Thoughts on first build

[Happyhonky]

Hello,

So I think I have decided to build a teardrop. After reading several post and builds I have come to a few conclusions. I really liked the way the the Wyoming woody was built. Not specifically the design of the teardrop but the build strategy. He did a great job!!

While I am still considering the interior design and side profile, I have come to the conclusion that my trailer design will be my first challenge. I know I would like to go 5' wide and my primary tow vehicle will be a VW Passat. The other thing I would like to incorporate would be a removable rack that I could carry a Hobie mirage tandem kayak on. They are 18' in length and weigh in at 200#. With that in mind, weight will be important.

This will definitely create top heavy issues and will change my tongue weight when the kayak is on top. I believe that I can work around that with proper design and loading. I would also like the rack to be removable and store inside of or under the trailer framing. I think this can be achieved by basically using tubing similar to a hitch design. I do not want a permanent rack as I think it would take away from the beauty of these trailers.

Has anyone considered or built something along these lines. Think I would be better off modifying a NT trailer or building from scratch?

[pchast]

Welcome

[grant whipp]

Greetings, Happyhonky!

Here's a pic of my former personal teardrop (and my fiancee' Kay ... ...!):


The basket and the racks are removable ... I've had a 17' Grumman Expedition aluminum canoe on those racks a number of times (less the basket, of course), and as long as I paid attention to overhang on both ends, it never affected the tongue-weight significantly. The pic below shows the clamp-on towers and the rain-gutter sections that are the only permanently mounted hardware relating to the roof racks:


I sell the racks (and baskets) (and lots of other teardrop building parts) on my website at http://www.teardrops.net/teardroptrailerparts.html ... have a look around, and if you have any questions at all, don't be afraid to send me an e-mail ... I'm happy to help any way I can!

Good Luck with your upcoming project, and as always ...

CHEERS!