Metzican's Dream off-road Teardrop Trailer

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Hey Metz you should use some of the LED lights like I used in Kelly's hatch.. For the hatch in yours.. They are super bright
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Hey Metz you should use some of the LED lights like I used in Kelly's hatch.. For the hatch in yours.. They are super bright
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That looks totally awesome, Metz. Well done.
 

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Thank you everyone, It means a lot. It has been a ton of fun. This is the stuff I love to do.

Hey Metz you should use some of the LED lights like I used in Kelly's hatch.. For the hatch in yours.. They are super bright

I thought about doing it that way. But I have other LED's to use for the rear hatch. I might still do that on my X though.

This is the awesome. Congrats on completing a long journey(and starting another)!

Who says I'm done yet!!! There is more to come.
 

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
I double checked the removable interior shelf.
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So I dropped in a battery and made up a connection to my pump for a second to test the water system. I filled the water tank up and everything hold. No leaks! I then connected the pump and pressurized the whole system. No leaks! I then ran about 26gallons of water through the system. Worked like it was designed to.
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Hose is in the water fill up. And the spot below is designed to either have shore water hooked up so I don't have to use my water if it is available. Or I can hook up my hot water heater and take a shower.
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I also gave the whole teardrop a washing and No Leaks!

Then I started putting together the tongue box for the batteries and other accessories.
 

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So I painted the wood for the frame of the battery box.
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I then drilled holes in the box and installed the U bolts to mount the tongue box to the frame.
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3/4" plywood across the bottom with 4x U bolts holding it down to the tongue box to the frame. Along with two riveted battery trays.
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Batteries installed and strapped down.
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Also screwed the breakaway switch to the tongue.
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metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Some more tongue box work. This rain is slowing down my work too much!

Added these two distribution boxes.
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Automatic Battery switches. You can also see the two fuse blocks there too.
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Three separate water proof inlets. Power from Vehicle, Ground, Power to Teardrop Camper.
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metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Not a lot of pictures today Just large gauge wiring and soldering.

There is a 2 way switch in the center. I can run off of one battery or both batteries. Or off the vehicle battery if it is connected. I'm going to wrap the ground wires with black to distingush them. I just did not want to spend more $$.
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I then transferred the max coupler over to my bigger drop hitch.
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Just two of the 4 bandaids I'm wearing right now. Damn sheet metal.
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metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Ran another large gauge to the rear of the Teardrop. This will be for the winch or jumping someone.
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Also mounted the vice to the receiver Mount.
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Twist and lift!
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metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Bolted up the rear winch, jumper plug.
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I finished wiring up everything today in the tongue box. Got the solar panel controller mounted, Battery tender, 4 way switch.
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This is my cable extension for my solar panel so I can park in the shade and put the panel into the sun.
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Maxterra

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
West Haven, UTAH
Damn Dude! You're getting there!
Looking good.

I've had a few people say you only need one battery, but like you, I'm going with two, even with solar panel setup.
You're giving me lots of ideas for sure.

Dave
 

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
I then had the only big **** up while building this. I was adjusting the trailer and had the rear hatch propped open. The board holding it open fell. Which created the rear hatch to slam shut. I had the cabinet doors open when this happened. This is the results. All the hinges are bent the doors held up though.
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These are 1"x6" holes in the rear hatch. The cabinet doors went through the inside panel. I did not inspect the outside panel to see if it got damaged. I was so upset that I just cleaned everything up and put things away and went home. Does anyone have a good Idea on how to patch or repair this. I don't have time to remove the rear hatch and re due the inside panel. I don't want to use wood putty, I think it would look horrible. I'm thinking of cutting out the area and inserting a new panel and re finishing it.

Any help or suggestions is appreciated.
 

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
I think I would have gone to a SOA instead of the really long drop hitch. Looks like you don't have a lot of up travel for your trailer.
 

Deltaphi216

First Fill-Up (of many)
Founding Member
Location
STL
wow. I just read through this whole thread. and I'm speechless. Amazing build. I have been dreaming about a teardrop and now you have made me consider doing this myself.

gmHC4yy.gif
 

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
I think I would have gone to a SOA instead of the really long drop hitch. Looks like you don't have a lot of up travel for your trailer.

I have about 3" of up travel and in a trailer that is plenty. My trailer already sits high enough. Trailer suspension does not flex. It just absorbs bumps/hits.


wow. I just read through this whole thread. and I'm speechless. Amazing build. I have been dreaming about a teardrop and now you have made me consider doing this myself.

gmHC4yy.gif

Thanks, Do it. But budget out everything then times that by 1.5. Still cheaper then buying if you don't consider labor.

Dude that sucks about the holes. I would focus on getting them hidden for the time being and finish it off to look nice when you have more time.

This is what I'm kinda doing. But I'm planning on hiding them better then just put a bumper sticker over it.
 

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So today it was all about repairs and testing out the electronics and fixing them.

My DVD Player.
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Dome Light.
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Reading Light.
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Temp Gauge & Voltage Gauge.
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Porch/Backup/Flood Light.
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Galley LED lights. (DRB, This is what I used instead.
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Cabinet Lighting in Galley.
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Cabinet Lighting inside.
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Close up of one of the holes.
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The other one.
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First step to fix the holes. Clean them up to manageable shape.
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Connect the dots.
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Installing a back plate to help fix the hole.
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KBC

Bought an X
Location
BC
What about just patching the holes and then gluing a piece of veneer to cover the whole panel?

Great work overall. The satisfaction you will get knowing you built it is a feeling money can never buy.
 

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So today I got the gas strut installed. Hopefully no more damage!
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The top peace installed Now I can store stuff on top.
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Video is sideways. Put hatch opening up automatically.
 

metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Today I mounted my spare winch. I have not done a final decision if this is where it will stay or not. My tongue weight is really getting up there. I can no longer lift it on my own. I think I need to start filling the galley with some stuff.
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metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
Installation of some accessories.

Top to bottom: Bear Spray, Air Horn, Machete (Thanks GLX NXM 3)
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Rain to slow down progress.
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Cleaned up the storage unit for the rest of the day.
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metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
I put up curtain number one in front of the window. It just hangs on a simple curtain rod.
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Curtain number two in front of the door. This one stays in place by Velcro.
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Packing up some stuff from the storage unit for the trip.
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Mounted some spice container holders.
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Installed my galley fire extinguisher.
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Flipped and mounted the nice step that P&P created for me as a surprise.
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Mounted a machete and a Tomahawk to the galley door.
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Anyone need a spare hitch pin. I somehow ended up with way to many. These are just spares.
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metzican

Suspension Lift
Location
Lafaytte, la
So the first day yesterday I drove 600 miles and everything went pretty good. I fixed a few things today While I unpacked at my parents house.

I installed nylon nuts on the quick fists on the roof rack some of the nuts were backing off.

I also remounted the spare winch so it would not get hit by the spare tire. And my mom made a cover for it.
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I also reinstalled my mud flaps so they are more durable and don't rip off this time.
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