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Find Your Happy Place in a Classic Trailer You Can Build Yourself
If you love camping, but you’re tired of sleeping on the ground or dream of simply checking out and hitting the road, then a teardrop trailer might be the perfect DIY project for you. Sleek, nimble, and oh-so-comfortable, a custom-built teardrop trailer lets you escape in style. From sketchbook ideas to complete step-by-step know-how, The Handmade Teardrop Trailer will train you up like a pro on how to successfully build this iconic camper. With only basic tools, easy-to-find materials, and a little bit of space required, The Handmade Teardrop Trailer will have you happily getting back to nature or out of Dodge in search of your happy place.
Inside You’ll Find:
- Inspiration and advice from the teardrop community
- Smart Q&As on choosing the right trailer frame
- Step-by-step photos from building the base to installing the trim
- Helpful notes from the road on owning a teardrop trailer
List of contents
Intro: A Trailer Life
Ch 1: Design Your Own
Ch 2: The Weekndr Caravan
Ch 3: Ten Questions on Choosing a Trailer
Ch 4: Construct a Sturdy Base
Ch 5: Build the Interior Cabinetry
Ch 6: Frame the Roof and Walls
Ch 7: Finish Up the Trailer Interior
Ch 8: Frame the Doors and Window Hatch
Ch 9: Install a 12-Volt Electrical System
Ch 10: Install the Exterior Siding and Roof
Ch 11: Build the Kitchen Hatch
Ch 12: Install the Trim and Hardware
Ch 13: Apply a Weatherproof Finish
Ch 14: Let’s Go Camping!
Ch 15: The Teardrop Trailer Owner’s Manual
About the author
Matt Berger is a designer and builder of everyday objects, and the author of The Handmade Skateboard (Spring House Press, 2014). A lifelong hobby enthusiast and workshop adventurer, Matt makes a living creating digital products, and makes a passion out of building physical products in his garage workshop and local maker spaces. Matt earned his stripes in the woodshop as an editor at Fine Woodworking magazine, where he launched FineWoodworking.com, and produced and starred in how-to videos for the website. Matt applied all the skills learned and practiced at the Fine Woodworking shop to create a series of workshops teaching students of all ages how to build a handmade skateboard. That turned into his first book and the DIY brand SK8Makers. The Handmade Teardrop Trailer is his second book. He lives in Northern California.
Summary
Hit the road in style and comfort you built yourself...
The road trip has been a celebrated American tradition for as long as there have been roads on which to travel. Combined with our love of the great outdoors, hitting the road in search of some peace under the stars is a goal for anyone old enough to drive -- even more so in today's hectic, wired world. Millennials and retiring boomers want to take a break,especially one that reflects their ever increasing simple and minimal mindset. Enter the Teardrop Trailer. First designed in 1930's for cars lacking power, they've re-emerged as a smart, aerodynamic, and eye-catching option for seeking out the quiet beauty that camping offers...but with plenty of comfort. Think of the tiny house movement going camping...
Matt Berger’s book The Handmade Teardrop Trailer: Design & Build a Tiny Classic Camper from Scratch hands you the keys to craft your own stylish adventure. The Handmade Teardrop Trailer guides you through the journey from sketchbook to first road trip, and will prepare you to design and build your own comfortable pull-behind Tiny Trailer. And, to achieve this you don’t need much space, just a garage bay or shared workspace, and the most basic tools and materials available at your nearby hardware store or home center.
Because we all have our own "get away from it all" road-trip fantasies when it comes to comfort, style, and purpose, The Handmade Teardrop Trailer will train you up like a pro on the basics of trailer design, backed up by deep research and experimentation. Illustrations provide measurements and construction details that are easy to adapt for variations in size and configuration and more than 100 step-by-step photos illuminate every detail in the design and build process. With this handy guide leading the way, you’ll be shutting down the computer, storing the cellphone, and hitting the road to find some peace in a classic tiny trailer camper you built by yourself.
Additional text
“This is a dangerous book. If, like me, you’ve harbored secret dreams of building a teardrop trailer, there’s a very good chance Matt Berger’s book will send you over the edge. Plenty of really good tips and sound information ensure a road-worthy home away from home. This is a truly excellent resource.” —Mike Pekovich, author of The Why and How of Woodworking
