Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi!
I'm working out a plan to convert my trailer to a basic camper and have a couple of questions. I know anything can be done with a sawzall and welder but any idea how difficult and practial it would be to make a flat front into a V front?


Question 2 are the axles on trailers like this suppose to be straight?



It's been this way for years and thousands of miles but seems like it should not have that much bow to it.



Thanks for your input!

Hi and welcome.. First I need to know if you really have a Miata with an LS-1 in it.

A conversion to a vee front would be a major undertaking, and in the end I think you might have some problems with a leaky roof. There are a lot of weird angles and curves that need to intersect, and I can't imagine them fitting all tightly, unless you have some serious sheetmetal skills. Might be worth selling the trailer and buying a different one if you really need the vee.

No, your axle is not bent. Well, it is, but it's on purpose to add positive camber to the wheels. Here is why: http://blog.easternmarine.com/trailer-a ... all-about/

A v-front isn't a whole lot better than the curved front you have. There is little difference in mpg between the two. Plus the v-front seems to catch side winds more.

If you really want t do something, a better choice would be to install a nose cone on the front and AirTabs on the back.

http://www.nosecone.com/aepull.htm

http://www.airtab.com/

dustboy wrote:Hi and welcome.. First I need to know if you really have a Miata with an LS-1 in it.

A conversion to a vee front would be a major undertaking, and in the end I think you might have some problems with a leaky roof. There are a lot of weird angles and curves that need to intersect, and I can't imagine them fitting all tightly, unless you have some serious sheetmetal skills. Might be worth selling the trailer and buying a different one if you really need the vee.

No, your axle is not bent. Well, it is, but it's on purpose to add positive camber to the wheels. Here is why: http://blog.easternmarine.com/trailer-a ... all-about/

Thank YOU! I kind of thought the same thing but was looking for just a little extra space to put a potty somewhere. My biggest concern is weight and that is a terrible place to add it for sure.

Very interesting article on trailer camber. From the look of the bend my hunch is it's from jacking it up from the center of the axle. It's never bothered anything but I think I am going to look under some other 5x8 trailers and see what they look like.

Yep last year I put the drivetrain from a Camaro SS in a Miata. It's 2400 lbs and 450 hp with brakes and suspension to support it. This year I have been building wide body fenders to put bigger tires under it. I have a little clip here if you want to see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSQ4Ry3kE9I

I'm building this camper to take it to Alaska next summer.

Rainier70 wrote:A v-front isn't a whole lot better than the curved front you have. There is little difference in mpg between the two. Plus the v-front seems to catch side winds more.

If you really want t do something, a better choice would be to install a nose cone on the front and AirTabs on the back.

http://www.nosecone.com/aepull.htm

http://www.airtab.com/

Thanks! I wasn't looking for mileage but for space for a potty. I have not thought much about mileage but it will be interesting to see what it does. I usually get about 23 mpg on the road and I'd be surprised if it dropped more than 2 or 3. I hope not it's only got a 12 gallon gas tank!

I see. How big is your ct?

It's a 5x8 shorty. So it's only 53" tall inside.

I've got a couple layouts in mind but basically just a bed with storage underneath. I have a camp kitchen I have used for years that is a wooden box that holds everything kitchen. With the kitchen out like it would be camping I have all the room I need in the trailer and then some. It's with the kitchen in if we do a walmart stop that it's a problem.

But my number 1 issue is weight. The trailer weighs 850 lbs empty and even with brakes on it I don't dare go over 1200 lbs. Even that is pushing it with a car with such a short wheel base.

Have you considered a privacy tent? I have one similar to this that I used to use for showers etc when I truck camped. It packed up easily once you get the hang of it.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/ ... t104569380

I just bought one of these just a month ago from a Cabelas store in PA. I had the sales guy demo the opening and closing and it went easily for him. It looked very simple and very adequate for my purposes. Now for our hunting trips, it will beat hanging around that big old tree. When I "better" weather camp with my wife, I expect to use it for the porti potties with decomposing materials.

Bob

Wow I had never seen such a thing ^ before and that is really cool! I've got another idea bouncing around that might solve the problem by just rebuilding my kitchen box to fit the space better.

Thanks for your help this thread has been really valuable to me!

If you or anyone is interested in the Trekker privacy tent, here is a good review of it on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a02n9W-QpX0

He shows how to fold it up too.

I guess if the trailer is too heavy for the little hatchback, the Miata should have more than enough power to tow it. All the way to Alaska with the top down!!

I've owned two 1st generation Miatae, neither was fast but boy were they fun to drive!

dustboy wrote:I guess if the trailer is too heavy for the little hatchback, the Miata should have more than enough power to tow it. All the way to Alaska with the top down!!

I've owned two 1st generation Miatae, neither was fast but boy were they fun to drive!

The Matrix tows it pretty good but the reason the Miata is going to AK is it's a father and son bucket list trip and sensible would be no fun. To us the joy is in the journey not the destination and what could be more impractical or ridiculous than 10,000 miles in a V8 Miata?

Yeah Miatas are a total blast to drive even in stock form! Mine has 3 times more power, brakes and suspension than it needs to handle the trailer but like all Miatas it lacks mass. I know the short wheel base is a big deal and this trailer might be too much for the car. On the other hand I see pick ups pulling trailers twice the size of the truck all the time with no issues. I guess I'll just have to try it and see what happens. I hope to get some paint on the car this weekend and when it's back on the road put about 400 lbs in the trailer and drag it around a while to see what it does.
Oh yeah I have to build a hitch for it too...

I made my first road test with the trailer today. I was surprised it dropped my MPG an average of 6 over the 35 mile trip. I figured it would a couple but might just have to rethink this!

I imagine you'd get a worse mileage hit than something like an SUV since you're pretty low and aerodynamic to start with and then pulling a big wall behind you all of a sudden.

You have a pretty sizable tongue, there. I'm wondering instead of converting it to a V-Nose if you built a little V-Nose shaped outhouse onto it and then connected it like a snugtop with a little flexible bit like a nylon or something like train cars use if you want an interior potty.