Teardrop Camper Build

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Tom_Charlton

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2012
Messages
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Location
Centralia Illinois
My Bike Models
1984 GL1200I
1988 GL1500
This may take a while, so be patient.

31 Apr – Purchased 4’ X 8’ Harbor Freight tilt trailer - $125.

2 May - Removed ¾” plywood floor & fenderss, painted visible frame black.

3 May - Moved axle on top of springs so camper floor is level with cycle hitch. Removed fenders, will mount on sides of camper (no clearance between tires and trailer frame for bolt heads).

6 May : Paid $52.86 for $127 worth of materials at Lowes by using military discount & gift cards. Waterproofed the underside of the floor.

7 May. Setting up the floor. Glued & clamped 1X2s to floor to anchor sides, back & front panels. Next, rough out the profile while waiting for the glue to dry.
 

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More progress to report
8 May. Purchased 4 sheets ¾” insulation. Insulated the floor and glued/screwed the floor to the floor sandwich. Working on the walls, need to insulate and erect.
9 May. Wall work continues. I have wood clamps, vise grips, welding clamps, c clamps, etc, but I still don't have enough! Gotta wait for one side to setup and dry before glueing the next. Such is life!!
 

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12 May Update. Making progress. :builder:

10 May. $98.71 for materials at Lowe’s.

11 May. Still gluing furring strips to the sides for reinforcements.

12 May – Spent $21 for 1x3s for top supports. Stood the two walls up and added the top supports. Using two 1x4s at top center to support weight of vent and roof. Tomorrow I put the rest of the top supports in and start "training the top plywood" to bend, as Kerryb put it.

Had to stop, clean up, and go to our high school re-unions: 50 for her & 53 for me.

My barber died last month; my wife's hairdresser died yesterday. Maybe I should pay someone to cut my grass, and see if the curse is still active.
 

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14 May – Glued & screwed the top into place. Need to add insulation to interior roof. Will cover top with FRP to provide a waterproof roof. Hold in place by straps until the FRP glue sets.
 

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18 May - Looks like it will come in around 600 lbs.

Storage area not complete. Not sure why the pictures are sideways
 

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18 May - done for the day.

Storage areas have faces, but no doors yet. Need to complete main door and mount. Make doors, mount electrics, and paint.

Anyone got any ideas for outside corners that will seal the top to the painted sides? I don't want to rely on caulk and paint only to keep the rain out.
 

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[url=https://forum.classicgoldwings.com/viewtopic.php?p=202860#p202860:l5fqdapd said:
PurpleGL1200I » Fri May 18, 2018 5:21 am[/url]":l5fqdapd]
18 May - Looks like it will come in around 600 lbs.

:shock:

And you're going to tow this with a motorcycle? That is awfully heavy. I'd respectfully recommend looking for ways to cut weight.
 
Re weight comment: I can pickup one end of the box with relative ease, so my weight estimate could be off. Won't know for sure until I can weigh the completed unit.

25 May – Doors finished except for color. Ran 110 V 30 amp service with four outlets. One in rear, one outside behind camper door, two inside.

Applied primer to outside. Thinking two-tone, grey on lower, yellow on upper side. Must decide soon, “tempus fugit”.

One cogent comment from family: "It is wider than the bike. How will you see to change lanes?" Hmm, wider mirrors, maybe.
 

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[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=203013#p203013:1bevdl8j said:
backlander » Sat May 26, 2018 2:01 am[/url]":1bevdl8j]
That’s what they make rear RV cameras for. There’s probably some on cars and suvs in the wrecking yards by now.
Great minds think alike! :smilie_happy:
 
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