Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Newbie to this forum, but longtime small tailer camper. I've completely remodeled a couple trailers, but am dreaming of building a teardrop.
Situation is that I've just picked up a new, completely totaled pop-up, tent camper and the enitre frame was untouched in accident.
Question is - frame size is 81 inches by 108 inches. I think profile can fit well, but I'm stumped as to how to take advantage of width. For example, what size spars would be needed to span nearly 7 feet. Another consideration is placement of axle (2000# torsion). Its 4 feet from front, 3 feet from rear and wheel wells account for 2 feet.
Priorities -
1) keep weight down (my current "TOW LO" is too much for my small pickup.
2)keep as low as possible (would like to stick to 4 feet)
3) "squared off" shape OK if it helps layout
4) rear , outside galley not critical, but some space for cooking is.

Anyone's inspiration is greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Mike

Mike,

You might be able to cut the width down, depending on how the trailer is made. Look at the thread called "Pop-Up Trailer mods???????" under the Frame section. They are going to try to cut the width down on a old pop-up.

Mike, welcome to our little board of fun and games...what profile(s) are you considering...with a frame of that size, a Cabin Car would fit nicely with all the amenities such as 48Rob or Grenn Hornet are building...as Jeff suggested, you could consider cutting the frame width down and build something narrower. For roof spars, at that length I would suggest a hardwood that is 1.5 to 2"s tall...1" thick would be more than plenty...if you are planing to skin the roof and ceiling with ply, even 1/8, you are in effect building a torsion box and it should do fine with no sag...leave the axle where it is at is a good way to go and if you actualy need to, you can adjust weight by placement of your heavier items...keep in mind that tongue weight should be 10/15% of total...keep on planning and we'll be here to help as you need it...Please take pics and post them, as some of our members get sad if they don't have a pic or two too look at every day...we all really do luv da pics
madjack

Mike, welcome.

I would vote for looking at cutting down the width of the frame - if you build a trailer with a base of 108" x 81", it's going to be big and that will tend to make it heavy, even if you can resist the temptation to pile stuff into all that space you've got.

One thing to look at would be how wide the frame would be if you narrowed it until the main side rails sat on the spring mounts.

Andrew

Usually we are talking about making a trailer wider.... You are in the cat bird seat, easier to take material out than add it.

That width, unless you really need it, makes a lot of things more difficult, including visibility to the rear. And I suspect it will affect your gas mileage because of weight and air resistance.

I don't see much reason to leave it that wide unless you need the space. Queen size mattress determined my width.

Leave the frame wide and deck over it, first td with a deck or running boards!!!

gman wrote:first td with a deck or running boards!!!

That could be cool - a teardrop with a porch swing.......

Andrew

I hate to "hack" up the frame with my poor metal working ability. (no problem with woodworking) and I can see advantage to wide frame in that bed(s) will fit lengthwise across width. This may leave room for some inside seating.
Also spent a small fortune last year on nice, extended mirrors, so backward vision is good.
Looks like challege will be for design that minimizes weight.

Keep the ideas coming!

Mike

Why not take advantage of the width and build something like this...



Mike...

angib wrote:

gman wrote:first td with a deck or running boards!!!

That could be cool - a teardrop with a porch swing.......

Andrew

Seriously, that frame allows some neat opportunities for floor plans. I would love to have a sideways bed, like the above floor plan.