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[Ray Hill]

I've been lurking for a few weeks, interested for a few years. I saw my first(and only) Teardrop trailer down in Costa Mesa, CA a few years back. While my wife is the camper in the family being a City girl, I grew up in a camping environment, the rural, wooded, bug infested, Northern Florida. Until I discovered these wonderful tiny trailers, that I could build myself, tent style camping didn't really get my attention.
Now that my interest is sparked and I'm attempting to read everything I can find on the subject, I"M HOOKED!!
Hopefully sometime before summer'08, I would like to start my build. I plan to attend the gathering at Lake Perris so that I can see first hand these little gems. And with a little luck I hope to meet some of the faces posting on this sight.
For starters, this is the direction that I'd like to go:
A 6'w x 10'L x 5'h, aluminum skinned, cabin car profile
Swing-out windows ( from VW Super Beetle rear)
14" 0r 15" wheels
fenders from VW ( has that been tried?)
sleeps 3-4
Rear galley - ice chest, Cabela's campstove/oven
110v/12v capable


As I get closer to start, I'll check in.
Ray

[doug hodder]

Welcome aboard Ray...whatever you choose to build is Ok with all of us...that's the beauty of it all...build what you want for whatever fits your needs. The deal is...you owe us pictures of it...OK? Most importantly...have fun with it all! Doug

[Juneaudave]

Hey Ray...Welcome aboard and enjoy the planning, building, and comradery this site offers. We're open 24/7 and are ready to provide unsolicited opinions, crackpot ideas, and most importantly...advice for the most intimate of private situations.

Oh yeah...there's also a dedicated bunch of enthusiasts running around that have a wealth of information!!!!

[JunkMan]

fenders from VW ( has that been tried?)

I thought about that, since I plan to pull ours with a New Beetle, and we have several other VW's. I decided that it would take a lot of modification to the fenders, due to the taper of the VW body, and scrapped the idea. If you are good working with sheet metal or fiberglass, you could probably make a pair of fenders using the VW's as a pattern/starting point. I would really like to see what you come up with, unfortunatly, it looked like it was beyond my abilities at this time.

I'm trying to incorporate some VW items in our tear, such as louvered windows from a early 60's VW bus in the doors, and tail lights from a late 50's/early 60's bug.

If I ever finish my first tear, I'm thinking about making one to tow behind our VW Thing. I might try to incorporate Thing fenders into that design, since they are a little less tapered. Instead of making that trailer a traditional teardrop shape, I plan to make it more of a "grasshopper", which should work well with the more angular design of the Thing.

[angib]

I decided that it would take a lot of modification to the fenders, due to the taper of the VW body, and scrapped the idea.

I think you were dead right.

You could buy fiberglass replica fenders, carefully cut them to a constant width and laminate on a new mounting flange - but at the front/bottom corner the fenders will be too narrow, so they'll have to be made wider, which is a huge amount of work.

Andrew

[Ira]

Ray, you've seen 48Rob's Cabin Car, right?

That thing is a work of ART, and he tows it with an antique car. Which means he did EVERYTHING right when it comes to weight.

I've been hocking (nagging) him for a year, that plans should be made available for what he did. Unfortunately, I think the guy drinks a lot, and he isn't motivated to do so.

Wait a minute--scratch that:.

I'm the one who drinks.

[mikeschn]

Ira...

And Ray, Welcome to the forum...

Mike...

Wait a minute--scratch that:.

I'm the one who drinks.

[Mike C.]

Welcome Ray,

Building a trailer is like buying a car. Everyone has different needs and desires, so pick one YOU like and go for it.

See you around.

[Miriam C.]

To the playground Ray. A cabin car type would be great to watch being built. Go for it