new to teardrops

[vanfajo]

Hi to everyone on the forum. A brief intro...I'm relatively new to teardrops, really only discovered them a few months ago but love the idea of designing and building one. I enjoy camping and fishing and design so building a teardrop is a great outlet. The plan is to build one over the long hard winter up here in Michigan with my brother. We have some plans and a vision (see album pic..hopefully I uploaded it correctly) and are starting to hunt around for a good trailer. That is proving to be harder than we thought...as you'll see in the sketch we'd like larger car tires and round fenders (without breaking the bank) to give the TD a nice "stance."
Anyway, just thought I'd say hello...

Great forum by the way, already found it helpful.

[halfdome, Danny]

Wow, for a new guy you've got your plan in hand. Welcome to the forum. Danny

[Mike C.]

Welcome vanfajo,

You have come to the right place to learn how to build a trailer.
I really like your design. Join in the discussion and ask lots
of questions and as you build, post lots of pictures.

See you around.

[Gerdo]

Welcome. Looks like a good plan. Have you though about having a frame built to your specs? When I was looking at premade frames they were all overbuilt for our needs.

[vanfajo]

I have some drawings into a fab shop to quote the frame/axle/tongue etc...have not heard back yet but my hunch is it will be quite high. Hoping to find something on craigslist or the local classifieds and then fit it with the proper wheels/hubs/tires and axle if nec. Any pitfalls to look out for should I decide to go down that path?

[Ira]

Welcome, Van.

Can you explain the roof rack to me? It's not flat, but curverd, so I'm curious what you're gonna use it for:

Are you in the mafia and that rack is going to carry bodies, or do you have something else in mind?

[vanfajo]

Ira...no, not for transporting bodies. Not much of a mafia presence in west MI. The thought would be to use it to strap down waterproof duffels/carry bags/rain flys or whatever. I wanted to avoid interupting the teardrop silhouette to drastically. Frankly I could take it or leave it, but my concern is that its a lot easier to "reel in" once the build starts than to a try to retro fit features like that.

[Mary K]

Vanfajo, Welcome to the forum! Your design and drawing is very nice!!

I saw a new VW Beetle just yesterday with a rack Just like the one you drew, curved to the top on the VW. It was Eye catching. Ya might look into it..

Mk

[Miriam C.]

To the playground Vanfajo! Love the plans! There is a frame tutorial at the top of the page that might be helpful!

Enjoy the forums and keeps the bubble oil level.

[mikeschn]

Hey Van,

Welcome to the forum. Nice plan you got there. I would definitely go for the custom chassis.

But shop around. Here on the other side of the state I got two quotes, one for $600 and one for $1200. And I was furnishing the axle. Geesh.

Anyways, have fun, and take lots of pictures.

Mike...

[Roly Nelson]

Welcome, Vanfajo, by the looks of your sketches, you are already half way there. Great shape, my favorite (as you can see by my pics below) and very functional to boot. I see you have only one door planned, and you might consider adding another, simply because it sure is easier to make up the bed with 2 doors and your bed partner doesn't have to climb over you to make a nature call in the middle of the night.

It looks like you have the "answer man" right there in Holland, MI only about 120 miles away from you, by the way the crow flies. I suggest you make the drive and check out his builds and pick his brain. (good idea, Mike?)

Good luck on your build, take pics and post em. Your design is great, and you even have a mid-way horizontal trim molding, for some reason, I really like that.

Roly

[neal b]

welcome aboard have fun with your build

neal b