Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

There are several ways to do it
1 get a bolt together HF or the like
1a have the bolted trailer welded at important joints.
2 have one built by a local welder
3 Build one your self it you have the skills and equipment.

Andrew offers a site for where the axel goes and Mike had a chart or drawing of how long the tung should be (which I can not find)

If you get a bolted one you may still have to move the axel.

So

1 which of the 3.5 is the better choise
2. wouldn't it be better to build the body first so you really new where what weight was.

Which really means have all that you plan to do down on paper or/and in the computer. Now the weights of everything you are installing so you can do your math.

Or build the body and design the trailer frame; buy knowing real weights. But, this rought will be harder to do .... right?

I am asking this for all who have never done this and need to know the steps.

There are a million ways to build a teardrop. The hardest part is picking one.

Logical planning starts from the ground up, or at least from a basic frame. Beyond that, I've simply tried to not design myself into any corners, but to leave room for adaptation along the way. I started with a HF trailer but will be adding a bigger and better axle and strengthening the tongue because my TD is going to be heavier than I'd expect and I don't wanna overload the 990lb axle and flimsy tongue. Since the TD will be 90% done when the new axle is installed, it will be easy to get the correct tongue weight.

I'd say plan as carefully as you can, leave room for changes to the original design, then go for it. I'm an overanalyzer by nature and I'm having to fight that tendency the whole way through construction, or it would never get done.

Don't forget another option: Pick up a basic used utility trailer and use its axle, tongue, and frame. I already had a utility trailer, so I'm just hacking it down. My axle is already rated at 1400 lbs. and the electrical, etc. is already run.

Has anyone tried a boat trailer they seem to be every where and one might find one cheep if not free??

Prewired for with brakelights maybe even exlectric brakes

Ron

Go to Steve W's site. Look in the hall of fame. He is building one on a boat trailer frame.

Norm

Hi Ron,

I'm starting with a boat trailer. I know how to weld so I'm doing some pretty extensive rebuilding on it. If you find the right trailer it would require much less work than I'm having to do.

You can see my progress at: http://www.asolidfoundation.com

Joanne

Ron Dickey wrote:Has anyone tried a boat trailer they seem to be every where and one might find one cheep if not free??

Prewired for with brakelights maybe even exlectric brakes

Ron

Joanne, Nice looking project!! Where can I get one of these frame braces??
Sure wpould be nice to have in the shop, for those tough chores!!

Oh sure, that frame brace can do the brute force bit, but can he also do the iggy runts bit?

My dad always taught me that there is no problem that cannot be overcome by a large enough application of brute force and iggy runts.
At least I think that's what he was saying.....

Andrew

Hey Ron,

Ron Dickey wrote:1 which of the 3.5 is the better choise
2. wouldn't it be better to build the body first so you really new where what weight was.

1. It depends entirely on the use to which you are going to put your trailer. However, bear in mind that many early teardrops had no metal frame at all - simply an axle bolted to a wooden frame. If I had it to do over again, that's what I would have done.

2. Not really. Weight distribution is important, but not so critical that some simple planning won't cover it.

Regards,

Joseph

angib wrote: snip...brute force and iggy runts.


Andrew

Brute force,, got it! What's iggy runts???:thinking:

Steve Frederick wrote:Brute force,, got it! What's iggy runts???:thinking:

I think that's what a lot of folks in the south call "ignertz."

Joseph

Hi Steve!

You can find one of those frame braces just about anywhere. They usually work best if you know how to cook.

For me it's more fun to have someone around when I'm working. Dave is pretty analytical so he's good to bounce ideas off. He's already starting to talk about the possibility of building him one!

Joanne

Steve Frederick wrote:Joanne, Nice looking project!! Where can I get one of these frame braces??
Sure wpould be nice to have in the shop, for those tough chores!!

angib wrote:Oh sure, that frame brace can do the brute force bit, but can he also do the iggy runts bit?

My dad always taught me that there is no problem that cannot be overcome by a large enough application of brute force and iggy runts.
At least I think that's what he was saying.....

Andrew

I'm not sure about the iggy runts bit. He's got all his teeth and has an IQ higher than his age. I'll get him to turn that hat around backwards and put a chain on his wallet and see if that helps. Course he lives in a trailer so there's hope for him yet....


Seriously though, Dave is a true friend.

Joanne

Joseph wrote:I think that's what a lot of folks in the south call "ignertz."

Joseph

I still don't get it! ignertz?? Oh! hmm! Ignorance??? OOPS!!

Steve Frederick wrote:I still don't get it! ignertz?? Oh! hmm! Ignorance???

Give that man a seegar!

Joseph