Hello from Sunny Southern Caifornia

[miniaturepeddler]

Hello from Orange County.

A few years back my partner and I took a cross county trip using a Tear Drop trailer. This was a mixed blessing. Having to setup and tear down each night as we crossed the country took an hour each. Plus we camped in July in Nevada and Kansas and Texas as we crossed the country, and let me tell you, gosh was it hot. I tried a swamp cooler, but in high humidity states, this was fairly worthless.

Well you learn.

I had seen Teardrops on many a trip, and loved the basic concept. Unhook, put your blocks up and you were ready to sleep or cook or whatever. Places for any of the junk you bring (hey it has its own kitchen area. I was intrigued.

Years later now, my partner gave me permission to build one, partly because we needed another license plate at our residence, due to changing parking regulations in our neighborhood, and partly because a teardrop is small enough to fit in the garage, without really taking 1/2 the garage or more.

Plus I saw some great builds here that included small A/Cs for those times when you have a landline and need that restful summer sleep!!

So the build begins.
I picked up the 4x8 harber freight trailer over thanksgiving, and now that it it Christmas break, I have begun assembly.

[miniaturepeddler]

So I needed a good open area to build, and as I am a teacher, I decided to use my classroom during Christmas break.

Tara and I brought the boxes down to the classroom last night and unboxed the trailer and spread out the tools, etc that I would need.

We found that the Harber freight is manufactured with the mm set of wrenches and sockets needed. The most common need was/is 17mm, though I also needed an 18mm, a flat head screw driver, and a hammer.

[miniaturepeddler]

Now tightened up and squared the two sections and secured them together. I used string to ensure that I was square:

[miniaturepeddler]

I added on the fenders now (since I have to take it down to DMV to have it inspected and licensed fairly quickly (as in I have an appointment next week).

[miniaturepeddler]

I am using the chairs and desks in my classroom to prop the trailer to make it easier on me to reach bolts/etc rather than sitting on the floor constantly.

No I added on the springs and axle (I need to take the wheels off after I get the license to repack the bearing with fresh grease - per suggestions I have seen on this board).

This was the one time I had to use my hammer to get the springs to line up correctly with the axle rod that was bolted to them (bash to fit). It actually only took a couple of taps to get this done right.

[miniaturepeddler]

I needed to put the wheels on to make sure I get this to the DMV for registration and inspection.

This was the least clear of the instructions from Harbor Freight. So I went to Youtube and found some great videos that showed how this part was done for the HB tires.
This was finally the time I actually used a flat head screwdriver, to get the metal cover off the wheel axle. (Make sure you have a sturdy screw driver, since you might have to tap the handle of it with your hammer to get the bite to lift of the cover.)

[miniaturepeddler]

So the tires are on, and I had to flip it. They say that you might need assistance to flip it at this point. Gosh were they right. It is definately heavy and bulky at this point.





And in the end I will have to get it out the door outside (Anyone have Gibbs phone number from NCIS? How does he get those boats out of his basement?)

Plan on turning it on the side to scoot it out the door.

[miniaturepeddler]

Now to begin work on the hitch. Again this is a mystery, since you have to thread a chain and get the bolts just right.

But wait a minute, my 17mm sockets and wrenches are too small now for these bolts.

So simply hand tightened them after doing a lot of houdini sleight of hand tricks to get the bolt through the hitch, and the spar, and the washer and the chain and the nut.




The bolts are all 18mm in size, so that is it for the night I have to goto the hardware store to pick up a new wrench to allow me to reach and tighten those two bolts.

So more tomorrow.

[miniaturepeddler]

BTW, Admin, please excuse me if I posted this thread to the wrong forum.
If I have please move it to the Build forum.

Thank you everyone for the inspirations.

Plans once the deck/frame is built: I plan on doing a modified Benroy, and expanding the base floor by 1/2 foot in most directions, to make a 5x9 teardrop. Pluses to this are a large bed size area, since I am 6'2" tall and neither I nor my parner are small people, I figured we needed the little extra room to sleep at night with our 3 puppies (two yorkies and 1 westie; terriers all).

I plan on using prefab doors, and the electronic super fan vent up top, with a small A/C on a ledge on the front (above the travel box, for the front hitch)

I would have never envisioned all of this without the help and journals found on this forum. Y'all tread the path first and I get to learn from your lessons.

Thank you all.

[noseoil]

Great job so far on your build. Don't forget to lube & pack the wheel bearings! They come packed for storage, not for rolling usually on these trailers, at least that's what most people say. One small thing, will the trailer fit out the door now that it's assembled, or will it need to go out standing on its edge on a dolly or hand truck?

A 5x9 will be a good size & the AC is a must in summer, if travelling through the south or parts of the west. Want to see a design sketch when it's time.

[Graniterich]

You must clean and pack bearings, there is no question.

[miniaturepeddler]

Great job so far on your build. Don't forget to lube & pack the wheel bearings! They come packed for storage, not for rolling usually on these trailers, at least that's what most people say. One small thing, will the trailer fit out the door now that it's assembled, or will it need to go out standing on its edge on a dolly or hand truck?

A 5x9 will be a good size & the AC is a must in summer, if travelling through the south or parts of the west. Want to see a design sketch when it's time.

Yep, just going to drag the trailer home and to the dmv first. Didn't have a place to clean and pack the bearings at the class.

As for getting it out of the room, I have a small dolly, and plan on turning the trailer on its side, fold down the tongue, and then skoot it out the door with dolly under the tires. There shall be two of us to help guide the dolly. I will take of photo of the effort.

The floor I am borrowing is:

[miniaturepeddler]

Here is the plan for the deck I plan on buiding on the frame:

[miniaturepeddler]

This is photos of the floor deck I found here on Tnttt:






I love what he did. Though with 2x4s as the base It will be a tad heavy, but it is bottom weight as least. Plus the storage under the floor is awesome.

The guy did this a couple of years ago, and I did not find his final trailer build to see how he did, and he isn't answering questions any longer on his thread, but of all the 5x9 build outs, this is the one I was most impressed with.

[miniaturepeddler]

You must clean and pack bearings, there is no question.

Yep, hear that. I heard that HB does not provide a good quality grease in axles as shipped.

Even the HB literature that came with the trailer said to unpack, clean and regrease the entire assembly before use.

I am curious though what all parts/tools are needed to accomplish this, or given that it is only an occasional task, whether to out source the job of repacking and greasing the axles.