Looking for advice from more experienced members

[garys_pdx]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and am looking for some advice. I'm struggling with the build, repair or buy question. I've pretty much eliminated the buy option as most teardrops that I see are way more trailer than I want or feel that I can pull easily. But its not out of the question if I could find the right trailer.

First some limiting factors:

1) I want to pull it with a 2009 Toyota Corolla which means that I'd like to keep the trailer to under ~750lbs dry.
2) I want a minimalistic trailer. Sleeping compartment and galley with no built-in sink, stove,,,
3) I'm a reasonably competent builder and either have or have access to most of the tools that I would need to build a teardrop.
4) I don't have a garage to build it in but I do have a carport and I live in Portland, OR so its warm enough during much of the spring to work in the carport.
5) I'm looking at taking long trips, maybe even a touch every lower 48 State trip so it really needs to pull well and be suitable for more than weekend trips.

I already own a 4'x8' utility trailer in good shape that I can use for the frame and I have some of the parts and pieces like a Colman stove/oven combo, propane tanks...

Finally and possibly most important, I'd like to keep my investment to under $5,000 as the more that I spend on the trailer the less I'll have for gas, etc for the inaugural trip.

I think my options are really twofold. 1) I've seen a few used trailers for under $3,000 that could be bought and repaired but many of them are going to be heavier than I really want to pull and I really think that repairing an existing trailer could be harder than building one from scratch. 2) building one from scratch.

I'm leaning towards the build option as it gives me the flexibility to build with the lightest components that I can find and build a minimal trailer without the extra weight that fancy cabinetry brings with it.

If any of you have built one from scratch and have found a good set of plans I'd be really interested in a link to them especially if they have a full sized template for the sides as cutting the sides is the one part of the build that really scares me.

Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

gary

[markhusbands]

This forum is full of people that built trailers of diverse sizes at home, some on existing trailer frames, and some welding their own. My own is home built on a basic 4x8 Harbor Freight trailer (you'll find varying opinions about that) and I pull mine with a 4 cylinder Honda Element. I used my own very simple design on sketch-up, but there are well known plans for sale by Kuffel Creek for a 4x8 "cubby". And there are plans posted here under Design Resources.

[tony.latham]

Gary:

I'm not sure if I qualify to answer this question. I'm on build #3 which was a long time ago for some members here.

I'm one of those builders that believes the kitchen sink should be left in the kitchen (not a teardrop galley). Your goals are reasonable for a 4x8' 'drop. With your philosophy, and already owning the trailer, you'd be highly challenged to hit the $5G mark unless you want to do the gold-leaf sheathing option. Here's build #2:


It weighs 850 wet sitting on a light weight chassis. Without the chassis I spent $2640. That's with a Fantastic Fan and commercial doors.

I'm a big disciple of Steve Fredrick's Teardrop Shop Manual. http://www.campingclassics.com/shopman05.html I can't begin to explain how much the 250 page document helped me. I'm on my third build and still reference it. He's a proponent of building a camper from "inside out." I really like his hatch construction method. I think it's a superior method of sealing and avoiding springback.

You can also download some side profile's off the design profile section: http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear00.htm

I bought my full sized profile from Frank Bear for $30 off of eBay for my 5x10. http://www.ebay.com/itm/RV-TEARDROP-TRA ... 52&vxp=mtr

The above photo of the 4x8 I built was developed from the design profile section. There's ways of projecting to a 4x8' sheet of plywood.

Enjoy your build,

Tony

[garys_pdx]

Thank you Tony & Mark for the information. It gives me a lot to think about.

I've kinda come to the conclusion that I want to purchase several plans and go through them before deciding what I am going to do.

gary

[pchast]

Gary,

Consider the foam option. You work it just like wood for the most part. Its lighter and supplies
insulation at the same time. I used quite a bit of wood and I finished a 4x8 at 560lbs without
a galley. You should have no problem reaching your goal if you weigh everything you finally use.

[be_a_jayhawk]

Are you sleeping one or two?

[garys_pdx]

Hi be_a_jayhawk,

the TD will primarily be a one person sleeper. I realize that a four foot TD is narrow for two people from times sleeping in the bed of a pickup. But I want to keep weight to a minimum and a four foot unit should roughly be 20% lighter than a five foot unit and easier to tow with a Corolla.

[garys_pdx]

Hi pchast,

I've been looking for alternative construction methods/materials and haven't found much good information. Do you have any links that you could share on foam construction techniques?

thanks

gary

[Vedette]

Are you sleeping one or two?

It was not said in this post.
But if you are going to sleep Two ......go 5' wide for sure!
Even if you have to build a new chassis.
Keep your old utility trailer for hauling yard waste to the dump!
And yes forget the sink!!! and do you really need an oven in your TD?
Get a 12' DO if you want to cook with the rest of us, and carry is in the trunk of your TV.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Vedette]

I type too slow??

[garys_pdx]

Are you sleeping one or two?

It was not said in this post.
But if you are going to sleep Two ......go 5' wide for sure!

I know what your saying but I'm looking for the lightest TD that I can build. I Think I'd throw a small tent in the car and let my wife sleep in the TD on the few trips we would take together.

Thanks for the thoughts.

gary

[Vedette]

Your Wife might surprise you!
Teardrop camping is very addictive!
And the people you are going to meet if you ever attend a "Gathering" will amaze you!
Good Luck with your build.
Brian & Sandi

[be_a_jayhawk]

Your Wife might surprise you!
Teardrop camping is very addictive!
And the people you are going to meet if you ever attend a "Gathering" will amaze you!
Good Luck with your build.
Brian & Sandi

My wife was very clear she didn't do camping....but guess who's going with us on the maiden voyage!

[markhusbands]

Personally, I don't consider 48" to be unusually narrow for a camping bed or for a two person tent, and I don't find it a big deal to sleep two in my 4 footer for a couple nights. If I was doing long road trips or if I was just bigger that might be different.

[eggsalad]

I built "The Coffin" (see build thread in my sig) on an old jetski trailer I found on Craigslist. It's nothing fancy, as you can see in the build thread. It comes in at ~470 lbs, loaded for travel. My 1.5 liter Scion pulls it okay, and I bet a 1.8 liter Corolla would pull it just swell.

All in, I'm under $1300. I did use a used door and window. Your goals should be easy.

If you feel like driving to Vegas to buy a trailer... well, as they say, everything's for sale!