Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Where can I find a frame to build a 5x10 teardrop on? I've done a lot of searching, both on this site and elsewhere, and I just can't find a good option.

Harbor Freight and redtrailer have plenty of 4x8, and I even saw a 5x8 one on Harbor Freight's website. Can you take that and just extend the teardrop frame a foot on each side, front and back?

I know that 5x10 is a common teardrop size, and probably what we'd be looking to build so we could fit a queen sized mattress in there (my husband and I are NOT small people!)

Also, I see plenty of trailers for sale with mesh bottoms and side railings. Is it possible to get one of these and either a) assemble it without the mesh and the sides, or b) buy one already built and remove them? I know it would vary on a trailer by trailer basis, but is there one out there that's like this and could be used in a 5x10 build?

Thanks everyone!

If there is a cargo trailer manufacturer in your area; they will build whatever you want

Where are you located?If we knew your location mabey one of us could hook you up with someone.
IE: if you were in Kansas I could suggest several options
David

Sorry!

We're in south-central WI. Closest big city would be Madison. (I updated my profile as well!)

Check with a metal fabricator in the area, most smaller shops are open to building about anything. I used the Gruman 2 plan for mine and widdened it a few in. so the fenders were outside the box.I also beefed the tounge very simple design and quick to build,I did mine in one day.Pics are in my album.
Good Luck on you build,
David

My 6' er is on a 4' frame my 10'er is on an 8' frame.

I shoved the 10' barn trailer to the rear since it was rear entry and cantilevered the front 2' on the wood sub frame. Here is a few pic's

The frame



partially framed note the only side rails left are the 2 rear and the ones supporting the fenders



here is a shot of bolting the plate I cut the front remaining rail stub down 3/4" to support the 3/4 floor

partially sided

here we are campin' note the tension truss under the tongue

Odie
i found my 5x10 under my old popup if you have a camper dealer near you see if he has a wornout popup that you could buy real cheep and even use some parts off of.
Hope this will help you can see mine in my album
Dan
and welcome to the forum

Here's a shot of my 5widex9Long x 5high built on a 4x8 HF frame. You just have to build out over the wheels. I think if you do a search of the forum you will find a number of 5x10's built on the HF platform. There's even a thread where someone describes the process of stretching the HF frame out to 10 feet using just the parts that come in the box. I'll post the thread if I can find it again. If I had it all to do again (and probably will eventually build #2) I would have a frame custom welded to my needs. Now that I've finished with the build, I'm not crazy about the bolt together frame, plus, bearings and seals are not that easy to find. I would prefer something that is more robust from the git-go.

Mike

Here are some helpful threads on stretching the HF Frame, although I'm not actually recommending the procedure. Perhaps someone who has actually done this could give their experience.

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=17940&highlight=hf+rail

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=28508&highlight=hf+extend

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=7185&highlight=harbor+harbour+freight+stretch

Good Luck,
Mike

I built a 5X8 on a HF frame by widening the frame. I could have easily built an extra foot in the front and some in the front, but was afraid I would have a tough time finding 10" plywood and did not want to splice the sides. We do have the wheels on the outside of the trailer with fenders.

We have a queen size mattress in our trailer. The inside measurement is 6- X 78. I find our galley size is still adequate for our use.

You can find how I did the widening under Northwoods build or e-mail me if you have questions.



Finished trailer Benroy Plans (Almost finished. I don't think they are ever finished)

This forum is amazing Thank you everyone!

Looks like there's a lot of different options. I kind of like the idea of finding a shop that would make one for me... the other option I like is using a 5X8 frame, but the redtrailer one is like $600. I'd like to think (wishful thinking?) that I could have one made for less than that...

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... _200244974

Try this /l\ If there is a northern tool near you than you
l may want to visit it. They have trailers in stock
l that are not online.

I started with a 5x8, then extended it 19.5 inches to get the length I wanted.


http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=22611

The folks at Mega-Mini can get you the frame made of aluminum with a Torflex axle. Wisconsin has enough of a manufacturing base you should be able to get most anything you can dream up.

Shadow Catcher wrote:The folks at Mega-Mini can get you the frame made of aluminum with a Torflex axle. Wisconsin has enough of a manufacturing base you should be able to get most anything you can dream up.

Mega-Mini? My google-fu is failing me on that one.... could you explain further, please?

I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for a place that could make something like a custom trailer frame... I'm sure there are places around though, but who to ask, who to call, what kind of shop to look for? Never done any work like this before in my life!