Beginning teardrop adventures.

[katrinad]

I just started tossing around the idea of a teardrop trailer about a month ago. Since then I've slowly been becoming obsessed. I can't even remember where I saw it for the first time!

Anyway, I'm thinking I'm crazy but I think I'm gonna jump in and attempt to build a small classic teardrop. I don't have any real wordworking skills although I always want to build my own... well everything. Moving this month has finally gotten me a garage so I can actually act on some desired projects.

My recent move to Colorado about a year ago has gotten me back into the outdoors. So much more to explore.I was originally hoping to pull it behind our Mazda3, but I'm not quite convinced that's possible yet. May need to trade in our other car to get a better car capable of towing one! I'm not sure that a compact car can pull a trailer up and around the mountains.

Still lots of researching and planning to do but I'm hoping that at the end of the winter I'll have a teardrop that can bring me on lots of adventures.

[Shadow Catcher]

Welcome to the community. A lot of experience represented here (learn from our mistakes before making your own).
Tom

[Vedette]

Yes, welcome!
There is a ton of info on this Forum.
Check out the electrical section.
Look at some of the build journals.
Draft your chassis or buy one.
Get a good axle.
Read as much as you can here on the Forum
And make eBay your friend.
Good Luck with your build and Good Roads!
Brian & Sandi

[katrinad]

Starting to get intrigued by the idea of a foamie. Primarily if it makes it so I don't need to buy a new vehicle to tow it. Unfortunately, we seem to have the one car in the world with zero towing capability (at least according to the manual). I'm not sure how far I want to stretch it, knowing that it will be up and down the Rockies.

I'm wondering about the longevity of foamies. I don't want to put a lot of effort into building something that is "disposable" after a few years of use. Are there any build threads of these hybrid foamies (foam with a thin shell of plywood) so I can get a better idea of what goes into it?

[katrinad]

Haven't started yet. But I know I need to make decisions soon if I wanted to get it finished before camping season.

I want to be able to tow with Mazda3. So I think I'll be pretty limited on weight to feel comfortable towing it up and down the mountains in Colorado.

Hubby isn't convinced on a foamie, and neither am I anymore after reading that horror story of the one tipping over on the highway. Now I'm tossing around two ideas:

1. Seeing if I can make a really light benroy (want 600lbs which seems impossible by my current estimates without going to foam walls). Estimate gear will add 200?
2. Making a gearhauler/chuckwagon on a 40x48" trailer. Aim for lightweight. Sort of like that explorer with the tent on top but without the tent (damn a $600 tent is too expensive!). One box to open up like a galley with all the kitchen stuff. And another box that can open up to store the rest of the gear. Maybe 2-2.5 ft in height.

What should I aim for on a comfortable towing weight using a Mazda3 sport 2.3L? US owners manual says 0, but Europe is 550kg unbraked. It will be primarily all mountain driving. I have no experience with towing so I'm pretty scared.

I really would want to make a teardrop if possible. Is there anyway I can get like 600-650lbs without going foam or going smaller than 4x8? I don't want to build a tear and then realize I can't even tow it. I have a pretty good idea for simple/lightweight galley. But its the walls, floor, and trailer that add up the bulk of the weight.

If I think its not really feasible I'll go the chuckwagon route which will still give us most of the convenience.

[Mary C]

Welcome to the forum. I understand your dilemma but the problem with the Cathrine and twins TD was two things, one it was high and not wide and not enough ballast. Since that build newer adjustments have been realized. Louella (eaglesdare) has the mouse which is a smaller build and more compact I have been reading over the things I need to know for my first build and I have chosen to go Light, very light. I have a 20 year old Mitsubishi Eclipse as a tow vehicle with a 500 to 700 pound Max They only made a class one two hitch so I am very comfortable and very content to build a foamie. What is funny, it will be about 20 inches taller than my car and 5 inches up off the ground than my car. I suggest you read and read about the foamies then as GPW so likes to say build it the way you want. The whole idea of Foamie is thrifty and Light weight. enjoy reading and there are lots of people to give you input! You can do it!!!!

Mary C.

[Vedette]

When Roly gets home tomorrow to watch the game. He might chime in with some building suggestions.
As his Teardrops seem to be lighter than most???
Good Roads
Brian

[katrinad]

Disclaimer. I have not read all 300 pages of the foamie thread (maybe only about 100-120!).

Are there any examples of foamies with a galley hatch? Other than the person that has the full height side opening one? Galley is non-negotiable. But a lot of foamies seem to have no hatch...

The homebrewing saying keeps coming back in my head... Don't fear the foam!

[bobhav]

katrinad,

My wife and I considered buying a new Mazda 3 last spring. We contacted a trailer supply about installing a hitch. They would do it and as I recall, they rated the combo at 1500# capable. Our big issue was the hitch might void the warranty. We ended up with a new Mazda CX-5. You might contact a firm that sells and installs hitches for there recommendation. It sounds like you have "Teardrops on the Mind." Been there, done that, and now we own a teardrop trailer. Good luck and enjoy your journey.

BobH.

[Mary C]

Yes , Eagledare made a hatch with a piano hinge and just canvased over it. I plan to use the piano hinge and cover it with a flat 4 inch weatherproof fabric it has a thin coat of rubber like stuff on one side and a nylon top and will cover with canvas. I guess i have a lot of faith. Just don't get into a hurry. check out all the builds and check out the wood builds too you will be in good company and remember foam is a lot easier to work with. I have a lot of woodworking experience and I am going with Foam. You will do great and if you need help ask. if you make a cutting mistake you can always glue. Read some more , don't get in a hurry.

Mary C.

[katrinad]

Mazda is already out of warranty so no worry there. Encouraging though! Trying to downsize to one car and I want the best of both worlds!

Hubby is skeptical of the foamies. Thinks we will get drunk one night camping and break a wall off of it or something.

Canvas over foam sounds like the way to go.... And with the weight savings I won't feel guilty about adding a tap and a keg of homebrew.

Ah the dream might start soon. Build looks much simpler too this way. Definitely a time saver.

You guys putting electric in your foamies? We don't really need but I've seen its better to put it in from the begining then add it later. Might skip it all together though.

Now to get through all 300 pages and get a better idea of how to build. Thanks for the encouragement!

[Junkboy999]

Hey Katrinad

Welcome to the forums

There is a nice small foamie, more of a rectangle box with a point of the front. He had it for a few years
now. It is painted camouflage ( sorry i can’t remember the name of that one. )

I have this one bookmarked . Northern Lite Traveler
It is build light at 525 lbs. here is enough pictures in the thread to give you a good idea on how it is built.
It has a little galley in the back

And check out the Pico light, small light weight but no galley.

Take some time to read a few build thread a night for ideas.

[Roly Nelson]

Ta Dah, I am going to respond even before the big game. It sounds like you don't think it is possible to build a light weight TD unless you go the foam route. Well, 10 years ago, I was cautioned to not even try to build a TD with only 1/4 inch plywood walls and roof. My feeling was, since I have been building cabinets for over 40 years, I could accomplish this, if stiffeners were added along the way to eliminate any flexing. I have even jacked up one corner of the rig, until a tire leaves the ground, and both doors can be opened without binding. I guess that tells us how rigid it is.

The curved roof was no problem, since it had cross members about every 10 inches, with 2 layers of 1/4 inch laun plywood and I can walk all over it. The side walls, rear of the doors, had interior cabinets and counter-tops butting up against them, there by eliminating any flexing. However, forward of the doors, I simply added a horizontal stiffiner, inside and out, and so far, after 10 years, I have had no problem what so ever. I glued and screwed everything and refinish the exterior every year with good old spar varnish. No insulation, no interior moisture problems and here in So Calif, I am warm as toast, with my li'l ol' elect heater that is about the size of a cigar box. This may not be the way to go in colder areas of the country where most probably insulate walls and roof.

The airconditioner in the tongue box, has been used exactly twice since it's installation, so it sits in the shop all of the time. I try to not go camping when the temps reach over 100 degrees, which happens every year where I live. If you look through my build pics, you can see how simple it was to build, and by the way, it's empty weight is only 450 lbs and is towed very nicely with my 2012 1.4 liter, turbo, Chevy Cruze. It gets up to 70 mph going up an on ramp to the freeway, which is something that my larger Toyota Camry couldn't do. I've hauled my woody across the nation 3 times, which means that it has seen it's share of mountains.

Do look over all of the info available on this forum, there are a whole lot of helpful folks here that can answer any question you might have. I suggest you find a nearby TD owner/user and pick his brain as well. Try to make it to some of the Gatherings, walk-ins are always encouraged, even if you have to sleep in the back seat of the car. Many have attended Gatherings with only a partially built trailer, me included. Good luck on your build, and by the way, Uncle Sam supported me for 2 years in Colo Springs while I was playing war games on the slopes of Pikes Peak. I loved the mountains, but hated the Army. Now when I go back, I can even afford to take the cog railway to the top of the mountain....whee.
Roly, the li'l ol' So Cal Woody guy

[Vedette]

Roly
Did you get out camping or not?
Brianl

[katrinad]

Long awaited reply. I thought I gave up on my teardrop dreams, but a few changes and I think I'm ready! Just sold my car and realized it was more difficult living on one car than I thought. Decided we're going to buy an old Subaru and build a foamie teardrop. All things going right we will make money off of the switch! Crossing my fingers a 2.5 2001 Outback can tow up and down the Rocky mountains.

I think just to be safe we should build on a trailer with brakes. Is that overkill for a 700lb foamie? I have no idea how much our gear weighs but I'm estimating 400-500lbs. Towing capacity only 1000 but 2000 with brakes. And yes, 99% of the time will be going from Denver west though the mountains.

Anyway, need to get started on a quick build in time for camping season. I'm sure I'll be asking for TONS of help. Now to design and start ordering everything.