Got my project off craigs list for $250

[boatmaninc]

I've been interested in building a teardrop for the past six months and came across the frame of a tandem axle stock/cattle trailer. six feet wide across and longer than ever -16 or so feet. It's a heavy frame.

I need your help. Any suggestions? Anybody ever seen a teardrop camper built from an old stock trailer?

Thanks

Noah

[mary and bob]

Is it worth it to cut it down to teardrop size, use one of the axles, or are you better off to resell it and start with a smaller trailer. Bob

[Ageless]

This was discussed a while ago. Build a standard tear at the rear and make the front into a 'patio'

[boatmaninc]

Thank you for the thoughts. As I look at the trailer, I am intrigued by the 2 dropped axles that span 6 feet. I'm not excited about having a tear that takes up my garage - HA!

My thought was to use the framing and rebuild something smaller. Keep an axle for another build or sell

The tears that I like vary from the lil diner to the modernistic or benroy.

N

[Miriam C.]

Perhaps you should sell the stock trailer, buy a smaller trailer, and hopefully come out with some extra.

btw WELCOME

[Arne]

just because it is cheap does not make it a good deal....

unless you don't care about the weight. with a tandem axle, and what it was built for, I'm guessing the trailer weighs about 600-650 pounds, minimum.. about the weight of a light weight t/d trailer complete.

[bobhenry]

The $ you think you saved on the frame will be tossed into the tank to pull that monster around. Advertise it for trade for a smaller unit and save yourself a lot of work !

I put my 5x10 barn on a 5x8 cargo. It took 12 minutes to remove the side rails with a saws-all and the little vee that was left made a great place to bolt the attaching wood for the floor.





No the wood is not crooked it's my crazy camara !

The one thing I will say about a tandum it is great to be able to come home on a flat or with a wheel problem on 3 wheels if absolutely necessary

[boatmaninc]

I thought all the metal framing would be of benefit. Is the framing on this too heavy as well?

My other thought was that this could be turned into two trailers?

Can't the Tandam be used as individual?

Keep it coming.

[bobhenry]

Don't get me wrong.....

I have a 22' flatbed that was a 22' bumper pull camper until it was wrecked. I have looked at it long and hard for a big standie. I tend to build wierd things so the caboose idea is still in my brain. AT 22' in length and 8' 0" wide it would be just right to have the 2 observation platforms on each end with steps to the ground and a slender door on each end. If you are not looking for far off destinations and have a tow vehicle that will handle the load GO FOR IT. I have the green light from Ol what's her name to rebop the monster frame but I really want a mini 4x8 to drag long distances at little or no cost behind the 2 small 4 cylinder cars we have and save my new truck for pulling the heavier tiny trailers or maybe a huge caboose

[Corwin C]

The problem with a stock trailer is that they are designed to take a whole lot of weght. A 16 foot stock trailer is probably rated for 8000# or even more. Guaranteed, those axles are way overkill for a TD without some serious mods.

[mary and bob]

To separate the tandem axles you will probably have to buy/make/or modify the spring shackles. Depends as to how they are set up, like connected with an equalizer shackle or mounted separately. I would sell it, or keep it for another use, and just go with a smaller trailer to start with. My problem is I tend to overbuild things, which increases weight, but I haven't had anything fall apart either. Recently, in Pittsfield MA at a repair shop I saw a teardrop that was on a frame that had an oriental sounding name, made in China perhaps, and the tongue jack was broke off. That frame looked too lightweight to me, so you need to find that happy medium, strong enough, but not extremely heavy. I think a lot of builders have found that the finished trailer is a lot heavier than they expected. We're lucky to have found an original Modernistic, and it only weighs 650 lb, can pull it with a 4 cyl. Toyota, and it's been a lot of fun too. Bob

[boatmaninc]

So, these thoughts are good and 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.

My wife and I would like to take our two girls (1 and 3) camping next summer and thereafter and the tear just seems like a great way to do it. A kitchen so that I don't feel bloated from eating McDonald's all vacation. A bed that is dry even if it is raining. And plenty of room for souvenirs. We'd all like to be able to sleep if we had too in the tear, but plan also to have a tent or two with us.

Our vehicles of choice are a 03 Highlander with V6 and a 05 Town & Country with a larger engine.

We'd like to go farther than nearer with this future dream. So, the caboose, though a really neat and creative idea is out. I'll save that for my backyard or even a drawing made with my children.

So, I paid 250 for this trailer and a new 5 x 8 frame is about 600 bucks as I can tell. I am really try to build something cheap and completely understand the fuel concept as well as the weight. However, my thought with one of the axles was that it was so heavy that it would ride nice and not really add up too much weight. The framing on the other hand...

The current trailer if primarily angle iron throughout.

Did I mention that one axle has trailer brakes.....yeah, not really a Tiny Trailer.

Thanks for all your feedback.

Also, we are in MN with 0Ëš temps. what kind of guidelines should I be working with. Not planning on camping now, but the unit won't be stored in a heated shed or anything.

N

[Arne]

h/f did have their 1740 trailer on sale with the store flier for about $350... don't know if it still is.

[bobhenry]

We'd like to go farther than nearer with this future dream. So, the caboose, though a really neat and creative idea is out. Thanks for all your feedback.

Also, we are in MN with 0Ëš temps. what kind of guidelines should I be working with. Not planning on camping now, but the unit won't be stored in a heated shed or anything.

N

OK So how about a fully insulated barn.

$2400.00 ready to camp

[boatmaninc]

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