Well, here I am...

[Scurvycrew]

Hi Everyone. Really glad I found this site and it seems to have a whole lot of nice (and helpful--thank goodness) people on it.
I live in Reno and pretty much love the outdoors. Running, hiking, backpacking, camping, drinking beer... if I can do it outside I'm happy. I teach science to kids sometimes. I live on the shoulder of a mountain that I started hiking to the top of once/month the year before a significant birthday some time back. After the birthday I thought I'd see how long I could keep it going--169 months and counting. So, am I OCD too? I will have lots of questions, but will try to start at the beginning.

Here is my tale of woe: About a year ago we decided that a little trailer would be good to make us more nimble. When you've got a nine year old girl and set up the tent a clothing bomb pretty much goes off inside it, and packing up, rolling up the pads, etc, just takes too long so my wife said "how about a little teardrop, we could just have everything in it ready to go except food and water and take off with little prep time. Not to mention the kitchen could be ready to go in the back saving all that set up time" I thought sitting room in bad weather might also be nice. So I bought an old ALiner that was supposed to weight 800lbs. Completely gutted it and did (if I do say so myself) a beautiful and thoughtfully functional rebuild of the entire interior. Took all Winter and Spring. Also put on a new Dexter axle. Then weighed it and found out it weighs 50% more than the manufacturer said (how do they come up with those numbers?). Lots of time and money wasted. My wife didn't kick me out. Now I am building a teardrop.
If your wife laughs at you, at least she's smiling.
And hey, we have a nice couch.

And MAN am I ready to go on this project.
First question: I am going to build a light teardrop using a Harbor Freight trailer. I want the total trailer dry to be less than 800 lbs., preferably 700. Should I get the 1,300 lbs. folding trailer or the super duty 1,750? I already have a 1,300 lb. folder, but am selling it to a friend because it's got a utility box with lid on it I would have to trash and he can use the trailer, I'll just buy a new one and put it together (again). I just think the1,750 lb. trailer might be a little more rigid, and easier to eventually install a new Dexter axle on. I read about removing a leaf to make it more suitable for light loads, is it really as easy (and safe) as the article made it seem? If I get anywhere close to my weight goals 1,750 axle will be way too stiff, but if I can change the leaf... I don't think I will be able to afford the new Dexter axle and 13" wheels right away. Another reason for the Dexter axle is I figure it will drop the trailer 3 inches closer to the ground. I am ready to go buy the trailer. Thoughts anyone? I guess I'll next try to post my question in the appropriate forum. I also hear the super duty is lighter than the folder. True?

[halfdome, Danny]

Welcome to the forum.
I'm not a fan of bolt together "C" channel trailers so I won't comment.
Have you thought of having someone, or yourself, weld up a frame for the Dexter Torsion axle?
You could save weight in other ways and have a solid base to build on.

Good luck on your build.
Danny

[Scurvycrew]

Thanks for the advice Danny. I totally get the not liking bolt together. It's only slightly better than lashing it all together. Unfortunately, I am at the moment a schlep self taught welder with an oxyacetylene rig. And from my friend down the street who is learning welding (naw, he hasn't got the time) I hear oxy acetylene rigs are pretty antiquated.
I really want to get this project going and a bolt together will work--although I can see myself retrofitting it somewhere down the road. I will spend a little time wracking my brain to see if I've got any sucker//.. I mean friends who might be up to helping me. What do you think it would take to weld the basic frame--a day?
thanks again,
Phil Scurvycrew

[halfdome, Danny]

Thanks for the advice Danny. I totally get the not liking bolt together. It's only slightly better than lashing it all together. Unfortunately, I am at the moment a schlep self taught welder with an oxyacetylene rig. And from my friend down the street who is learning welding (naw, he hasn't got the time) I hear oxy acetylene rigs are pretty antiquated.
I really want to get this project going and a bolt together will work--although I can see myself retrofitting it somewhere down the road. I will spend a little time wracking my brain to see if I've got any sucker//.. I mean friends who might be up to helping me. What do you think it would take to weld the basic frame--a day?
thanks again,
Phil Scurvycrew

Phil, I get my steel in 10' lengths so it takes a lot longer than one day to weld up a chassis.
I may spend a couple days just on the welding part so I don't over heat the steel and end up with something twisted and warped out of shape.
My welder has a 10 minute working time then a cool down period so it forces me to play it safe.
Danny
“Impatience can cause wise people to do foolish things. ”
― Janette Oke

[rowerwet]

Build a foamie, even on a HF frame it won't matter because foam is so light.

[bc toys]

Does your school have a welding shop maybe it could be a project for them to build you a trailer Oh welcome from Las Vegas we loved Reno the 1 time we was up there for the weekend there are many teardrops up there and right over the cali line there are a bunch lots of nice gatherings you should look into going to one and seeing all the trailers get ideals and lots of info about what to do 1st and so on

[S. Heisley]

Welcome to the fun! You're in a great area of Nevada where there are a lot of wonderful people and some good places to camp. Enjoy!