A Few Pics - Finally Wheels, And Tires On

[Ira]

Heikki--I think it looks fantastic and that you're totally NUTS. Plus, what are you towing with?

If it's a visual thing, Fred's profile is a great one.

But do you think that getting in and out is going to be a major problem? If that's the case, a cosmetic solution won't cut it.

[Classic Finn]

Heikki--I think it looks fantastic and that you're totally NUTS. Plus, what are you towing with?

If it's a visual thing, Fred's profile is a great one.

But do you think that getting in and out is going to be a major problem? If that's the case, a cosmetic solution won't cut it.

Ira we see that it may be a problem. But we have a solution if that be the case.. with attachable caravan steps that slide in when not in use.

Why Ira Ol Buddy! Nuts! Yup I be Nuts..But I be luvin it....I was born nuts and been ever since.. But ok in a nice way....

Ok Now What am I towing with? It will be our 46 or 37
Chevrolet Trucks.. But Now tell me Im nuts....For Now - A beautiful 1996 French Chit House on Wheels... A Peugeot I took the frame for a spin around the block and gee it towed real nicely... but ok
its just the frame and wheels but even so...Folks were wonderin .... what the devil is that thing...



Classic The Nutty Finn

[Classic Finn]

Today I spoke with a reputable trailer axle supplier.. and just maybe they
have a solution to our "Finnicky" problem...

They will come out on Monday to physically look themselves and possibly could come up with an already approved axle with a custom made 0 starting angle for me. They have been in business for over 20 years.

Im anxious to find out what exactly they have on their minds.....
They make customized and legal axles as well.. so we shall see...

Gee they are picky with these laws here for everything....

Classic Finn

[alaska teardrop]

Good evening Alaska... Hows the weather up there way up North?

Fine weather up here, Heikki. Fulltime sunshine, dry, and warm in the 70's. Smoke in the air drifting up from a wildfire around Nenana. Hope you're enjoying your looooong days down there in Reindeer Land!

How about pictures like that last profile behind your tow rigs?

Fred

The world's farthest North teardrop builder.

[Classic Finn]

Its Beautiful here in Reindeerland already.... Been sunny all day.

Length Of Visible Light: 22h 17m
Length of Day 18h 48m
Tomorrow will be 1m 56s longer.

65 °F / 18 °C
Partly cloudy most of Finland




Fred is that photo or drawing you showed one of your own?
That is cool.....I was just thinking of a cutout - half like circle near the axle part to the template and then lower the sides ..

Not much left on inside height then ? Or should we laminate plywood on to the existing ply to add height lost from dropping?

Do you have more info on that Tear?

Classic Finn

Classic Finn

[Classic Finn]

Fred if I take the leaf springs off... that frame will come down to the point where I will have the top of frame almost in center of say entire diameter of tire and rim...

Could there be a way to still use different type springs to get the lowered frame?

Hope I explained it ok so folks understand... Its the leafsprings that are causing the problem with height.. then possibly the length of the shocks..


But then here comes the Law. No springs. It cant be town at more than
60 Kilometers per Hour... which is slower than a Possums Crawl in daylight...

Classic Finn

PS - Whats the average weight of a teardrop in pounds? Here is a chart also to convert.

http://www.strengthcats.com/cgi-bin/kilo2pound.pl

[Classic Finn]

I just talked to a guy that works with caravans. He stated the following.

Straight axles are required by Law to have leaf springs. Straight axles not having leaf springs cannot be town over 60 kilometers per hour..

EU approved torsion axles that we discussed earlier on the thread do not have to have leaf springs. which is logical in any case...they dont need leafs anyway.

Any trailer over 750 kilo must have brakes.... so now I have some facts.....And my head is from this...but anyhow.

Classic Finn

[Classic Finn]

Hmmm - Just found somthing interesting.....

Take a look at Uncle Dennys tear... the leafspring and what looks like a Torsion Axle to me on Top of Leaf Springs.?

http://www.uncledennyscorner.com/teardr ... rside2.php

Madjack suggested to put the Axle on the Top of The Leaf Springs...as is done on Denny,s tear and top it off is that a torsion axle on it?

So our frame would come down 2.? inches if placed on top of Leaf Springs.

In addition to that we have the torsion axles here that the Angle is at 0
and ours at 20. so that could solve the entire problem ... Correct?



Classic Finn

[Betsey]

Hi Finn,

This is Craig, I hijacked Betsey's account....
I was just looking over this thread, and here is my take on it....

The picture of Uncle Denny's, is a drop axle, not a torsion axle.
This is a common type of axle over here. If you look closely at Uncle Denny's picture you will see that he has a spacer between the axle and springs that lowers it even further.


The easiest way to get a really low leaf spring trailer is to mount a drop axle on top of the springs, but as you said earlier...

Also its illegal here to set the axle over the leaf springs.. UGH!

... so you may have to find an axle with a larger drop. If you can find an EU approved drop axle, that would be an easy fix (no cutting, welding required).

Here are the options, I know of, to lower a trailer.....

1. Torsion axle
2. Drop axle
3. Axle above leaf springs
4. Flatter leaf springs
5. Air bag springs
6. Notch frame upward at leaf spring attach points.
7. Smaller diameter tires.
8. Dig a hole under the tires

#8 is the cheapest, but it is only a temporary fix.

As far as side clearance.... Leaf springs will allow some side to side sway of the axle, and therefore need more side clearance than a torsion axle. Torsion axles have very little side sway so the side clearance can be much less.

Hope this helps.

Craig

[angib]

Take a look at Uncle Dennys tear... the leafspring and what looks like a Torsion Axle to me on Top of Leaf Springs.?

That's a drop axle - it works exactly the same way as yours but the spindles (that the wheels rotate on) are offset from the axle tube - and this one is mounted above the springs.

A torsion axle is quite different and the centre part of it doesn't move - only the arms on either end of the axle move. Here is an explanation from Dexter.



Andrew

[Classic Finn]

Good evening Craig..

Here is the same webshop for the Axle Company here with Leaf Springs too.

http://www.teohydrauli.fi/web_kauppa.sh ... m_group=11

Number 8 sounds the best.

Ok that is a drop axle .... nope we dont have them here as far as I know.
Monday I will find out from the Axle Company Rep that is coming over to take a Look See -

He is very interested now himself as to what teardrops really are....

Ive been searching for ways and ideas .... and of course been receiving great answers as well here....just havent come up with the decision yet as which way to go on it...

But I dont give up...I,ll get a good solution within a day or 2.



Thanks Again
Classic Finn

[alaska teardrop]

Fred is that photo or drawing you showed one of your own?
That is cool.....I was just thinking of a cutout - half like circle near the axle part to the template and then lower the sides ..

Not much left on inside height then ? Or should we laminate plywood on to the existing ply to add height lost from dropping?

Do you have more info on that Tear?

Heikki,

The sketch was just a concept exercise for a low Hot Rod teardrop using a shape that I'm familiar with. As scaled, 8' long x 4' tall, there would be only about 3' high inside. To keep the same profile with 4' inside would require 5' high sides & !0' long.

This was my first thought when you started this thread. It might be done using a 3/4" or 1" square tubing arch under the sides with cross ribs to hold spare ect. Keep your plan & sidewalls as they are, but bring the outer skin (aluminum?) all the way down past the side rail to the arch.

But, then again, might be easier to buy a torsion axle!

Fred

[Classic Finn]

Fred

we were just talking of adding onto the bottom by adding ply to the
bottom as well and fiberglassing it there where we added on.. by glueing an additional section of maybe 1 foot...???

Classic Finn

[Classic Finn]

A New Day and New Trial Run - Ok my oldest son and I couldnt stay away from the Finn Voyager and wait for the axle man..
so we took the template and dropped it about 6.5 inches to 7 inches and
I think we may have come up with a solution and leaving everything else
as is.... No new axles or removal of Springs..

Tell me now if I add ply to the bottom of 7 inches and glue it well together
and apply figerglass to that extra lower it would bring it down in appearance....here is a photo of our physical findings.. To Madjack, Fred and others... The fenders now hang at 2 inches below the frame... So from the 1st photo below to the New Day with photo number 2 below it.



From previous to now - What do you folks think



Im going to cut the door out to see where it may stand next.....

Should I install the template flush to the front edge of front frame edge..??
I can move the template to the front a few more inches as well.
Classic Finn

[doug hodder]

Heikki....I definately like the lower look from your 2 photos...just make sure you put a nose bra on the front of it, to protect it from Peugeot parts hitting it just a joke guy...and it looks great!!! Just thinking...I'll bet the law over there would flip out on a low rider huh? Doug