Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I need fenders and it's making me a little crazy. Finding something that I can bolt on that has maybe a bit of a sweep to fit the teardrop style that fit's my 16" wheels without paying $200 per fender is the challenge. They don't need to be fancy, just look like they belong on the trailer. I've looked at the suppliers on Rich's list but I'm not finding what I'm looking for. Anyone have experience with custom fabricated fenders? Expensive?

kmagill wrote:Anyone have experience with custom fabricated fenders? Expensive?

Not for under $200 On second thought, try Lil' Bear at http://www.lilbear.teardrops.net/parts3.html. He just might have what you’re looking for.

The really traditional look of nicely shaped swoopy fenders, perfectly fitted to the tires and curves of the cabin, and (if you are mounting the taillights there) with the early Ford taillights mounted at the proper rearward facing angle looks very very nice when executed to perfection.

Unfortunately, when any of those little details is just the slightest bit off it jumps out and smacks me in the eye! Don't get me wrong, I really like the look when it is done right, but the expense in parts and time just doesn't seem worth it to me (...the fact that I personally am building more of an off road theme and want the practicality of flat top fenders is beside the point... I still have an opinion).

So my point is, if you don't plan on going the whole way (time and money) to really achieve "the look", maybe it would be better to save the money and put a nice set of plain round fenders on it. I think round fenders look great on a traditional tear! In fact I think I am already on record as preferring one members TD better with round fenders than with the swoopy ones he put on afterwards (can't remember the thread ).

Just $.02 from the guy who is too chicken to put swoopy fenders on a TD.

I've made mine using ply. Next time I'd like to use strip planks.
There is video or two in my build log about using a router to curve the wheel arches / fenders

Thanks all for the input. @KCStudly I think you are onto something. I've started looking at basic round fenders again. The challenge is finding something that fits my tires/wheel/trailer combination. I have 16" rims but the fenders that are listed for my wheel size are huge. I'm in an email exchange with one of the online vendors and I hope we can find something that will fit properly.

Here are some places that sell and or make fenders:

Fenders N' More Custom Fenders make custom fenders from 7.5" to 13" wide in steel, aluminum and stainless steel
boat fenders some are for single axle in stainless steel
teardroptrailers.net fenders
recstuff.com is another website that had a nice selection of steel and aluminum fenders. Their website seems to be down today.
kmtparts.com single axle fenders I purchased fenders from them
hepop.com make fenders

recstuff.com is where I got mine.

BTW, the site came up fine for me.

i checked out recstuff.com. Website works again. Their 32 x 10.75 aluminum fenders are lower priced than I remember seeing them last time I looked. At first their prices are a little misleading. The price for two fenders is much lower per fender than the price of a single fender. Probably to cover "free" shipping.