Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Being a newbie to the Teardrop world I have been reading everything I can find about the varied construction techniques that have been used to build Teardrops.

I seem to remember reading a post or two last week about folks that built their own frame/trailer (not a kit) using the bolt-together approach rather than welding.

Try as I might I cannot sedem to find those posts tonight and would appreciate someone pointing me in the direction of these members gallerys and/or web pages.

Thanks ... Gene

Gene, welcome aboard...I went looking and all I could find was reference that someone made about doing what you are asking but then changed their mind and had it welded up...if someone out there did this...WHERE ARE YA...Gene wants to know.....
madjack

GeneH wrote:Being a newbie to the Teardrop world I have been reading everything I can find about the varied construction techniques that have been used to build Teardrops.

I seem to remember reading a post or two last week about folks that built their own frame/trailer (not a kit) using the bolt-together approach rather than welding.

Try as I might I cannot sedem to find those posts tonight and would appreciate someone pointing me in the direction of these members gallerys and/or web pages.

Thanks ... Gene

Personally, I'd prefer a welded trailer, especially if you were hauling any real weight. Myabe it's just me, but I have a hard time trusting bolts over the long run.

I understand that Harbor Freight offers a bolt together frame that some folks have used.

Carol, welcome to our little band of builders and dreamers and yes HF makes a bolt together trailer that about a kazillion people have used for all manner of things
madjack

Gene, try this one
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/guffdrop/ ... df&.src=ph
madjack

madjack wrote:Gene, try this one
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/guffdrop/ ... df&.src=ph
madjack

That's the one I was going to suggest. Mike did some drawings for a angle iron, bolt together frame.

Thanks Madjack and Kerry, thats the one I remembered.

I'm not sure I will end up taking this approach but I have built a lot of cell towers that are bolted together angle steel and haven't lost one yet. Just need to double nut all the bolts, lock everything down tight and do occasional inspections to make sure it stays tight.

Thanks again ... Gene ... [email protected]

Gene I yet to see a cell phone tower going down the highway at 70 mph over some bumpy roads. It would be very costly to weld a tower in place because after you weld it it will needs to be preped for painting and protecting the envoirment from overspray and sandblasting dust is a big job.
Dan

I never gave bolting one together much thought. I have a HF 4x8 bolted together utility trailer that I've used for 15 years or so and it's hauled some loads with no problems. You'd have to use angle to bolt the pieces together like in the diagram above, and I want to go heavier with 2"x1/8" square tube, so welding it together is essential. I am lucky enough to have a son-in-law who is a welder, so I won't have any expense other than metal, axle, welding supplies (he has the welder), and a case of beer (for AFTER the welding is done...safety first).