Newbie from England

[Steve Moke]

Hi there,
New to the forum after having a look around, amazing wealth of information y'all have got here. My name is Steve and I am located in the town of Bolton in the county of Lancashire England. Just getting into the idea of building a Teardrop to tow behind my Mini Moke, as it's only a small car (1275cc engine) so I'll be looking at something fairly light weight. Getting to old to be putting up tents and sleeping on hard floors

Cheers Steve

[Mike_La]

Hello, Steve.

Welcome to T&TTT.

We've got a few members from the UK. I'm sure one of them will chime in. I also believe one may have a Mini Mote.
Let us know when you start building your TD, and post photos of your progress.

Cheers,

[Steve Moke]

Hi Mike, thanks for the welcome .. had a look at some of your posts and photos of your build, snowed in over here so I have had the whole day so far just looking around and reading what you guys are building, I think there is still a couple of months worth of reading to do! this forum just keeps going with lots of good stuff.

Design thats running through my mind at the moment is one I have seen called a 'Raindrop'??? rounded nose, flat roof, sloping back, but that may change.

Cheers Steve

[angib]

Welcome, Steve, from another Brit. We've certainly got at least one teardrop builder here with an A-series Mini tow vehicle (a Clubman estate, IIRC).

Andrew

[Cliffmeister2000]

Welcome, Steve!

I did a double take when I saw your name, 'cause I know a guy named "Steve Moke".

[Steve Moke]

Cheers Andrew & Cliff.

Good to hear about a Mini/Tear combination, got to work out what sort of weight it can safely pull. Good to know I woke you up with the Moke last name Cliff


Steve

[jackdaw]

Hi Steve, WELCOME TO THE FORUM from one of the Brit builders on the board.
Have you checked out the hall of fame yet ? and Andrews Design Library at the top of the page ? Both with a great choice of trailers and very inspirational.

I'm sure Paul will be along to tell you about his Mini/Benroy combo soon.

Last year I built the Coppertop for my daughter to pull behind her little 1.4 VW Lupo . The trailer weighs in at 360 kg and the Lupo manages to tow it fairly easily. It slowed down going up some of the long Cornish hills last year, but other than that, it's worked out great.
When it comes to trailer building I think lighter is definately better.

Cheers Dave.

[Steve Moke]

Cheers Dave, 360kg sounds about the right weight for the 1275 Moke ... still in the 'thinking it thru' stage.

Steve

[Kurt (Indiana)]

Welcome Steve, you came to the right place. Glad to have you aboard.

[Cliff H]

Welcome from another noob.

[Mini Renegade]

Welcome Steve. Yes I have a 1981 998cc drum braked clubby estate to tow mine, a lightweight Benroy profile, it weighs around 200-250kg so should be no probs for a 1275 Moke.

Why not join us brits over on tearjerkers. we have a growing and very active chapter with our 2nd gathering in May.

Bolton, where the late great fred Dibnah lived, a saint of back-yard mechanics the world over

[Steve Moke]

Nice looking combination ... I'd be interested to know a little about the chassis you used to keep the weight down, I am already registered on Tearjerkers so you'll find me there when I get down to the planning/sourcing phase. Long live Fred eh! was in the town centre this week and walked past the bronge statue of him, it's sooo life like.

Catch up with ya soon.

Steve

[Dragonryder]

I certainly understand what you're saying about the age part. I just don't think I can do the tent scene too many more times. I think I will finally get to use my tear this year. Looking forward to it. Building is a lot of fun but after about the first year for me, I was just ready to be done and get to enjoy it. Mine took about two years but that is mainly because I built it outside and here in Ohio, the winters tend to cut into build time.

Anyways, welcome and be sure to keep us up to date.

[Mini Renegade]

Nice looking combination ... I'd be interested to know a little about the chassis you used to keep the weight down, I am already registered on Tearjerkers so you'll find me there when I get down to the planning/sourcing phase. Long live Fred eh! was in the town centre this week and walked past the bronge statue of him, it's sooo life like.

Catch up with ya soon.

Steve

Cheers, I had a lightweight custom chassis made by a mate at a local fabricators that uses towsure suspension units with Mini hubs, the main part is a `T`section of 2" box with 1" angle iron ladder frame on that. It sounds weak but when the body is on it is solid.

[Steve Moke]

Sounds about right ... Have you any photos of the chassis you could show me?