Hello from the Minnesota

[lthomas987]

Hello everyone!

I've been interested in teardrops for a few years. A couple years ago a friend was moving cross country and trying to decide how he was getting his motorcycle to the new city. More vehicles than drivers. I bought the 4x8 HD Harbor Freight trailer, he assembled it (while I helped his wife pack the house). Thinking I was going to build a 4x8 tear on top of it when he got to town. Well the trailer got stored in his garage and sat for a couple years. As soon as the temps come back above 0 degrees F here I'll go pull apart the hubs and see if he greased the bearings or not.

In the mean time I kept thinking about it and talking to my potential camping partners, that weren't my dog. He's not to picky. It became clear that a 5x8 would be better. So I think I'm going to put a 5x8 on my 4x8 trailer. Now that I've seen all the creative ways you've all accomplished this I think it is well within my skill set.

So work got boring and I was spending more and more time on the internet lately, mostly reading here. Then on craigslist I found a couple RV windows for $5 each pulled from an old RV. There was 15x21 that seems perfect, and a gigantic 21x57. I suspect that might be too big to set in such a small trailer. But maybe not? I'll figure it out as I am going along.

I am really excited about the foamy concept, especially since the tow vehicle is a diesel VW Jetta.

Laura

[Mary C]

Welcome Laura to the forum!!! first let me say yes, Yes, YES you must pay attention to the weight that a vehicle has to pull. and you have to pay attention to where you are pulling that weight.I have a small car so I built a foamie. My car can zip up and down the hills with no problem but pulling 500 + pounds up a steep hill can be difficult and more strain on my car. thankfully I have a straight shift and it is the first to tell me "MAMA I cant make it in 5th, no not even 4th, 3rd maybe". I had no problems to Texas and back but the Tennessee Mountains did show that I will have to be careful with the weight. On one hill I actually went down to second gear for just a few minutes. You can check the information on trailers and chassis to re pack the wheel bearings and there is a great video of just how to do it somewhere in the threads. The guy let out the secrete to it. I will suggest here to go ahead and order new seals and bearings for it just to be on the safe side. The rest of getting the TD is up to you and your design I can only suggest read and read I find so many really neat things to do "on my next build", see it is also addictive. Good luck and don't be bashful. There are wonderful people on here who will help you every step of the way.

Mary C.

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Welcome to the forum, Laura.
It gave me a chuckle when you said you were going to check with your camping partners.....dog's not too picky!!

I have a 4 1/2 wide, but it is my firm belief, and practical experience, that a 5 wide is a really good idea for you to build.
You can always backfill the "empty space" (or give the Dog his own side)....if you go 5 Wide......
but it is hard to stretch it wider when you've already built it 4 wide.

As for the $5 RV glass....if it is tempered, it cannot be cut, and would have to be replaced. If it is tempered glass you 'll have to change it out if you don't want that size. If it is annealed glass, you can cut it down. If you think the size would work with the RV glass you must see if it has mitered corners, or radius corners, ---if it is mitered the FRAME can be cut down. If it is a radius corner, the glass can be cut down if it is annealed. Mitered have 4 corners. Radius windows (all four sides have rounded corner): it is most likely one piece ( or a two put together ) and you might have to splice it to get it to work. Depending on the window sometimes the splice is on the top, but other times its on the bottom..... I can give you more info about this later if you decide upon the $5 ones.

Enjoy your time and planning your build. If you have questions, there is almost always a willing participant to answer here on T&TTT, or refer you to a place where you can find help.
Joanie
The Teardrop Nanny

[Gary and Cheri]

I pull a 960 lb empty tear (with a few hundred pound of absolutely necessary camping stuff ) with an 09 Jetta Sportwagen TDI. Went 7000 miles out to IRG a few years ago and found out that you can average 30 mpg if you keep the pull to about 60 mph. I think it is a great choice for a tow.

Welcome to the forum.

Gary

[Redneck Teepee]

Welcome Laura! Sounds like you've got a plan, keep us posted and we like lot's of pic's.

[lthomas987]

I pull a 960 lb empty tear (with a few hundred pound of absolutely necessary camping stuff ) with an 09 Jetta Sportwagen TDI. Went 7000 miles out to IRG a few years ago and found out that you can average 30 mpg if you keep the pull to about 60 mph. I think it is a great choice for a tow.

Gary,

I have a sailboat with a shoal keel, that tows at about 700lbs, and I've towed it cross country. Every once in a while on a steep, wet, algae covered boat ramp I'll have trouble. But I've not taken the car for a swim yet. But on the road and highways my 01 Jetta TDI tows it like a champ. So I think if I can stay under 700lbs I won't have any troubles at all. After all I'm not going to back a tear into a lake, I hope.

Laura

[lthomas987]

Welcome to the forum, Laura.
It gave me a chuckle when you said you were going to check with your camping partners.....dog's not too picky!!


As for the $5 RV glass....if it is tempered, it cannot be cut, and would have to be replaced. If it is tempered glass you 'll have to change it out if you don't want that size. If it is annealed glass, you can cut it down. If you think the size would work with the RV glass you must see if it has mitered corners, or radius corners, ---if it is mitered the FRAME can be cut down. If it is a radius corner, the glass can be cut down if it is annealed. Mitered have 4 corners. Radius windows (all four sides have rounded corner): it is most likely one piece ( or a two put together ) and you might have to splice it to get it to work. Depending on the window sometimes the splice is on the top, but other times its on the bottom..... I can give you more info about this later if you decide upon the $5 ones.
)

Joanne

I went for the glass because I figured for $10 total I couldn't really go wrong. They are sliders with rounded corners. The frames are intact. I can't currently get them to slide, but that probably has to do with the ice in the channels. The seller said he could move them both before they froze up. I am thinking of bringing the little one into the house and seeing if I can warm it up and get it to move. If it works I might just use the little one as it stands.

What I just learned from you is that there is more to know about windows than I ever thought about before. I am sure I'll be asking questions soon enough.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Laura

[lthomas987]

Welcome Laura to the forum!!! first let me say yes, Yes, YES you must pay attention to the weight that a vehicle has to pull. and you have to pay attention to where you are pulling that weight.I have a small car so I built a foamie. My car can zip up and down the hills with no problem but pulling 500 + pounds up a steep hill can be difficult and more strain on my car. thankfully I have a straight shift and it is the first to tell me "MAMA I cant make it in 5th, no not even 4th, 3rd maybe". I had no problems to Texas and back but the Tennessee Mountains did show that I will have to be careful with the weight. On one hill I actually went down to second gear for just a few minutes. You can check the information on trailers and chassis to re pack the wheel bearings and there is a great video of just how to do it somewhere in the threads. The guy let out the secrete to it. I will suggest here to go ahead and order new seals and bearings for it just to be on the safe side. The rest of getting the TD is up to you and your design I can only suggest read and read I find so many really neat things to do "on my next build", see it is also addictive. Good luck and don't be bashful. There are wonderful people on here who will help you every step of the way.

Mary C.

Mary,

I ordered bearings and seals this morning. Got paid last night. I figure every little expense I spread out further is better. I do have a manual transmission so no worries there. It was your Grits build that got me thinking about a foamy. I still haven't figured out how your walls are attached to your floor/trailer though, despite reading the whole build thread. My office mate might have accused me of being obsessed with your build.

Laura

[PKCSPT]

Good to see another Minnesotan,, welcome. Hope to see lots of pictures when you start your build.
I am near Saint Paul.

[lthomas987]

Since I mentioned my $5 windows and I know you all love pictures here are a few

The window and screen as I picked them up.. frozen and really dirty.
The inside window rubbery trim (I presume it has a name I will learn) is torn in a few spots.
The window is two inches thick.
Washed off with some warm water and a sponge and now the screen fits and the glass slides.

[bc toys]

welcome to this great site looks like you know what you want and are on a mission to get there keep it up and we love pics

[TPMcGinty]

Welcome Laura! Have fun with your build. I know I did! You should check the St. Croix Tearjerker Gathering Schedule for an upcoming gathering. The next two are Cooler by the Lake in Sheboygan Wisconsin on April 24-27 and Mille Lacs Kathio State Park near Onamia Minnesota on 2-4 May. Gatherings are a great place to see some Teardrops and get some great ideas.