Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Almost all of my construction experience has been theater related. So, surprise surprise, when I started sketching teardrop ideas I found myself automatically dotting in 1” box steel framing.

Ya see, the materials I’m most comfortable building with are cheap cheap cheap scrap 1” box steel, masonite and MDF. Yet I haven’t seen any steel tubing used in framing on this site. I’m guessing there is a really good reason for this… I just dunno what it is. Do you? The steel tubing I’m used to using is 16 gauge box which weighs .06 lb per foot a little less then a 2x3.

I was going to send you to the Trailer Tutorial link at the top of the page, but it’s not working…

...once again...keep on looking...the majority of custom steel frames built on this board are from 2" square tube in various gauges...I have moved to 2x1x3/16 "c" channel becuse of the cost of square tube...in the trailer tutorial in the top index, Doug used 2x2x16ga tube for his frame...keep in mind that you do not need to build a frame as heavy as a utility trailer is built since the TD, if properly constructed, forms a "torsion box" and is rigid unto itself...all the steel frame is needed for, is to tie the axle to the tongue and give a place to bolt the body to...there have also been several who have built frameless......
madjack

Dan, I guess we will haveta lookintothat..........

Sorry guys, guess I didn't do my homework. I'll keep readin'

Doanworryboutit...steel in many forms and dimensions have been used successfully...and like I said, some used no steel at all and some use steel even for sidewall framing...the beauty of these little trailers is the fact that they can be built many different way and made to reflect the builders skill and imagination....
madjack

Well it is late but are you wanting to make the trailer frame out of steel tubing or the teardrop frame itself?

Miriam C. wrote::o Well it is late but are you wanting to make the trailer frame out of steel tubing or the teardrop frame itself?

Ya know, Miriam, I think you are right. I just read Lonebird's post and I too think she was talking about the teardrop body rather than the frame itself. I can think of several trailers that were framed in steel rather then wood. The 5 wide guys from just south of here built some really nice trailers with steel framing. Here's the link.
http://saber.net/~sking/teardrop.htm

LoneBird I'm using 1 x 1 square tubing for my tear drop look at my album I will be adding more photos later today

BigDe

Big D, Kevin A thank you sooo much, those photos were exactly what I was looking for! I can continue my fabrication with a lil more confidence now... I'll just eventualy have to find a shop that's willing to let me play with their toys...

Hi Lonebird,

We've built five trailers based on the Modernistic trailer using steel frame. Currently John is starting a sixth one that will be twelve feet long and five and a half feet long using a round tube for the corners. He made a test panel like the radius at the rear of the trailers and it looked great. We'll just have to see how it turns out. We'll be taking lots of pictures and posting them up as he goes.

I recently changed my internet service provider so I don't have access to the web page that you looked at. The email address listed on there is no longer active. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at the address on my profile. I'll have to transfer our old web page to my new host one of these days.

Here is a link to our photos.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/[email protected]/albums

Keith