Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I finally managed to buy a suitable trailer 6 hours ago





Now comes the hard bit.

Between the wheels, I've got enough room for a double bed. So I don't really need the extra room above the wheels. I thought that sidepods, saddlebags or whatchm'callit's, might be useful. As extra storage, whilst enabling me to see behind with my car's side mirrors.

I've managed to find these, which show something very much like what I intend doing. In wood, rather than these ugly examples.





they seem like such useful additions, that I'm finding it hard to avoid lustful thoughts of including them.

Does anybody know of any reason/s why I should avoid or include them?

tia
David

I would ask what you intend to carry in them?

Is the extra weight ok for your build?

I can see some nice uses for them though.

I haven’t seen that in a TD but I’m new to this… I think it might could be done, but the door would have to be up over it and I could see some scrapped knees getting in and out over them. Maybe beveled down word under the door. I think you could make it look nice with a wood finish and rounded corners, but the squared off diamond plate just ain’t doing it for me…

It looks really funky to me and I agree that it would hamper getting in and out. A tounge box looks much cooler to me if you're looking for additional storage.

Cheers,

Gus

Great trailer you found there David, as for the whatchamacallems, your objective of being able to see around the teardrop with the car mirrors is definitly something to consider.

There is a trailer in Utah, Sorry I don't have a link, that is set up pretty good for accessible storage, you might try and find it.

Those things will be a lot of extra work, and you could always add them on after the teardrop is done and campable.

Again, great find, you just saved yourself a lot of time

John

The only issue I see with it is height. Can you get it low enough to sit on to get in the TD. That makes it a porch. If you can't work out the weight handling and height you can also cut a part of it out for the doors or make the TD bigger.

Good find!

PS looked again and the side boxes look like add-ons. You might consider moving the axel back and removing the rear supports. That would leave you with front bags that can be made to look like fairings.

Seen a couple of TDs with running boards. Looks like it would be a pain to get in & out over them.

I plan to use them for 2 different purposes.

Those on the footpath side, will be externally opening. For lumps of wood, so that the leveling jacks can work on rough ground. Storing dirty clothes. And eventually an awning.

Those on the roadside, will be internally opening. For clean clothes, shoes, raincoat, etc.

Tcurr, what would you use them for?

The extra weight should be OK *fingerscrossed*. I'm planning on weighing the trailer next weekend. Using it to take a load of rubbish to the dump. If I recall rightly they give a receipt showing the inwards & outwards weights. So if I also do the same with my car. I'll know how much the trailer weighs. Which'll let me know how much weight I can add. Then all I have to do is weigh the bits I remove.

The trailer isn't lightweight. Which is another reason, why I don't want full width & full height. The extra wind resistance I can do without.

My car can tow up to 1000kg. Which I know from experience is ok around town, but not on a trip. So the trailer weight will have some bearing on what goes on top.

I don't like diamond plate look either. Although it does a good at protection. Given that some of the places I plan on taking it are "dirt" roads, I'll need something similar. Diamond plate won't look good on a woodie. Unless painted. Or I may use copper.

I'm not planning on having the pods go the whole length. I'll need cutouts for ease of access to the doors.

I'm 90% sure I'll have to move the axle back. I've also been thinking of replacing the springs with the local version of Dexter, called Duratorque. However cost might yet preclude that. Besides which, it took 1 1/2 hours last nite to bring it home. During which it rode well. With only mild jitters over bumps.

"with front bags that can be made to look like fairings.". Perhaps I could make a full size tongue box, reaching right out to the sides of the pods?

Not exactly what you're talking about but a South Central Tears member, Woodyperk6 from Texas has storage compartments over/behind the fenders of his TD. Here's a pic of the right side (left side is mirror image).

That sounds like a pretty good idea to me. I like the idea of cutting out an area for the door. I like lots of storage. You could make a heck of a shoe box..
Keep us updated.

I've had those on my last wide-side pickup. Diamond plate boxes that went over the wheelwells and had deeper storage on the rear side in the area between the wheelwell and the tail gate. Some models have storage front and rear of the wheel wells. I'm contemplating them, however only if I build the shuttlepod------

Nobody wrote:Not exactly what you're talking about but a South Central Tears member, Woodyperk6 from Texas has storage compartments over/behind the fenders of his TD.

His setup looks really nice too!

Mike, I'll do my best to keep you posted on progress. BUT, it'll be slow. I am aiming to finish in around 12 months or so.

My feet do like shoes.

I'm also contemplating pods behind & in the front of the wheels. Although those in front will either be small or part of the tongue box. Perhaps adding some aerodynamic benefit.

Woodyperk6's fender storage looks interesting.

What does a Shuttlepod look like?

David

Or why not intomb the wheel wells into the TD and have a raised floor with storage underneath. You have the frame support width. With a raised floor, you will be minimizing the wells effect in the sleeping area. Exterior access to the 'basement' could be added, even full width sliders if the intention was for clothes.

I have been considering a variation of what Nobody posted.

My interpretation has home built fenders with boxes built in, but curved on top, opening forward like the hatch. That way they flow with the shape. The truck tool box method works, but may not be the most perfectly appealing.

If you are going to make a curved rear hatch, why not two small curved lids for some fender-storage boxes? Perfect place to stash the rolled up curtains for your privacy enclosure, tiki lights, or beer!!!