Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

First time poster here. I'm trying to decide on fenders. I'm using 16" wire wheels from a '35 Ford and 600-16 tires. I need at least a 10" wide fender due to wheel offset and needing to add adapters so I can attach 5 on 5-1/2" bolt pattern wheels to a 5 on 4-1/2" hub.

Right now I'm interested in either Grant's 11" wide KIT style fenders
http://www.lilbear.teardrops.net/parts3.html#fenders

or possibly the 1945 KIT Flat-Top fender from the Teardrop Fix-It Shop
http://www.teardropparts.com/sub-pages/teardrop%20trailer-fender.htm

I see a lot of pictures of teardrops that have used Grant's fenders but can't find much on the Flat-Top. Has anybody used it and do you have pcitures? The pictures on the Fix-It Shop's web-site are really small and I just can't make out much from them. I gave them a call and they said they didn't have any other pics.

Also, any other suggestions on vintage style fenders?

Thanks, Al

A picture of what your trailer looks like would help us.

Haven't built it yet. I've just cut out the pattern for the sides and will start welding on the frame yet this week. I'm still designing and I'd like the fenders on hand so I can add the proper framing to the side walls.

It'll be 4-1/2' wide and 9' long with pretty much a KIT profile. The sides will be wood (walnut and oak ply), top probably aluminum. Hope that gives you a mental picture.

Thanks, Al

lala47 wrote:Haven't built it yet. I've just cut out the pattern for the sides and will start welding on the frame yet this week. I'm still designing and I'd like the fenders on hand so I can add the proper framing to the side walls.

It'll be 4-1/2' wide and 9' long with pretty much a KIT profile. The sides will be wood (walnut and oak ply), top probably aluminum. Hope that gives you a mental picture.

Thanks, Al

Hi Al,

Can't help with the fender choice except to say Grant's fenders are extremely high quality, and wanted to welcome you to the forum. I started out my teardrop plan the same way. First wheels, axle and fenders. Please take pictures and share them as you build. We love pictures. Here's my teardrop wheel and 34 ford truck fiberglass replica fender.

Steve,

Thank you for your gracious welcome. Appreciate it. Also, I really like your fenders. Since I'm using '35 Ford wheels I've been thinking rear fenders from early 30's Ford pick-ups might be an option. Where did you buy them and how wide are they?

Thanks, Al

lala47 wrote:Steve,

Thank you for your gracious welcome. Appreciate it. Also, I really like your fenders. Since I'm using '35 Ford wheels I've been thinking rear fenders from early 30's Ford pick-ups might be an option. Where did you buy them and how wide are they?

Thanks, Al

I think they are 11" wide just inside the lip of the fender. Teardrop is in Minnesota or I could measure. The fenders came from a company that went out of business, they made small fiberglass cargo trailers. If I'd known ahead of time, I would have tried to buy the molds... I have found some on Ford truck restoration/hotrod sites since. The fiberglass pickup fenders have a flat flange on the back to mount them.

Al ,

Welcome to the madness. You have 159 1/2 days until one of the largest teardrop gatherings in the midwest area. You are only 165 miles away from "The Cross roads of America" gathering at McCormick Creek State Park in Spencer IN this July. You had better get busy. Just make your reservation and get the trailer "Campable". There will be 100 new ideas at the gathering to build into the trailer anyway.

Hello and Greetings from Finland .

And also Al welcome to the forum.

I myself have Kit fenders both from RW Johnson and Grant at Lil Bear.

I love the Kit style fenders however I also checked into the fenders on the beautiful tear above that Steve built. .

As was mentioned the business that made them closed their doors in Minisota. I also like the wheels that Steve has on his wonderful build.

The new owners got to be proud of having this tear.

Have you checked on the fenders that Grant has available? They are quality fenders for certain. Can hardly wait to see pics of your teardrop building process.

Hi Al,

Welcome to the craziness!

I'm using Grant's Mod/Cub/Kenskill fenders. (My teardrop is still under construction.) They are really high quality.



The fenders are 11" outside to outside. I believe the "lip" on the wheel opening is about 1/4" giving 10 3/4" clearance. If you'd like, let me know and I'll get some exact measurements.

When you get your build going, please post pictures so we can enjoy your creation.

Tom

Hi, I'm also currently building a KIT copy trailer. It's going to be using 16" narrow Plymouth (4 1/2" bolt circle) wheels. The fenders need to be 10" wide on my trailer, so 11" sized premade fenders makes sense.

Being a "hard headed" guy, I wanted to have steel fenders on my trailer and have started to make them out of VW Bug fenders. If it was easy everyone would do it right? LOL I'm about half done and waiting for a new metal shinking tool.

Paying $250.00 for pair of fenders is CHEAP compared to the work of making the fenders.

aggie79 wrote:Hi Al,



Tom

For a brief moment.... I thought you were building out of plexiglass!!!




Then, I realized it was metal reflecting.

I'm partial to Grants 11" Kit fenders, mine still need a paint job.