Got my project off craigs list for $250

[Endo]

What's most common with tears. 4, 5,or 6 feet widths.

Looked for the 1740 on HF, but couldn't find the trailer you are referring to.

N

In general for teardrops most build 4 or 5 feet wide. I have built both.........the 5 wide is much better.

Here is the HF trailer. The online price is much higher than the current sale price.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=94564

[hotrod]

Ours is 5 ft x 8 ft, it sleeps me and the bride on the bottom on a nice comfy futon mattress and we gave up some interior cabinet space to have a bunk crosswise that our daughter can sleep on above our feet, it works well for us. I would not go narrower than 5 ft myself but wider gets to be an issue towing with a narrow hotrod occasionally.
we get to long prairie once a year or so, its our closest drive in movie theatre, 117 miles from my driveway to the entrance to the long.... lolol
Welcome to the boards!! Paul

[mary and bob]

The old original teardrops were mostly 4' wide, as ours is. The two of us are comfortable in it, but since you have two kids you should go to at least 5' if not 6 and probably could fit in an overhead bunk across the front or rear of the sleeping compartment. The frame on ours is angle iron with a 2" square tube tongue. The rest of the trailer is all aluminum, no interior paneling or insulation, so therefore making a lightweight unit. Also no cabinets in the galley. Be sure to figure on good ventilation, windows, maybe a roof vent. Most everyone parks under a canopy when set up camping for shade and a dry area from rain. Our daughter has a Dodge Caravan that she pulls her Jayco popup with, and seems to do just fine, although she is very cautious and hasn't traveled more than a few hours from home. Do a lot of research and decide what will work best for you Bob

[mary and bob]

Brad & Paul answered the width question real good. Somehow I didn't see their posts when I made mine so I didn't need to repeat their comments on width & bunk. I knew I'd seen where someone had made a crosswise bunk, and width for towing ease is a good idea. I found when towing ours with my 76 pickup or 86 full size Blazer, I can't see it in the side mirrors. Bob

[boatmaninc]

I really like the idea of a 6' wide unit as my wife and I are fairly tall. Course, that makes me wonder if my 6' axle is a worthwhile place to begin. In the big picture, it's still probably more that I should have.

The 5' idea is good too. I am afraid the 4' is out of the picture.

Any thoughts on gas mileage/performance between a 5 and a 6. Is weight more of a factor that size of unit? air drag verses weight drag? make sense....my brother-in-law would either affirm or correct my attempt at physics.

In the back of my mind, I have memories of trips my dad would make with a tandem snowmobile trailer to pick up furniture 5 hours away. They often go through 3-5 tires a trip. The last thing I really want to do is change a tire on the interstate with my family in the car. So, that may explain my initial thought on going heavy on the axle and light upon the rest of the build.

Hadn't thought of a spare tire for my axle as adding a fair amount of weight as well.

So, here's another question.....what is the best tear for a couple tall folk who are looking for efficiency and reliability.

Any guess on what I might garner in the sale of my recent purchase....the tandam stock trailer?

N

[doug hodder]

I am thankful that before I bought the trailer, the seller basically said 3 other people were interested. So, resell is not a big issue.

like that's the first time it's ever been said! But seriously...I think you'll find it's too much trailer for what you want to do with it and by the time you jump through all the hoops to get it where you want, you would be better off to start with something smaller. Doug

[Wild Bill]

Does look like a heavy trailer, being a retired stock trailer may have some serious rust issues from the manure that it carried around for years. One option would be to use one of the axles and build a frame around it, But steel is expensive and it would be cheaper and faster in the long run to just purchase a trailer already built. Unless you can weld or know someone that works for beer, that is not cheap either. The local scrap yards are full of steel and is a lot cheaper than going with new steel. I have started with a boat trailer and have the frame and floor done, You should be able to get it done in the time frame that you mentioned. I still hope to have something to camp in by spring. Be sure to build it big enough the first time, some like really small, but you want to have room for your gear if you have a small tow vehicle. The great thing is what ever you can imagine you can build, And enjoy. Good Luck Bill from Illinois