Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I never did bother with a Teardrop because I figured the typical 4x8 would be claustrophobic for me...

HF is offering a larger size trailer now, not quite perfect for me, but might work for you at 5ft x 10ft. https://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-c ... 59846.html

For ME a minimum would be a 6' x 10'.

Anyway, just figured I would let y'all know as this could be a game changer for folks.

Anyway, just figured I would let y'all know as this could be a game changer for folks.

I'm glad to see this, but for a $1000, that's probably close to what a fabricator could build a much-better chassis.

Tony

I've not seen one at that size for under $2K. Might be worth looking into...

Will it work? Trailer in one day with vin making it easy to register. A lot of time saved if it's good enough.

QueticoBill wrote:Will it work? Trailer in one day with vin making it easy to register. A lot of time saved if it's good enough.

That is what I was thinking...

For those wanting a 6x10 simple outriggers could fix the width issue...

Trailer in one day with vin making it easy to register

I think it needs to be registered as a camper to get insurance, but I'm sure some don't insure them.

Tony

tony.latham wrote:

Anyway, just figured I would let y'all know as this could be a game changer for folks.

I'm glad to see this, but for a $1000, that's probably close to what a fabricator could build a much-better chassis.

Tony

Hey Tony!

I have never built a trailer from scratch. I noticed that "utility trailer kits" from places like Southwest wheel runs about $600 for a kit containing springs, shackles, axel, wheels & hubs, fenders, wiring, lights, and hitch. About $800 for the torsion axel version. How do I get steel & fab for only another $400 +/-? My welding skills are so bad I wouldn't want anything that I welded on the road. (I can braze copper pipe pretty good but it doesn't seem to translate) anyway, I could make do with 5x10 but would prefer 6x12. Is this something regionally dependant?

How do I get steel & fab for only another $400 +/-? My welding skills are so bad I wouldn't want anything that I welded on the road.

I live in a two-light town and can buy pre-cut lengths of steel and I'm sure you can too. The last Dexter torsion axle I ordered cost $600 about 18 months ago.

I would encourage you to learn to weld. It's not magic. You know someone who welds and could mentor you. There are a ton of YouTube videos on welding using flux-core welders that really help.

This flux-core welder gets great reviews on YouTube:

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/mig-flux-welders/easy-flux-125-amp-welder-57861.html

$150.

If not, have a welding shop fabricate one to your specs. You'll have a much better camper than one built on a cheap frame and a cheaper axle and tires.

Here is the chassis plan from my book. I've lost track of how many people have built teardrops using it.



It's built from 2 x 2" .120" steel--which isn't a challenge to weld.

And by the way, after twenty years of teardropping, my wife and I agree that a 5' wide teardrop is the perfect size for camping and towing. It also allows the builder to use 5' x 5' sheets of Baltic birch.

Good luck with your build.

Tony

I think the fork is overstressed because we move the axel back from center to 60% or so. It was easy enough to add a sterl tube at center and reinforce that weak point.

I liked the specs on that trailer. None of the 5x8 limitations: 75 mph, 13" tires, underslung axel, led lighting.

If I was looking for my next chassis I would definitely look closer at this 5x10. Specs look good.

It sure beats the hell out of the Sterling 4x8 I built my latest foamie on top of. I baby the foamie and have reinforced the tongue so I don't worry about it too much. I would not recommend the Sterling as it is currently designed.

tony.latham wrote:

How do I get steel & fab for only another $400 +/-? My welding skills are so bad I wouldn't want anything that I welded on the road.

I live in a two-light town and can buy pre-cut lengths of steel and I'm sure you can too. The last Dexter torsion axle I ordered cost $600 about 18 months ago.

I would encourage you to learn to weld. It's not magic. You know someone who welds and could mentor you. There are a ton of YouTube videos on welding using flux-core welders that really help.

This flux-core welder gets great reviews on YouTube:

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/mig-flux-welders/easy-flux-125-amp-welder-57861.html

$150.

If not, have a welding shop fabricate one to your specs. You'll have a much better camper than one built on a cheap frame and a cheaper axle and tires.

Here is the chassis plan from my book. I've lost track of how many people have built teardrops using it.



It's built from 2 x 2" .120" steel--which isn't a challenge to weld.

And by the way, after twenty years of teardropping, my wife and I agree that a 5' wide teardrop is the perfect size for camping and towing. It also allows the builder to use 5' x 5' sheets of Baltic birch.

Good luck with your build.

Tony

Tony,

Thank you for the info in your response! Life is full of ups & downs these days but I hope to be able to build a modified version of the Slidavan some day. I appreciate the good wishes.

Elseanno wrote:

tony.latham wrote:

Anyway, just figured I would let y'all know as this could be a game changer for folks.

I'm glad to see this, but for a $1000, that's probably close to what a fabricator could build a much-better chassis.

Tony

Hey Tony!

I have never built a trailer from scratch. I noticed that "utility trailer kits" from places like Southwest wheel runs about $600 for a kit containing springs, shackles, axel, wheels & hubs, fenders, wiring, lights, and hitch. About $800 for the torsion axel version. How do I get steel & fab for only another $400 +/-? My welding skills are so bad I wouldn't want anything that I welded on the road. (I can braze copper pipe pretty good but it doesn't seem to translate) anyway, I could make do with 5x10 but would prefer 6x12. Is this something regionally dependant?

If I didn't need the van for medical purposes (long story don't wanna go into detail), I would be VERY interested in doing a 6x12 standing height foamie with a tongue box and a bump out on the back... Not a teardrop per se, but a small travel trailer that does not require stooping...

I have a bucket of projects that will require welding, and I have seen how my friends welds are. Gotta learn some other way because dang....

I have some thoughts on another matter, but will want to come back to this later. Long wierd story that I will loop back around on...

I've been hemming and hawing about building my own trailer vs buying this. I just got quotes from two local shops for the steel required to build my own. $630 from one shop, $430 from the other. And those prices will only go up (in the very near future) if I don't act fast. I had been hoping that material cost for the steel would be more like $300, so I got a bit of sticker shock, especially because the $630 number was the first shop I called.

So with steel + axles + wheels + fenders + wiring + paint/bedliner building my own is looking like $1400-$1600.

In any case, the main limitation on this HF trailer (for me) is that I want to put bike storage either directly on the tongue or above a tongue box. I worry that this trailer has a relatively short tongue and there wont be enough room. And it doesn't look like it would be easy to modify and make the tongue longer. Does anyone have opinion/thoughts about that? Do you think it's too short for bike storage?

I can't tell from manual but the tongue on 5x8 was easy with a piece of 2x2x1/4 steel tube. Maybe just a 12" hitch extension would give you enough space to mount bike closer to front of trailer.