I Built a Camper From Scratch in 3 Weeks

[@xylafoxlin]

Pssssst. PLANS ARE NOW FINALLY AVAILABLE!! shop.xylafoxlin.com/products/teardrop-trailer-digital-plans

[@benflammer7217]

You're amazing!

[@ShaneAnanigans]

Really Impressive. You got skillz!

[@Busytech109]

It's been a year now, how is it holding up? Would you have done anything different?

[@herenow2895]

Reespect !

[@tday99]

awesome build and explanation, any idea of cost of build?

[@misterscottintheway]

Anybody else would have made this a five part series and you just drop this massive 42 minute video. Love it. Great project!

[@dubwars]

Zero sarcasm here: After I watched this entire video, I looked down at the comments and saw this. I said to myself, "That was 42 minutes?!" I actually checked the time on it to confirm. My point is it didn't feel like 42 minutes as I was just enjoying the entire thing, and I lost track of time. All props to Xyla.

[@aubreyadams7884]

Unfortunately, the YT algorithm isn't going to like this video. Sadly it's all about "Shorts" these days which means that this actually should be 42 x sixty second videos (in portrait too !). Just so glad that Xyla defied the algorithm!

[@Jehty_]

@@dubwars same but different for me: Before I clicked on the video I saw that it was 42 minutes. I wasn't really in the mood to watch such a long video, but decided to just watch the first 10 minutes or so and the rest some time in the future. Fast-forward 42 minutes and out of nowhere I get surprised by the end of the video :)

[@beatarcheologzt]

@@aubreyadams7884 actually that's not true. YT factored into their algorithm, shorts without affecting regular CC's Algorithms

[@JLneonhug]

@@beatarcheologzt his point was YT algorithm is king here, it still picks the 9-15min videos over a 30min+ video which is a shame.

[@maxxcobb]

Excellent work!! I’m almost 69 years old. I’m always happy to see young people working projects like this. I always hear old folks talking trash that todays youth are lazy and don’t want to work. Or they have no ambition. You and your friends prove that’s not true. I’m proud of all of you.

[@Pockeywn]

I think you'd be happy to know that I’m 18 in gen z and i've just started a project of building a shed and converting it into a bedroom

[@maxxcobb]

@@Pockeywn excellent!!! You’re killing it!

[@KingBobXVI]

"I always hear old folks talking trash that todays youth are lazy and don’t want to work. Or they have no ambition." I feel like that perception comes from most young people not having the privilege of time and resources to actually do something like this. Being burnt out after working a second job and spending basically all income on rent and student laon debt isn't really conducive to personal projects. Thankfully, Xyla has managed to build a career where doing this kind of project and sharing it with us _is_ her job.

[@nancybutts9190]

I’m so lucky to have found your video. I love the build and your presentation . Just wonderful. I smiled the whole time watching this. Thank you so much.

[@zerocal76]

It's easy for older gens to talk trash. It's not easy to actually look for the good the youth is doing. We appreciate your words sir 🙏

[@cobralyoner]

you have no idea how much I appreciate this being one long video and not a 600 parts series over 1200 weeks. ❤

[@bdshort]

Just wait until she decides to build a wooden sailing yacht. Or rebuild a Mini that ends up being 99% new fabrication… 😂

[@xylafoxlin]

Don’t say that… I’m still tired 😴

[@alexdarcydestsimon3767]

@@xylafoxlin you're about to make yourself a wooden aeroplane, aren't you ? ;-) Pulling your leg on that one but If interested, look for "gaz'aile" an interesting wood project on how to make a airplane for one tenth of the price it is usually sold for. But you still can build a WWII Mosquito if you want to get a twin engine endorsment on a wooden aeroplane.

[@justaskin8523]

@@xylafoxlin "Don’t say that… I’m still tired 😴" Why? You made yourself a bed on wheels, so now you can have a bed anywhere and everywhere you go! 😄 You can nap anytime you want! Waiting for epoxy to cure? Nap! Waiting for friends to come help with your next project? Nap! See, you just have to recognize the true power of having your own bed on wheels! You might be even more powerful than Thor at this point. Either Thor!

[@evlson123]

@@bdshort lets be honest, that mini is absolutely incredible

[@NorwegianViking86]

I am a educated welder, been working as a plumber for many many years. And the best advice I have gotten in many years was the mark on the bolts. Thanks man

[@b7Hn4eX8yv4m]

Yeah that was great advice, I'll be using it whenever needed.

[@heartobefelt]

That technique is actually used on some aircraft components and heavy vehicle transmission assemblies , so well done for raising that :)

[@NorwegianViking86]

@@heartobefelt Cool, didnt know that:)

[@Simon-ho6ly]

the proper term is "witness marks" but to be fair its handy on any bolt/screw type fitting where you have any concern about them working loose, you can also use a super fine marker and use it almost like an anti tamper mark too!

[@ChristopherHallett]

My only suggestion - Put some UV-cut window film on the outside of the stargazer window - polycarbonate will get really badly scuffed up by road detritus (dust and dirt) and UV rays will slowly haze it, if you use film you can just replace the film every year or two instead of the polycarbonate.

[@Deckzwabber]

Very good advice! I think this comment deserves to be higher up

[@jonroesler8155]

@@Deckzwabber Even better... use ClearBra-type material and it should not need replacement for much longer. I've been using it on headlight lenses (and the rest of the front ends of my vehicles) for more than ten years now, and ClearBra'd headlights have never gotten cloudy. Maybe what you were already suggesting, but your expectations are if anything too low. 🙂

[@geoffmooregm]

I agree. I used to deal with poly a lot. Cutsomers would ask for it all the time to protect tables or mantles. I had to explain how even paper towel will scratch it! It is insanely strong. But scratches so easily. For flat surfaces I would explain the problem and they would usually walk out with a piece of glass for the table. If they wanted that to be more break resistant then we would temper the glass for them.

[@hzuiel]

Also if you get uv and infrared filtering film, it keeps the inside cooler when sitting in the sun.

[@diegoforest]

If anyone know where to get it, please reply here. I spent hours looking and cant find a retailer that sells it.

[@SteveRobinsonMKE]

Thank you for being a great role model for my 8 and 6-year-old daughters. The 8-year old asked for DraftSight tonight😀

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

Start em with sketchup.

[@LabGecko]

But let them play with whichever they want. No limits. They can decide the complexity they want on their own. Does this work? I have 2 daughters and a son - oldest girl is a mechanical engineer, son is in biochemistry, and youngest girl is a comp sci engineer specializing in AI. Plus they're all wildly interested in tons of other hobbies as well as their jobs. Edit: HOWEVER, this *requires* you to be willing to spend time explaining what you can and finding teachers / videos for what you can't explain.

[@junkname9983]

or try fusion 360

[@CountDoucheula]

What, no love for Tinkercad?

[@janikarkkainen3904]

I love how you still consistently keep pronouncing TotalBoat as BotalToat :D

[@NelsonBrown]

1:29 for example. 😀

[@Wordsnwood]

And they seem okay with that.... after all, they keep sponsoring her! 🙃

[@DrRusty5]

18:24 😂😂

[@CoPoint]

"Been there, done that, got the t-shirt" - 21:20 🤣👍...

[@seantaft3853]

You mean it's not BotalTote? My whole life has been a lie.

[@jackielinde7568]

1:46 - As someone who's had to work upside down, on their back, under many vehicles, let me tell you that eye protection is a must. Especially when drilling and/or grinding. You don't want metal shavings in your eyes.

[@spaceman7915]

Exactly, i must also mention 2:10, never put your finger near any blade, on slip and bye bye finger! 😯

[@DaDuTchMan2357]

I was a bit nervous at 2:10, great pointing out these safety tips for us the viewers as well.

[@thevanman4498]

Any reason wood on wood joints were not glued as well as screwed. You lost an oppourtunity to make this many times more rigid.

[@lesmondk3376]

You read my mind as soon as I saw it

[@Wesmancan]

Just let natural select run it’s course.

[@opcn18]

This whole video gives me the warm fuzzies 🥰 Edit: Also you can apply sharpie marker to aluminum and it will disappear around the temperature where aluminum gets soft. You can do this both for high temperature bending and for annealing.

[@kimspence-jones4765]

Great tip!

[@BadgerBishop]

That is a great tip, thanks for sharing!

[@kiwiflagcarllc6236]

#proudstr8whiteconservativeamerican

[@glennwhitmire5556]

Next time you build something with concealed wiring, its a good idea to run flexible plastic tubing for conduit. That way if you have to run a new wire for any reason, you can fish it through with a snake. You have to do a little extra trimming with the insulation, but if you ever need to rewire it, it will be worth the extra work!

[@shiitakestick]

..or don't even try to hide the wires - you'll be glad you didn't ; guaranteed things will stop working or become intermittent after a year or two . Especially with so many joints to admit water . Not to mention uninvited furred guests.. Just run the wiring inside in neat bundles along the corners , use nylon ties or just hang on hooks , etc.. you'll save hours of work and your appliances will work longer.. ..And I suggest one piece edpm rubber roofing . Easy to apply , easy to patch , and make watertight joints around vents. Maybe rubber is expensive for a whole house but for a little teardrop trailer it's worth it .

[@chancemcclendon3906]

@@shiitakestick They even make some really good looking trim that holds wire conduit for easy access like that but doesn't look like wire loom

[@brentlloyd7908]

Also you can use the back of aluminum led light mounts as conduit for wiring

[@CountryBuddyCulture]

You know what you’re talking about.

[@spvillano]

@@shiitakestick for main runs, two words. Wiring trough. Conduit is all well and good, but there are times and applications where a utility trough built the length of a vehicle or structure is well worth it. Dimension according to needs and add around 1/3 for future expansion. That way, if one wants to add 10 gigabit fiber, fiber to a photonics mast, cabling to photon torpedo launchers, an antenna drop, an aux audio connection, intercom to talk to someone two meters away, you've got the room and can still pop in another DC cable to power something. Extra space between a shielded and unshielded trough, that's where the fishing rods get stored.

[@alwaysfallingshort]

My absolute favorite thing about Xyla's videos, and I've said it before, is that she keeps the frustrations and mistakes in. So many other diyers make it look easy, and I think Xyla is probably more competent than a lot of them--she just doesn't mind looking wrong or showing her process. And it both makes it more accessible, but also shows how it's not even close to easy or just something you can spend money to fix.

[@shiitakestick]

@TryNDoxMe - yeah , helps to have a cad designing boy friend with a tool shop in the garage.

[@alwaysfallingshort]

@TryNDoxMe That's a different problem--and you should check out your local hackerspace. The point is that a lot of these crafting channels are so tight and clean with what they show, and skip the trial and error. I'm not saying this video makes it seem accessible to design a teardrop trailer--I am saying she makes it relatable for someone who doesn't have the skills and tools she does to not feel like I have to get it right the first time when I'm tackling my own projects.

[@alwaysfallingshort]

@@shiitakestick You sound hostile?

[@shiitakestick]

@@alwaysfallingshort - how's that ??

[@alwaysfallingshort]

@TryNDoxMe Excuse me sir, this is a Wendy's.

[@coconutcrawler5650]

When you’ve got super supportive friends that helps you throughout long days till night, and literally sacrifices their car parts to compensate for the build… You’ve got amazing friends!

[@th3t1ck94]

And an AWESOME cnc machine... man I'd like to afford one of those.

[@cimjohansson4878]

it's called "the friendzone", a dangerous place.

[@bustersgarage]

For bending aluminum there's a stupidly handy trick to annealing it to almost exactly the right temperature, so you can bend it at your leisure. Draw on it with a black permanent marker (I use Sharpies) and then heat it up to the point the black "disappears." This saves SO much heartache.. i.e., broken, warped, snapped, wonky and even thrown-out-of-frustration bits of Aluminum. :) It also works on the European Aluminium. :P Awesome build and killer video!!

[@rafezetter8003]

Thats actually a great tip I'll have to try it.

[@bustersgarage]

@@rafezetter8003 I learned about it after trying to rebuild some 1980s toyota Supra louvers. Haha once I was shown it, I didn't crack any more aluminum bits!

[@bustersgarage]

@Grizz's Garage me too! I love seeing new stuff!!

[@jamesbaughan3212]

I’m an airplane mechanic, and I was intrigued to see how she applied heat. I suppose it works on anodized. I’m going to have to try that method with the sharpie pen.

[@ipaddy]

Love your comment and also never knew usa and Europe have different versions of aluminium

[@dacklink]

As a Working Engineer, sometimes I forgot that I can use my engineering for projects and hobbies; your videos is a constant reminder that I can use my skills to do fun things besides for work. Thank you for your amazing videos and ideas. Can't wait for the next one!

[@michroz]

As a Working Engineer, you might get a bit tired of engineering at your work and resort to some non-engineering hobby at your home :) It is like shoemakers usualy just buy shoes for themselves... Best!

[@ARCUS1200]

The most important thing is making the very first step/move and just start. It can lead to a lot of unfinished projects (I have that problem), BUT, at some point you start finishing them (I did have a drawbox project laying around for over a year and yesterday I glued it together, one year after cutting the panels). Sometimes you need some time before diving into the project full force. But it's worth it (and you are never bored ever again with anough projects and ideas I think).

[@jonmilley]

Great looking result. My 7 year old daughter was excited watching with me, thanks for being a positive example and role model for everyone!

[@adamjenna6420]

I am a carpenter and its really cool to see a build like this, You really did a great job.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

I was trained by a Finnish traditional carpenter and my eyes tell me as just a general audience member watching this video that she didn't do anything really. Everything was a kit (frame) and the materials were mostly handled by 3rd party.

[@sebringb]

All I gotta say is in addition to your own amazing talents, you definitely have awesome friends! Loved watching every second of this. Just like others have already said, you are a brilliant inspiration and role model. It makes me happy there are people like you in the world.

[@FogofWar69420]

Xyla: builds a canoe Me: I want a canoe Also Xyla: builds a teardrop camper Me:...I want a teardrop camper.

[@gooddealonly]

What about the bulletproof ball gown & Rocket?

[@FogofWar69420]

@@gooddealonly goddamn it

[@xylafoxlin]

okay hear me out, canoe on top of the teardrop camper.

[@alexdarcydestsimon3767]

@@gooddealonly didn't you sell... :-)

[@awagentx]

@@xylafoxlin I was going to ask where was the canoe rack made of a really pretty wood... is that a future video?

[@TwistedSkater93]

One of the biggest reasons why I started my own company, was to have other people use my shop. I absolutely love seeing other people be creative with all these crazy tools that are used to only dream of.

[@antbymcnair4297]

That is a super cool and beautiful trailer. My wife bought a 13' Scamp about a year ago and she, and sometimes me, have been updating it. It has been an awesome adventure. Seeing her happiness working on it and planning her next step has been awesome. I'm going to share your build with her and maybe she will get some ideas, maybe she will just enjoy watching another female do awesome things with a RV!

[@sharonoddlyenough]

For routing the alminum skin on RVs, we use a piloted single fluted high speed steel bit. Carbide bits get gummed up with melted aluminum quickly, but the high speed steel bits don't. If you also cover the face of the router with a bit of laminate like you would use on a countertop, it won't scratch the paint if you're routering a painted aluminum piece, which tends to be delicate.

[@cineblazer]

How is this my first time encountering this channel??? This video is *amazing* and the build turned out *so well*. Definitely earned my subscription!

[@xylafoxlin]

Welcome :)

[@spudpud-T67]

@@xylafoxlin Your team of simps is admirable.

[@lambodp]

That was one hell of a process, and a lovely final product. You've got some amazing friends to help out and stick through the whole project. I'm glad we have creative, crazy (in a good way), and energetic youth still in society. We need this motivational push to break up the boring grind of everyday life. Watched the whole video start to finish and loved every step of the journey. Glad you were able to fulfill the project!

[@r.c.brousseau9655]

Xyla, very impressive! I’m an old man now, but when I was a kid I helped my father build his second sail boat. Both boats (16 & 26 FT) had an oak frame and BC fir hull covered with fibreglass cloth. The entire frame was cut with hand and power tools - unfortunately no CNC available to my Dad in the Sixties - but what a wonderful advancement in productivity.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

All of Xyla's projects have had amazing results, but this one, more than any, is making me think... wow, I can't believe that she made that herself. Makes it look so easy.

[@woodstoney]

I initially had no intention of watching this entire video but it became so satisfying seeing your efforts come together that I made it to the end and was quite happy for you and your "team" of assistants. It looks beautiful and I am very impressed with you and your abilities! Wishing you many successes!!

[@nate6386]

A. i'm very impressed with the 3 week build time and B. thanks for putting me onto the bilge paint. That's exactly what I needed for my project.

[@TammyNorie]

Great stuff! Just a tip (mainly for others): You can mitigate wiring problems by installing conduit rather than burying the wiring itself. Then you can fix it, or add new wiring. I have conduit in my mast and elsewhere.

[@jfbeam]

That's what I was saying when she did that. Anywhere you could never get to the wire again, use a conduit. Esp. on anything outdoors or automotive. (they tend to wick water and corrode, no matter how well you try to stop it.)

[@DylanBillson]

For any British people wondering we call "Conduit" Trunking.

[@spvillano]

@@DylanBillson well, I've jokingly called it plumbing, but at the time, I was working with explosion proof, so everything was sealed airtight and watertight. Folks, I'd also go with a slightly larger conduit than your current needs, just in case you want to run more lines later.

[@walterriblethegreat]

I'm jealous of your energy, youth, and beauty, but more than anything, I'm jealous of how many friends you have.

[@TotalBoat]

What can't you do! This is teardrop trailer GOALS!!!

[@TrolloTV]

BotalToat 👍🏻

[@xylafoxlin]

Aw, thanks so much!!! But, I think you’ve spelled your name wrong here? 🙃

[@lefthandedwoodworks]

​@@TrolloTV I thought that's what I heard!

[@christopherdahle9985]

Props to BotalToat for having a great sense of humour!

[@DuruConsigliere]

I'm a mechanic by trade. My daughter just inherited a r pod camper from my sister who passed last year. She's 12, super artsy and had built some small projects with me in our family shop. I always pre-watch content, but will totally recommend your channel to her. Anyway awesome job, it came out very elegant.

[@MITPetetwat]

Man……..I felt like I lived through those 3 weeks with you. Thank you so much for recording, editing, and sharing.

[@crustycurmudgeon2182]

That was a monumental undertaking with such a short timeline-- lucky you have such good friends to help! You obviously put a lot of forethought and planning into this project-- it shows. Excellent work!

[@ellonysman]

I'm gobsmacked! Literally! This is the most talented pack of young people...I mean, I can hardly put a screw into a 2x4 and she's like. " Oh hey, let's just build my own trailer!" That garage of professional tools shows you have your own business, what's it called and what else do you build? Way to go guys, absolutely fantastic work. 👏 Your video production was also as professional as it can get! You are the real "WONDERWOMAN!"

[@christianabermas2471]

u just need at screw driver to break open the door lol

[@darrenswails]

@@christianabermas2471 nothing some stripped screw heads won't fix

[@WanderingWolfe]

@@christianabermas2471 Teardrops are more like upgraded tents than any kind of secure structure. Given the average 20 year old can pull one down the street by hand, the door being removable is the least of security concerns

[@spencerjennings3056]

As someone who works in England building static park homes, i applaud you. It looks fantastic.

[@wayne_tm]

A fantastic demonstration of skill, knowledge, and friendship. The camper looks amazing inside and out. Looks like you'll make a bunch of great memories in it! Thanks for making this video.

[@h_r7708]

It is good to see strong female role models. It is a good time for my granddaughter to be growing up.

[@laurenday633]

This project is very cool and well executed! Oddly enough, my favorite part is actually that you had a bunch of friends working with you the whole time! How cool!

[@Mrflightlogic]

OK.. so you blew me away. Mad skills all around. I am so impressed. Hope your trips are real adventures. Now, to go show off your work to my adult daughters. Maybe and inspiration or two??? Appreciate all the filming effort to document your build!

[@ARCUS1200]

It is extremely motivational to see women do this stuff of project where often males (at least on youtube) start and finish those building projects. Women often have an extremely good eye for details as well (just look at this video). The filming is extremely well done as well. Currently building a bike camper myself and I didn't film everything unfortunately (but I photographed the different stages).

[@EvanDunville]

Awesome! I also built a teardrop and it was a big project. Its crazy how much you completed in 3 weeks. I didn't fyberglas my plywood sides, just varnish and it really showed weathering after a couple years so I think you made a really good choice on the side. The style on yours is also really cool.

[@mikeluckham5518]

You've done a very professional-looking job - Xyla Foxlin is not just another DIYer !

[@willhartsell2283]

just a thought, for the wires, what we do in kitplane wings is to run plastic conduit and or run an extra string/through each run so if you need to add/replace a wire you have a fish line already there.

[@Kinann]

Or just tape new wire to the existing then pull it through.

[@AJvsEverything]

Helpful hint when heating aluminum to anneal and bend it...use a black Sharpie marker and put a couple marks down where you need to heat and bend...if the Sharpie disappears, you've reached the annealing temp for aluminum (use the marker preferably somewhere not visible later, as it sometimes stains purple even after wiping it off with acetone)

[@cayleedolan7363]

How have I never discovered your channel before! You have done everything that I hope to one day do! From building a trailer from the ground up to getting my pilots liscence and one day getting a Cessna, seeing you do it is just so encouraging. I graduate this December with a degree in engineering and will start a job in the aerospace industry, so hopefully I can finally start some projects of my own. Can't wait to see what else you can do, and thank you for sharing what you do!!

[@mrfochs]

Tip for others who may want to build this. At around 7:00 Xyla cuts out the cross beams and talks about having to make them an exact fit to the roof's curve. A quicker way to do this is actually screw or clamp the board to the side and the simply use a flush trim router bit with the bearing riding on the side wall.

[@patgallagher9028]

Some talent at such a young age I’m doing woodworking for 25 years and you’ve surpassed me a great job 👍🏻

[@johnnyadams1755]

Probably one of the best teardrop camper builds I've seen. Congrats 👏

[@ajoytfoyt5318]

Your brilliance, talent, drive and determination are so inspirational. When I saw the video was over 42 minutes long I hesitated a little before watching. Then I was sad that it was coming to an end. This is my favorite project of yours I have seen. Bravo.

[@onbeyondzebrabydrs]

This is an absolutely gorgeous build both technically and aesthetically! Thank you for putting in so much work and sharing it with us

[@kurtnelle]

I like how your friend explained "witness marks". You have great friends Xyla.

[@big1bass]

I'm impressed with your work ethic. I wouldn't bet against you on anything. That is a highly commendable attribute to have.

[@WatchmakerErik]

"Letting someone else use my shop is my love language." I feel this. Whenever I let a friend use a tool of mine I feel good about it. And letting my wife use my tools is how I show my love. @6:22 nice Casio!

[@GrubbyZebra]

This is incredible. Now I want to build a tear drop trailer:D. One small note, you may want to flip those gas struts over so the cylinder is mounted to the hatch side (piston-down). This ensures the seals stay lubricated and minimises gas escaping over time. Can't wait to see what you come up with next! (Also, how's the flying going?)

[@michaeldixon3445]

I'm at the 20 minute mark and wanted to say it looks amazing. having a definitive plan and the concept cut work really makes for a great kit. the fiberglass however I have a few tips for. you are correct lay out your mat first but after you lay it out take it off and wet your surface down with resin first then put your fiberglass on and roll it out with more resin(this makes for a stronger bond and will prevent blistering later down the road). Secondly don't cut hard lines for the edges, tear the fiberglass and leave it a frayed edge(it will blend into the next section more seamlessly and give you a more flawless professional finish). I hope the advice helps it the future, thanks for sharing your experience and cute teardrop.

[@josephjames4451]

This August will be 43 years of being a carpenter for me and I must say, you are very impressive. You handle your tools and setbacks like a pro and being only 1 day behind schedule puts you ahead of most. It was quite an enjoyable 42 minutes.

[@charlesgarber5911]

I just wanted to say that you're an inspiration Xyla. Thank you for sharing all the work you and yours did in making this happen. Here's to another crazy build in the near future and that all is well.

[@karldebilde2981]

Great video! So fun to watch. :) Just be careful with the construction adhesives not to apply it in circles or full surfaced because depending on the kind of adhesive you use, they harden by contact with moisture from the air and if you apply circles or full surface, the moisture can't reach the adhesive that's inside and it won't cure. always apply in vertical beads so the air can reach it :)

[@harrysally4310]

Full disclosure - Not a build I would have normally watched. That said, you are an EXTREMELY talented fabricator and I found myself wondering where you got all those skills. Bravo! Perhaps it wasn't that technical but you really showed a variety of skills and techniques. Bonus - you've got first class friends! How rare is that these days?

[@Timeren2010]

Dont know about all the skills, but she is an engineer in mechanics and electronics. That should at least count for quite a few skills.

[@harrysally4310]

@@Timeren2010 - Yeah, I read up on her after my comment. Regardless, still impressive! I thought she worked well outside the box and found her very creative. Great content! Respect, friend!

[@sergioramirez4511]

This is wonderful and I really enjoy your videos. I too have a big workshop and always adding more tools and just love making things out of old reclaimed wood and creating a very useful item from what others would think is junk. I am a software consultant and these types of videos inspire me to do even more and thank you for being so creative.

[@ARCUS1200]

Nice to see that you have different interests (total different areas, software development vs woodcrafting/manufacturing). I have the same thing, I am a graduated photographer but also have a lot of tools to make stuff. I think having hobbies that are totally different than your profession actually is the healthiest thing in world when it comes to breaking up patterns. They work well next to eachother and often motivates me to do stuff.

[@iankynaston-richards883]

Just a tip. If you lay off the varnish with downward vertical strokes of the brush, you will get a better finish. Gravity tends to give you sags in the surface if you lay off horizontally.

[@blahorgaslisk7763]

When I grew up my parents an a lot of their friends had boats built of mahogany. That meant every spring there was a lot of varnish used to make them gleam. Getting the hull perfectly varnished was a point of pride and something of an unofficial competition at the marina. Now I'm trying to remember the tips and tricks used to get that perfect surface but my memory is way to mushy. Something I do remember was when the first planers, or at least that's what Google translate claims they are called in English, got onto the market. They are basically rectangular flexible pads with a short haired brush surface that allows you to distribute the paint or varnish in a thin even layer without any striations like those you tend to get using brushes. New synthetic materials made it possible to make these planers and they were a bit like a cheat mode when varnishing boats. Today there's foam "brushes" that does much the same, but I have never used those. But any way you look at it varnishing vertical surfaces using a brush is hard. It's well worth looking into planers, or what they may be called, and foam brushes. The planers work best on large even surfaces where they allow you to work large areas very quickly. The foam brushes are supposedly better for smaller surfaces and when working in corners or around detailed areas.

[@knote4958]

The thing to keep in mind when using heat to help "form" metals is the metal will want to shrink or contort as it cools, so before you fasten it in there you wanna make sure it actually fits when it's cool

[@islandupcyclery3432]

Amazing job!!! I'm now inspired to make a trailer 😊 Here's a tip for knowing when your aluminum is hot enough to become malleable. Just scribble on the aluminum with a sharpie and heat it till the sharpie dissappear. I love aluminum! ❤️

[@erikjonromnes]

I had a bad week. I got up this morning sensing the beginnings of a depression setting in. I’ve been itching to learn better how to build things, Lake Tahoe has always been my favorite place I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been thinking about building a Camper. So, I’ll be asking my doctor about Xylafoxlin Trifecta. Great job, inspiring… thank for sharing this project.

[@Opelfreakie]

Xyla, you're an amazing creator. It's super cool to see what things you can make and the enthousiasm you do it with. I hope you can inspire to a generation of young girls and women to consider a career in STEM 🙂

[@earcher]

A suggestion for the future as a safety concern would be to put the hinges facing on the inside of the trailer/camper. My dad always told me "a locked door only keeps an honest man honest" and those hinges would be incredibly easy to remove if someone wanted to break in for whatever reason.

[@artyd7734]

i thought the same thing or a carriage bolt with lock nut inside is good thats the easiest way

[@rachelina97]

So glad I read this!

[@jeffreyerskine4832]

hinges inside means doors swing IN which is no good, but yes small carriage bolts with nuts on the interior would be a-ok

[@aeasus]

Using stainless toilet partition one way through bolts would solve that problem. Love the build, great job 👍

[@chrisnorton2837]

Two carriage bolts per window and door would probably be sufficient to deter casual criminals. Also a lock on the battery box and a lock on the trailer tongue latch. 👍 Really nice trailer!! ❤

[@Flight-of-Life]

As a paramedic, my most exciting part of your video, was watching you allow your friends to push the timber through the saw with their bare hands, no guide blocks or even a piece of off cut, was waiting for the wood to bite and claim a finger. But the final product was amazing well done 👏

[@YoMama9021]

Yeah that was crazy to me. That and all she can do in that thing is sleep. Oh and the part where she said “could I afford it?” Come on, really?

[@corvidflight19]

Yeah I was too, I've spent 30 years in construction, seen that happen on the job!

[@ghiafreak123]

🤣

[@BarryRudge]

I have just come across your video that popped up in front of me and as a person in my late 70's who built caravans in the very early 60's I admire your ability and confidence in building your teardrop caravan. You have made a beautiful very strong trailer and there are not many who would even attempt it. I notice your video is over 12 months old and no doubt you've already had some enjoyable tours with it. But should you build another you must remember keeping the structure light is everything with a trailer because the heavier it is the more it is going to cost in fuel to tow it. The wooden frame you built the roof from would have been more than sufficient to have built the walls the same way even making the outer skin from thin gauge aluminium would look nice.

[@giantpunda2911]

This was such an awesome build. I hope that we get to see this trailer in action in some future video. Would really love to see a video of a full tour of the trailer, how the kitchen is setup and operates, what the solar charging is like and how long you can operate off that battery lasts with general usage of the trailer etc.

[@volttherobot]

This is SO FANTASTIC! We hope you get many years of use out of it and many priceless memories - That final minute was SO good to watch!

[@jerrygaguru]

Nice build, a few to keep mind and to keep on hand. This trailer will traveling at almost hurricane speed limits, your front roof joint may leak because of this. Any repairs to any roof joints I would recommend using the roofing tar for a caulk gun for patching roof holes it does great temp repairs and can be removed with Mineral sprits It’s also very good for a joint that separates because the weather you can put a clearcoat on top of it but it will stay soft enough in the middle for the joint to expand and stay waterproof. Things will happen to the roof always keep a small role of a aluminum and electric screwdriver, screws, and the roofing tar repair caulk. Backed into a tree punched a 2 inch hole in the roof and was able to fix it with these things in about 20 minutes or less. I would have four 3’ x 3’ three-quarter inch treated plywood pads and four car stands with this you can level it anywhere with the front up and down jack. You need need propane and you will need heat protection in the kitchen area.

[@Audioelement1]

The attention to detail and design of your build is excellent. Looks as if it came off a show room floor. Keep up the great work!

[@LtDan-rf9mx]

Excellent job. I like the custom door especially. Most people I’ve seen used door kits. Nice to see someone take the time to make everything from scratch. Definitely better than a commercially built trailer.

[@microgreensgrower3946]

My husband and I are in the build process of a tear drop trailer. I can't believe you built yours so fast! I really appreciate your skills and your creativity. Hats off to you and what you made happen! Beautiful build! 🏁🏁 Watched twice!

[@apaxman00]

I am sure you are getting a ton of advice on this build. I think this build is awesome and the fact you did it in only 3 weeks is amazing. I use VHB tape when building my freestyle drones for adhering the receiver to a carbon fiber frame without shorting out. It works great even under the force of bad crashes. The only issue I see with using it on your solar panel is: if you did not use screws as well, the tape when hot (like in the desert sun) can become tacky and will lose its adhesiveness. Be safe and please keep posting these awesome vids whenever you can.

[@kevinmitchell3168]

VHB tape is amazing! 3M 5952 VHB Tape can handle up to 250F. It takes 72 hours at 68 degrees Fahrenheit to fully bond and will continue to get stronger for 30 days. Heat accelerates the bonding process. The tallest skyscraper in the world, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, expands and contracts so much from day to night they couldn't use fasteners to attach the windows without them breaking, so they used VHB tape!

[@cq7415]

Wow! You and your helpers are so knowledgeable and professional. Putting fiberglass on the exterior was something I never thought you would do. This trailer took a lot of work and you did it in three weeks. You all could make a business building these. Really more than first class! Thanks for sharing.

[@BruceLyeg]

As someone who has built a few teardrop trailers I gotta say, this is fantastic. Extremely well engineered, designed and built. Very tastefully done while looking retro-ish. You should be extremely proud of yourself. You know this is going to lead to designing and building a bigger and better equipped RV, right? I know there's already bits and pieces of a plan floating around in your head

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I would have liked to know how much this project cost. Of course all the specialized tools are hidden in the cost as well.. I don't have a router or table saw or anything like that so I probably couldn't even attempt a project like this.

[@mattgibson6426]

​@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017don't count yourself out. Jig saw will cut all of this build.👍 And nobody else has a convenient friend with a 4'x8' CNC router 😂. I mean if I did they'd be seeing a lot of new too! And be bribes with baked goods and home made jams 😊 Teardrops have been built for nearly a century now by hand and with minimal tools or skills. This is how you build new skills. By trying. Go get to it! Building one myself😊

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@@mattgibson6426Thanks. That's the kind of encouragement I need.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@@mattgibson6426Thanks. That's the kind of encouragement I need.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@@mattgibson6426Thanks. That's the kind of encouragement I need.

[@julianlauterfeld6273]

Oh man, I can't wait to see your craftsmanship when you start building your first plane with that wood design 😱

[@greeneyedggirl]

What a beautiful trailer you created! You and your team should be so proud of this bit of art! Thank you for sharing your journey and build with us!

[@thetomster7625]

kinda nice and one of the first "I build my own camper" videos, where I don't have anyting bad to say about poor material usage and proper road-readiness. kudos.

[@zachmoyer1849]

could have got a smoother finish on the wood panel but year came out nice.

[@EitanTsur]

Protip: Embed pull-twine and maybe if you want to be extra use conduit tubing next time you do fully-enclosed wiring; allows you to pull new wires should anything ever go wrong.

[@maddogshwa]

Noted. I like that one.

[@JamStph]

You give me hope for the future of craftsmanship. That is a huge project to dig in on, and it turned out beautiful. You did not skimp or cut corners, the swoosh is such an awesome touch. I def need some epoxy looks like botal toat is the stuff to use. I hope they are sponsoring you, because you make it look like the best stuff in the world to use.

[@SteveRVRepairs]

I don't build campers because I am a perfectionist on water intrusion. That said, I would trade the cnc for a rotisserie and some indoor space. You have produced the highest quality teardrop I have ever seen by a company and person. The sealing with cloth and resin sealed the deal. Can one be made better yes.. Is yours the best one I have seen produced yes. Thank you for showing your entire process you have inspired many people to build a teardrop. You hit the goals of a teardrop. congratulations is due. This is a 30 year camper not like a 8 year expected life span professional produced rv.

[@clarencegreene2]

I don't think I'll ever build a teardrop - wifey is a little claustrophobic. However, this video was really pivotal for this 66 year old - it demonstrated what real craftsmanship looks like. Thank you, dear - most of us don't get to see it that close up. It was a little intimidating - and a lot inspiring. You cannot watch this masterpiece without "upping" your own game some. I have four daughters and four granddaughters. The team that produced you should be very, very proud. If not, you're welcome to come on board as granddaughter #5!😄

[@clarencegreene2]

ps - I haven't seen anyone address that USA map yet - please stop by for a hug if you ever get near Myrtle Beach! Let me know first, though, cause we may be on the road, too - wife is on oxygen full time for over 20 years, and we are demonstrating how to travel the country while overcoming the technical and financial challenges of needing oxygen full time at 6 lpm.

[@danielsuppes3948]

I am in awe of you and your friends. Great video and you guys are soooooo talented.

[@marcmmclellan]

It can’t be a Xyla video without epoxy! Great work!

[@MichaelAlm]

This build is amazing!!! Nicely done Xyla!

[@TheBookDoctor]

While it's always fun to see you in cameos in Joe's videos, it's infinitely better when we get a whole new Xyla video! (And a long one, too!)

[@kirkmulhearn7931]

That was very inspiring-wow you are quite the designer-builder-craftsman! Thank you that was a lot of work

[@naomivought9317]

So cool. I’ve been building and renovating things all my life and I am inspired to make one not going to lie! I went to school for design 🥹

[@kyleeames8229]

Your skill and showmanship never cease to amaze me.

[@matthewtupper4177]

great project, hoping to do something like this with my 10th grade design class. Thank you for the inspiration. Consider a 'fiddle' on that shelf to keep your stuff in place when moving.

[@richardbabin4393]

Sorry for being late to the party. I hope you're out enjoying your handiwork. Just a tip for cutting off the excess glass. Epoxy won't stick to packing tape. You can hot wire cut a foam wedge, cover it with the tape, and fix it under the overlap where you cut with the razor knife in the video. Once the glass cures you can pull out the foam wedge and just sand the edge of the glass smooth.

[@robinfhild]

I've been a professional woodworker for 30 years and the Rabbet bit followed by the flush trim to take off 1/16" all the way round was effing genius!

[@clearstream67]

Great project!! For cutting full sheets of plywood you need to try a track saw. I specifically bought a cordless Makita for all the cabinets in my Airstream renovation. It was so much easier and more accurate than single handling full sheets on a table saw. It also allows angled pieces and beveled cuts. ;)

[@bmay8818]

My thought too. I'm about to buy a Makita track saw; what else did you consider, and are there any significant issues with yours?

[@clearstream67]

@@bmay8818 I went with the Makita as they make all of my other 18v cordless tools. 😁 I’ve cut about 20 sheets of plywood with it and I need to change the rubber guide strip on the tracks. It’s been great. Good blades help too. For long full sheet cuts, I bought two 55” tracks and pin them together with their kit. They don’t always align perfectly so I always check it with a straightedge.

[@bmay8818]

@@clearstream67 All of my cordless tools are Makita, so that's why I'm looking at their track saw. From what I can tell, the tracks made by Powertec are the way to go. I've seen people mention various issues with some brands. I just want something that works without any fiddling around. Festool is the gold standard of course but I refuse to buy much from them because I despise their ripoff prices.

[@BottleBass1977]

Love these long-form construction videos. Great end result and well worth all the incredible effort along the way.

[@MrPDawes]

Fantastic Job. Regarding the wiring I would have suggested running in flexible pipe so if you have to replace the wiring it would be easy to thread through. Also, will protect the insulation against the wood edges from vibration damage when you're on the road.

[@nmroxby5587]

It's amazing how precise you are in your cutting, measurements and everything. Great job! I bet you felt good creating it your way and your style.

[@ShadowVonChadwick]

Having fitted out a few VW Kombi Cambers with ply and light frame then Marine varnish, I really enjoyed your project. Very well done Xyla, great job. 👌

[@leerhodes5746]

This is such a fun and impressive project! I really enjoyed your humanistic commentary and attention to detail! Love that you had so many friends helping you out.

[@richfabian6534]

WOW!!! What an amazing tear drop camper you made, looks awesome

[@chrisc765]

im a boat builder. its taken me years to gain the skills it would take toou have build that as well as you did. the 8ft layup solo was verty impressive. Its amazing you have gained that mnuch experience being so young. A+