Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I just today, ran into a minor problem that could have been a much bigger problem if I hadn't bit the bullet and fixed it. I was almost tempted to let it go, but I'm glad that I didn't.

When I ordered my Dexter Torflex axle, I also ordered the mounting brackets that are required to mount the Torflex to square tubing. When I started welding up my frame, I used a tape measure and framing square to plot the locations for the axle brackets. I got them dead perfect. (you know the old carpenter's adage: "measure twice, cut once?" Well I measured twice and zapped em in good with the welder. And they WERE correct.... Honest.

The problem came when I went to mount the axle. Dexter is a little sloppy with the flanges on the axles and they were supposed to meet up with the brackets that I welded on, but there was just a little bit of run out. It was just enough to cause me to have to push and tug and pull and beat on it with a hammer. Once I got it onto the frame, lo and behold, the axle was riding about 7/16s of an inch off centered to the right and the left wheel would have been about 3/8 of an inch ahead of the right wheel. This means that the trailer would never track correctly going down the road. Also, one tire would have been running real close to the fender lip while the other tire would have a heck of lot more room than it was supposed to. So I now have a decision to make. When I weld, I weld for keeps and getting those brackets off was NOT going to be easy but to let this go would be an irritation from now on, JUST KNOWING that it wasn't right. So, in the end, the brackets HAD to come back off. And who knows, maybe I honestly DID make a mistake but it's always better to double check.

It took me a little while of cutting and grinding between the die grinder and the angle grinder but eventually, they popped right off. Now it was a simple task of bolting the brackets to the axle and setting the axle down onto the frame. Once I measured twice and made sure the axle was perfectly true and centered, I tack welded the brackets back on. Finally, I removed the axle to get it out of the way for a complete weld. When I finished, I put the axle back on to check for fit. It was PERFECT! I love it.

The funny thing though, is that the brackets looked to be in the exact same places they were before. But I can tell you, they definately weren't.

Keep this in mind if you're using a Dexter Torflex on your project. Mount the brackets to the axle and then locate the axle.

Greetings from Colorado David!

I used the Dexter torsion axle as well when I built The Lost Teardrop. I used your final method to position the axle and it worked well. I got to that point by a little different method though.

I built my teardrop body on a wooden subframe FIRST and then I built the 2" X 2" steel chassis. I CLAMPED my Dexter axle to the steel frame for the rest of the building process. Once the teardrop was structurely [sp?] completed [doors/window/cabinets] I moved the axle back and forth to find the balance point that gave me about 110lbs tongue weight. I then pulled the steel frame out with the axle still in position, tacked the mounts in place. I removed the axle and welded the mounts in place to STAY.

I have to say that this is the BEST trailer that I have ever towed. So far, it has out handled anything that I have towed it with. In the mountains, it corners like it is on rails. The body is 5' wide inside so that puts the tires at appx. 7' at the center of the tread. Two 6 volt golf cart batteries on either side of a 12 gallon water tank, all mounted to the floor behind the axle give a nice low center of gravity. The weight makes for a very smooth ride

In my opinion, torsion axles are the way to go! The only thing that I would change is to have ordered the axle with brakes. I could have sworn that I ordered brake mouting flanges, but looking back at the order sheet, they weren't specified. Oh well. I may order a new axle with brakes and put this axle on another trailer that I am designing....

George T.

I mounted the axle to the mounting brackets first then measured about a dozen times before tacking them in place. So far so good. Will finish welding the frame today and its off to paint. Starting on the floor next week will post some pics soon.

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George, I really want to see more pictures of your teardrop, but your photo gallery isn't running. Do you have any stored somewhere else?
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Greetings from Colorado Brian!

Photos of The Lost Teardrop can be seen on my website by clicking on the WWW link on the bottom of this post. Or, you can clik here: http://pages.prodigy.net/rfs2growup/lost%20teardrop.html



George

George T. wrote:I have to say that this is the BEST trailer that I have ever towed. So far, it has out handled anything that I have towed it with. In the mountains, it corners like it is on rails.
George T.

Yes, I agree. The Torflex is a VERY good axle. When I get my frame completed, I'm going to caption one photo of it that says:

"All you Harbor Freight owners, Eat Your Hearts Out!"

George, that woody really looks super retro. Nice Job. I'm going to look at your photos now.