I saw a lot of customized trailers at a car show last year, and thought, “I could make one of those.” Scott Calahan, my faculty adviser at Central Washington University, agreed to let me build it as my senior project. It incorporates everything I have studied as an industrial and engineering technology major–wiring, woodworking and electronics. The only thing I didn’t build was the wheeled base. The trailer’s plywood and aluminum exterior is 96 in. long x 47 in. high. I cut and contoured the 1/4-in. CDX plywood sides with a jigsaw, and then glued the exterior finish plywood to the CDX with contact cement so I didn’t have to penetrate the outer shell with fasteners.The interior has a sleeping cabin and kitchen, and is designed to accommodate my 6-ft. 5-in. frame-when I sleep, my feet fit underneath the kitchen counter. I used 2 x 4s for roof and wall supports, and to provide a cavity for the foam insulation, which I covered with a vapor barrier and 1/4-in. maple-finish plywood. I molded the sink from high-density polyethylene and added a laminated plastic countertop with a beveled maple front.The cabinets are hardwood and maple veneer to match the rest of the interior. The wood contrasts nicely with the high-tech gadgets: TV/DVD/stereo/six-speaker surround-sound system. I can feel the sound when I watch a movie. I’ve taken the trailer on a couple of short trips but, after I finish college, I’m hoping to take a longer trip to someplace warm. border=“0” cellspacing=“2” cellpadding=“2”> MATERIALS LIST–TEARDROP TRAILER Qty.MaterialPriceWhere I Bought It1 4’ x 8’ trailer frame (with spare 13" tire and free shipping) $220Harborfreight.com Maple hardwood with both heart and sapwood $700Local hardwood supplier2 1/2" 4’ x 8’ CDX plywood sheets $49Home Depot2 1/4" 4’ x 8’ Masonite sheets $40Home Depot7 2" x 4" x 8’ $35Home Depot10 12" x 12" floor tiles $10Home Depot15L-shaped Simpson-Strong-Tie framing brackets $10Home Depot1 10’ x 50’ plastic sheeting for vapor barrier $20Home Depot5 4’ x 8’ sheets foam insulation $65Home Depot10 1/4" sheets of finish maple plywood $245Lowe’s10 tubes of GE Silicone II $50Home Depot Adhesives (Titebond II, DAP contact cement, Gorilla Glue, Liquid Nails) $65Home Depot1 4’ x 8’ x 1/2" sheet of exterior plywood for base $50Home Depot 1.5 gallons oil based Spar Urethane by Rustoleum $80Home Depot Door latches, catches, windows, vent, galley hinge $250www.teardrops.net/LilBear Custom 6" pillow-top mattress 44" x 83" $300Mattress Factory in Yakima, Washington Exterior extruded aluminum specialty trim pieces $200www.teardropparts.com2 4’ x 10’ .032" aluminum sheets for exterior roof $120Steelco Fabricators in Ellensburg, WA2 rolled steel fenders $32.50www.harborfreight.com2 cans Rustoleum aluminum spray paint (for fenders and taillight hardware) $19.95Home Depot Replica Model A taillights and mounts $125http://www.teardroptrailers.net Coleman 12V/110V cooler (used as a refrigerator) $50Wal-mart Foam-rubber door seals (used in side door and galley) $40Home Depot2 fluorescent lights $52.95 eachwww.jcwhitney.com All wiring (electrical and RG-6U cable) $45Home Depot, Bi-Mart2 LED side marker lights $20Bi-Mart AM / FM retro antenna $29.95http://lafayetteelectronics.com 13" Vizio flat-screen television $299Costco Sony DVD player $79.95Costco1 450-peak watt inverter $49.95Costco Infinity speakers, Pioneer receiver, and satellite radio antenna $580www.crutchfield.com Marine deep cycle battery $59.95Bi-Mart 1100-peak watt Coleman generator $299Bi-Mart TOTAL PROJECT COST: $4292.20
