Micro Foamie Vespa Teardrop Trailer Time Lapse Style FULL build. Poor Mans Fiberglass

Enjoy a quick look at the process of bringing this fun trailer to life! If you haven't watched the tour of the completed trailer please do so. There will be additional build videos coming!
Check out the other videos here:
Micro Vespa Teardrop Tour: • Micro Teardrop Trailer...
Poor Mans Fiberglass Tutorial: • Poor Mans Fiberglass P...
Best Adhesive for Foamie: • NOT Gorilla Glue! Watc...
Check out my other teardrop trailer: • Home Built Teardrop Ca...
Poor Mans Fiberglass tutorial: • Poor Man's Fiberglass ...
Products used:
Power inlet port: amzn.to/3oPYX74
Titebond II (Wood Glue): amzn.to/3y3TgX9
Canvas Drop Clothes: amzn.to/3JVCMGr
Smooth Roller Covers: amzn.to/33jSzhl
Roller Extension: amzn.to/3zHXipx
This build is a collaboration that I did with Tom from "The Tiny Side of Tiny". He wanted a teardrop trailer to pull with his Vespa!! We ended up building this out of foam (foamie), aluminum and canvas (Poor mans fiberglass)!
As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

[@oddojaggins]

I've been trying to figure out how to make a small teardrop for two that could be towed by a smaller car, so glad I found this channel. That poor man's fiberglass is genius and I am now a subscriber. Thank you for your hard work

[@thelwood]

Thank you!! Good luck with your build!

[@metric7278]

@@thelwood Great videos. Do you think if it's possible to PMF over Foil Faced Polyiso boards? thank you

[@thelwood]

@@metric7278 I am not sure, I have never worked with it to know if the foil could separate. I would do a small test sample before using it! Best wishes!

[@TheRebelmanone]

@@metric7278 Good question. But based on what i have seen with those foil faced foam when it gets a little exposure it peels off. But of course if you PMF a drop cloth without sealing it with paint it would most likely behave the same as the foil and peel off. If the wood glue and drop cloth sticks to the foil and the foil sticks to the foam, and then you seal it with paint it should be good. Like Lucy said, would have to try it to see. Use a small piece for a mock up test.

[@LaurelCanyonMojo]

My crazy idea watching this...recycled blue jean denim for the canvas parts ..or seams or wallpaper inside 😅😊😜

[@cubgsan]

Good day to you. I am a senior rider on HONDA Cross Cub from Japan. Enjoying touring ,camping and video uploading. This is so nice video! Awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Have a nice day my friend!!

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much! Happy travels!

[@waterboy8999]

Great work guys! I like the fact that you respond to every comment. Too many channels don't even acknowledge the many positive comments they get. Best wishes from Scotland.

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much! Someday I want to travel to Scotland! Looks like such a beautiful place!

[@waterboy8999]

@@thelwood thank you, it's not too bad.

[@scottmasson3336]

Your Poor Man's Glassfibre was the standard deck covering for small yachts before WW2. It was used over plywood.

[@thelwood]

Yes! It can be very strong when applied well 😃

[@rickdancingwolf]

O

[@1980Baldeagle]

Your saying that the decking was plywood with fabric and paint?

[@Zachry86]

Do you know what it is/was called? Ive been trying to reasearch this as I was invited to help make the roof of a traditional small wooden boat this way. We used canvas and linseed oil paint.

[@cameronwatt8823]

​@@Zachry86look for yachting books by Harold Augustin Calahan. It's been a few decades but I believe The Ship's Husband describes the process.

[@riverbottomband]

Beautiful job and great workmanship. Mist of all i want to bring attention to your out of this world patience with all the idiotic comments. Outstanding on all levels. Great work. Awesome little toy. Be proud!!!

[@oakmaiden2133]

Gosh, I would love this for my Chevy Spark! At 60 tho, a little beyond my skill set. I want to get back to camping so bad. Putting up a tent is getting hard on my shoulder and I feel vulnerable in one. A bear hot pocket lol. Day trips just aren’t the same. I wanna see the stars again.

[@thelwood]

I hear you! I don't want to sleep on the ground any more!

[@TheRebelmanone]

I love the bicycle innertube you used for a rubber seal on the galley lid. And of course the entire walls and ceiling made of almost 100% foam.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@graystone3048]

By far the coolest foamie build on KZbin!! Your skills are masterful. What an awesome project.

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!!

[@jonathandarcourt]

@@thelwood nn. Anne

[@jonathandarcourt]

@@thelwood nn. Anne

[@JulieWallis1963]

Oh I could just imagine the fun my husband and I could have in this, such a sweet little unit for a couple.

[@thelwood]

It would definitely be cozy for a couple!

[@redmatters9318]

A bit like bread and jam pudding- poor man's pudding- simple but delicious. Lot of skill need though to make such a teardrop. Nicely done mate. G'day from Australia 🇦🇺. :)

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!

[@CaptVB]

Learnt the skill of making caravan a home in Australia🇦🇺. Love your work. Love from India🇮🇳. Regards

[@thelwood]

@@CaptVB Thank you so much!

[@markjob6354]

The amount of highly focused, highly skilled, intense labour was enough to turn me off. I got tired just watching all the work that went into this epic trailer build. Great results of course ! 👍 The trailer looks amazing ! 👌

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@neilkennykenny4113]

The foam and fibre glass combo is genius, the trailer needed to be very light in order to be pulled by a small scooter. I love it.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@michaelvollmer9491]

Guys, this is without any doubt the most fantastic teardrop trailer for an icon like the vintage vespa. I was watching your video with open mouth and i am amazed by the idea of building this and your Skills 🙋🏻‍♂️😎🇩🇪

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!! It was a lot of fun!

[@datBoondockingdiva]

Love it ✨️As a digital nomad + part-time vanlifer, this is exactly why love my Honda motorcycle. I'm a newbie rider, but can't wait to try something like this! Thanks 😊

[@thelwood]

Thank you! And good luck! I am about 90% finished with my van conversion and I am taking it in its maiden voyage tomorrow!

[@renevandort7015]

Woowww, dat is zo geweldig om met een Vespa te kunnen reizen en kamperen. Ik heb 3 Vespa's. Very super!

[@donboggs3880]

Wow! That was fun! Build me one quick. I got a kick out of the" taping of the outer roof gluing, taping part", especially the "tape hander outerer! Great job and I appreciate the sharing.

[@thelwood]

Thank you! The tape hander outer was a critical role😂

[@cliffp.8396]

Nailed the 'lite weight' concept, very nicely done.

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!

[@gorillaau]

How much does it weigh? I'm asking because in Australia, if you go over 250kg, a trailer needs to be professionally built and certified.

[@williamlott7612]

Very cool. My wife calls projects like this “couples therapy.” Darlington, South Carolina

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@fookingsog]

Super Cool to *ACTUALLY SEE* how the PMF is applied!!!😁👍🏻

[@thelwood]

Thank you! I will do a detailed video on that step too! :)

[@GTWoodshop]

That's awesome, well done Lucy, I bet he's blown away. 👍😎

[@thelwood]

Thanks Graham, I am just hoping that he doesn't end up literally blown away 🤣

[@GTWoodshop]

@@thelwood 🤣🤣😢😢😢

[@Gales_of_Gaelic]

That was such a nice build. Very efficient and compact. I am now considering building something like that for my motorcycle..

[@thelwood]

Thank you!! I hope you enjoy your build!

[@dereksmith3316]

After a year how is it holding up? Any issues with the foam? I’m wondering how you water proof the walls? Also how does it do at high speeds? What was your maternal cost?

[@jackflak]

Such a groovy project.. I'm a welder fabricator by trade I certainly appreciate the amount of work skilled work involved.. very nice.. trailer is possibly light enough to be towed behind a bicycle as well .. a cool thing it is..

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!

[@jailtonpulino7135]

Ficou muito pesado pra uma vespinha

[@danielfraticola1395]

@@thelwood cuanto pesa el remolque y a que velocidad andas desde argentina un abrazo

[@jayh9529]

Paul elkins channel may help

[@ricardogarcia183]

​@@jailtonpulino7135 vc sabe cuanto pesa?

[@chrisgenovese8188]

omg, this is so charming! love it. my curiosity has been piqued by "PMF", so i'll head to your other video about it. cheers!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!!

[@philrazzi7782]

Awesome video. Fun to watch the process. Look up the Hurricaine Hinge and replace that piano hinge asap.

[@АнтониоПетров-я7щ]

Дорогой Брат, проделанная вами работа просто колосальная!!!! Трейлер Шикарный, просто бомба!!! Здорово!!!😎😉🙂☺😀😄🙄💪👌👏🖒👍🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@АнтониоПетров-я7щ]

@@thelwood Брат, не тяжеловато ли моторолеру и не нужен ли более мощьный байк? А так удачи в новых проэктах!!!😎😉🙂☺😀😄🙄💪👌👍🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺

[@thelwood]

@@АнтониоПетров-я7щ it is very light! Only 170 lbs! The bike has no problem pulling it out stopping it. The only issue is that since it is so big but also light is it is hard to handle in big wind gusts. 🙂

[@Hadassah-KaquoliMReno]

Y’all did a great job, I was wondering how to build a light weight trailer and you did it! Bravo!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@keithkocher9251]

Your ideas and team work is very impressive. Thanks for sharing.

[@thelwood]

Thank you! It was fun! I am happy we were able to work so well together:)

[@johnchan6191]

Wow, very clever 2 use insulation board as outer shell. Provide insulation during cold & hot months. Thx 4 sharing on Utube.

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@edwardvaldiviez1137]

I'm speechless what craftsmanship

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@lucasferreira7820]

Curtindo cada detalhe aqui do Brasil🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 (Enjoying every detail here in Brazil🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷)

[@thelwood]

Thank you!!

[@clintstinytrailerconversio5560]

Nice work and very clear instructions, Lucy.

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

This is going to hit a million views for sure 😁

[@bentsprockettech]

That's beautiful. I'm a Vespa fan. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@johnlewan1114]

Cool project. If you have a short attention span like me, watch at 2x speed. Got a few ideas for something I'm working on. Thanks for posting.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@rickwallace3102]

Thank you, this is the first time seeing this technique. Now to do the research and design a tiny trailer to be pulled with my bicycle.

[@thelwood]

Thank you! Have fun building your trailer!

[@Chocobo18]

Wow! The quality of work and the results!! Awesome!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@NoSenatorson]

This build would probably be in a movie called Smart & Smarter.

[@Road_Rash]

I'd love to build something like this to pull behind my Road King... that would be awesome!

[@htmmotoring]

Watching you guys using the proyector to make your stencil blow my mind

[@thelwood]

That was definitely an "if there is a will, there is a way"moment

[@htmmotoring]

@@thelwood just brilliant!! That was my like and suscribe moment keep It Up!! 🤘🤘

[@thelwood]

@@htmmotoring thank you!!

[@johnw65]

WOW, Beautiful Job guys! My Cargo/Camper trailer conversion is quite heavy in comparison...

[@thelwood]

Thank you! It was fun!

[@TheJosesantiago123]

That’s a FOAMTASTIC build. Just perfect 👍.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!!

[@Handleyman]

I think, without a word of a lie that is the most amazing build I have ever seen. A massive job well done. Have you used it yet?

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much! Tom has used it on several camping adventures already!

[@badawesome]

Nice choice of music. I am going to try and build a truck cap using your technique because of its light weight.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@SMMUNIZ]

Thank you for sharing your amazing project. I really enjoyed watching it!

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!!

[@garretcastlebright8996]

Very creative and excellent craftsmanship. Fun to see it come together. Congratulations on a great job.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@robertvitrano3757]

What a cool project 😎😎😎😎 You did a great job 👍👍👍💯

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@us-carsrobwo795]

Awsome Mate, What a such cool Project. Congratulations and a lot of fun

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@wanea3760]

Creative especially using iron

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@horaciobushcraf9951]

Genial, muy buena idea, gracias por compartirla, saludos desde Córdoba Argentina...

[@thelwood]

Thank you!!

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

Beautifully constructed. Quite a team.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@felixcat9318]

What an absolute gem of a video this is, meticulously precise attention to detail and truly outstanding craftspersonship throughout! Your tiny travel cabin is aesthetically beautiful, unique and practical, and it perfectly recreates the style of the classic tear drop trailers. I imagine that people may believe it to be a beautifully restored original, rather that a perfectly crafted new construction. This is the most perfect PMF application that I've ever seen, its absolutely immaculate! Wherever the eye rests, beautiful fit, finish and detail shine through, its art you can camp in! I find your tiny travel cabin to be elegantly simple and simply elegant!

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much! It was such a fun and challenging build!

[@touchedouche8806]

My vespa is a 77. Same color. I NEED one of these.

[@thelwood]

Sounds like you have a sweet ride!

[@touchedouche8806]

@@thelwood scooty puff jr is pretty darn sweet.

[@thelwood]

@@touchedouche8806 great name!

[@arjen-de-vries]

I absolutely love this vid. I know how much satisfaction it gives to build your own teardrop. I am finishing my aluminum teardrop these days. Hope to make some small build vid as well. Following Tom’s videos as well. Very nice.

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much! It is so satisfying to build something!

[@widearchshark3981]

How did you get on? Did you make a video?

[@Seafariireland]

Excellent build project!

[@ronaldharris6569]

Very cool project still can't believe that early Vespa can actually pull it......on flat ground 😀

[@thelwood]

Thank you! It handles hills well too! Wind is the biggest challenge

[@jlucasound]

Awesome, Lucy!!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@AlexT-md9df]

That was awesome! Looking for something similar for my 2 door Suzuki sidekick. I’m going to attempt this!

[@thelwood]

Thank you! Enjoy your build!

[@thyminator420]

Fantastic idea ! This trailer looks so awesome , Italian style , big lover of piaggio , drive for myself a piaggio trike .

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!

[@estebansepulveda7718]

Quedo espectacular, felicitaciones. 👏👏👍 Saludos desde Chile

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@rickwilliams696]

So incredibly proud of your talent!!!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!!

[@WoodcliffCommunity]

Amazing skills and craftsmanship, just awesome!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@micheleaday3902]

This Is Beautiful And Impressive

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@glennbarthelemy2443]

Well done guys👍👍👍👍

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@abelardolomeli3045]

Que Maravilloso Proyecto!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🛵🛵🛵NUNCA DEJEN DE SOŃAR!🙏🏼🙋🏻‍♂️

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!

[@harbinjerj4985]

This is my dream right here. God, what i would give for this.....

[@thelwood]

Thank you! I hope you get your dream one day!

[@WoodRanger138]

Extraordinary Build, Bravo!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@jerrymoya5725]

Great build only one thing wrong ,no details on what materials are and how to apply,how to mix,setting time,measurements on length ,width and height.

[@alanzafra5555]

So beautiful job

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@wanderingrebelinvestigatio2071]

I'm actually currently working on building my own foamy poor Man's fiberglass teardrop camper for a motorized bicycle

[@sailingmohican2767]

I used structural roofing foam to build a shanty and it was awesome..this was 20 years ago tho so I don't know if it is even available anymore .

[@thelwood]

That's awesome!

[@leonardarola]

Simply gorgeous.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@archielynn3663]

VERY COOL GREAT JOB LOT OF NICE WORK

[@thelwood]

Thank you so much!

[@rich2154]

I really enjoyed these build videos. It's been awhile since you have put these videos out so I'm not sure you will see this comment but if you do have you considered putting out a regular speed version of this time lapse version? If not I would be more than happy to pay you for a copy of it. I'm going to build one for my motorcycle and it would be a great help to watch it in regular speed. Thanks for your consideration. Again great job!

[@dustyfruitypie1633]

Great vid but you've said somewhere that you use titebond2 instead of titebond3 glue. Have you never had any problems when it gets really wet as titebond2 is only water resistant not waterproof?

[@thelwood]

Thank you. And no issues, the waterproofing comes from the multiple layers of paint deeply absorbed into the canvas. 🙂

[@chriscattelino8169]

The retro style of these reminds me of the fins that golden age superheroes always had on their headgear, then I thought THAT would be the perfect place to hide a camera.

[@phil7556]

I need to know more about the poor mans fiberglass with the titebond wood glue!!!??? What is the fabric? What is the ironing? Do you have a link to this? Also, I'm struggling how you "bent" the pink foamboard!!?? I watched it but I can't believe it. Did t You cut slits in it to bend it? How did it not snap?. I need to see a more in depth video tutorial on the poor mans fiberglassing and the bending of the pink foamboard. Please!.

[@shootback5477]

wow, you guys move fast!

[@thelwood]

🤣🤣🤣 I wish I had fast forward mode in real life!

[@0hypnotoad0]

Its very interesting that "PMF" is something that was forgotten about, canvas-skinned airplanes and boats used to be fairly common a century ago. The technique was neglected and forgotten, but it's such an effective way of building lightweight structures.

[@thelwood]

Yes! I love the technique and the look :)

[@sandym4317]

Great Build!! Congrats!!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@tork62077]

Pretty dang sweet!!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!!

[@campmansoutdoors6927]

My hat goes off to you. You are extremely talented!! Did you add the man hours it took to produce such a light weight masterpiece? And would you do it all over again? You should be very proud of your achievement! It's perfect!! A tad small, but understandably so. Congratulations, I'm soooooo impressed!

[@thelwood]

Thank you! It was 2 months of working weekends and a few evenings. It would go much faster on a second build! Much of the time was spent planning and changing the plans lol

[@monkeysuncle2816]

@@thelwood what was the final cost / price? Only 170 lbs, nice. I wonder how much lighter you could go for a bicycle camper? I know you need some paint to waterproof it, but it looked like there were 3-4 coats in some places? Every can of paint adds a couple pounds!

[@thelwood]

@@monkeysuncle2816 I am not sure how much Tom ended up spending

[@donaldblankenship-ph1un]

Two thumbs up all the way.

[@thelwood]

Thanks!

[@xsadragin]

hi, love your videos, but I do not see how you made the openings and got the windows in. I looked at several of your videos to see if I could catch that and I didn’t really understand it. How do you get them to stay in place?do you put a rubber edging around it or caulking? Looking forward to seeing more videos.

[@lsh3rd]

@9:04 LOL!… the only time I used an iron in the last 5 years was making a canoe.

[@thelwood]

The only reason to use one!!

[@altaloma7789]

Well done! I've been looking at building a foamie but weight buildup keeps me from going that way. Still, it looks enticing. I'd love to hear how you came out on weight. When I build trailers at your size they usually come out somewhere around 90 pounds. My lightest is 61, but it's built to the minimum size possible. Yours looks much easier to live with. It's hard to change clothes in a minimum size trailer.

[@thelwood]

Thank you! We ended up at 170 lbs

[@lilivicordero8077]

So beautiful

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@shaunhall960]

Thanks! Going to be doing this!

[@caputo116]

Do you think it can handle highway speeds like behind a Can Am Spyder?

[@thelwood]

The body of it could, but it would need a real axle and different wheels

[@ammerudgrenda]

Due to the shape, I think it would create enough lift at highway speed to take off ✈️.

[@aulupinar]

Excellent job 👏👏👏

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@jodydorsett8726]

Stunning! Real genius. 🙂

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@adv_rider]

Just amazing!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@tarawakefield4383]

That is just incredible!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@breakingtoast2255]

awesome build

[@thelwood]

Thank you!!

[@mayakay1175]

Excelente proyecto muy práctico y funcional.. Felicitaciones amigos!

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@evaportes6784]

Very nice use for camping

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@notwocdivad]

Lovely little trailer. I have however often wondered why everyone builds them with the bluff end forward? Would it not be more aerodynamic to have the narrower end heading into the wind? Or why not use a "wedge of cheese" design? That would do away with awkward curves. Just thinking out loud. As I said that is a lovely little trailer, you must let us know how it performes in use??

[@thelwood]

Thank you! The shape was made to replicate a 1950s cabin car, so it was selected for a certain look more than for aerodynamics. It also works well to have greater head room in the cabin and lower access point for the galley. :)

[@jimmywaters8929]

Awesome build!!, any chance you could build a mini Airstream, twin Gullwing doors with Portholes .......Please

[@thelwood]

That would be awesome! I have my hands full with a van conversion right now!

[@ridhadababi5858]

Good job. Thanks for sharing.

[@thelwood]

Thank you!

[@kkp2o]

Would yall be willing to make another to put on a top deck of a gooseneck trailer?

[@thelwood]

That would be super cool! At this time I am focused on converting a van to an RV :)