Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I want to build a 4/8 Benroy type TD. I need to have the suspension beefed up for offroad somewhat anyway. I would like to use Torsion axles but I don't weld and if I use a kit trailer.... are there any available with the torsion axles that would take 15" tires? 12 is out of the question for the terrain I have in mind. Anybody know of any company that has one?

Southwest Wheels can probably help you - or one of their partners. Browse the page, click the links and see what you come up with. Good luck! http://www.utilitytrailerkit.com/

Checked SouthWest Trailer supply out. Nice site, but back to welding again if I go that route. I may just have to learn to weld....

Vegabond9 wrote:I want to build a 4/8 Benroy type TD. I need to have the suspension beefed up for offroad somewhat anyway. I would like to use Torsion axles but I don't weld and if I use a kit trailer.... are there any available with the torsion axles that would take 15" tires? 12 is out of the question for the terrain I have in mind. Anybody know of any company that has one?

Here's a link to the ultimate offroad Benroy: http://www.outbackteardrop.com/

Nothing against Larry's 'Outback', but you might also check with Dave Nathanson about his offroad teardrop.

Dave is a member of this board.

Have a good day.

I agree with that... Check out Dave's teardrop here...

http://td.roughwheelers.com/

Mike...

I'm not sure what it is thay you need to do that doesn't reqire welding. The Dexter torsion axle bolts on to the chassis with the torsion arm just outside the chassis side rail. You don't want to be welding on a torsion axle anyway...it will melt the rubber torsion rods Almost any axle can be bought with standard 5 lug hubs with the correct bolt pattern for mounting 13", 14" or 15" wheels.
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I dont' want to bolt on the one I'm going to get because I don't want any holes in the side rail, so I'm going to make an adapter out of "U" channel to be welded to the side rail, and the axle bolted to that. I know Rednect Trailers sells the Dexter as that's where I'm going to pick up mine in Tampa.

Here is some Dexter info from their site. It is slow to load though.
http://www.redneck-trailer.com/2004/A/PagesA-28-A-33.pdf

There are several other threads on this forum about axles with good info in them.

I think Vegabond wants to bolt the axle directly to the body of the teardrop, and I think he wants to bolt the tongue directly to the front of the body. No metal chassis at all...

The only person I know who tried that is John Blewett, the guy that built the Boxter... and here's what his trailer looked like after he went over a bump in the road!!!



Here's the story...
http://www.tinytears.cc/Boxter/Damage/damage.html

Mike...

Hi Mike

I read it that he wants a bolt togethor trailer (like the HF job) but that he wants one with a torsion bar axle to take larger wheels and tyres, but all bolt togethor rather than having to weld a custom trailer.

GeorgeTelford wrote:Hi Mike

I read it that he wants a bolt togethor trailer (like the HF job) but that he wants one with a torsion bar axle to take larger wheels and tyres, but all bolt togethor rather than having to weld a custom trailer.

Yep, you're right... I read his message too fast...

I don't know anyone that offers a 4x8 bolt together trailer with a torsion axle. He'd have to sell his axle on ebay, and buy a torsion axle from Dexter or Southwest Wheel. It's doable, but is going to drive the cost up some...

You know, it's not a bad idea... get something like a 5' red trailer, and swap out the axle... Of course by the time you buy the 5 footer and swap the axle out, you could have had a nice custom fabricated trailer...



Mike...

Yep, gonna have to do the weld thing. Now to figure out the thickness of the tube stuff and the best size.... 2x2?

Vegabond, maybe not. Have you looked at the trailer kits Northern Tool sells? You can get an axle set up for any size hubs with them.

Vegabond9 wrote:Yep, gonna have to do the weld thing. Now to figure out the thickness of the tube stuff and the best size.... 2x2?

Some thoughts for you here...

http://www.mikenchell.com/weekender/chassis.html

Mike...

Try looking at the Tractor Supply Trailer #1000215. Already assembled, 5 lug 4.5 hubs (so you can put big wheels on it with no problem) And heavier leaf springs can be put on the Dexter (not Mickey Mouse) axel.

Or, just take the original axel off, sell it and bolt a torsion axel on.

Happy Trails

Len

[quote]Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:04 pm Post subject:

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Try looking at the Tractor Supply Trailer #1000215. Already assembled, 5 lug 4.5 hubs (so you can put big wheels on it with no problem) And heavier leaf springs can be put on the Dexter (not Mickey Mouse) axel.



Tractor Supply claims there is no such trailer anymore....? I would be interested in it but its probably made with angle iron and in the UP position like the others. I already have a 5X8 heavy duty trailer with 15" wheels, and a 3500# axle, but the angle iron is UP and would be a hassle to correct it as far as I can see. Do you have any other numbers for it? I would still like to check it out..... thanks for the info