Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I saw a trailer in our local costco. It's a Lifetime brand 5' x 8' trailer for $950. At first glance the price seems high, but looking into it more revealed that it does look like a well built trailer with a lot of extras you don't get with most other trailers.

It has sides, a ramp, and a corrugated galvanized floor which most people would want to take off. The frame is welded steel, not a bolt together. I noticed it had at least 5 cross members. It had 13" wheels (175/80-13) and a spare (almost $100 for the spare alone) mounted at the front. The fenders were attached to brackets that were welded to the frame and would stay in place when a teardrop sides are built up to them (no holes need to be drilled into the side of the teardrop to attach the fenders). It also comes with a jack at the front. The axle looked like it was a 2000 lb axle and it did NOT have brakes. The sign said it had a load limit of 1500 lbs. I'm guessing that's not counting the trailer weight, so I don't know what the leaf springs were rated for.

It would be easy to talk myself into it as a lot of work would be saved, but I'm thinking that I want to build a 5 x 10 trailer. I also want brakes and a 3500 lb axle. Maybe I should build a 5x8, and if it's too small I could sell it and build a bigger one. I'm 6'2", are there any other people my height sleeping in an 8' long trailer, and if so is it enough room?

Dale

Is this it?

No. That trailer is smaller, folds, doesn't have the front jack, no ramp, has the much smaller 12" tires, and the tongue looks weaker.

Go here http://www.lifetime.com/Trailers/Default.aspx and click on "Utility Trailer" right under the picture.

No reason you can't put a 10' box on an 8' frame, it's done all the time.

Hi, Dale:

While this trailer may be different, after (My bad) I bought my 5x8 RedTrailer, I researched adding brakes. What I found in my research was that it was going to cost considerably more (about $1000) just for the parts to retrofit brakes. This was because the wheel set-up was a 4-bolt hub, which meant changing out the axle as well as the wheels and wheel hubs in addition to the actual brakes.

Based on my research, here are some questions to consider :

1) Is it a 5 bolt hub?
2) In CA, brakes are required if trailer weight is greater than 1500 lbs. What are the brake requirements in Washington?
3) If your final trailer will weigh more than Washington requirements will allow without brakes, can you lighten it enough with sandwiched sides and roof?
4) If you do need brakes on it, how much will it cost to add them and how will you do it?
5) How much is your tow vehicle rated to tow? (Check both the towing and brakes section of your vehicle manual.)
6) If you still want brakes after answering the above questions, would it be better or less expensive to have a trailer made for you or to possibly purchase a different model?

Best Wishes on your future build!

Just build what you want, you're already doubting this trailer and you'll doubt the whole time.

It's a shame how much of that trailer would get thrown away if used to make a teardrop.

There is a specification PDF that shows the frame is pretty lightly built: the cross-members are 2"x2"x16ga (16ga is 0.065" or about 1/16") and the tongue is 3"x3"x14ga - 3"x3" is good though 14ga is pretty light.

If the single tongue is fixed to two of those light cross-members, this trailer might have the same weakness as the Tractor Supply one, where the cross-members fail long before the tongue would.

Andrew

Thanks everyone for the information. I already had the feeling that this trailer is just too far from what I want and getting it there would cost too much.

Sharon, I know what you mean about brakes. On my camper I went to replace the bearings and found out that they had removed all the brake components from inside both hubs of one of the axles. To add all the brake components for the one axle and replace the worn out brakes of the other axle would have cost me almost the same two complete new axles with brakes. The new axles also have backing plates that allow one to bolt on the brakes as a cartridge whereas my old axles had welded on backing plates. The new axles also have wider brake pads. Needless to say, it was worth the small difference in price to replace both axles so that's what I did.

The reason I was initially interested in this trailer is because I don't have the welding equipment and haven't found anyone around here yet to build a trailer for me.

Here's an idea, why doesn't CampInn and/or Little Guy build trailers (frame, axle, and wheels only - no body) at a reasonable price for builders to build on top of. I guess I just thought of a subject of a new discussion. I think I'll post this question in the "Teardrop Manufacturers" section.

Hi, Dale:

You might try calling Red Trailer. They have been known to work with people to give them what is needed. I know the PA site put together a 5x10 teardrop chassis, with brakes, for a man in Virginia... Their other site is in So.Calif; I believe, in Vista. They won't ship these 5x10's anymore but, that's probably close enough that you could have them put it together for you and you could make a run down there and pull it home. If you planned your trip for the right time, you'd be able to visit at the Dam Gathering and maybe a couple others along the way! Eh! Eh!