Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well, I've done it again, started on tear #4. This one is going to be a Kit style based on the 46 Kit original aluminum skins that I still have. The skins will be used as a profile template. It will be a little wider at 54". The frame is 2x2 1/8" angle iron bolted together with a 2x3 1/8" rectangular tube tongue. I am using flexiride half torsion axles with 1400 lbs capacity. There are pics of the frame in my personal gallery. The frame is basically complete and has its first coat of primer.

Jerome

That's a nice bolt together trailer you did...
http://tnttt.com/album_ ... ser_id=611

Mike...

Jerome--

You just don't learn do you? Good luck with #4.

That is a very nice frame!

If you ever decided to put the bill of materials together and the section length, could make a nice set of plans for those with out a welder! (hint hint )

Heck, I'd bet a few folks would throw a buck or two at ya! Or if you'd prefer a cold beverage (with or without pickle juice) at a gathering.

Again, nice frame

Loader wrote:That is a very nice frame!

If you ever decided to put the bill of materials together and the section length, could make a nice set of plans for those with out a welder! (hint hint )

Heck, I'd bet a few folks would throw a buck or two at ya! Or if you'd prefer a cold beverage (with or without pickle juice) at a gathering.

Again, nice frame

Hi Loader,
It is pretty simple. For the 2x2 1/8" I used the following:
2x 92" long rails
5x50.5" for the crossmembers
4x 48" for the tongue attachments and tongue
triangular supports.
4x 18" pieces to make the angle into C channel
for attachments (cut as necessary)

1 8 foot 2x3 1/8" rectangular tube for the tongue
2 12" pieces of 2x2 3/16" angle for reinforcing
the axle mounts

I also got 2 or 3 feet of leftovers from the cuts since the 2x2 angle comes in 20 foot sticks. I paid $17 to have all of the cuts made at the iron shop.

There are 34 3/8" by 1" bolts, nuts and lock washers plus 8 more grade 8 3/8" bolts,nuts, lock washers and 8 more 7/16" grade 8 sets for the axle mounts. 5 more 7/16 by 3" grade 8 sets for the tongue and coupler. I used loctite and torqued everything, 35 to 40 ft lbs for the 3/8 bolts and 45 to 50 for the 7/16.

So far the steel weighs about 150 lbs. and the axles something less than 50. As it sits it weighs a little under 200 lbs. Happy to provide the "bill of materials" and will be even happier with a cold adult beverage when we meet sometime.

Jerome

Hey Jerome,

Thanks a bunch! I love the idea of the bolt together, custom frame. I, like many, am using the 4x8 HF trailer for my current build.


A cold beverage is indeed in order!



When our paths cross, the real deal will be available!

Jerome,
Good looking frame.
Have you got any more pics of the modernistic in your avatar. I'm building one very simular. And I'm also planning on the next one.

Hi Steve, You can check the photo build album of the Modernistic in my yahoo album at
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/guffdrop/my_photos
It also used a bolted angle frame.

Jerome

Thanks I enjoyed that very much. Very Nice. I like the kit also. Thinking the next one will be 4x8 simular shape. More offroad though. I'll take it when I'm by myself fishing or hunting, and don't need all the nicety's the boss want's in the one I'm building now.
I sure wish I had the car your wheel covers's came off of. My Mother had a 63 Riviera when I was a kid. It has to be my favorite all time car.

Jerome, You are my hero! I was having a dilemma about how to build my trailer. I wanted to personnaly build my entire trailer, but I knew my welding skills were, well, ahh, are less than stellar, and heck I wouldn't want to climb in a trailer I welded together, not to mention putting it on the road. I was going to surrender my pride and have a trailer built locally by a trailer builder, but after seeing your bolt-together, , I can start again.

I have one question, what is the benefit of using the half axle, is it as solid as the full axle?


Thanks a bunch for the great insight, hope I can provide you a cold beer sometime

Kevin

Hi Kevin,
I went with the half axles for several reasons. One is weight, they are lighter than a full axle. Two, Igot the load capacity I wanted, these are flexiride with combined 1400 lb load. Three, the flexirides are adjustable for height depending on the starting angle you want. Four, the cost was just a little less than a full axle. These are not major points and a full axle does have some advantages. A full axle gives you a crossmember where I used two pieces of angle and you can get the same adjustability in a full flexiride. So basically I just wanted to try them out and found that they work fine and were not hard to install and line up right. I might go with a full axle on the next tear I build.

Jerome

SonetPro,

How tall is your profile (referring to the Tear picture in your post.)?

Todah Tear