Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi,
new here.
How wide can one go on a 1175lb HB frame and still keep it inside
the wheels?
Another way to put it......how much clearance is there between the frame and the wheel?
I have seen some TD's with the plywood over the side of the frame which looks good but is there room for more than a 3/4" piece of ply?

Thanks!

Hey there Surveytech,

Welcome to the forum... I don't have a HF trailer any more, but I dimly remember there wasn't much room between the trailer and the wheel. And when you take into account a small amount of movement plus the tire flop, you really can't go out beyond the frame very much.

Perhaps someone could throw a tape measure on their HF trailer and tell us how much room there is between the tire and the frame...

Mike...

Some of the frames you see that have the sides over the frame have been narrowed. When I build my "Bear Bones" trailer I narrow the frame 1 3/4" to accommodate the 3/4" plywood sides.

Happy Trails

Len

I think the fenders mount to the the frame, so there would be little space there.

On my 1800 pound there is maybe one inch between the tire and the fender bracket...

mikeschn wrote:Perhaps someone could throw a tape measure on their HF trailer and tell us how much room there is between the tire and the frame...

Mike...

I just went out in the garage and measured the space between the tire and frame on the Harbor Freight #1175 frame, it is approx 1-3/8". Can't get starting building my teardrop yet, got to use it as a utility trailer to move my daughter home from college first, but can't wait to get started.

davidbyrum wrote:I just went out in the garage and measured the space between the tire and frame on the Harbor Freight #1175 frame, it is approx 1-3/8". Can't get starting building my teardrop yet, got to use it as a utility trailer to move my daughter home from college first, but can't wait to get started.

Thanks David...

So if one were to use 3/4" plywood to hide the frame, that would leave about 5/8" for wheel flop, etc... Sounds a little bit too tight for me. I would make the frame narrower, like Len does!

Mike...

I would make the frame narrower, like Len does!

Is it just me, or DUH, make the axle wider?

If you bought a HF or a red trailer, it would be harder to make the axle wider than to make the frame narrower!!!

Mike...

Mike,

I've seen lots of axles widened. You just cut it in the middle and weld in a piece. Takes about 30 minutes.

If you're a welder, that's a good option... I am not... I can use a chop saw on the cross channels, and I know how to drill a hole. But I do not know how to weld an axle back up...

Mike...

Mike,

I userstand, but even if you had to take it to a welder and get it done, it beats having to cut several cross pieces, drill twice that many holes, and then on top of it, loose that much room in the trailer. Just my "opinion".

Good point... I'll bet the muffler shop could do it... I'll ask, not because I am going to build another teardrop, but just so I know...

Can you imagine what Michelle would say if I said, "Hey Honey, if you let me build a teardrop I'll let you buy another Mini-Mac!" Who was it eariler today that said, "Dead man walking"?

Mike...

Thanks for the help.
What I wonder is if it is possible to put the side on the outside of the frame to preserve the 4' width of the bed.
I would really like to be able to haul a sheet of plywood flat on the floor if possible after its been built.

Surveytech,

I don't think it's practical... you'd only have 5/8" between the plywood and the wheel.

Secondly, you can no longer cover your tear with a 4' wide piece of wood. You now need a piece of wood 49 1/2" wide.

Mike...

Surveytech,

I don't think it's practical... you'd only have 5/8" between the plywood and the wheel.

Secondly, you can no longer cover your tear with a 4' wide piece of wood. You now need a piece of wood 49 1/2" wide.

Mike...