Building a Teardrop Trailer

[Aprisa]

I need a new project to keep me occupied and can't afford the Austin Healey I really want so have decided to build a Micro Caravan with enough luxury to make it a pleasant place to stay.

So far I've just ordered everything I need to get to a flat rolling chassis and the rest is still flexible.

What I could do with some advice on is getting a full diagram of wiring a split system for mains and 12v electrics with charging from both vehicle and mains and advice on working with Dibond panels which I intend to use in walls and roof skin.

So are there any other Teardrop owners/builders on here or am I the only oddball?

[JimbobVFR]

I look forward to following your build. If you get bored with it when finished it would look awesome towed behind my Mazda Bongo :-)

This is quite a useful guide to electrics.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&a...

[bristolracer]

Try searching for ZIG units.
These are common in caravans and campers for charging and running other stuff.You may even get a tidy second hand one from a caravan breakers. Should be plenty of wiring diagrams etc out there.

I would also recommend a solar panel. Saves you having to rely on hook up for running your low voltage stuff,we put one in our camper dead easy to wire in and will run the electric fridge and lights no problem.Hook ups are often hard to find on bank holiday weekends. Ours has a usb out so can charge phones/tablets too

Can i also recommend a CADAC as way of cooking? so much better than a simple ring.

Keep us posted with pics!

[eatcustard]

I used to have a PDF on how to make a teardrop, If I can find it I will pass it on to you

[Foliage]

Have a look on reddit, their is a sub reddit specifically for this and their have been a lot of very indepth build diaries (mainly on r/diy), mainly in the US/canada but they will give you good guidance.

[Aprisa]

Well things have progressed a bit since my first post but I have been really useless at posting progress pictures.
I'm off for couple of weeks now so finishing touches and final wiring will have to wait a bit.
If anyone wants pictures of how anything was done just ask, its not the best in the world but for a first attempt with no plans I am pretty happy.

[Chicken Chaser]

Wow that looks great. Did you buy all the panels pre cut? What's it like inside?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

More pictures please. I'd like to see what it's like inside.

[Foliage]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

More pictures please. I'd like to see what it's like inside.

Me too, id be interested to see if you have any tech, draws, cupboards etc inside, no particular reason other than im nosey.

[tr7v8]

Needs more info!

[Zelda Pinwheel]

argh! i've just spent a week dicking about on Sketchup trying to design an offroad trailer based on a Miltary Sankey MK3 chassis - to have a roof tent on top, rather than sleeping inside.

Yours looks ace and your stove/sink setup is what I've been working on - could you share more diagrams please?
What's the basic structure built from?

[Aprisa]

Sorry, I have been away for a couple of weeks and haven't had forum access.

I will sort some pictures of the inside although its not quite finished.

It is all scratch built and I'm ashamed to admit there are no plans apart from when I worked outthe trailer bed dimensions so that I would be able to use 10x5 sheets for the roof and bed.

Trailer is 50mm square section with indespension units and is 9ft by 5ft so that the bed is pretty near full King-size inside.
Main body is 6mm Ply with 50x25 cross spars to form the the roof. sides are done the same way and the outer skin is Dibond (Aluminium Plastic laminate).

It's wired for 240 and 12V with LED lighting inside and for all the running lights, I still have some electrics left to finish as well as the kitchen area and shelf inside.

Here are some shots of the construction:-

[Lynch91]

Looks good mate