Hello. I'm new and need help, please

[Bullygirl800]

Hi. I'm Bullygirl800. (I'm not a bully, i just ride a Suzuki Boulevard motorcycle!). Anyway, I have wanted a camper for years. The first husband refused. The second husband didn't like the idea either. We backpack and tent camp, etc. Well, we've been married 14 years now and the other day my husband showed me a picture of a teardrop and asked if I wanted one. I fell in love and started the research. I made sure to seal the deal by stopping by the local Harbor Freight and buying the 4 x 8 heavy duty trailer and stuffed it in the back of my Caravan, so the hubby is committed. (Who could refuse such a nice present?) Here is the problem. I want the trailer to be 6 x 10. We have an 11 year old we need to stuff in this trailer, too. I though about building a bunk shelf over our head where people put the overhead cabinets. This is why the trailer needs to be six foot wide. It will be luxurious in size compared to our backpacking tent. So...ideas for the floor build on that little 4 x 8 trailer? I appreciate any advice you guys are willing to give. Thanks and wish us luck.

[RandyG]

Hi and welcome! A 6x10 on the HF is possible, people have done it by building over the wheels, although it's not how I would do it. I am building a 5x9 and I have three kids, one will have a bunk (shes small now), the boys will have the tent or an air mattress in the back of the car. But check out the build threads and how others built their bigger than 4X8 on the HF.

[Bullygirl800]

Thanks, RandyG. Our boy is used to sleeping in a tent, but this trailer idea is a family affair. He is more enamoured with it than we are, if that is possible. He has been in sleeping tents and the back of a car since he was a baby. We really don't want to exclude him from this new adventure. So I will keep studying what other people have done and see what we can come up with. Thanks again.

[Oldragbaggers]

Hello Bullygirl. I cannot offer anything in the way of answers to your question but I still wanted to welcome you to the forum and wish you luck with your build. There have been enough creative builds of every possible sort on this site, I am sure you will get some good suggestions.

[Mary C]

Welcome!! I probably won't be of much help either but wanted to let you know there are quite a few build threads that show some neat Ideas. You can do it!!!!! Good Luck!!

Mary C.

[Bullygirl800]

Thanks everyone. What a friendly bunch! I have already "stolen" some great ideas and am educating myself with all of your "tips". I can't wait to sleep in my little trailer. Just got to get it off the napkin (new design inspiration while eating wings) and into my driveway! Thanks again

By the way, is there anyone in the Cleveland, Ohio area who would like to show off their teardrop to a couple of newbies? If so, please let me know.

[Vedette]

Welcome to the Forum.
My advice would be to return the HF trailer.........get the larger one. OR have a friend that can weld, fab you a proper frame and order a Dexter rubber ride axle to your exact specs. Like a house, your trailer will only be as good as its foundation.
Do a little more homework before you start your build or just go for the instant gratification and buy one from a professional manufacturer that meets your needs. It will be CHEAPER in the long run.
Good Luck
& Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
PS
Not trying to burst your enthusiasm bubble or stifle your creativity.

[jeff0520]

Hello,
The Command Post, Out tiny Travel Trailer is 6 feet wide and 13 feet long and tall enough to stand up in, (in most places.)Here's how we did it:
Frame and floor support layout

Drilling recesses for bolt heads

Ready to skin the floor

Floor progressing

Beginning wheel wells

Finished wheel wells and some hole down brackets

and here's a link to the whole build process: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=50384
It can be done. Hope that helps

[danlott]

Welcome to the Forum.
My advice would be to return the HF trailer.........get the larger one.

This is what I would suggest also. You can get a 5x8 trailer from Northern Tools that is similar to the Harbor Freight trailer. It will allow a larger build. Of course having a custom made trailer is a great idea and is fairly affordable.

Dan

[mezmo]

Hi Bullygirl800 and family,

Welcome to the forum. It will be a great family activity to
build your own and then go camping in it. I think it is fantastic
that your son is so enthusiastic about your build. It'd be hard to
think of a better bonding collaboration. He'll remember it his
entire life.

As was recommended by another, and I concur, I think you'd be
better served by returning the HF trailer and get an old popup
tent trailer that's past its prime [and in need of new canvas] and
use that as the 'donor' for your frame. That is a very common strategy
on here and you can find them for very reasonable prices if you
look around. Craigs List and such sites seem to be good sources.
Most are sized ~ 6x10 anyway. And, depending on its condition, you
may be able to use a lot of its components for your build. Go through
the Build Journal section, and you will find plenty of builds based
on the popup tent trailer frame. Of course, you'd need to probably
get a new axle [one with brakes is highly recommended], but you'd
most likely need to do that anyway with the HF frame for the size
you want to build.

Have you decided on strictly a TD ? or a Slouchy ? or a TTT ? For the
room you sound like you want/need, and your desired size, you could
do a combination of all three, that'd look like a TD but have the
additional room of a Slouchy or TTT. Here's some pics of a 7wide that
could be done as a 6w easily.



And here's a link to a nice close to garagable height Standy that may be
helpful to you:
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=29603&hilit=the+scenic+II
Here's a nice smaller standy build:
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=38663
Here's a nice 'larger' sized nontraditional TD build from an Australian
forum member: The 12-04-11 post of his at the top of pg2 has its dimensions:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=47214

Have fun planning, then building.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Vedette]

Hi Bullygirl
I too agree with Mezmo.
And as I hit submit from my last response, I thought I should have suggested the tent trailer or popup route.
The chassis work is mostly done for you and you can scavenge the stove, fridge, furnace, sink, etc.
And they are CHEAP!
Wish you were closer as I have one that I acquired for just that purpose. A 7' Bonair.
Again......do your homework! It will save you tons of money on your build.
There is a lot of free help and knowledge here on the Forum.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[mikeschn]

jmtk did a really nice build with a bunk.


viewtopic.php?p=177799#p177799


and so did dean_A

viewtopic.php?p=571051#p571051

Mike...

[Roly Nelson]

Hi Bullygirl, welcome to the forum. I can't advise you about any of the trailer frames, since all of my builds are on the 12 inch wheeled Harbor Freight bolt-together trailers with their lightweight metal, China wheels and bearings with China grease, and problably only one coat of China paint. However, none have been a problem with a combined travel distance of 40 thousand miles or more. Hey, I build on the cheap, cheap HF frame, cheap plywood, cheap lights, cheap paint and cheap mattress material. However, I suggest you consider the previous posts and do the right thing, build it to suit yourself and your needs. Higher quality is always better and will serve you well. Good luck, ask questions and post pics.
Roly, the So Calif woody guy. (Sorry about being so cheap, but retirement checks only go so far)

[Forrest747]

We have a loft in ours and our 10 year old has plenty of room as well the 14 rolls up in a ball


if you look closely his head is about where teh circuit breaker is which is about half way

[Bullygirl800]

Hello again, everyone. Thanks for all the advice and allowing us to snoop through all of your information. We went ahead and built our teardrop this summer. For better, for worse, right or wrong, our teardrop, Ruby Sue, is essentially done.










We have a YouTube video of the build. http://youtu.be/9sp0ah9B-is

We have camped in her twice and we are having a blast. Before my husband built her he had never slept in a camper in his life. I think he is having fun. Thanks again and maybe we will see you on the road!