Torsion axles

[Mark Mckeeman]

Hi Folks,

For all those Teardrop builders in Canada, specifically in Ontario I have found a torsion axle manufacturer called Morco, http://www.morcoproducts.com/main.html
Located in Kingston, Ontario with several dealers two of which were in Ottawa. I called the manufacturer and the two dealers and this is the quoted pricing for a 2000 lb axle:

Morco(manufacturer)$318.47
Stittsville Trailer and Auto $315
Malmberg Truck and Trailer $250

Malmberg quoted two days to deliver. Here is the best part; if you go to the site you will see that these axles are constructed with a splined shaft for the trailing arm. With the splined shaft the ride height and inner fender to tire clearance can be adjusted.

I also contacted an Ottawa company called TDL Spring and Suspension specialists that quoted $279.00 for a 2200lb Dexter torflex axle, one-week delivery from a distributor in Montreal.

I think the Morco offers the most flexibility at the best price and unless I find something considerably cheaper I think that’s the one I’ll go with.

Hope this helps, Mark

[1FATGMC]

If you get one of those I'd be interested in seeing how it works for you. I've shyed away from the torsion axle as I'm never sure how the ride height is going to work out not knowing the final weight until done. With the splined shafts you could still set final ride height as you mentioned. That would be a big plus.

I have a pretty good feel for the leaf springs and what they will do. I see a lot of comment on the leafs and the need for shocks. In my case they haven't and wouldn'd do much for me. My trailer is heavy and compresses the springs and on bumps. They flex without throwing the trailer into the air.

I feel some people are running too much spring on their light teardrops and the spring is way too stiff and doesn't flex on bumps. It is almost like they are running a solid axle with no suspension. If this is the case I can't see the shocks helping as they aren't going to do anything unless there is movement on the suspension. A shock dampens rebound and/or compression. If you hit a bump and the teardrop is thrown into the air the springs are too stiff and the shock won't do a thing to help. The shocks dampen/stop a spring from making more than one movement in response to a hole or bump. The spring still has to give for the suspension to work.

c ya, Sum

[Mark Mckeeman]

Hi Mike,

I currently am rebuilding a Boler that needs a new axle so I will be buying one for that application.

I love the idea of these teardrops though and have fooled around on this board brainstorming with some of the other builders. I've even sketched a couple of designs. For now my family is two large for teardrop trips but when the kids get a little older maybe I could enjoy a few fishing trips with one kid at a time. My father in law is a retired old car guy so I'm trying to talk him into a joint build, we can split costs and both use the trailer. I think it would be a great winter project.

I'm also the guy researching a production Fiberglass teardrop. Lots of things to consider hear as up front cost is staggering and the market may not support the price required to produce a quality unit. This may be why there are no current fiberglass Teardrop manufacturers.

Regards, Mark

[mikeschn]

Hey Mark,

Regarding the fiberglass project, I remember the discussions about it... you gotta do it right, or don't do it at all.

And as for the price, I seemed to get a feeling that the best price you can get for an average new teardrop is about $3900.

There are of course, exceptions. Camp-Inn being one of them. But if you are going to try and sell a fiberglass teardrop for more than $3900, you may meet with some resistance!

Do you have drawings, renderings or anything you can share with us?

Mike...

[Mark Mckeeman]

Hi,

At this point I have a few paper sketches I could fax you for posting if you like. (need your number) I’ve been researching suppliers of major components such as axles, wheels, doors, windows, vents etc. I have been in contact with a local fiberglass fabrication company and the next step is to take my sketches to them and work out the production details. Then there is plug and mold building which is where the major upfront expense is.

This company currently builds motorcycle trailers for Kruzer http://www.kruzertrailers.com/index.html that retail near $3900, for the Deluxe model. I suspect that a Fiberglass tear equipped the way most would want would be considerably more. Used TD2’s are advertised at $5400.

I’ll have to determine what the costs are and project a price. Then see if there is a viable market. Until then I can always build a more conventional tear for my own use. You guys seam to be having too much fun.

Mark

[D. Tillery]

Hey Mark, Check out these guys for fiberglass trailers. http://www.casitatraveltrailers.com They are not teardrops but all fiberglass and small. I have watched them grow over the years, while driving between Dallas and Houston, from one lonely model and a small yard.
My mom had a 1993 16' Casita. They bought it used in 2001 for $5500 and just sold it for $4500. She called them "the Airstream of Fiberglass trailers" as far as holding their value. I do not know about all that but the few times I saw it it seemed very well constructed. She has toured the factory in Rice, TX and said they are very open and informative. If Casita jumped on the teardrop craze they would be a formidable competitor. D. Tillery

[mikeschn]

At this point I have a few paper sketches I could fax you for posting if you like. (need your number)

I'll get that to you Monday. The fax machine is at work, and I'm done for the week!!!

You guys seam to be having too much fun.

Too much fun? Well I don't know about that... but we are definitely having a lot of fun!!!

Mike...

[Steve Frederick]

Too much fun??? Is there such a thing??? :cheers:

[mikeschn]

I was thinking about that... If you're having too much fun, then it's not fun any more. So if you're not having fun any more, then you gotta pile on the fun again.

Sounds like a self perpectuating cycle to me. It also sounds like the Romans before the great fall. Well, if we're gonna fall, at least we have a place to sleep, right?

Mike...

[1FATGMC]

I’ll have to determine what the costs are and project a price. Then see if there is a viable market. Until then I can always build a more conventional tear for my own use. You guys seam to be having too much fun.

Hey I see your from Ottawa. My grandfather's father was from there. I have a small cannon right here in the store that was used there to start yacht races around the turn of the century and came from my great-grandfather. It shoots 10 gauge blank black powder shells and it is LOUD!!!

Good luck with your teardrop endeavor. Not to discourage you, but if you sell trailers in the states you have to get bonded and also setup with the feds and the state governments in order to sell them and I believe you have to have insurance that covers your liability on them for at least one year. Plus making sure they meet all fed. regulations with lights and so forth. A local welding shop has gone through all of this to sell small trailers for hauling 4 wheelers on. He said it was a real mess. In some states like where I am you are allowed to sell a small number of trailers a year without going through all of this. Just don't forget to protect yourself in this sue crazy world. If something operates on the public highways it can be a mess.

Keep us uptodate on your progress. I will probably need to learn how to do some fiberglassing for my b'ville car.

c ya, Sum

[Mark Mckeeman]

Hi again,

I'm aware of Casita and Scamp as well as Trillium in Canada which is now back in production. These small FG trailers are what got me thinking, why not a FG teardrop. So I went looking and found that several attempts have been made over the years but I cannot find a current manufacturer. hmmmmm .........opportunity or omen. Lots of folks think it's a great idea, lots of folks immediately point out flaws in the idea. The fact is fiberglass trailers of one type or another have been produced for years with varying success. I'm afraid that an FG TD will be more expensive than a stick built and would need to be of impeccable quality to find a market. Unfortunately that market is probably above the average mans budget.

I haven't even begun to tackle the details of licensing and liability etc. but it really could be difficult. I know that my major market will be the US. The Kruzer motorcycle people sell 90% of there product south of the boarder. They also know the licensing ropes and I'm sure they could provide guidance.

Certainly any current FG trailer manufacturer is better positioned to tackle the teardrop market than I am.
Why don?t they? Maybe they don?t want to compete with their core product line. Maybe they don?t think the market could support it. Maybe we?ll see one next week. Who knows. Anyway dreams are cheap, so I?ll keep dreaming and scheming.


Speaking of cheap, I really should be designing for Mike?s budget teardrop contest. How about a 3/4? solid ply bottom and sides, stick frame roof and hatch wrapped inside and out with 1/8? lauan. Roof insulated with cut up fiberglass batts. You could glue indoor/outdoor carpet the color of your choice all over the interior and paint the outside with a gallon of white RV rubber roof sealant/paint. Put it on a HF trailer, throw a couple of air mattresses inside and head for the hills. Not pretty but still not a tent!

Bye for now, Mark
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[Joanne]

Keep us uptodate on your progress. I will probably need to learn how to do some fiberglassing for my b'ville car.

c ya, Sum

Bonneville car? I was heading to SoCal a couple of weekends ago and there were a number of salt flat cars headed north. Silly, but I thought about you and wondered if you were up there with your tear. So are you going to build a car? Do you know what class yet? Do they have a class for old trucks pulling tears? ;-)

I'm going to head up there one of these years. The times I've been up in that area I've always seen pictures at the various stores and motels, and thought it would be neat to see it live. I have a friend in Wendover that I can stay with so it would be pretty cheap for me. I hear it's an "event".

Joanne

[1FATGMC]

Bonneville car? I was heading to SoCal a couple of weekends ago and there were a number of salt flat cars headed north. Silly, but I thought about you and wondered if you were up there with your tear. So are you going to build a car? Do you know what class yet? Do they have a class for old trucks pulling tears? ;-)

Yep I was there!!! We had a great time and the guy I was with ran over 200 mph. See the link below.

I'll be building a Lakester, which is a streamline body (anything you want to make or buy), with the wheels/tires exposed to the air. I'll start with an unblown small block chevy for a motor and hope to end with a V-8 small block chevy running on only one bank of 4 cylinders with a turbo in the end (different engine class size).



No class for "old trucks pulling tears", but U-haul did have a guy pull one of their small trailers up over 150 mph I believe. I'd like to run my truck there sometime for time only as it doesn't fit any class they have and I have had the teardrop up over 100 mph once.

c ya, Sum

Hooley's 207 mph B'ville
Experience