Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Rob Fisher has described it as a "Holy Grail of Teardropping" and it's Kevin A's favourite:



As well as looking lovely, the Grumman has the shape that I'm tending more and more towards for practical reasons - the rounded top looks good, but the nearly-square front and back make for plenty of floor length and space inside.

So I've drawn up some plans: The Grumman 2.

I haven't tried to copy the Grumman exactly, but just to get somewhere near. Of course what it would need to set it off properly is a pair of custom-made semi-recessed fiberglass fenders, but there's no free lunch, is there?

Andrew

...very excellent Andrew...I also like the lines of the Grumman....free beer can be hard to find as well
madjack

Andrew,

Those drawings are awesome
Thanks so much for putting the effort into them. The Grumman is for sure one of the nicest looking profiles out there. I wonder who's gonna be the first to build from your drawings? I'm hoping to build one sometime in the distant future.

there are a lot of fender profiles that could be cut down and fit in to that side...really a nice looking trailer...like you said Kevin....so who's gonna be the first? Doug

Andrew,
From the different things I've seen you do, you have very talented. You've done a great job on this as well. The Grumman has a very classic profile and would make a great tear. Should we ever get to the point of thinking about number 2, this is one I would definitely consider. You have done the teardrop community a great favor in creating the plans.
Martha

As always, nice work Andrew.

martha24 wrote: Should we ever get to the point of thinking about number 2, this is one I would definitely consider.
Martha

That's a good one Martha....I'm willing to bet you think about it...doug

Andrew... That is indeed a beautiful classic design. As usual, you did a terrific job of interpeting the original.
Dang... Every time I think I have found the perfect tear design, he comes up with an even better one!

Andrew, that really looks nice. I really like that one looks like a lot of storage. The only thing I would change would be to have the wheels clear the body, so it does not intrude the interior. Nice.

That is sweet

I love the shape and the wheel arches are very nice indeed

Are the arches custom built or shop bought

mamos

mamos wrote:Are the arches custom built or shop bought

Custom - they're much narrower than regular fenders (or mudguards, seeing as you're a Brit too!), about 4" or 5" wide, and a different shape, so if you want the right size/shape, they're custom.

Standard fiberglass fenders could be used if they have a tight enough radius, but they won't be quite the right shape.

Andrew

Andrew,

Perfect! It is the design shape I have had floating around in my head. It is the size I want to build too. I am still a long way off, but I have a question. I understand why you tucked in the wheels in, but do you think it would look okay if I did not tuck them in. I am not worried about the extra road width, but want as much interior room as possible and it looks like a pain to build and keep water tight. Thank for drawing up all the plans, it will make it so much easier to build .

toolferone wrote:but do you think it would look okay if I did not tuck them in.

Only you can decide that! It won't look like a Grumman, because I think those recessed wheels are a big part of the Grumman's appearance. But it should still look like a nice shape trailer.

Andrew

Andrew,
I agree, that is an absolutely pleasing profile which I think you nailed with the ultra light. Thanks to your drawings and a sale at HF I am now in the middle of #2. Ultra light profile 4 1/2' wide on the HF trailer with 18" cut off the tail (this placed the axle right where I wanted it) this width also tucked the wheels halfway in (perfect). Then I used your thoughts to make a pair of 4" wooden fenders which look very similar to the grummam's they turned out too nice to put on a trailer so I used them for plugs and made some fiberglass ones, still nice but a lot more work.
Right now I have prefinished parts scattered everywhere waiting to start assembly.
Just had to post and say thanks for all your ideas. This is going to be a neat little tear. Thanks again,
Denny

Long time member, not very good at posting. http://community.webshots.com/user/drshop
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Denny... That is one super nice lookin woodie ya got there!