan 2 hob cooker (with grill), a fridge, battery for lighting and water container in quite a small space, but it does take some planning. Langy even has a hot water heater in his and a small wash basin. Yep, everything and the kitchen sink :cool:.
Also, have you thought about some kind of sealing for the rear lid piano hinge ?, water gets in there very easily and the last thing you want is the kitchen area swimming in water...
What about an internal dinning area with table & seat? Lol:)
randrhotrodimports
16-12-09, 04:42 PM
Yours is one of the best i have ever seen Al, the tear drop that is;)
What about an internal dinning area with table & seat? Lol:)
And a 40 gallon water tank :D
I thought that was the under floor jacussi :D...
Thanks for the feedback guys ,
As for whats going in the back Brian I have a two burner and sink unit with a grill all in one thingy which will fit well , as for a fridge still on the look out for the right thing .I do have a bit of a problem because of the shape of the caravan at the back it makes it diffecult to reach in without catching your shines so I may have to build the whole kitchen bit on runners so I can put it forward so the wife can cook my breakfast !!!!!
langysrodshop
17-12-09, 09:51 AM
Andy had the same problem with my grill due to the shape so i put it on slide out draw runners, works a treat, My fridge is just slightly back at the bottom.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h229/stevelangylang/TEARDROPS/PICT1721.jpg
Thanks for the feedback guys ,
As for whats going in the back Brian I have a two burner and sink unit with a grill all in one thingy which will fit well , as for a fridge still on the look out for the right thing .I do have a bit of a problem because of the shape of the caravan at the back it makes it diffecult to reach in without catching your shines so I may have to build the whole kitchen bit on runners so I can put it forward so the wife can cook my breakfast !!!!!
Onboard jacussi! Brian please don't give Al any more idea's. Debs:p
I had a similer idiea Steve but thought i might put the whole lot on wheels so all the cupboards/ cooker / sink / etc will roll in and out on its own frame , but will see how I get on ! just off for a quck ski in france so see you guys in a week have a good one cheers DREWID .
Hi Folks It's good to be back and in the workshop how sad is that !!!!! Took the strapes off to see how the sikaflex had taken, not 100% convinced so I put a pop rivet in each corner to stop them lifting. I then stuck the rest of the ali sheet to the door frame on the inside ( this baby's going nowhere ) I have now found that the gas struts need some more gas in !!!! so you fix one bit and **** up another bit so is that normal ???????
I have finnished making the rear valence as the pics show , all made from Ali steet with the help of a rubber hammer and an RSJ Mr Ron Covel would be proud of me (not), still it has turned out ok !
I pulled off the film over the ali just to get a feel of how it looked ! It did look sweet so I think I am going to leave it and just paint the sides satin black to match my pickup so will start the prep for paint now watch this space !!!!
langysrodshop
05-01-10, 09:24 AM
Andy you will need to something with the ally as it won't hold up well left bare :(
I pulled off the film over the ali just to get a feel of how it looked ! It did look sweet so I think I am going to leave it and just paint the sides satin black to match my pickup so will start the prep for paint now watch this space !!!!
Hi steve do you think it will rott , I did think about putting a clear coat over it ???
langysrodshop
05-01-10, 02:21 PM
It will go powdery Andy as all ally does when open to the elements, clear coat won't adhere for long, Needs Epoxy priming much better than acid etch.
Hi steve do you think it will rott , I did think about putting a clear coat over it ???
I pulled off the film over the ali just to get a feel of how it looked ! It did look sweet so I think I am going to leave it and just paint the sides satin black to match my pickup so will start the prep for paint now watch this space !!!!
looking v good
Here's a ? for you lads, with these luxury caravans !! How the hell do you keep the rain out of the piano hinge on the rear door !
I have 2 ideas cover with rubber OR make a alli spoiler type thing over the width of the hinge that the rear door meets when it liftes up ? just one of the things I need to sort out cheers Drewid.
Wide rubber strip either over or under the hinge will work ok.
If under the hinge strip, the hinge will hold the rubber strip in place, just make sure you extend the rubber strip to the outside edge of the bodywork, otherwise water will run down inside the wall.
If over the hinge, it can be held down with aluminium/polished stainless strips.
I`ve seen a waterproof rear hatch hinge of two interlocking strips of metal that resembles a Ford Pop bonnet hinge (imagine the bonnet top being the rear hatch) which works good...
langysrodshop
05-01-10, 07:51 PM
Bicycle inner tube (i kid you not) clamp it between the hinge and the hinge mounting surface on both sides.
Bicycle inner tube (i kid you not) clamp it between the hinge and the hinge mounting surface on both sides.
Just slide the hinge inside the inner tube, seals both sides, job done :cool:...
langysrodshop
05-01-10, 08:11 PM
How are you gonna get to the screws ???
Just slide the hinge inside the inner tube, seals both sides, job done :cool:...
Thanks very much for the info gents some great ideas it's a good job you guys are there to help out . I think there will have to be some rubber somewhere !!!!!!
How are you gonna get to the screws ???
Screws would go right through from the outside, after first going through stainless clamping strips...
pb32coupe
07-01-10, 06:51 PM
just seen this on ebay (Teardrop Trailer Water Tight Hurricane Hinge)
ebay number 200425619997
hope it helps
Paul
Here's a ? for you lads, with these luxury caravans !! How the hell do you keep the rain out of the piano hinge on the rear door !
I have 2 ideas cover with rubber OR make a alli spoiler type thing over the width of the hinge that the rear door meets when it liftes up ? just one of the things I need to sort out cheers Drewid.
langysrodshop
08-01-10, 11:31 AM
You can get that from caravan shops Paul but i'm pretty sure when i looked it only comes 48" wide.
just seen this on ebay (Teardrop Trailer Water Tight Hurricane Hinge)
ebay number 200425619997
hope it helps
Paul
just seen this on ebay (Teardrop Trailer Water Tight Hurricane Hinge)
ebay number 200425619997
hope it helps
Paul
That's the item I was referring to in my previous post (58), but like Steve, I`ve only seen it in 48" lengths (the width of a standard teardrop), which obviously does not take into account a wider custom built trailer...
langysrodshop
08-01-10, 06:20 PM
Andy here's a link supplied by Derek a friend of mine.
http://www.stedall.co.uk/acatalog/Continuous_Hinges.html
Thanks for the link Steve,
I have had a look it has a lot of good stuff .
ps, if your welder dosn't sell please drop me a line cheers Drewid.
langysrodshop
09-01-10, 10:13 AM
Its provisionally sold to someone over your way Andy, Subject to trying it this coming week due to the snow.
Thanks for the link Steve,
I have had a look it has a lot of good stuff .
ps, if your welder dosn't sell please drop me a line cheers Drewid.
Ok Steve thanks , see how you get on we had a sh*t load of snow down here !!!
So it snowed, that ment no work!!! This ment I need to paint the caravan !!!!!
40 Sedan
12-01-10, 07:54 PM
Looking good mate, have you decided on which arches to use?
Hi Keith I have gone for the wifes pop wings !!!!! I have cut one up already to make it a total of 11.5 inches wide , I want to put side skerts over the wheel opening just because they look cool, will get some pics up soon!
Hi Drew,
How you doing mate?
The 'van looks real good,i'll have to find you at a show for a cooked brekkie lol!
You should have it finished by the end of the week,what with all the snow.
Take it easy mate,
Chris :cool:
Nice build, that's going to look awesome!
Last year i thought about building a teardrop but the thought of having to cook outside while it's raining(which lets face it is a lot in this country) was not attractive so i was going to make a more 'full size' teardrop that had everything inside. so i started looking for a really cheap caravan i could use the chassis from on ebay and places. i then ended up buying a 1958 all aluminium Stirling lantern top caravan for less than £400 that only needs a bit of tidying/personalising so the teardrop idea went out the window for now. i would like to build one at some point in the future though.
langysrodshop
13-01-10, 05:37 PM
Tim us teardrop owners all have a gazebo over the kitchen area's.
Nice build, that's going to look awesome!
Last year i thought about building a teardrop but the thought of having to cook outside while it's raining(which lets face it is a lot in this country) was not attractive so i was going to make a more 'full size' teardrop that had everything inside. so i started looking for a really cheap caravan i could use the chassis from on ebay and places. i then ended up buying a 1958 all aluminium Stirling lantern top caravan for less than £400 that only needs a bit of tidying/personalising so the teardrop idea went out the window for now. i would like to build one at some point in the future though.
Tim us teardrop owners all have a gazebo over the kitchen area's.
Well yeah but i thought half the idea of a caravan was so everythings easy and you dont have to put tents, gazebos up and make sure their all dry when you pack them away etc, so if i personally am going to go to the trouble of pulling something behind my car i want it to be a caravan, not half a caravan.... that's just my personal view on the matter anyway ;)
Hi Drew, aaaa
Hi Chris we're doing ok mate thanks this OL' snow came just right for building the teardrop!!! But havn't worked since before christmas. I would like to get the teardrop finished for wheels day maybe cuz it will be sunny????
How you doing mate?
The 'van looks real good,i'll have to find you at a show for a cooked brekkie lol!
You should have it finished by the end of the week,what with all the snow.
Take it easy mate,
Chris :cool:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
langysrodshop
13-01-10, 07:14 PM
Its no bother really as the gazebo goes up quickly, but i know what you mean. Only need them if its raining.
Well yeah but i thought half the idea of a caravan was so everythings easy and you dont have to put tents, gazebos up and make sure their all dry when you pack them away etc, so if i personally am going to go to the trouble of pulling something behind my car i want it to be a caravan, not half a caravan.... that's just my personal view on the matter anyway ;)
Sunny at Wheels Day? gotta be due some sunshine this year surely! :cool:
Keep up the good work mate. ;)
Nice build, that's going to look awesome!
Last year i thought about building a teardrop but the thought of having to cook outside while it's raining(which lets face it is a lot in this country) was not attractive so i was going to make a more 'full size' teardrop that had everything inside. so i started looking for a really cheap caravan i could use the chassis from on ebay and places. i then ended up buying a 1958 all aluminium Stirling lantern top caravan for less than £400 that only needs a bit of tidying/personalising so the teardrop idea went out the window for now. i would like to build one at some point in the future though. Hi Tim I have always fanced an Airstream my self but they always seem to be a lot money so here I am making a teardrop I just can't do the tent thing anymore!!!!!! Cheers for now DREWID.
Have been bizzy working on the wings sorry fenders !! started with my wifes 4ich over sized rear pop wings and widened them to opprox 11inches with some left over ali sheet, pop riveted and then fiberglass and then smoothed out with filler they look fine so far!!!
Have been flat out doing stuff I have water proofed the piano hinge with pond liner I had left over from a job , and fitted up the fenders and just finished spaying them black they should look pretty cool with the white walls .
Fenders and white walls on . next job is to sort out the rear lights I'v got some 37 ford ones from Pop Browns but have got to make some mounting brackets out of stainless so out with the tig welder Steve !!!
looks awesome!
How tall and long is it? it looks a fair bit bigger than your average teardrop.
Hi Tim I have just put a tape over the teardrop it is 1.9 high 1.4 wide and 3.3 meters long , it dosen't seem that big when you see every day but it is a little bigger than the norm !!!! Cheers for now Drewid.
Another day in the workshop has got the rear light holders made up !!!!!!
Nice job mate. Love the lamp brackets.
Cheers. Tim W.
40 Sedan
30-01-10, 12:22 PM
ditto, love the lights. coming along mate, the fenders look good.
Just a quick update of what I'v been up to the pic's say it all realy !!!! DREWID.oh yes as for the pink door handle !!! I gave the inside to my wife to do. nuff said !!!!
Looking very well finished :)
where's the windows from ?
yeah looking very good indeed... not so sure i'm looking forwad to the interior progress pics though if that door handles anything to go by :D
does your wife know this site? http://reprodepot.com/fabrics.html if not best not show her :o
The window is from a 70's sprite that I used as a donor caravan I did have to cut it down to size with new glass.
I might have pull up on the rains on interior designer but i think i might just have some control over it!!
Spence32
23-02-10, 01:28 PM
Any updates?
This is a great thread, although I never thought I'd be so interested in a caravan build! LOL
Hi Spence sorry, it's still movin on but a lot of p#ssing about on fiddley small stuff ! Im trying to get it to wheels day in some sort of semi finished state . Some pics coming soon .
I have now got somthing in the way of pic's to show what i'v been up to!
I have put brakes on which meant a different ball hitch all fitted and painted,
flooring inside all done B&Q's best.
I have also started work on the inside I got 2 cheap steel lockers from IKEA and repainted them and built them in for his and hers storage, with some more storage cupboards above , insulation is also done (by my wife) with 25mm polystireeeeeeen worked well !!!!!
My mate Mo has got all the wireing done and most of the lights working he has also put me in a 240v hook up just in case we ever come across one!!!
Next major job is make the towbar on the chevy pickup as you do,
back soon Drewid.
After a very bizzy and long week the teardrop was off to Trimmania with all the brakes working well , and no probs in the towing department bloody amazing !!!!!! see you at wheels day ???
Thats a result ! quite like the colour combination too :D
40 Sedan
10-03-10, 01:12 PM
Wheels Day? That'll be a few more late nites mate, It'll look nice with the new white walls and steels fitted.
Rover V8
10-03-10, 03:48 PM
Just catching up a bit, so I looked through the whole thread again, real good work Andy,
Also it looks spot on behind your truck,
Have a good summer,
Cheers,
Mike C.
Thanks for the reply's guys I have got a few more jobs to do before wheels day but should get there? will post some photos when it gets back from the trimmers . Drewid.
Looks awesome... probably one of the best looking Teardrops worldwide! :)
picked up the old teardrop from Trimmania today , another top job by the boys , all the colours seem to work realy well should look good with all the other bits and peaces in place !
:eek: it's like a palace in there ! :D
Hi John I think once I get my bed in there I woun't won't to get out !!!!
langysrodshop
18-03-10, 11:37 PM
you going on the game Andy :D:D:D
picked up the old teardrop from Trimmania today , another top job by the boys , all the colours seem to work realy well should look good with all the other bits and peaces in place !
I thought I might just make a bit more money than diggin holes , but then looked in the mirror enough said Steve !!!!!
40 Sedan
19-03-10, 01:34 PM
Looks like it should have a pole in there :-) Drewids boudoir
Just a few more pics of the inside Pinstiping by young Flash cheers DUDE !!!!
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