Too Light?

[Ross Wade]

Just wondering. How light is too light. I know of several teardrop trailers around the 600lb. mark. What weight would be considered the lowest and still not bounce all over the road as you are driving 65mph down the highway?

Thanks, Ross

[steve wolverton]

Just wondering. How light is too light. I know of several teardrop trailers around the 600lb. mark. What weight would be considered the lowest and still not bounce all over the road as you are driving 65mph down the highway?

I don't think there is a too light. As long as your springs are setup correctly, I think you could probably build as light as you want. You can tow an empty trailer down the highway w/o it bouncing all over. You got an ultralight teardrop in the works?

FWIW, my setup weighs 467 pounds. That's the trailer+camper+camping gear.

Steve

[madjack]

....bouncing all over the road is a function of spring rates versus load as much as anything else, as long as those rates match the load there is no "too light"
madjack

[Ross Wade]

I do have another trailer in the works. I have had one in the works for quite some time. I already have the profile cut out , but I have changed my mind once again I've got to quit doing that.

I was looking at Jim Blewetts' Tiny Tears and ran across the Runlite trailer. http://www.tinytears.cc/Scans/Runlite.pdf This offers another building challenge. Besides the rag top there is the bow in the top. I love building challenges and that is what I specialize in(saw dust in the viens).I guess that is why I am self employed.

Ross

[Denny Unfried]

Just wondering. How light is too light. I know of several teardrop trailers around the 600lb. mark. What weight would be considered the lowest and still not bounce all over the road as you are driving 65mph down the highway?

Thanks, Ross

Mine weighs about 750# with 1200# spring suppension and probably rides smooth as my Dodge pick-up. Have gone through some really strong wind gusts and it goes straight arrow because of the shape. I think tire pressure has more to do with bouncing than the suppension and I never run more than 20# air in the 14" tires.

Denny

[Jiminsav]

Ross, you go bouy!!
and, just for poops and giggles, I was thinking of doing a tear with cloth and airplane dope too, but i was thinking of using EMT condiut and making the whole thing cloth covered..i'm a silly boy, ain't I.

[denverd0n]

....bouncing all over the road is a function of spring rates versus load

Exactly! If it were possible to build a teardrop that weighed 30 lbs, and you put springs rated at 40 lbs. on the trailer, it would not bounce excessively. Trailers that bounce too much have springs that are too stiff for the load they are carrying--that's all.

[Chip]

JIM ya might want to concentrate on the first TEARMITE first,, LMAO


later bud