Building A Teardrop Caravan

CLEVER AND CREATIVE PROJECTS FROM OUR READERS

- Gordon Button

The Americans use a purpose-made aluminium hinge for the kitchen boot lid on their teardrop caravans. This works like the interlocking of one’s fingers, both pieces being loose and moving within one another to give a waterproof hinge effect.

Trying to import one of these hinges – which are not available in South Africa – would have cost +/- R3 800 (including shipping).

It is for that reason that I chose to use the six solid brass hinges mentioned before. However, this action also had its problems − the 2mm gap where boot lid and caravan met was a potential water inlet point. So, as you can see in the kitchen view, the dark red strip at the point where the boot lid attaches to the caravan is actually a narrow gutter, situated under the six hinges. Any rain coming through the 2mm gap runs into this small gutter and out to both sides of the caravan via a ½-inch (13 mm) brass tube on either side.

The small square white PVC tubing next to the number- plate houses six tent poles, and has a simple drop in brass bolt on a chain.

KITCHEN

We have our priorities right, so there is storage for six bottles of good wine. The wine and drinking glasses are held in place by simple soft rubber tubing, and housed with mirrors behind.

I chose solid prime American oak for the kitchen, not only because it is a great wood to work with, but also because it is extremely strong.

The boot lid struts are also solid oak, as are the beams under the legless table.