Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well, I took the TD in for a weight check and darned if it hadn't gained weight! The weight was 1380#. So I have this 01 Honda Accord that had a new (free) transmission installed this week due a class action lawsuit on that year and model. Now back to the trailer...the Honda is rated to pull only 1000# so the trailer is 380# over not including supplies. It pulled ok to the scales but I don't want to mess up the tranny or tow in an unsafe manner. Any suggestions besides trading for a small pickup?

seal it tight, and fill it with helium.?

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=17983

Try to shed some weight. You have a lot of excess weight. Got pictures?

To meet the 1000 lb limit with room for cargo, we're talking about cutting the trailer weight in half. Now that's a pretty serious diet!

If the trailer can't get light enough, the tug needs to get more capable... but all the way to a pickup truck seems like over-reaction to me. There are lots of vehicles with trailer weight limits of 1500 to 3500 lb, which are more car-like than a pickup. They are typically called station wagons, SUVs, crossovers, or minivans. Since the Accord is a Honda... other Honda examples include the Element, CR-V, Pilot, Odyssey, and various Acura versions of the same vehicles.

I told my niece she could borrow my TD when its finished (shes big into camping). She needed a new car anyway so shes looking at the Hyundai Tuscon. Cheaper than the santa fe and has a 2000 lb towing capacity.

brian_bp wrote:To meet the 1000 lb limit with room for cargo, we're talking about cutting the trailer weight in half. Now that's a pretty serious diet!

What Brian sais is true, you will have to do some serious weight reduction. If you just get the trailer down to 1000lbs, you still aren't accounting for cargo weight. It adds up really fast.

In general, Hondas are great cars, but their transmissions are sometimes problematic.

Both the manual and the automatic tranny from 81-91 were weaksauce! Their little engines would run forever, but most of these transmissions fail between 100-150kmiles - less if you tow.

Though I haven't wrenched professionally in a few years, I was a certified Honda mechanic. Most axles break when overstressed. But I've seen 91 Accords with bent (soft steel) axles.

I would not tow with a 91 Accord, regardless which engine/transmission you have (and this is from a guy pulling a 1800lb trailer with a car with only a 1000lb tow rating - but this model underrated, the Honda is not).

I wish there were another alternative, but I would trade it in on a tow vehicle with stronger transmission/axles.

John6012 wrote:Well, I took the TD in for a weight check and darned if it hadn't gained weight! The weight was 1380#. So I have this 01 Honda Accord that had a new (free) transmission installed this week due a class action lawsuit on that year and model. Now back to the trailer...the Honda is rated to pull only 1000# so the trailer is 380# over not including supplies. It pulled ok to the scales but I don't want to mess up the tranny or tow in an unsafe manner. Any suggestions besides trading for a small pickup?

Add a transmission cooler . . . . or get some other small car with a 5 speed

Don

I think part of the weight problem has to do with the frame, it's rated for 3,500# -used to be a tilt trailer until I got hold of it. Plus, oak cabinets and everywhere else adds weight. I parked it in the shed out back and it'll stay there until I decide what to do. I have an 07 Prius but it won't tow it either. It does well to tow itself.

John, could you trade your Honda for a similar Subaru Outback or Forester?

Sell it and build a ultra light

Sorry, but if you keep the honda, you really won't be able to slim your trailer down enough

John

I would just plan on building another trailer. A lightweight of course.

The chassis, minus the wheels would weigh 160 pounds.

Your mission is to use so little wood and aluminum, that in comes in at about 300 pounds. I'll be back in a bit with some real numbers.



Mike...

Okay I started a lightweight thread... check out the possibilities here
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... 915#253915

Mike...

What is the European Tow rating of this vehicle? If the car is paid for and your going to drive it till it dies then your good for using it as a TV for several years to come.