Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am still thinking about making a TD that is removable from a UT, so as to have my cake and be able to haul it too. I have been thinking of ways to easily put the TD onto the UT when needed and remove it when not, but have not come up with a fool proof, easily constructed, easily used, inexpensive solution yet. Anyone out there currently doing this? Any sound ideas?

Tjdale

I plan having my TD shell removable. It has a oak subframe that will accept castors as it is removed. Pipe rollers and a floorjack are probably the simplest tools to get one on and off.

Years ago I had a picup camper and a set of cable jscks that would lift the thing up so I could drive the pickup out from under the camper. Maybe something like that would work?

The last time I had to take my POD off the frame so the frame could be modified I used PVC pipe like beach rollers. Jacked up one end of the POD, slipped rollers in at the lifted end and the midpoint and just slid it off onto the front deck. the deck just happened to be almost exactly the same height as the trailer bed.

When the mods were completed we just slid it back on the same way. Did get some odd looks from passers by in the meantime--not everyday you see a trailer shell sitting on the front deck.

...seems to me a boat lift would be about ideal...you can build a simple one out of an appropiate sized piece of steel pipe, probably around 2 in and a big wheel to turn it with...rig up a stap to for under the tear and connect to pipe and voila, a tear lift
madjack

tjdale wrote:I am still thinking about making a TD that is removable from a UT, so as to have my cake and be able to haul it too. I have been thinking of ways to easily put the TD onto the UT when needed and remove it when not, but have not come up with a fool proof, easily constructed, easily used, inexpensive solution yet. Anyone out there currently doing this? Any sound ideas?

My halfbread Tear/TTT will start you living its life on the bed of my truck.

I have already a wheel cover unit that will go over the wheels. when I take it off I wanted to roll it away or to a camp site so I could drive my truck to the store or sites.

I just saw this on Doug's boat.
http://www.glen-l.com/picboards/picboard7/pic418d.html
it might work with larger wheels.

Ron D.

McTear-
I was thinking of using skids on the bottem instead of casters. If I could find an inexpensive high density plastic that is slippery I think that would work fine otherwise some greased hardwod skids could be used. My idea for loading and unloading was to build a small deck the same ht as the UT well anchored into the ground and fitted at the far end with a hand cranked winch. The UT would also have a winch up on the tongue some where. To load/unload I would back the trailer up to the deck and winch the TD which ever way it needed to go. Any thoughts on this idea? I haven't yet come up with a quick way to secure the TD to the UT or the deck.
TD

"If I could find an inexpensive high density plastic that is slippery"

tjdale,

Take a look at these:

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog. ... get=browse[/quote]

tjdale

I've seen those plastic sliders at Lowe's, but I have no experience with them. They're designed to mount under washing machines and such to allow them to be moved for cleaning. Probably work on a slick floor but concrete might eat them pretty quick.

Everything in my garage is on wheels or castors, so it can be moved easily to open up workspace. That is my plan for the TD cab. The floor jack idea is used pretty often on low race cars. You run the front wheels up on the trailer deck, then jack the ramps up to level, allowing the car to roll on. I had a winch on my trailer, but it was mainly to control the roll off.
You can use the tonguejack to get gravity on your side, in either direction.

My cab bolts down into rubber body mounts, so I have some play in the location. I may add some additional matching holes, in the frame and sub-frame, to allow prying the cab into position. I've been looking at the wheel stands I use for oil changes and may incorporate them into the scheme.

A low budget option would be the skids used on new refrigerators. Check local stores to see when they get their new floor models, and get 2 pair.

What about a ball mat type system? I was thinking of getting some ball conveyors from Granger supply $85+/- for pack of 25. Still thinking on it and just a suggestion for other veiw points.

I just found this thread. I had posted a similar question last week. I'm just building mine so I can't talk about how to jack it up and remove it. I am happy with how the camper will bolt to the trailer. To see pictures go to: http://community.webshots.com/user/teardropdave

Dave