Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Gathering stuff to attempt a TD trailer of some sort. Here are some pics of a really old camper frame I aquired some time ago. It is a utility trailer someone made from a stripped down camper. Looks like the body of this old camper was about 12' long originally.

It has short, fat 20.5 X 8.0 -10 tires on it.



I didn't notice any springs. Just a bracket that bolts to the frame. It does have this wierd looking axle. Is this what you call a torsion axle?



It is old, but if it is a torsion axle I could salvage, clean a paint it in prep for a new TD frame.

Also, if I buy new tires, do these kind work OK with this type of axle? Thanks.

Yep, that's a torsion axle.

I second the opinion of the knowledgeable Ageless. That is a (rubber) torsion axle.

Also, if I buy new tires, do these kind work OK with this type of axle?

The tires on the trailer chassis in the pics you've posted appear to be bias ply.

I am of the opinion that one should run whatever tire type is already on the tow vehicle... and I'd wager that those would be radial ply construction.

You must first get an accurate assessment of the projected trailer weight in order to choose a trailer tire with the necessary load capacity.

You can always pay more and buy a tire that has a higher load capacity, but please don't err the other way 'round.


And welcome to T&TTT.

It is old, but if it is a torsion axle I could salvage, clean a paint it in prep for a new TD frame.

One more thing.

Check the vertical alignment of the tires and wheels when the chassis is loaded. If you see the trailer wheel angles become noticeably un-parallel, the rubber springing elements in the axle tube itself may be used up. They are the only thing that preserves wheel alignment... and that's the only thing I don't like about most torsion axle brands. Conversely, there is the possibility that this torsion axle has a high (effective) spring rate.

A new, properly-sprung-for-your-trailer weight torsion axle may be worth it's cost if this one is sprung too heavy. (In other words, a 1000 lb teardrop trailer sitting on a 2500 lb torsion axle will ride roughly)

From the looks of your pictures, the old fame has several things going against it...

It is very heavy duty (weighs a lot).
The axle/weight rating is likely a lot higher than what your finished trailer will be (= very bumpy ride)
It is extremely rusty (very hard to get clean)
The torsion axle rubber, if it is rubber, and not a spring, is very old (may be weak and at the end of its life)
Wheels that are very rusty (hard to clean/may be weakened from rust inside)
Tires that may be old and hard (tread can be good, but tires become hard and ride poorly)

It does appear it has brakes, which are a good thing if they can be rebuilt and parts found.

I'm all for using old frames/recycling when it makes sense, I've done several trailers that way, but the one you have might be better utilized as a utility trailer.

For what it would cost to rehab what you have, you might well be able to have a custom frame built and get a correctly sized axle/springs.

I'm not trying to shoot down your plans, just offering some thoughts.

Rob

Thanks for the fast replies.

This old "trailer" was a gift from my father who'd bought it for like $20. The only time I've ever towed it was to haul a fairly heavy (500 lbs??) gas powered welder from his house to mine. I aired up the old tires, they held and I trailered home. I looked rough, but towed nice and smooth. No swaying. Aside from the extra load on my little truck's engine I could hardly tell I was pulling something.

As to the "ugly" part....well, I won't be using the whole trailer frame. Just the axle if I can determine what the optimum load for this axle. I have access to a lot of equipment that can make something rusty look fairly nice again.

Let me ask this... Say you have a torsion axle that is rated at 1000 lbs. If the axle is bearing this designated load is there something like a proper deflection angle difference from when it's not loaded? This trailer is jacked up on blocks in my pics, so there is no load on the axle.

Also, to determine if the rubber parts you mentioned are OK, are these type axles able to be disassembled for inspection?

Not able to disassemble as everything was frozen to be installed. Best method is to take all load off the wheels and attempt to shake them fore/aft and top/bottom to check for play

Ageless wrote:Not able to disassemble as everything was frozen to be installed. Best method is to take all load off the wheels and attempt to shake them fore/aft and top/bottom to check for play

Will do. Thanks.

Woodstramp wrote:Also, to determine if the rubber parts you mentioned are OK, are these type axles able to be disassembled for inspection?

Drop the trailer onto its wheels and get someone else (medium-sized and upwards) to jump up and down on the frame on each side while you watch it carefully.

If this produces noticeable movement of the frame relative to the wheel (so, not just the tire squishing) the rubber in the axle is OK.

If there's no movement, the rubber in the axle is old and has gone-hard - in that case, a new axle is the only fix.

Andrew