Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **McBrew** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:45 am

Hi folks!

My fiancee and I are just getting ready to start building our first teardrop. We bought the Harbor Freight trailer (4x8 folding with 12" wheels) yesterday and will be assembling it on Saturday.

We are trying to get it together before the wedding (Spring 2009) and take it on our honeymoon.

I have been lurking around here collecting lots of useful hints and design ideas. I am pretty much set on something close to the shape of a T@B trailer... in other words, a teardrop where the front bulges out from the trailer and the rear ends beyond the trailer and comes back in at the bottom. I am 6'2", so I want to have plenty of room to stretch out in bed. Also, I just like the look of that shape.

My fiancee is really in love with the "woody" look... so I am thinking of doing wood sides and an aluminum skin on the roof. Any of this could still change, though.

Anyway, it is nice to see such an active and informative forum! I belong to another excellent forum dedicated to diesel VWs, so I know the value of this kind of resource. You can probably guess what I'll be towing the teardrop with!

I'm sure I'll be hounding you all for ideas in the near future. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, too!

-Jesse (and Brandy)

by **TPMcGinty** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:51 am

Welcome! I know what it's like to want a trailer that fits. I'm 6'4". I fit well in my 5x8 Generic Benroy Woody. I made sure the inside would fit a true queen size mattress. Good luck and I'll look forward to seeing the photos of your build.

by **Beachbuggy** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:58 am

Welcome McBrew!
Were newbies here too, in the process of our own 1st build. Awesome help here. Weve already changed our plans a few times after seeing the tears on this site. I'll probably be sad when were all done, were having so much fun building it! I know you'll have fun too!;)

by **Miriam C.** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:42 pm

to the playground newly betrothed.

We will help all we can. Building yourself allows you to tailor the TD to fit your needs. Now remember to get lots of practice taking :pictures:

and keeping the bubble oil level. You will want to show your grandchildren. :thumbsup:

by **mikeschn** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:47 pm

Hey Jesse,

Welcome to the forum. You've got a good eye for style... let's see you build it.

I was on your other forum this morning and found out that the Forester Diesel will be out next March...

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=205804

okay, so you might be over on vwvortex...

Guess what I'll be towing with...

Mike...

by **Rarin2go** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:19 pm

Sounds like a solid plan. That would be a unique honeymoon trip!

by **McBrew** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:12 am

Rarin2go wrote:Sounds like a solid plan. That would be a unique honeymoon trip!

Yeah, and it was her idea!

After dinner last night, I went down to the garage to unpack the Harbor Freight trailer so I could make sure everything was there. Well, one thing led to another and by 10:30 the trailer was completely assembled!

I towed it "around the block" to make sure everything was okay (and everything was). It'll be interesting to see what the finished trailer does to my fuel economy. I usually get about 46-48 MPG, and I got about 41 MPG wi the empty trailer back there. I should be able to get a couple extra MPG when I get new tires... I still have winter tires on the car.

Okay, now I really have to figure out what I'm doing!

Thanks for all the words of encouragement!

by **McBrew** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:54 am

Ahhh... I see now that the shape I like is called a "cub."

by **rbeemer** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:14 pm

McBrew wrote:
Rarin2go wrote:Sounds like a solid plan. That would be a unique honeymoon trip!

Yeah, and it was her idea!

After dinner last night, I went down to the garage to unpack the Harbor Freight trailer so I could make sure everything was there. Well, one thing led to another and by 10:30 the trailer was completely assembled!

Remember you might have to move the axle to get the correct tongue weight. You can use the balance sheet from the design library to help you decide the location.

Remember if you do it right the first time it will cost you a whole lot less.

by **McBrew** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:19 am

rbeemer wrote:Remember you might have to move the axle to get the correct tongue weight. You can use the balance sheet from the design library to help you decide the location.

Remember if you do it right the first time it will cost you a whole lot less.

Yeah, that's what I've gathered. I put the trailer together for inspection (more or less) by the book. I'm going to move the axle back and reinforce the side rails between the two halves before I start building.

by **McBrew** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:05 pm

Okay, I found a little spare time and removed the center supports and used one of them (cut in half) to span the formerly hinged section of the trailer. The axle is disconnected, and I am working out its location. I may just go with 40%, as it will be somewhat average dimensions and I don't want too high of a tongue weight on my Golf.

by **H@nk** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:18 pm

Once, about 8 months ago, I was also a newbe, now I build a N@b T@b.
Because you are a little bit smaller than me, it might fit for you.
Just look in my album. Greetings from hottest Netherlands

by **Cliffmeister2000** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:19 pm

Welcome, Jesse and Brandy!

My wife and I went camping on our honeymoon, 17 years ago! It was awesome! Borrowed my sister's Dodge van conversion (If I had realized it got 8 miles to the gallon, I might have made different plans), and followed the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to Eureka, then over to the 5 and up to Seattle. spent a day at the Butchart Gardens in Victoria BC (I highly recommend a spring visit. The flowers will blow you away!), then over the Cascades into Idaho, down through Utah, Las Vegas, and finally home. Two full weeks! We tented in good weather, stayed in the van in the rain (which was all there was in Oregon and Washington). Man, I wish I had known about teardrops then!

Anyway, I'm building a weekender, and at 6'4", length was a major consideration. So was the galley (wife) so the compromize was left to me. Bed length 78"

I don't sleep completely stretched out, so this will be fine. My original tear was just 74".

by **McBrew** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:23 pm

It's been a while...

My fiancee and I finally got some work done on the template for the walls! I biscuit jointed two MDF boards together and we managed to get the profile of a "cub" drawn out. After one too many mosquito bites, I decided to call it a night. Some time this week I'll try to get to cutting and sanding the profile.

I also bought the oak veneer plywood for the inner and outter skin as well as some sandply to make the "studs". The roof is going to be aluminum. I already have the CPES for the walls (and nearly every other piece of wood, too!).

Wish me luck!

PS: I am using the 120" Cub profile from the design library. Many thanks to whoever put that together!

by **mikeschn** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:34 pm

McBrew wrote:
PS: I am using the 120" Cub profile from the design library. Many thanks to whoever put that together!

That would be Angib!

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi! I'm just getting started on my 1st TD!

Hi! I'm just getting started on my 1st TD!

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