Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Just to chime in on the shocks once again. If the shocks didnt work the way they are installed (as on mine) why would the Scandinavians use this method on private as well as commercially on thousands upon thousands of utility and truck trailers for over 20 some odd years or longer already..

You should see the different ways of doing cars, trucks, motorcycles here as well.. you,d be amazed. And they work just as well as in any other Country..





Classic Finn

wow, that's beautiful!

OK, not as beautiful as Mr. Finn, here are the mounts I fabbed up today. Comments please? Anything clearly wrong? The shocks are partially compressed (about 40%). 5/8" bolt on top, massive angle iron down below.

Nikwax, do you have any reinforcement on the outside of the frame where the bolt head goes through? That would be my only concern, other than that........... looks good to me, dude!!

Jeff

Thats about all I was thinking of also ... as our friend WarPony..

Other than that it looks Great.. Nice Job.

Nikwax youve got beautiful photos on your website..

Classic Finn

thanks, good feedback...how would I reinforce the outside of the frame? I see what you're getting at, if the frame were thin it could bend or break there.


Sadly, i don't weld



Glad you like the photos!

You can use a large plate behind the bolt head. Kinda like a really big washer. Welding would be best but, you can also bolt the plate to the frame.

nikwax wrote:...how would I reinforce the outside of the frame?

I think a 3X3 inch square plate 3/16" thick would do it. Put the plate on the outside of the frame...... run the long bolt through the plate AND frame.

As a side note, look at taking a welding class at your local VO-TECH school. Welding is one of those things you probably won't use ALL your lifetime but will use the rest of your life.

Jeff

P.S. What's your first name?

DAMN, Rocky beat me to it!

Jeff

WarPony wrote:Nikwax, do you have any reinforcement on the outside of the frame where the bolt head goes through? That would be my only concern, other than that........... looks good to me, dude!!

Jeff

Jeff I was thinking Id weld the extra little plate on the inside so not to show the plate on the exterior there..I guess thats just me being Finnicky

But either side will work..

Classic Finn

nikwax wrote:thanks, good feedback...how would I reinforce the outside of the frame? I see what you're getting at, if the frame were thin it could bend or break there.


Sadly, i don't weld



Glad you like the photos!

Maybe you have a friend or neighbor that would or could weld it for you? Or even a fellow teardropper near you.

Just a thought..

Classic Finn

WarPony wrote:DAMN, Rocky beat me to it!

Jeff

Slow-poke!

Ive heard Texans are fast at the Draw.

Classic Finn

That looks like an easy mod. I may have to consider that for the 5x10 red trailer I am building upon...

Mike...

thinking about this, i see that I had designed a 6 inch lever with a suspension component on the end of it, a great way to cause havoc. Thanks again for tipping me off to this. Clearly this lever needs to be shorter.



I visited the local industrial hardware store and picked up some C channel (1/4 x 3 x 1 3/8 inch). This allows me to project a face towards the shock and shorten the lever. It also appears that it will spread the load of the shock over a much broader area.

Here is rev 2:









5/8" grade 5 bolt in the top, through bolted to the frame.



I also upgraded the u bolt on the bottom mount to a 1 3/4 x 3/8 automotive u bolt (part number 733-5343 at NAPA).



Comments?