Zyl Vardos Makes a Teardrop
by Abel Zyl Zimmerman
Though I normally build tiny houses, I don’t limit myself to that kind of structure. So, I recently built this teardrop trailer for some really sweet people who live just a few blocks down the hill from me.
It is always so hard to fall in love with a project, and then have to give it away. But the sweet flipside is knowing that someone else is out there enjoying it immensely. Indeed, the day after I delivered it, they departed on a week-long camping trip (in November, no less!)
Anyhow, the Zyl Teardrop is 5 feet wide and 9 feet long. It has a queen-size sleeper, a ‘rumble kitchen’, some nice LED light bars, a marine-type epoxy-varnish wood finish, all stainless steel hardware… and it only weighs 625 lbs. I think a team of dachsunds could pull it. Continue Reading »
Recycling Old RV Trailers
by Abel Zyl Zimmerman
I recently bought and dismantled a 14 ft. RV trailer for tiny house parts. I thought you avaricious do-it-yourselfers might find the story interesting.
It was a pretty moldy RV, with some appliances inside and an undamaged trailer frame. My goals were to get those two things out of it, and when all was done, I was about 80% successful in doing so.
RV exterior
Costs:
- Purchase price: $300
- Licensing: $23 (it had current tabs)
- Work gloves, dust masks: $10
- Sawzall demolition blade: $7
- Contractor trash bags (for loose debris and fiberglass): $12
- Diesel fuel for the project, towing it home and delivering recyclables: $55
- Local landfill fee (plywood, broken glass, fiberglass) $99 Continue Reading »
