Building a Teardrop on an Aluminum ATV Trailer?

[Buck62]

Hello all, I'm a first-timer here.

I presently own a Starcraft popup camper, but am seriously thinking about building a larger TD camper that can accomodate my family of four. My tow vehicle is a Honda Element with a 1,500 lb tow capacity. My Starcraft weighs 1,400 lbs, but pulls well. I installed a heavy-duty transmission cooler on the Element and have had no issues in the past 3 years of towing the Starcraft over 7,000 total miles.

The popup is okay, but I like the idea of not having to turn the crank and set it up anymore, due to bursitis in my shoulder and, well... getting older. My kids are young... only 7 and 5 years old (boys).

I've been pondering building the TD, but would like to start with a frame that's light, yet strong. After lurking here for a week or so and doing some homework via searches, I've come to the conclusion that an aluminum ATV frame might be my best option to build a large, sturdy TD that I'd like to keep under 1,200 lbs.

Overall height is a concern, as I live in Chicago and the TD would be garage kept. So it has to be 5'10" (max) to fit in my garage, due to a slope at the entrance. The design would be simple and basic, with a queen bed at the rear and two bunks (one over the other) on the front wall for my kids.

The trailer I'd like to use as my base would be like this one...

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/rvs/681278969.html


It's a 6'8" wide by 8'8" long Triton ATV trailer. It seems like it would be perfect to put a queen bed in the back (side to side, instead of length-wise) and would leave a gap of 1 to 2 feet between the queen bed and bunks. I checked Triton's website and the weight of that trailer is 360 lbs and it's frame is all welded together and comes fully lighted. It also has a pre-mounted floor.

Anyway, I guess what I'm looking for is some insight as to whether anybody here has done a build on one of these types of trailers. I found a company (Microlite) that builds the teardrop box and actually uses an aluminum ATV frame.

http://www.microlitetrailer.com/

Check the pics here (view the "Wazat" model)...

http://www.microlitetrailer.com/microlitegallery.html


Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated!

[dreadcptflint]

Hey welcome aboard. I am a little familar with the WAZAT and do know that their are two owners on the board. I have heard of one more thinking of building with an aluminum frame however that is a more from scratch. Take a look at some of the ultra light builds and they should provide you with the clues to guide you.

[angib]

I can't see any problem in using this sort of trailer as a base, except that it already has quite a high deck, so just a regular 4ft high box on top is going to get somewhere near your 5'10" height limit. So you certainly don't get to have a standy (stand up inside) or near-standy.

You might want to have a look at the trailer frame structure as it might be easy to put a dropped footwell between the bunks and the double.

If you want to keep the existing deck ply, you may have to get creative in designing a joint to attach the side and front/back walls - but maybe you can put the side/front/back walls outside the existing trailer and screw/bolt in through the trailer sides.

Andrew

[Buck62]

I can't see any problem in using this sort of trailer as a base, except that it already has quite a high deck, so just a regular 4ft high box on top is going to get somewhere near your 5'10" height limit. So you certainly don't get to have a standy (stand up inside) or near-standy.

Good point, I hadn't thought about that.

I guess there's a good reason why so many folks use the Harbor Freight, Northern Tool and Tractor Supply trailers... because they are cheap and easy to work with. I was looking at this from a weight and width perspective and didn't think enough about height.

Hmmm... I guess I need to do some more reading up and educate myself.

Thanx for the help!

[Alphacarina]

I'll bet that all aluminum trailer outweighs an HF frame as well - They have built in all sorts of rigidity which they need to haul ATV's around, but which you don't need for putting a box on top of

I wouldn't want those small diameter tires either

Don

[Buck62]

I just wish there was an affordable 6ft wide trailer at a decent price out there. A 6 X 9 trailer would be perfect. The width was what really drew me to the aluminum ATV trailer.

[madjack]

...well Bucko, here's a suggestion...design the frame you want...buy the steel(or aluminum), cut and fit it up, then getchur buddy with welding skils to comeon over and weld it up for a couple of cold ones and supper...if you don't have sucha buddy, get it all jigged up and call a weldor to come over and weld it forya...should take between 2-4 hours forra competent weldor and you will have the EXACT frame you want......
madjack

[Wimperdink]

I just wish there was an affordable 6ft wide trailer at a decent price out there. A 6 X 9 trailer would be perfect. The width was what really drew me to the aluminum ATV trailer.

I wouldn't be even a lil scared to build on that trailer if I needed a 6' wide setup. Your not going to be putting your wheels and tires on the outside of a 6' platform to look like a normal tear. You'd be looking at a 7.5" wide at the outside of the wheels which would make it a lot more difficult to keep it between the lines if you did that.

Buck I have a Wazat, and if you do decide to build on that and want/need any pics upclose, I'd be happy to provide.

I wouldn't want those small diameter tires either

Don

I have a HF trailer and 3 boat trailers with the 4.8 x 12 tires. Wazat has the fat small tires and tows much better because of the width. They dont drop into every little crack and hole in the cement. Keep the wheelbearings greased and they arent a problem.

[Gerdo]

There are thousands of people towing snowmobile trailers with this size tire up and down the mountains without any problems. Bigger tires spin at a slower speed than a smaller one going the same speed. Maintain them and you shouldn't have a problem.