Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **dirtsailor2003** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:31 pm

Just dropping a note to introduce myself. My wife and I have been contemplating a Teardrop build for sometime now. I do structural design work for residential buildings. I build wooden boats and skin on frame boats as a hobby. We dry camp and kayak camp, backpack. Our current camp rig is a 2002 Chevy crewcab and a 2001 Angler in bed camper. Both togs going strong but looking for something smaller and a but more economical.

We have a 2005 Rav4 and probably would use that as a tow vehicle. We also have a 6x10 BigTex flatbed. I have considered using that as the trailer and making the Teardrop removable. Only problem with that is the trailer is pretty heavy. Also would like off-road capabilities as some of my camping adventures take me way off the beaten path.

I've been lurking around here for years and have read quite a bit. With winter getting here soon I May get to pull the trigger soon. It's either that or another boat and the wife's more enthusiastic about me building a teardrop than another boat!

Thanks Dirtsailor

A.K.A Case

by **fullon627** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:52 pm

Welcome Case, I'm a Newbee also. Just started to build a small trailer for my daughter http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60867. It's good therapy from what ever else you do in life. I find that I'm more relax doing this right now than anything else I was doing. I guess it's just something different. From your introduction, your skills are way better than mine. So welcome again and just dive in!!!

by **dirtsailor2003** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:48 pm

Thanks for the welcome! I actually looked at your build the other day. Nice work, looks like your daughter is going to get a great rig!

by **pchast** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:52 pm

Case,
Welcome!

If I may, I think you would be happier with a Tear on its own trailer.
Look at having a trailer built with a better axle and brakes. Its less
expensive than I expected in what I've read here.

by **dirtsailor2003** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 4:09 am

pchast wrote:Case,
Welcome!

If I may, I think you would be happier with a Tear on its own trailer.
Look at having a trailer built with a better axle and brakes. Its less
expensive than I expected in what I've read here.

I've been leaning more that direction too. I've convinced myself that the trailer we have is too big and heavy. Plus I'd like some added clearance for some of the roads I plan on towing into. Something along the lines of the Moby1 XTR height wise.