Hello From New Zealand

[mike-nikita]

So im a bit of a making sport of a dude. love the garage and have already restored one old caravan which i learnt a hell of a lot about. So i have decided to build a rustic teardrop for my oldests 21st present. We are building it together for a bit of fun and have some basic idea with a lot of drawings and sketches (been talking about it for 3 years, now have 4 months to build) We joined the forum as im sure lots of people will have ideas and comments and its always fun communicating with like minded people (most of the time)

This is what we are basing our design on

the idea1.jpg (75.46 KiB) Viewed 1230 times

so far we have the trailer frame cut and welded and now just working on axil position

frame.jpg (89.14 KiB) Viewed 1230 times

[Roly Nelson]

Hi Mike, welcome to the board. I'm a simple woodworker, with 5 wooden teardrops built so far, all on Mickey Mouse Harbor Freight trailer frames, with no problems. It looks like you have a great start, with the welded frame, which I assume is channel iron. I'm not any kind of an engineer, but it looks like your tongue is about 9 times longer than the short attachment point at the front corners of the trailer frame. I don't know, I may be wrong, but if your tongue weight is about 200 lbs, this torque or moment of strain could put a serious 1800 pound flex condition on the corner welds. I'm not knocking your design, but just suggesting you take a closer look at this potential weak point, if it is one. Again, I know nothing about welding or what it takes to make a weld fail, so I am hoping that someone more familiar with the length of overlap required for a really strong connection. Come on, engineers.....chime in.

Good luck on your build, Mike and please don't think I am critical, but just asking. I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your one-of-a-kind teardrop trailer, my favorite style of TDs. I know you will enjoy your camping trips all around North and South Island.
Roly, the li'l ol' woody teardrop guy in So Calif.

[Redneck Teepee]

Welcome Mike, that will be quite the teardrop, have you or the boy a old beater or rat rod to hitch it to...just curious since I'm a hot rod guy. We like

[dales133]

Nice concept I realy like those ramrod style teardrops
Fellow kiwi here but I'm across the ditch in Bogstralia

[felixx]

Hello from Christchurch!
Quite a few kiwis here! (well 3 of us are active posters and a couple lurk)
Welcome!

[mike-nikita]

Hi Mike, welcome to the board. I'm a simple woodworker, with 5 wooden teardrops built so far, all on Mickey Mouse Harbor Freight trailer frames, with no problems. It looks like you have a great start, with the welded frame, which I assume is channel iron. I'm not any kind of an engineer, but it looks like your tongue is about 9 times longer than the short attachment point at the front corners of the trailer frame. I don't know, I may be wrong, but if your tongue weight is about 200 lbs, this torque or moment of strain could put a serious 1800 pound flex condition on the corner welds. I'm not knocking your design, but just suggesting you take a closer look at this potential weak point, if it is one. Again, I know nothing about welding or what it takes to make a weld fail, so I am hoping that someone more familiar with the length of overlap required for a really strong connection. Come on, engineers.....chime in.

Good luck on your build, Mike and please don't think I am critical, but just asking. I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your one-of-a-kind teardrop trailer, my favorite style of TDs. I know you will enjoy your camping trips all around North and South Island.
Roly, the li'l ol' woody teardrop guy in So Calif.

Thanks for the feedback. Better to know now. I might chat to a engineer as i can put a beam down through the centre. Want to get all this sorted before i hot dip galv it. the frame is 65*35*2.5 box section

[mike-nikita]

Welcome Mike, that will be quite the teardrop, have you or the boy a old beater or rat rod to hitch it to...just curious since I'm a hot rod guy. We like

A rat rod is my next project. Planning something fairly unique but thinking or cutting a jag down and rat rodding it with a fairly serious chassies end engine

[Vedette]

Welcome Mike
Great Choice!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[dales133]

If you look at how I did my drawbar you might be able to add a center member and end it how I have.
My a frames alot longer but I'm thinking more attachment points on the center member might save you having to undo work.
One other thing it's frowned upon by the authorities to weld across the draw bar...not sure if you have but australia and nz prefer you weld the sides of the drawbar to the cross members and frame rails rather than across.