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Is 67 inches too wide for a Teardrop?

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:03 am
by wantaTD
I have available a old travel trailer frame. Its 67 inches wide and 243 inches long with tandem axles. If I drop the 2nd axle. Make the front spring perch the rear one. The 40% ratio is real close. Any thoughts?

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:02 am
by GPW
If you're Large like us , you might want it a little bigger/wider... :thumbsup:

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:12 am
by madjack
...too wide???...NAW..but keep in mind that any width over 80"(including) will require additional lighting...this width includes lights, bolt heads or any other protrusions...not a biggie but needs to be in mind while building...243" long...that is about 6' too long...unless you are building a monster..........
madjack 8)

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:55 am
by bobhenry
Mine is 5' 7" out to out but wheels are under. It is a nice size at 5'4" inside.
I am 300 plus and wife is "well endowed too (did I mention she was a good cook) so go for it. You might concider leaving the dual axle set up there are several on this forum. The ride is much better and you can limp home on a flat if needed. You might incorporate a little of the extra frame length for a tongue box but mount it on the frame in front of the tear body then bob the tail of the frame. Draw it out to scale you may suprise yourself how good it can look.

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:57 pm
by GregB
Mine is 66" wide but only 156" long with 60" tall walls. The wall height seems to affect the look more than the width.

GB

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:09 pm
by Jst83
Mine is 6'6" x11'6" 78"x138"
I think 67" x 243" would look pretty narrow

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:08 pm
by mikeschn
Not at all. My Winter Warrior/Escape Hatch was 66" wide, and it was perfect.

When I finally build my optimized Winter Warrior, it'll be 68" wide (the width of our Forester).

Image

Mike...

Thanks for the feedback

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:41 pm
by wantaTD
My plan so far is to leave the 80 inch wheel base. With 67 inch wide sidewalls. Shorten the frame to 164 inches. Ball to bumper. I want a bumper. Design my cabin on a 10ft platform. Queen size bed. I was going to eliminate the second axle. :twisted: Anyone have a picture of a teardrop with dual axle. Time to put this on paper.

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:55 pm
by mikeschn
How about this one?

Image

or this one

Image

or this one

Image

Mike...

Re: Thanks for the feedback

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:13 pm
by brian_bp
wantaTD wrote:My plan so far is to leave the 80 inch wheel base. With 67 inch wide sidewalls...

By this, do you mean an 80" track width, or perhaps 80" between hub faces (the same thing as track width if the wheels have zero offset), or maybe 80" overall width across the tires?

Wheelbase is from front axle to rear (doesn't apply to conventional trailers), and track width is between the tire centres... lots of people seem to confuse the two.

At 80" of track the trailer would be clearly over 80" wide, triggering the lighting requirements which madjack mentioned.

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:58 am
by jdarkoregon
WantaTD

What are you pulling it with? You'll want to be able to see whats behind you when you are pulliing it down the road.

Good question, but if you are going to build it, Design it and build it for yourself, Wide or narrow, you'll love it.

John

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:25 am
by bobhenry
jdarkoregon wrote:WantaTD

What are you pulling it with? You'll want to be able to see whats behind you when you are pulliing it down the road.

Good question, but if you are going to build it, Design it and build it for yourself, Wide or narrow, you'll love it.

John


John's is the first one that came to my mind ain't it sharp lookin'

If you have never pulled a dual axle trailer by all means borrow one the try it out. The bouncing and ball rattling jumping up and down are all but gone they pull real well.

Maybe I otta start on my 8' x 26' foot flatbed it has duals :thinking:

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:48 am
by GPW
Our first TD ...6'X12" was on a standard boat trailer , then we got a dually TT... Tows really nice , Trailer seems more stable just sitting too... looking for a four wheeled boat trailer for our next standy/hammy project...6'X10' Wide is Good... and comfortable ...

Bobhenry... 300+??? ... and I thought I was Old ... :roll: :lol:

"Ooops" My Track is 80 inches

PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:55 pm
by wantaTD
My track is 80 inches (measured from outside of the tires) The track on my tow vehicle is 70 inches. (2006 Hyundai Santa Fe) At 67 inches I can still see down the sides without elaborate mirror system. I have no problem lighting it up like a Christmas tree for DMV. The Tamden axles are still on the design table. It would sure help the tongue weight.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:19 pm
by Roly Nelson
Wow, 80 inches wide. All I can say is that you will be twice a happy as I am with my 40 wide 1/4 Nelson Stacker teardrop.
:) Roly