Removable Benroy

[sseaman]

What thoughts are there on building a benroy shell, im not planning on a galley, that could be taken off the trailer frame? Im thinking of using 1/2 or 3/4 plywood as a floor for the trailer, then 1/2" ply for the floor of the teardrop, i wanted to hear ideas before going father with the thoughts of how to take on and off and how to secure to trailer



thanks

[bobhenry]

My first tiny tear is fully removable. 5 minutes and 4 bolts and its off.

I made the floor by cutting a 3/4 " rabbet in 2x3 's ( cut from 2x4's ) This rabbet was 1/2" deep the same as the 1/2" osb that I let in top and bottom.
This box was impossible to rack corner to corner and increadibly strong.
I put 2 intermediate joists from side to side and filled the voids with 1/2" blue foam board. I built it 1" narrower than my final dimensions so I could screw the 1/2" sides to the sides of the torsion box floor. This was a 3x5 tear and with floor sides and all spars installed I picked it up and tossed it into my pickup with realitive ease. It was remarkably sturdy thanks to the sides being glued and screwed to the torsion box base.

[sseaman]

i dont think mine would be llight enough to put in the bed of a truck, i have a few ideas rolling around my head to raise it up and roll the frame out from under it. the flip side is that my brother has a trailer and on[ly lives a few miles away, so its not like i have to do this, by why not think about it now

[toypusher]

You could put a couple of pvc pipes built into the tear - one towards the front and one at the top of the hatch. They would run crosswise of the tear and you would probably want to have a way to cap them when you are using the teardrop. Anyway, when you want to remove the tear, insert a pipe that is longer than the tear is wide and use ropes or chains to raise the tear up to the ceiling of your garage or barn, etc. You could just use 4 or 6 blots to bolt it down to the trailer when in use. I would suggest the bolts be permanent in the tear and then you would only have to remove the nuts from underneath when you want to remove it from the trailer.

I guess the side to side pipes could be located down at the floor also, provided that you leave room. I guess you could build some attachment locations right into the side of the tear also and be able to have doors or covers over them.

If you want some rough drawings, just let me know and I will try to do a couple up to explain this better.

Just an idea or two!

Edit: Here is a picture of the idea(s):


NOTE: Holes not to scale.

[McTeardrops]

I based my removeable cab on the Mechanic's Illistrated plans, using an oak subframe. The plan was to jack it up under the crossmembers, use pipe rollers to ease it off, and casters to get around the shop.

Frankly, I've never taken it off ..... deliberately! All the things I thought I'd use the trailer to carry: motors, transmissions, steel tubing, body sections, two apartment moves... were easily done in the pickup bed, or on a set of roof racks.

[sseaman]

thanks kerry, that somewhat like i was thinking, mc, that is why im not sure its worth the extra effort

[toypusher]

thanks kerry, that somewhat like i was thinking, mc, that is why im not sure its worth the extra effort

If you want to maintain the useability of your trailer as a utility trailer, then I would think the extra effort would be well worth it. There really would be little effort involved (or at least, I wouldn't think so) and you would then have the option if you needed it. I built on a HF utility trailer and have wished a few times that I had use of the trailer (mostly to haul wood for projects).

[westover]

Just my two cents worth! I have seen a teardrop that has a boat on top. Why not a teardrop shaped mini houseboat. I mean, if you don't care about a Galley, how about an outboard motor and fuel tank. Make the tear twleve feet long and give it a double or catamaran hull. With forty, horse or more, it should go pretty good. And when your not boating, you can still go camping. Something that small would kick butt on those huge house boats that seldom move!