Sunset Landing
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Introduction
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Profile and Dimensions
Trailer/Chassis
Framing and Skin
- 1
Framing and Skin
- 2
Windows and Hardware
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Finish
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Stocking the Trailer
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Trailer for Chassis
The
trailer for this project is a Rance Rough
Rider 5X8 utility trailer.
Parts
Li'l
Bear Tagalongs
Awning
windows, hatch hinge, and drip molding.
Harbor
Freight
Trailers,
etc.
Reid
Tool Company
Lots
of cool hardware.
Northern
Tool
Similar
to Harbor Freight.
TJ
Trailers
Trailers
and parts
Teardrop Cargo/Camper Trailer
Framing and Skin - Page 2
August 20, 2004 Update
Since the last update I had been rushing to get the trailer ready for a group camping trip at Forestville State Park--made it with only moments to spare. The trailer is not done and in fact the chassis is in for modifications but I did get it far enough along to be road ready. During the coming weeks, I hope to have more work finished for a trip to Temperance River State Park on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Here are the pics of the assembly process up to now.
Cabinet
framing in place and ceiling of galley paneled.
Doors
for upper cabinet started as one piece to make
sure grain pattern
carries across the face of the door
Upper
cabinet doors installed. Spring clips hold them
closed when
on the road.
Framing
for forward cabinet. Sliding doors go into top
section and drop-down
doors with bike-tites go at bottom.
Hatch
side walls are temporarily fastened to pod body to
make sure
everything will line up when finished. There may
yet be a hatch
re-design. I would like it to be even lighter.
It weighs about
40 pounds with the skin on.
Framing
for roof vent. Opening gets routed out.
Fanfold
insulation was used mainly because I didn't have
any way to
carry big sheets of foam at the time. It actually
was quite
easy to measure and fit and worked out just fine.
There is one
inch of insulation in each bay. Only the ceiling
is insulated
at this point. Will wait to see how much other
might be needed.
The
Ceiling panels are held in place with screws. The tiny
white
dots on the ceiling are screws with screwcap covers
over them.
I want the panel to be removable for future
wiring and modifications.
This
is a sample of the ceiling panel material. Basically the
same
thing you would find in a factory built trailer.
The
pod has been filled and sanded and is ready for
priming and
painting.
Okay--I
just couldn't resist the temptation to try it out. I put one
of
our cots and a foam pad into the cabin and gave it a
test sleep.
Very comfortable.
At
the foot of the cot is the forward cabinet. The ledge is a
handy
place to store all of that stuff that one wants
available quickly.
Portable
flourescents will provide light for the time being.
I'm not
quite ready to install wiring yet.
The
pod is secured to the trailer chassis with J bolts and
screw
eyes. There are also lag screws holding the pod
frame to the
trailer bed. This is a temporary situation until
I develop a
better mounting system. It works though.
At the campground...
Made it. Got the pod road ready and loaded up the bikes and gear. Here are views of the unit as it was at the campsite.
The
door has locks at the top and bottom to prevent the
door from
being sucked open while traveling.
The
driver side door is not installed. Depending on how we
decide
to use it, the door may go in or it may be sealed up
permanently.
The nearly five foot interior height could allow
us to use a
bunk bed arrangement. That would allow us to
move about inside
at night without tripping over each other.
The
door may get a fixed window. The bike-tites are not in
their
final configuration--this was just to get us there.
You
can't see it in this photo but the hatch is being held up
with
a stick. Again, another concession to getting to the
campsite
on time. We are using three plastic drawer units
for storage
below the counter top. The counter will get Formica
and there's
still a bit of finishing needed in the galley.
After the trip...
No--that's
not a result of poor judgment when backing.
I decided the chassis
needed a few mods so we used the
old roller dowel trick to back
the pod off the chassis and
onto the front steps which
just happened to be exactly the
right height.
The
wheels and fenders will be moved ten inches towards
the rear
for better initial weight distribution. Final balance
will be
achieved by means of distribution the gear
when packing.
The
tongue will be rebuilt to allow three more inches of ground
clearance.
Then I can get rid of this gigantic adjustable ball
mount and
maybe get by with a four inch drop. Also, having
the ball stuck
out this far behind the truck's axle transmits a
lot of unwanted
wagging to the trailer. The new ball mount
will be much shorter.
Diagonal bracing is also being added
in case I decide to carry
gear on the front triangle.
That's it for now. Happy Camping!
Updated August 20, 2004