Teardrop camper build

I started building a teardrop camper. Made lots of progress. Too bad I welded the axles on backwards and have to cut them off to re-weld them..


Steel coming home:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...109_113717.jpg

The start:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...109_123038.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...109_133228.jpg

The tongue will be retractable:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...109_164938.jpg

Stabilizer jacks and axles on backwards haha!

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...109_165522.jpg

Wheels:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...110_142308.jpg

Getting there. Lots of bracing left and small stuff.

All welded with a 200DX. Wish I had a MIG welder right about now...

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...110_142304.jpg

Is that a torsion axle? The only one's I have used are the regular axles with leaf springs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SeanMurphy265

Is that a torsion axle? The only one's I have used are the regular axles with leaf springs.

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Yea they are torsion axles.

Are they the ones from Northern? Keep us posted on the progress and maybe rough cost. Wheels, steel, etc. Looks like a fun project.

I bought the axles from eBay. As it is right now, I have around $1400 in it.


RV Teardrop 120 Volt 15 Amp All Weather Male Receptical: $28.00
Wheels shipped: $184.83 for 3 wheels
3 Center caps: $25.47
2 Stabilizer jacks: 38.94 shipped
Axles:$260
Vent fan: $185
Tongue jack: $45
Tongue hitch:$15
Steel: $220.00
Tires: T205/70R15 - $259.89
Misc: $71.06


TCI: $1333.95

Well today was kind of productive. I ran out of argon, and paint. Plus it was kind of windy which made welding difficult because it kept blowing my shielding gas away. I would go refill my bottle and buy more paint, but I have to go to work tomorrow. So it will have to wait.

Half of the frame is painted. Also, I have a little bit of welding to do. I tacked up the A frame, but it has to be welded all the way up. Then I have to wrap each end of the center support, because they both will act like a trailer hitch. Since the tongue will slide in/out and the rear will have a hitch receiver.

Doesn't look like I did much, but I flipped the axles, and added another support beam, cut/fitted the A frame, and tacked most of it, welded some. Sanded and painted what I could.

Pics:

Front view. It's upside down too.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...112_140101.jpg

Rear view:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...112_140125.jpg

It will be another couple weeks before another serious update. Before I can even start working on the cabin, which will go fast, I need a few things.

Door
Hatch hinge
Epoxy
Bed liner

and of course, wood.

And the frame is square and straight. The pics make it look funny.

I can't stand it when I make mistakes and have to undo work (and trust me, I do it often!) Nice project you've got there. This your first camper build? Looks like you might have done a few before. Good progress. Cheers!

Running out of gas is a bummer for sure. Can not wait to see finished product and cost. Just helped a guy that is doing an aluminum version, Trailer is done and he plans on doing the tear-drop next and it will be removable, so he can haul his bike on the trailer.

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Originally Posted by undercut

I can't stand it when I make mistakes and have to undo work (and trust me, I do it often!) Nice project you've got there. This your first camper build? Looks like you might have done a few before. Good progress. Cheers!

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This is my second one. First time welding though. I bought my 200DX a while back, and just done enough practicing to learn how to TIG weld. Wish I would have bought a MIG first. I would have been done by now. But it's good practice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by everlastsupport

Running out of gas is a bummer for sure. Can not wait to see finished product and cost. Just helped a guy that is doing an aluminum version, Trailer is done and he plans on doing the tear-drop next and it will be removable, so he can haul his bike on the trailer.

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Estimated is going to be around 6k. I know it's a lot for a small camper. But it's going to have a/c, satellite tv inside and out. Roof rack, a side rack for gear. F/R tongue hitch haulers.

I promise you, you will never see a teardrop camper like this one when its finished.

It will "kind of" look like this, but way better. But this is just to give you a idea.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...desertdawg.jpg

Pull that behind your desert brown Hummer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blacksmith

Pull that behind your desert brown Hummer.

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And then drive over it with this ;)

http://www.maximog.com/images/sublev...er_mog_big.jpg

Even the trailer has all-wheel drive for the really tough stuff.

http://www.maximog.com

Haha! I just have a old Ford truck.

And since I am using a Everlast 200DX, I will post a weld pic. It has another weld under it. And I have only practiced a little bit. This is my first real welding project. I just hope she holds together.. LOL

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...110_113447.jpg

Weld looks good - looks like you prepped it well and obtained a nicely wetted, oxide-free result! For extra strength (if needed) you could add weld fillets to the sides of that joint.

You might want to practice on some scrap material of same dimensions and joint type as used in the frame on this (for the strength-critical welds), and bend test it to failure to establish some confidence in the integrity of your welds. (If it bends or fails in the parent metals and not the weld joint, you're golden.)

Interesting project; keep us posted.

Thanks. The bottom side will be welded as well when I flip the trailer over.

And using my ck130 torch is titties and beer. I never had to move my machine one time.

Are you going to TIG the whole thing? Will be tough and look good but will take a little more time over MIG. x2 on Jake's keep us posted on the build.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by everlastsupport

Are you going to TIG the whole thing? Will be tough and look good but will take a little more time over MIG. x2 on Jake's keep us posted on the build.

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Yea. I would love a MIG welder. Plus with all the fab work I plan on doing, my next step might be a MIG welder. I can TIG everything. But with the prep, and time it takes to weld and all the other stuff, I might just pony up for a IMIG 200. But I would love to have a longer lead on the gun too.


I plan on building a roof rack/platform that we can sit on to watch the races. And a side rack the same width as the fender. And a ladder that goes up the side. Lots of other small stuff.

I am on the fence about it. Because it would set my build back a little bit, but I need a MIG welder. And it would make life a lot easier too....

What do you guys think?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 225

Yea. I would love a MIG welder. Plus with all the fab work I plan on doing, my next step might be a MIG welder. I can TIG everything. But with the prep, and time it takes to weld and all the other stuff, I might just pony up for a IMIG 200. But I would love to have a longer lead on the gun too.


I plan on building a roof rack/platform that we can sit on to watch the races. And a side rack the same width as the fender. And a ladder that goes up the side. Lots of other small stuff.

I am on the fence about it. Because it would set my build back a little bit, but I need a MIG welder. And it would make life a lot easier too....

What do you guys think?

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I love the IMIG-200, get a spool gun and you have a nice long lead and can do aluminum with it. And runs on most 5500watt + generators. So flux core and and you are mobile welding..

I didn't know I could do aluminum with the 200. That's good to know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 225

I didn't know I could do aluminum with the 200. That's good to know.

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4043 .030 works great small spool in a spool gun (you need a spool gun). Check polarity on the spool (DCEP, etc) and you are good to go.