Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well, a little backstory. I would like to build a teardrop, not for camping, but for hauling. I drive a Ford Freestyle (V6), so pulling something like a 6x10 covered trailer isn't in the cards, and those trailers are going locally for $1000 plus. I plan to haul bicycles similar to this, but enclose in a Td:


My wife and I race cyclocross... if you don't know what cyclocross is, check out this quick video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWGnM_1ViZA

Cyclocross is a fall/winter cycling discipline, so weather can be foul, so it'd be nice to have some way to transport bikes (up to 3 hours to races, over the highway) that is out of the elements, and only 2 fit inside the vehicle... Yes, 2 people need 3-4 bikes and up to 4 different wheelsets for this discipline haha, plus bike washer, tools, chairs, food, water bla bla bla.

Anyhow, I obviously don't plan on insulating, adding a galley etc, however, I still want it to be asthetically pleasing. I have masured the bikes, and 3 bikes should fit across a 4' platform 'head to tail'.

The question is, could I make a frame and skin out of FRP panels and wood? Floor would still be covered in roofing tar and all of the interior boards painted/waterproofed and would likely be treated lumber. I would basically build it relatively water resistant and it would have a standard hatch in the rear like a standard Td. I would like to use a shape that doesn't necessarily use radius corners, but that is up for debate (depending on interior dimensions). I am likely to screw up those curved edges when building the braces. But i definately don't just want to pull a covered box wagon with a tarp to these races (It'd make the team look a little too hillbilly)..

I am concerned about structural rigidity of this build. I am open to building with plywood and covering with FRP, but don't know if it necessary. This would be a nice looking utility trailer essentially.

I'd likely still trim with angle aluminum around edges and build doors in the sides (for access to bike 'lockdowns').

I am going to work on drawing up some plans this weekend, and can attach photos if my intent is not clear

Thanks all, and please let me know what you think

Joanne's Desert Dawg from asolidfoundation.com is my inspiration for shape
( i may try to find a way to go 5' tall, so that we can put a folding chair or 2 in the trailer for dressing/sitting between races). May be difficult since i can't biscuit join FRP board that I know of.

I hate to be the one to say it, but isn't that what pickup toppers are for?? I would highly doubt you could build for less than a topper company could.

(of course, I haven't shopped for a Freestyle topper before. But you know I will now!)

I guess I should search before I type.

I have a request in to Leer for info on a bed cap (we call 'em toppers 'round here). If they don't make them, ya... guess you have to.

You came to the right place!

If you search, others have built truck "caps". A topper for my F-250 is next on my list after I finish my Tear... but I don't just want it to keep my cargo dry, I am imagining some slide out bunks like a pop-up camper... But I digress....

I will let you know if my contact has anything for you.

seems like it should work, as far as building a small light enclosed utility trailer. I would consider not skinning the inside of the build to save weight, especially since there is no need to insulate.
One possible idea for stretching frp board: as I recall frp is fairly thin plastic sheets right? how about taking those moulding strips that are used when attaching shower board together against a shower wall?

these:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_11934-35-11934_0__?productId=3139629&Ntt=tile+board&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dtile%2Bboard&facetInfo=

I don't know how it would hold up long term, but they are designed to be installed in showers, so waterproofing should be fairly straightforward. with some careful thought and planning, you could make have the seam be sort of decorative. this is of course assuming that the moulding will fit frp. I haven't worked with frp so I don't know. obviously the joint held by moulding by itself would not be very strong at all compared to biscuits or lap joints etc, but if the frp was attached well that might be able to be circumvented.

not sure if any of these thoughts are all that usable but might give you something to think over

by the way, I went and watched the video on cyclocross. I am totally willing to concede that we all need hobbies, and I am glad you enjoy yours. but I think you are nuts. (and you must be in better shape than I am!)

But then, if you love a sport like that one, you probably hear that a lot!

CARS wrote:I guess I should search before I type.

I have a request in to Leer for info on a bed cap (we call 'em toppers 'round here). If they don't make them, ya... guess you have to.

You came to the right place!

If you search, others have built truck "caps". A topper for my F-250 is next on my list after I finish my Tear... but I don't just want it to keep my cargo dry, I am imagining some slide out bunks like a pop-up camper... But I digress....

I will let you know if my contact has anything for you.

The photo above was a stock photo to show the bike racks... My ford is more of the mini-van type... hence the need for a Td. We can't pack everything into our vehicle.

For clarification... stock photo of the tow vehicle (not a pickup). I would love to have a pickup with a topper!!!:



Good cargo space, but not enough height to stand up the 3 bikes.

I guess I can't keep up with the new makes and models (I restore classic cars for a living and hence, live in the past alot even though I am in my late 30's)

Found this info on another forum:

The freestyle can safeley tow 2,000 pounds minus any weight in the car besides a 150 pound driver.

So keep that in mind when you pick a design you like. I don't see why you can't just build a gutted Tear and load everything from the "galley" door. You would only need 1 "cabin" door. You could even make it real simple and order a pre-fab cargo door from a new (or used) camper shop.

Thanks CARS, that is what I was hoping to learn. The stability of the 'gutted' Td trailer. I assumed that it would withstand 70mph on the highway, and the idea of a pre-fab door sounds great. Now to find a camper/RV boneyard in the area for that door. I guess a bit of extra ribbing inside should do it fairly well.

I will go to the HD or lowes this weekend to see how sturdy the FRP board seems. I'd probably go with some white paint, and some general bathroom corners for 'water-resisting'.

I will certainly post up a build log.

For those who want to join in on some cyclocross, or to show you why I don't want the bikes in the vehicle anymore, your viewing pleasure:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKofzKoUpTc[/youtube]

I built this for about $350 and it weighs about 250 empty. 340 with the boats and paddles. Bed of the trailer is 6 feet long.



I went to a trailer because I traded my Jeep Cherokee for a Hyundai Accent. I'm now getting 33 mpg instead of 17.

You could build a tongue box to put some or all of you gear in and the bikes loaded behind that. If you want to have your bikes in out of the weather during transport that's another story.

trying to learn google sketchup, but here is my cardboard box 'size trial'


Untitled by adam_mac84, on Flickr

Should just work... I'll be fighting to save the rearward area for storage... I may just make a fork mount to move the bike forward, but that will require additional space for the front wheel to be stored....

Maybe a 5x10 will be required. Dont really want to have to stretch my plywood, but have access to a biscuit joiner, so it'd be doable

You might want to think about making the whole body, except for the floor, hinge at the bottom front like a snowmobile trailer. That would give you access to the whole floor and avoid the need for any doors/hatch/etc. If you're doing cyclocross, I reckon you can lift a lightweight box up at one end - but maybe after a hard race it would be too much? You could even make the box removable to give you a flat-bed trailer when you wanted it

angib wrote:You might want to think about making the whole body, except for the floor, hinge at the bottom front like a snowmobile trailer. That would give you access to the whole floor and avoid the need for any doors/hatch/etc. If you're doing cyclocross, I reckon you can lift a lightweight box up at one end - but maybe after a hard race it would be too much? You could even make the box removable to give you a flat-bed trailer when you wanted it

Wow, this was the very first conversation that I had with one of my teammates. Exactly what we talked about. My biggest concerns are just with structural stability without being tied in as rigid to the frame...

Going to look at trailers today

Wow, i might be the most inefficient Google Sketchup user ever!!!! I gotta figure out how to lock things like merging layers in photoshop... cant tell you how many times the wrong thing moved lol...

Here is a concept drawing... don't laugh please. Got the bikes from google's 3d 'bin'


CM Capture 5 by adam_mac84, on Flickr


CM Capture 4 by adam_mac84, on Flickr

Scary... I may be close to starting a build thread

The concept is 5x10 versus 4x8. More 'squatting' room for dressing, and more cargo room

I continue to be concerned about rigidity without the bulkhead. I will have to do some thinking. I don't want to have to use steel ribs, but could have a buddy weld them in place.

I was thinking possibly 1/2 or 3/4 OSB board for rigidity/price... Fiberglass for moisture proofing. If i went with 1/2 ply, it'd be easier to biscuit join edges (still would be fiberglassed to help hold the biscuit joints, and for painting

Additional planning done. I am thinking of using either 1x1 aluminum box tubing or 1x2 wooden support. Without the galley, i want to make sure it's going to be sound in the wind!!


CM Capture 6 by adam_mac84, on Flickr