Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

What fender design would you choose that is the most durable and easy to install?

I know that personal style is a big consideration - is there a fender that is practical and looks cool?

Dave

Toolbox, I just purchased my fender from Six States Distributors. Inc. and I only paid $25.00 each. They are 10" wide and 30" across the bottom. Here's their toll free number; 1-877-925-9177 I'm in Alaska, but I think they are in other states. Give Dan a call.

Jim

...what kinda camping are ya gonna be doin'...off road, on road, some of both...if ya goin' off road then you want a steel fender in either a round or jeep style...if on road then a fiberglass fender in your preference of style...check out the hall of fame and various personal galleries for styles and pick one suited to you
madjack

T-box....if it were me....I'd go for the look I wanted....want vintage? get the retro fiberglass ones or remodel an original steel one...want durability for off roading...get a formed steel one...For me, my tear is a road queen....went with the wide Kits...I like the look...there is lots of comments on this sort of thing...just comes down to what you like...and after all...you could do the vintage fiberglass on an off road unit...if you took care of it. and weren't too out of control .....Doug

mostly off road camping - so it sounds like fiberglass may not be strong enough.

By the way, what type of barrior do you all us between fender and skin?

Do any of you threw bolt the fender threw the wall of the tear? Are there any other methods for mounting?

Thanks much - Dave

...don't know where ya camp TB but if you are extra careful you can get away with a FG fender, but if ya bust it up that 250 bucks ya spent is gone as opposed to 25 for a steel fender.
As to fastening...thru bolting, inserts, screws and just about any way you can imagine...a little fender welting never hurt nuthin' either
madjack(hoping to finish mine one day)

T-box....mostly off road?....don't go for the fiberglass....and for me...only used black silicone to bond the fender to the side.+ through bolted it with fender washers...I didn't use any welting as I had wood trim for the woody look and silicone....doug

doug hodder wrote:T-box....mostly off road?....don't go for the fiberglass....and for me...only used black silicone to bond the fender to the side.+ through bolted it with fender washers...I didn't use any welting as I had wood trim for the woody look and silicone....doug

Hmmm, black silicone.... Doug, I really appreciate you. Seems that everytime I am looking for a solution to a problem with the teardrop you have the answer. You are a master of inovation. Thanks. Steve

somewhere I have a vase for that bunch of flowers Steve....Gawwwwrsh!...Thanks....Doug

I recently met a man in Vermont with a homemade teardrop. While I was asking him questions about the building of his tear I asked about his fenders. He had flat topped steel fenders. I asked him why he chose those over other kinds of fenders. He smiled at me, walked over to his fender and put his beer down on the top of the fender. "You can't do that with round fenders" he said. 'Nuff said!

Toolbox,
Some fenders don't have an inner fender and some do. My fenders are round steel with an inner fender (barrier) that is welded to the curved fender (bought that way). My fenders are welded directly to the steel frame. I also bought some spray undercoating at my auto parts store and gave the inside a couple of coats especialy at the seam. Flat or curved? That is a personal choice. True, with flat tops you have a couple of small tables.

Well, could those type of fenders be threw bolted to the tear? and not have to welded on?

Dave

I'm still in the building process (90% done). I decided on round steel fenders from West Marine. They are available for 12,13, 14 & 15" wheel size. I am using 13" and they only cost around $25.00 ea. My plans call for mounting the fenders to the body but I felt that somebody would someday either sit of crash into them and rip the fender right off the wall. The esay solution was to buy fender brackets from West Marine ( $18.00 for both sides) and bolt them directly to the frame. I can stand and bounce on them now without any problem. Should be great for off road.

Stephen Gaskins

I don't see any reason why you couldn't bolt them to the Teardrop after the sides are finished so you don't have to fight to finish around them. As the Kuffel Creek instructions suggest, predrill holes and insert "T" nuts before finishing the inside.

krang469 wrote:I recently met a man in Vermont with a homemade teardrop. While I was asking him questions about the building of his tear I asked about his fenders. He had flat topped steel fenders. I asked him why he chose those over other kinds of fenders. He smiled at me, walked over to his fender and put his beer down on the top of the fender. "You can't do that with round fenders" he said. 'Nuff said!

I'm a fan of the jeep style fenders for this reason. I've never been to a campsite that had too many places to set stuff down.

Esthetically though the rounded vintage style fenders look a lot better.