Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am seriously considering just building my own since I'm not having any luck finding one in my area (darn tearless Southern California! ). So who makes the best plans? Im looking for somthing that I could customize to my needs and that would need minimal (if any) welding.

Which ever you choose have the sides come down over the frame so it looks low and sleek. The trailers built on top of the frame look to tall. Just my observation. But then again I don't know what your after in looks. If I where you I would attend some gatherings and ask alot of questions and the decide where to go from there.

I'm building my tear using plans from Kuffel Creek. The Kuffel Creek plans are very well regarded by most of the folks here. I used the plans as a starting point along with advice from the folks here and ideas and I gathered in the Hall of Fame.

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I think all of the authors of plans have web sites with photos of their finished trailers. Pick the style you like and they expect you to modify it to meet your needs. The plans are mainly just a starting guide.

In Long Beach "Bill Williams Welding" on Santa Fe could weld up your frame in nothing flat and if you furnish the frame plans and axle in about the same price range as a ready made trailer.

Denny

...check out the GENERIC BUILDING PLANS on this board, the price is hard to beat and since they were developed by the members here, any questions should be easily answered
Whether using the generic plans, Kuffel Creek, Desert Tears or any other plans, remember that one of the greatest things about TD&TTTs, is that you can modify, customize and build just about any variation you can dream up
madjack

TomS wrote:The Kuffel Creek plans are very well regarded by most of the folks here.

I love the way Tom says "most."

Actually, I think you should have SOME kind of plans in front of you if you're unfamiliar with building a TD. I'm using the beloved Cubby plans too, and like Tom, we're both throwing 75% of the stuff out the window.

However, it gives you a good overview of what steps to do in what order. As an inexperienced builder--inexperienced at building ANYTHING--I expected that I would follow it faithfully to complete the tear.

After 2 months on this forum, I discovered that this is not only unnecessary, it's not desired.

Honestly, Most people use plans as a guide for the build. I built mine with a pencil sketch I made gleaned from asking questions, looking at other peoples pictures and after determining what I wanted in a teardrop. I built mine and installed things I wanted or needed. Apparently I did alright and many people have copied my design in some form or another. Just like I did from all the other teardrops I had looked at on the internet and had never seen another one to compare it too. Just look and ask, design, ask some more and you might be surprised what you might come up with on your own.

Besides it really isn't that hard to do if you think about it, even people little to no experience can build them, ask IraRat, he figured it out

Woody wrote: IraRat, he figured it out

Thanks for the compliment, but it's still sitting there on those stupid JACKS!

And by the way, regardless of the plans you use, don't forget to install ground wires.

I bought two sets of plans and was sorely disapointed with one of them...and they weren't the Kuffel plans...

I don't believe that the end product shown on a website is indicative of the plans. I could give some guys on this board a pencil sketch and they could build beautiful trailers. Guys like me need the details and as much as help as possible to build a decent one. The plans don't determine the final result. One site has beautiful trailers on the site and I didn't like their plans at all.

I'm a Kuffle Guy!

I am also using the Kuffel plans. I bought both of them, the Cubby and the Comet, since I am looking at aspects of both in my build. I have also spent a lot of time looking at what everyone else here did/or are doing with theirs, and I have been adapting my ideas based on all of their valuable input. The Kuffel plans really are a nice guide to get you started, and with all of the wonderful input you can get here, in addition, you should be able to build a very nice teardrop,

Amy

novanne,
I used the Kuffel Creek plans as a reference, for measurments, locating structural components and overall design.
I think the plans were worth the price for your first time build

You might also check out Southern Cal teardrops. I believe they are near L.A.
They will answered my Email questions quickly as well as quick shipping on parts.
http://www.socalteardrops.com/
Norm