Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am going to by a 4x8 trailer from Tractor Supply. They have a striped down one for $269. Has any one built a 5x8 tear on one of their trailers and how hard was it? It looks like I will either have to build above the fenders ( raising the floor with 2x6's ) or move the axle (and fenders) to the bottom of the springs it is on the top of the springs now.

Kirkman,

A number of folks have build a 5x8 on a 4x8 frame. Just use your imagination... or do a search...

Another option is to draw a cross section of your plan in paint, and share it with us. We'll give you our 2 cents worth...

Mike...

OK I will try this. the black lines are the trailer and the red or maroon lines would be 2x6's to raise the floor up to above the trailer tiers and fenders. What do you think?

That's exactly what I did on the Escape Hatch. Let me try and find a photo.





Mike...

kirkman wrote:I am going to by a 4x8 trailer from Tractor Supply. They have a striped down one for $269. Has any one built a 5x8 tear on one of their trailers and how hard was it? It looks like I will either have to build above the fenders ( raising the floor with 2x6's ) or move the axle (and fenders) to the bottom of the springs it is on the top of the springs now.

Unless you are building a tank hauler deluxe, you really don't need 2x6 anything. I used them to cut my 1x2 's from.

On the trailer---get the 12 inch wheels if you can. Harbor freight will put them on sale. With the 8 inch tires you end up with some pretty light weight limitations.

Mike... thanks for the pic's! I will have to go higher than you did with the floor so it goes totally over the wheels so i can get a Queen size bed in. The trailer I am getting the wheels stick up really high at least 6" above the trailer bed that is the reason for the two by sixes Miriam C. I am not using the harbor fright trailer. Here is a side pic of what I am thinking.

I forgot to mention the black parts are again the trailer the red is the 2x6's.

Hey, Kirkman!

Why go to all that trouble (and weight)? Why not just build the thing down on the frame, with fenderwells, and put some interior framing 'round the walls in the cabin to support that queen-size bed, then make that space underneath accessible?

If you're worried about loosing some headroom, make your walls 4.5' or 5' high using 5x9 ping-pong table plywood.

Whatever you choose, Good Luck on your build, and in the meantime ...

CHEERS!

Grant

I guess I could build it up with 1/2" ply and 2x2's to help with weight. What I would really like to do is drop the axle below the springs if possible. That would bring the floor up so I would only have to raise it up 4 inches or so. Have any of you bult on one of the cheep Tractor Suply trailers and moved the axle?

Here is what I am talking about.

What Grant said!!!

That was my original plan for the Escape hatch, but we ended up cutting out the mattress for the wheel wells instead... Above the wheel wells I have 2" of foam instead of 6".

That looks great mike, Grant's and your way would be the best ! But my biggest problem is still the darn wheels. They are a full 6" above the deck. Then I have to figure for weal travel. That should take me to about 9". So I have either got to lower the wheels or raise the floor.

Kirkman,

For what it's worth, I'm building a 5x8 on a 4x8 Harbor Freight trailer. I used 2x2s with 1/2 inch ply as the floor. I wanted to keep the weight down but still have a structurally sound trailer. I used a few more crossmembers than in Mike's floor just because they were 2x2s. I've been pretty impressed so far because I've experienced no sag or shifting. The wheel wells extend about 2 inches into the cabin since I mounted the axle under the springs instead of on top.


The lesson I learned was to not overbuild (my natural tendency)! Best advice someone gave me here is to put together a test sample of what you are thinking and try it out. I was surprised at what worked. If the wheelwell issue is the concern, Grant has a great idea with the floor storage thing. My walls are 4' high and I have plenty of cabin space. Of course it depends on what you're wanting to do in there too!

Build it the way YOU want and have fun doing it!

Thanks guys for all the help and Pic's !!!!! I am going to get my trailer next week and incorperate all your tips to get it started. I am going at this with no plans just from what I picked up here.Wish me luck!!

I would not have goten up the courage with out you all thanks again! what a great bunch of Pepole!

kirkman wrote: I am going at this with no plans just from what I picked up here.Wish me luck!!

I would not have goten up the courage with out you all thanks again! what a great bunch of Pepole!

Why don't you have any plans? Look up top where it says 'Generic Benroy'.
Download those and you will have a really good idea how to put one of these together. They are as good or better than any plans you could buy!

Nitetimes......I don't think I need them. I have a good idea how I what it to come out and I am fairly handy. I think I can pull it off.