Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi,
I'm new here and I'm getting ready to build a Benroy teardrop, But have a few questions. I have a H/F frame (4x8) The folding style.

I have pulled the 2 center frame rails out and installed them into the side rails and bolted them in to make the frame more ridged. Now for the questions.

1. I'm going to build the wood frame on top the metal frame for the sides to screw to. I'm not going to bring the sides all the down to where it covers the frame (per the plan) I want the sides to rest on the metal fram.
I take it I will need to make the wood fram 46 1/2"X 96" Instead of the 48x96 to allow for the 3/4" sides, And I will need to cut the flooring the same, So that top will be 4' across. and the upper skinning will all fit right. (Am I right on this???)

2. I was also wondering if I could install a brace running from front to rear in the center of the frame, Instead of crosswise ( replacing the 2 braces that I had installed to the side rails) or do you think it might not give the frame enough support.

I was thinking if doing this so i can build 2 storage boxes running length wise, So I could have a storage area i could get to thru each side door.

This is going to be my first attempt on building a teardrop, So I will be asking a lot of questions, And thanks in advance for your help.

Ron,

IMO: Yes to the first question and it should not be a problem to run the added support lengthwise vs crosswise. Your frame for the flooring should be enough support for you.

240zron wrote:I take it I will need to make the wood fram 46 1/2"X 96" Instead of the 48x96 to allow for the 3/4" sides,

Yes.

240zron wrote:2. I was also wondering if I could install a brace running from front to rear in the center of the frame, Instead of crosswise ( replacing the 2 braces that I had installed to the side rails)

I think that's absolutely fine, though others may disagree. Indeed I think you could perfectly well leave out the center brace if you wanted to - the only need for it is to hold up the plywood floor and that will hold itself up quite happily over a 3'x3' area.

Andrew

240, one thing we did was to make it 46 1/4 so as to give a little wiggle room when installing the top skins...something that was appreciated by us when the time came...course that means trimming the skins once installed...
madjack

Thanks for the input. I'm planing on running a brace from the 2nd brace to the 4th brace lenght wise (the middle brace i took out being the 3rd) And building storage compartments on eather side of the brace.

It seems like it would be strong enough, But just wanted the input.

Thanks,

240zron
The purpose of the cross braces is to keep the frame from twisting if you hit a bad pothole.
But if you put in a box for storage or drop the floor the box will be stronger than the braces you took out. Just fasten the box to the frame and floor panel if possible.
Chuck

Hi,

I got the wood framing almost done, I added a board running front to rear between rails 2 and 4 and it looks to be very strong. I also added a board right over the top of that board to the wooden frame i built over the trailer frame.

Looks like everything came out square, And will be stiff enough. Now I need to get some plywood and start on the floor and the storage boxes. Looks like I should be able to get around 8" of depth x 20"x 45" for each of the storage boxes.

Can't wait to get the plywood now.