A Complete Waste of Space

I took my time to start making a teardrop camper, just on my time off and such, 50% recycled wood from constructions in the neighborhood, I am almost done, only need the clamshell hatch in the back and a pair of cabinets I already have in pieces, the target weight is 800 lbs, and so far I am below ( about 630 lb)...this summer is going to kick ass!

Starts like this:



I had to remove a lot of extras..



next I made the bed frame..



then the basic flooring..



a primitive way to draw the shape...



starting with the sides..





installed the sides..



closed the hatch...1.5 inch insulation



started the framing...



internal skin set, and also the epoxy sealing...I hate dry rot, and plywood is quite prone to it..



There I am, painting the stinky epoxy..



Outer skin installed, sealed with Polyurethane UV stabilized...



another view..



The inside was a labour of art , bending the plywood 180 degrees in 4 feet is nothing you would wish to your enemies...





front..



detail of the upper vent..




main door ( two doors actually, 42 inch wide so I can carry around my tool box)





detail of the left side window



So far I am at this stage, I have the ribs for the rear hatch, but the stupid weather won't cooperate ( I hate it when the glue freezes before It sets, gets granular and holds less than a presidential promise)




will keep posting updates soon.

Excellent work Loco! Keep us updated and nice to see you back!

That's a lot of work...and it looks really nice....Might be a little warm for summer in the south...Is it on a straight axle or on springs/suspension?

The axle is on on leaf springs, rated at 1400 lb, but I'm using only about half of it, and for being hot, the 1.5 inch foam insulation on top, bottom and sides make it quite temperate inside, even at 0 degrees (F)

nice job, Loco.

Good idea that insulation...and I noticed the side windows swing out....still, out west could get pretty toasty in the summer time....

Old Pudfark sez: " In Texas, in July, that could get hotter'n two dollar pistol "

got a 15 watt solar panel to charge my battery, and it will operate the LED lights ( 21 LED Whelen aircraft reading lights...from Aircraft spruce..) and the variable speed reversible fan located on the upper vent...will be cool, be sure.

The door also will have a screen door, with a modified hinge so it can be opened or closed independently and/ or with the actual door.

I went nuts ...he he he

I can see the point made about heat in the South come summertime. Still, there looks to be adequate ventilation once Loco finds a place to park it. Still, a sweet bit of construction. Loco, if you want to drop that camper off on, say, Ingleby, on the banks of Penn's Creek, I'll be more than happy to test it out for comfort! It literally screams out for going on fishing trips!

I have been talking with my neighbour about going hunting with that, he has a couple of long bows, and I am getting good at it, the first couple of months practicing with the bow left me with peeled wrists, and such, but now I think I could hit an Elk pretty close.

Its going to have a little propane stove ( four burner with an oven), a coleman Xtreme 70 qt cooler for the beer and food, storage for some food ( cans and such) a water container with a little sink, and a portable LED shop light for the illumination in the back, here is a pic of something quite similar to what I have. but mine will have cabinets.