Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hey everyone

Started my build over the last few weekends using the Northern Tool 5x8 trailer. I built the floor using 1/2inch ply and 1x2 as a box frame sandwich with insulation in between. I cut out holes for each of the bolt heads that sit on top of the trailer frame.

Question is - the floor isnt sitting exactly square on the trailer frame. It seems my floor is square but perhaps the trailer is off - i have overhang by roughly .5" on two opposite corners. Has this been a problem for anyone else? My sides are going over the frame so I can probably hide it but not sure if this is going to cause major issues after I bolt it down. Any advice is appreciated!

If you measure the distance between the opposite corners on your floor, are they the same? How about if you do that now on the trailer?

The measurements both ways should be the same if it's truly square. If you floor is square and trailer isn't, put down some ply to keep it that way. Then you can bolt the trailer to the floor to give it a bit of "convincing" to get squared. If it's the trailer that's square, put your framing on the trailer, bolt it, and then put your flooring on.

Camp4Life wrote:If you measure the distance between the opposite corners on your floor, are they the same? How about if you do that now on the trailer?

The measurements both ways should be the same if it's truly square. If you floor is square and trailer isn't, put down some ply to keep it that way. Then you can bolt the trailer to the floor to give it a bit of "convincing" to get squared. If it's the trailer that's square, put your framing on the trailer, bolt it, and then put your flooring on.

So my floor measures equal to opposite corners. It's the trailer that's off. I guess I'll have to loosen all the bolts, attach the floor, then retighten the trailer frame bolts.


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To make it more difficult, the extra play (oversized) in the bolt holes makes it very tricky to square. I built my floor carefully (truely square) then placed it on the trailer, adjusting the trailer to the floor.

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Budowski wrote:

Camp4Life wrote:If you measure the distance between the opposite corners on your floor, are they the same? How about if you do that now on the trailer?

The measurements both ways should be the same if it's truly square. If you floor is square and trailer isn't, put down some ply to keep it that way. Then you can bolt the trailer to the floor to give it a bit of "convincing" to get squared. If it's the trailer that's square, put your framing on the trailer, bolt it, and then put your flooring on.

So my floor measures equal to opposite corners. It's the trailer that's off. I guess I'll have to loosen all the bolts, attach the floor, then retighten the trailer frame bolts.


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That's your best bet

Wouldn't hurt to throw in a couple welds in there as well if you have access to a welder, or someone who can put a few spots here and there where they bolt together.

Camp4Life wrote:

Budowski wrote:

Camp4Life wrote:If you measure the distance between the opposite corners on your floor, are they the same? How about if you do that now on the trailer?

The measurements both ways should be the same if it's truly square. If you floor is square and trailer isn't, put down some ply to keep it that way. Then you can bolt the trailer to the floor to give it a bit of "convincing" to get squared. If it's the trailer that's square, put your framing on the trailer, bolt it, and then put your flooring on.

So my floor measures equal to opposite corners. It's the trailer that's off. I guess I'll have to loosen all the bolts, attach the floor, then retighten the trailer frame bolts.


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That's your best bet

Wouldn't hurt to throw in a couple welds in there as well if you have access to a welder, or someone who can put a few spots here and there where they bolt together.

Yea sure can good idea. Actually put some 1/8 inch metal shims on the inside of the trailer frame to get it level with the outside.


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You can use ratchet strap or rope tourniquet strung from long corner to long corner to pull it to match the short corner. Go slowly and check often.

Also, don't be surprised if the trailer frame is also not flat. If you build the box first, don't be afraid to pull the steel frame to the box in order to bolt it up. If you want to build from the floor up on the trailer, check it first and shim under the floor so that you don't pull the floor into a potato chip when you bolt it down. The side walls add a lot of stiffness to the floor and it is easier to build true off the trailer, IMO.

Ok so I ended up loosening all the bolts removing the axle and tongue. Squaring it up to the floor and bolting it down. Lesson learned - don't assume trailer frame is square!


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