Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have a friend askin about building a Vardo, but she wants 2 axels, like they typically have in europe. is it possible to do that on a 5x8 trailer? Would it be a problem?

She wants to build something like this http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenho ... illow.html but for camping in.

thanks
deryk

I have dual axles on my 5X10 dump trailer. See album. I use 14 inch rims. She might want to use smaller diameter rims/wheels and use shorter springs to get a better proportioned design (might handle better) and look.

Cheers,

Gus

very interesting Gus... gives me some hope for her!

thanks

deryk

What if ya helped her build a 'vardo'..... then she could add the front Willow wheels to cover the 'travel axle' and the big ones for effect..? This would mean building so the tongue was at the rear of the 'Willow's' cabin...and the front steps would be the back of the trailer...

I'm thinkin that at highway speed the Willow wouldn't be so good for travel, with two axles that far apart...and if the front Willow axle is haywagon style! ... They are not real good at country road speed...

That's my .02, Wish her Luck and Nice job on yours!!

I'm a moment of "lucidity" I reread your original question and realized that your friend probably wants the axles far apart with the front wheels steerable like the configuration on a covered wagon rather than the typical dual axle trailer towed by passenger cars and pickup trucks (as opposed to those towed by semi tractors) here in the USA.

Now that is a different matter and more "funner" question. The "big boys" do it all the time with trailers configured that way so I don't see why a "little person" couldn't do it but it would be a heck of alot more complicated to allow the front axle to steer the trailer versus your typical two axle boat, cargo, etc trailer.

If I wanted to do something like that I'd call a big trailer mfg, befriend one of their engineers, and do my best to pick their brain. I've had pretty good luck talking to these types during my "travels" and find they are usually helpful and interesting.

This wouldn't be a project for the "average bear" and would, IMHO, required a reasonably skilled fabricator to pull off but as my sainted mother used to say: "Where there is a will, there's a way".

Cheers,

Gus

I would first ask why she wants two axles, or thinks she needs them. Chances are her concerns are unfounded or have a better solution.

Tandem axles (none steerable) are generally meant for something hauling larger loads, as it spreads out the ground contact patch among 4 or 8 tires (dual wheels on tandem axles)

Having a steerable axle under a trailer is not advisable for something being pulled at higher speeds on the road, and in alot of cases is not legal. That setup, in this instance, would lead to a higher chance of trailer sway, along with the much increased difficulty of backing up.

Talk to her and find out why she thinks she needs or wants a dual axle trailer. If it is a weight concern with a smaller tow vehicle, she may be thinking of pulling a trailer that far exceeds the capability of the tow vehicle, and that would cause its own set of problems and concerns for safety. Keep in mind, an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and more tires on the ground will have more resistance, so it will require more power to get it moving, and consume more fuel to keep it moving.

Just out of curiosity, what does she plan on towing it with?

I think she wants a two axle trailer cause it would look cool and she feel like a real gypsy in an authentic gypsy trailer.

Cheers,

Gus

I think I would just build it with a single tow axle and have a set of show wheels to set up for looks at camp. Sure would make a cool camper, though.

Bill

Deryk the Pirate wrote:I have a friend askin about building a Vardo, but she wants 2 axels, like they typically have in europe. is it possible to do that on a 5x8 trailer? Would it be a problem?

She wants to build something like this http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenho ... illow.html but for camping in.

thanks
deryk

Deryk,

The problem is that most farm wagon "gear" as it is called has two problems. one, they aren't sprung and two, most are not for highway speeds, they were for heavy loads. But I was doing this research myself about a year ago and found some of the newer farm wagon gear are called high speed gear. But still isn't sprung. It is common in Europe to see small delivery trucks pulling trailers with the articulated front wheels, and I remember when I lived in Germany in the early 70's, my beer delivery guy had a rig like that and his trailer probably wasn't much bigger 6 X 10. If your friend doesn't mind driving under 50 mph or so. She should check ebay for farm equipment, I've seen quite a few 5 X 8 wagon gear go for just a few hundred dollars..... they would probably need to be rebuilt before road use though.

Yeah Gus hit it... its the look she was looking for. I wouldnt advise the stearable from wheels first off its way off the budget...I was just thinking it does look more like what they used over in eurpoe but also if you unhitched it wouldnt need to level it just chock the tires. She has a suburu and said her tow capacity was like 2000 lbs so an extra 200 lbs or so for a 2nd axle, springs and tires wouldnt be a big deal weight wise. I admit it would look cool though.

Steve if she used a Northern tools 5x8 trailer and ordered a 2nd matching axle, springs, mounting hardware, and tires and set it up like the picture you posted would that be doable at highway speeds?

Ask her what her back up skills are....without it being a steerable axle...it'd scrub off the tires in no time. Doug

Ok Doug that makes sense. She has a few acres and wanted to be able to just roll it around the backyard when she wasnt useing it to camp in. I guess one axle backing up it manages, but 2 your forcing it to turn and will chew up the sides of the tires.

Well thats why I told her I would ask here... like I said its a neat idea but it makes a little more sense now why it was a stearable front axle...kind of like a giant kids wagon...I figured the tow vehicle would be able to pull it through turns and all...guess not. Oh well they sell those carts with a ball on it to move trailers around on... she could do that or put it in a spot while its not bein camped in.

thanks
deryk

Deryk...it's not just backing...without a steerable, it would be a bear to drag down the road, I'm sure not legal, in fact....absolutely out of the question....it'd push the Subaru all over the place. She'd need an extra set of shorts or 2. Maybe an air actuated tag axle? Doug

Yeah I just left her a message on facebook its not doable... and to strip down a high geared farm trailer and add shocks/springs would be more work... she is gonna have enough problem comin up with the money to build a lil vardo like mine...

thanks folks

deryk