Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

hi guys,
I'm trying to plan out the construction of my first tear.
The trailer frame that I want to use is 5' 2" wide and 10' 2" long
Is this do able? If not should I cut this frame down and stick to 4' x 8' or 4' x 10' .
I was thinking about having a small "cargo" area at the front for carrying a cooler.
I have not yet ordered any plans, but I'm real curious as to what keeps the hinge on the rear galley door from leaking in the rain?
Is there an obvious source for a 5 lug 13" wheel that I could possible mount baby moon hubcaps?
Also I would love to visit any tear under construction with in a coiple hours driving time of Charlotte, NC .
I plan to be camping in my new tear no later than end of April. 2006.

Thanks for any help!
Tony P

The trailer frame that I want to use is 5' 2" wide and 10' 2" long
Is this do able? If not should I cut this frame down and stick to 4' x 8' or 4' x 10' .

I built mine 5' 2" X 10'. The only size related issue I had was the aluminum for the roof. The largest sheet I could find was 60" X 120". I ended up buying the aluminum from Utility Tralier. Thats one of the places that builds big rig truck trailers. the have a roll of aluminum they use for the roofs that is 102" wide. You order however many feet of it you want and they cut a piece off the roll.

I was thinking about having a small "cargo" area at the front for carrying a cooler.
I did that, but I use if for the propane tank and spare tire.

I have not yet ordered any plans, but I'm real curious as to what keeps the hinge on the rear galley door from leaking in the rain?
Use the hurricane type hinge.

Is there an obvious source for a 5 lug 13" wheel that I could possible mount baby moon hubcaps?
Don't know. I used 15" wheels with baby moons.

Also I would love to visit any tear under construction with in a coiple hours driving time of Charlotte, NC .

I plan to be camping in my new tear no later than end of April. 2006.
Get busy, mine took over 500 hours to build.

The length will be up to you but myself and several others here will tell you to make it 5' wide. Alot will depend on your needs but you'll be glad you made it that wide in the long run. Mine's 5 wide and I love it!!

Hi Tony! Welcome aboard. Well the width of the trailer is determined by the axel and frame. If you are welding up your own frame then the only thing is the axel. Most people here use the torsion axle type. My tear will be using an axel I bought from a farm supply. It is leaf spring type. My frame is 58” wide by 10’ long with a 40” tong. The axel is for a frame of 60” outside dimensions. I have cut the spring hangers and welded new ones on for the 2” narrower frame. This gives me a little more room between the tires and the body of the tear. I am using standard Ford 14” x 7” rims. Also when I put on the aluminum on the roof, I can fold down the edges one inch on each side. The aluminum I will be ordering is 60” by 144”. The tear will be a tin roof woody.
If you have a frame with that dimension go ahead and use it. It just may take a little more material to make the body, roof and sides. You may end up with some scrap pieces but they can be used in the galley and inside sleeping compartment.
Chuck

TeardropwannaB wrote:hi guys,
I'm trying to plan out the construction of my first tear.
The trailer frame that I want to use is 5' 2" wide and 10' 2" long
Is this do able? If not should I cut this frame down and stick to 4' x 8' or 4' x 10' .

First of all, welcome to the insan... er, I mean the wonderful world of Teardrops

I recently built a 5 x 8 foot tear. IMHO, A 4-foot tear is too narrow for couples. You'll be more confortable in a 5-foot wide trailer.

You may need to move the axel back to achieve the proper ratio of tounge weight to overall weight.

Others report difficulty finding aluminum wider than 4-feet. There other materials you can use to skin your tear. I used Uniflex 225, a alphatic epoxy paint available from the The Rot Doctor.

TeardropwannaB wrote:I was thinking about having a small "cargo" area at the front for carrying a cooler.

A lot of folks put tounge mounted tool boxes, propane tanks or batteries up there. I keep my main cooler in the galley on a slide-out shelf.I find, my ice lasts much longer with the cooler in the galley. I also like not having to put it in the car at night. I just close the hatch. But it really boils down to personal perference. However, you need to consider your tow vehicle's maximum hitch weight specs before making any decisions.

TeardropwannaB wrote:I have not yet ordered any plans, but I'm real curious as to what keeps the hinge on the rear galley door from leaking in the rain?

Use a Hurrican hinge from Li'l Bear Tag Alongs I also added some rain diverters to the end of my hatch to channel water away from the hatch opening

TeardropwannaB wrote:I plan to be camping in my new tear no later than end of April. 2006.

You'd better get moving! It took me 9 months to build mine.

Also, be sure to take plenty of photos. 'Cause we love 'dem pix!

Welcome to the site TDWB...I think Tom and the others coveres things so just let me add to TomS we luv da pics...been working on ours since Feb and it still isn't finished....
madjack

"I used Uniflex 225, a alphatic epoxy paint available from the The Rot Doctor."

Tom, did you apply the Uniflex directly to the plywood?

And guys, the photos shou;d be no problem, I spent most of my life traveling the country, living in a pop-up, photographing NASCAR and professional MX racing! So, I like photos!



Tony P

Oh, and another thing, I was wondering why tears many times had the rear axle mounted toward the rear of the frame instead of closer to the center, like most trailers. I guess it has to do with tongue weight! ???
Sounds like I am optimistic by wanting to have a finished product by April!
I guess I can't believe that guy selling plans on ebay saying he built his tear in a couple of days! But now, looking at his listing again, he built a wood frame and apparently unfinished trailer to boot!

Tony P

TeardropwannaB wrote:Oh, and another thing, I was wondering why tears many times had the rear axle mounted toward the rear of the frame instead of closer to the center, like most trailers. I guess it has to do with tongue weight! ???
Tony P

You Got it! There isn't much weight in the front, most of it is concentrated in the rear: hatch, galley cabinets, junk stored in the galley, etc.

TDWB...you can certainly have it built by April...Doug built his Comet in 4mos and others have had much shorter build times...it all depends on how much time you can put in on a weekly basis...yes the axles are somewhat to the rear because of reasons that Asian stated also the further back you can place your axle the better the ride and ease of backing...if you put all your heavy items in the rear this will allow you to get the most wheelbase you can...
madjack

TeardropwannaB wrote:Tom, did you apply the Uniflex directly to the plywood?

Before applying the Uniflex, I filed the screw holes holes and seams in the plywood and aplied a couple of coats of Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer. Here's some more info on the Uniflex:

http://www.tomswenson.com/teardrop/skin/index.shtml

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

hey tdwb,
im in nc if your interested in seeing mine under const. let me know.
im building a weekender like franks or mikes.but having just got back from myrtle beach and seeing others there i have decided that all tears are diff. and all bulid times are diff. and all what you are going to be useing it for will dictate what you want to build.in other words build what will work best for you.this forum will give you the best info and all of these guys will help! also clyde lives right up the road and he has a nice older tear. a 47, kit i think..he would be gld to show it off if you ask.i think i am about 1hr and a half from you.you dont have to be a great woodworker only basic stuff and youll get by fine.

.".if you put all your heavy items in the rear this will allow you to get the most wheelbase you can..."

Madjack I'm not sure I understand this statement!

Thanks you guys for all of the insight! I can't wait to have my first tear and to be planning a 2nd!

Tony P
Charlotte, NC

Tony, by putting your heavy items in the rear...the natural consequence of this, in relation to tongue weight, is to allow you to move your axle placement as far back as is practical from a weight distibution viewpoint...you want between 10/15% of total weight on the tongue...the rest on your axle...in this context, the longer the wheel base(tongue to center of axle) the better the ride and the easier the backing up...while maintaining that 10/15% tongue weight and 85/90% on your axle...good that should be clear as mud now
madjack

Tony,

It great having the fever. I am down in Greenville, SC. I am just about finished with my 5 x 9 Tear. I would be glad to send you some photo's. I started my Tear using a 5 x 8 Utility trailer and welding on an extension. I then welded support mounts onto the existing trailer frame. It has 13" tires and we have extended the tongue to ease backing up headaches.

Let me know if you would like to see some pictures. I am just finshing up the hatch ( 2nd one). The first one wasn't perfect, but as I have found out lots of hatches are not perfect.

Chip lives just around the corner and he is also working on building his second one.

Montanablue ( Rick)