TCTeardrop Offroad fun - Offroadsubaru

freshlikesushi

Free Candy
With winter and dogs involved, I decided it was time to step the game up with the Offroad Subaru. Im not a big fan of the cold, as anyone who knows me is aware of. With having an 80 lb dog who likes to cuddle, it does kind of affect sometimes what I do and where I can go with the RTT. Its still way better than a ground tent, but the other half doesn't like to be cold either. I personally thing winter is amazingly beautiful and don't want to stop while it's here.

By the calculations, based at 150.00 a night (a typical non ****ty hotel) It will take 50 nights to recoup your money on a decent TCTeardrops teardrop camper. Considering it is a long term investment, it really shouldn't be an issue.

Sure I could get a nice canvas tent, and be nice and cozy, but they are heavy, take a while to set up, and I'm just not really game for that. So this is the next best thing. Drive to where you wanna go, drop the trailer, and go wheel. Come on back and its good to go. No setup time, no playing around to get everything set up etc.

Now, this doesn't mean that its' a replacement. For days when its just me out with friends, RTT is the way to go. There is a time and place for everything!

Enough with the jawjackin, more about the awesomeness that is to come with the TCteardrops
fc28f1_b564fc67801649758ca96fa1b3a3bc65.jpg


I ordered a 5x9 TCTeardrop Model.
Custom-built Frame
Powder-Coated Sides in your choice of stock colors
3/4" Side Walls
Flat Front Storage Platform
2" Coupler and Wheeled Tongue Jack
25 degree 2200 lb torsion axle
Aluminum Diamond Plated Roof
Hurricane Hinge and Spring Supports on Rear Hatch
Two tinted doors with windows and screens
Two tinted windows with screens
Recessed LED Interior Lighting
LED Marker and Tail Lights
12V Dual Port Accessory Outlet in Cabin
Cabinet w/Sunbrella Fabric Doors and Velcro Closure
Insulated Roof with Wood Headliner
Galley shelving, slide-out stove shelf and LED light
Battery Box wired for 12V (Battery not included)
2 All-Weather Passive Side Air Vents
This inserts a queen size bed into the interior (so does the 5x8 though) with a bit extra length and galley depth.
I opted for the ground clearance package to gain some room under the trailer.
I will be running 2015 WRX wheels with 245/65-17 BFG Rugged Terrains (I got a good deal on a set of new ones)
Jeep Fenders
Roof Rack Setup With Yakima Gear
FoxWing Awning
And a few other toys and treats.

But we all know that I never leave anything to sit.

fc28f1_0d7da4e20d89458cb0c16aac4cadd16d.jpg

I already ordered the front tool box, a Better Built 60" flush side box. Inside of that box, will be the whole electric setup.
Battery, Charger from shore power, Blue Sea Fuse panel, Kill Switch, and other electrical goodies like a battery and whatever else.

The galley will be modified with a slightly different configuration once I get it in and decide what I need/want. Some drawers and doors will round everything out clean and keep it all in one place. The edgestar fridge will have a home and eventually an AC unit for when Summer comes around for the dog (or at least thats what I claim)

Finally exterior wise, I will be adding some rock rail/guides in front and aft of the wheel, integrated into the frame for protection, winch points, steps and badassery. Also two telescoping poles with an LED light on will be added for campsite illumination.

Eventually I will add a Solar Setup to keep it going for a few more days, but I think its a pretty awesome little trailer IMO.

Contact info:

www.tcteardrops.com

Email: info@tcteardrops.com

Office: 715-573-7247

Mobile: 715-573-7242
 

freshlikesushi

Free Candy
The excitement is HUGE right now. Todd from TCTeardrops messaged me a few pictures on the progress of the new on the road home for my Subaru Outback. I can't say how ready I am to get this thing.

Progress by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Progress by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

So while it's being laboured away on by the TCTeardrop guys and gals, I am working on the other important part. Providing the energy to power this thing.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
The parts list so far includes:

Protech 1220 Battery charger
Power Guard Battery Box - Battery Box-Group 27
NOCO Genius GCP1 Black 13 Amp 125V AC Port Plug
HELLA H84988001 4-Way Mini Relay Box Kit
SB 50A Connector #6 Gray
HELLA 007794021 12V 20/40 Amps SPDT Relay x4
Upg D5751 Ub121100 (Group 30H), Sealed Lead Acid Battery
Blue Sea System 6005 Battery Switch Mini On/Off (25103)
Blue Sea Systems ST Blade Fuse Block - 12 Circuits with Negative Bus & Cover

This pretty much covers the majority of the battery box portion of the tool box, its all about putting it together now!
On off switch and shore power by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
I started by putting the shore power plug on the side of the toolbox, along with the battery cutoff switch. The shore power switch is wired into the battery charger which will keep it nice and topped off. Since all my camera battery chargers and everything is ran off 12v, I don't require the 110v ran in the trailer. In addition, I have a Honda 2000I to run the AC, battery charger if out for a while, or any emergency 110v items (tools etc).
Power Box by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
I tend to be a bit anal when doing wiring projects, so it took a little bit to figure out the locations to have visual pleasing wire runs. I settled on this configuration, as everything will be a relatively short run, enter and exit the box in the rear of it just behind the red battery cutoff switch.


The battery box will reside at the back of the box against the wall, arranged left to right (parallel to the tool box)
I forgot to grab the OEM style crimp connector, so I'm done for the night. The HELLA relay block requires it to crimp the connectors and insert them into the block. Todd and Carol of TCteardops have been amazingly easy to deal with. At my request they are running a number of extra wire lengths so that i can easily wire up everything. There is a 7 wire bundle (14ga) being ran to the galley area to power a 6 switch panel (the 7th is for power to the panel), Fridge wire to the galley (10ga) and a few other key locations so I can add as needed. Overall a VERY great experience so far!
 
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freshlikesushi

Free Candy
haha. I don;t have enough time in my life to draw that out.

Its simple really.

110v to charger
Charger to battery
Battery to switch
switch to blue sea fuse box
blue sea fuse box to relays, relays to items OR blue sea fuse box to items.

its fairly simple, but i have a number of circuits going on that woudl take forever to map out to include:
Water pump, 2 12v led lights on extending poles for campsite lighting, fridge, usb/12v outlets, 12v bank (5 plugs) for battery charging, interior lights and fans and stuff
 

shack

Adventurer
I have the same plans for mine regarding rock rails and armor. I will trail mine and definitely need some armor underneath. Couldn't be happier with the trailer quality, though.

 

Colin Hughes

Explorer
The built time was 6 months when we ordered ours last August but rather than drive 13 hours through Upper Michigan and Wisconsin in the middle of winter, one way to pick it up, we chose to have ours ready in the spring.
 

freshlikesushi

Free Candy
Finally got the teardrop delivered by a good friend! Arrived last night
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

This morning i quickly got into it and started
First step was to put my wheels on, but i quickly figured out the bore is too small, so I ordered some wheel spacers to make it all work. Friday!

Then I wired up the trailer lights (interior and hatch) into the fuse block, and stripped the 10 wire bundle so i can work with it. The fridge is now wired in with meter inline.
Next step is to build the galley divider so i can measure for the water tank, then build the rest of the galley, wire in water pump, charger in the rear, and exterior lights among alot of other stuff

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
 

herm

Adventurer
Why the complication of a relay block and not switch your loads directly? Surely the current of a few lights and the fridge is not too great to do it safely.
A relay, in my mind, is best suited for isolating different power sources. ex: a solar system for powering all items on a camper and a switch powered by my vehicle to control some of the loads.

Looks like a great project, I share your hate for messy and unorganized electrical.
 

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