teardrop

The top weatherstrip is called P-weatherstrip. It's hollow, compresses easily and has a sticky backing making it easy to install. All of my weatherstipping was purchased at the Home Depot.

The latch has a 1/4 spacer behind it and the striker plate was made from a piece of 1/8 X 1 angle countersunk for a screw. The aluminum jamb moulding is called Counter top edging and can be found at most any hardware store.

A short piece of nylon strap limits how far the door can swing open. It is turned under at the ends with some metal plates screwing it to the surfaces.

January 18th 2004 - Hatch has 1-1/2 of insulation inside and '39' Ford taillights installed. Clearance lights will also be added in keeping with the DOT rules.

The cooler is tapered 4 degrees on the back side so I angled the bottom bulkhead to match which added another inch or two of leg room in the cabin.

door_p_weatherstrip

Cooler tray is made from 1 inch angle with wood trim. Mounted with full extension 100# drawer slides.

The top galley shelf was made with dados and glue and then set into place for a trial run. After first voyage I was able to remove it to shorten the vertical supports to make better use of the space.

A sink large enough to be of much use would take up to much counter space and the depth would restrict the cooler size. Instead I found a plastic kitty litter container that's just the right size for cleaning dishes and it doesn't have to drain under the trailer.

Everything stowed and ready for traveling. I stained the inside panel of the hatch dark walnut to add some contrast. The electrical in the hatch connects to the trailer with a flat trailer plug which makes for easy removal of the hatch door in case the hinge track ever needs cleaning.

Finished galley after a few coats of varnish showing cooler extended for easy access and the stove in it's traveling position. Good idea to get a cooler before attaching the bottom bulkhead to make sure you have room. It's critical on an eight footer. A rubber mat is under the stove to keep from harming the countertop while traveling.

Details of stove slide in open position. Also a built in drawer underneath for supplies. Dovetain construction was used on the drawers.

First trip out and the galley is open for business for the next nine days. There is a deep cycle group24 battery on the floor back under the stove so the trailer can operate under it's own power.

The Coleman water bottle just didn't do it for me and was taking up valuable real estate so will haul it in the pick-up. A deep cycle battery was installed on the floor with a removable shelf on top which has lots of room for canned goods. Behind the battery is for propane and anything else that will fit.

The radius corner moulding is dado'd inside to house seven electrical wires. Also hidden above view is a tube light that gives plenty of light and draws only .7/amp

November 17th 2003 - I made the switch plate with a graphics program and printed onto photo paper. Then covered with laminating film to protect and mounted it on a piece of 1/8 Masonite. The lamp above the switches was usually the only light needed for reading.

The dp/dt switch to open the top vent isn't visible behind the pillow. A reading light and switches to control overhead halo lights, radio and fan.

Finished inside with simple shelves, a built in auto radio and 12V power outlet for TV etc. Although out of sight the stove drawer in the galley butts up to the back of the radio and boxed in. With an eight footer you don't want to waste a single cubic/inch of valuable space. Is it any wonder that in nice weather at home I sometimes spend some nights in the teardrop?

Just a view of the remote vent with halo lights and fan. The controls are near the pillow on the side wall. Even in 100 plus degree temps I have never found need for the fan especially with both doors are open but of course we're talking about dry California air.

I determined that with the jack all the way up and wheel removed that it would still scrape the driveway so a 2-1/2 hardwood spacer was fabricated to give it clearance. The trailer tongue is very short and I don't think there would have been room for a swing away jack.

Here it is all hooked up and ready to take to the DMV for inspection and a license plate so it will have a birth certificate.

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Album last updated on Jul 28, 2008 - 12:43 PM

© 2000 - 2012 Dennis Unfried

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