Teardrop American

[boxcar]

I just picked up a Teardrop American yesterday. Found it in a farmers field, (or should I say farmers bog). It had bin left for dead years ago.
Fortunatly it is constructed entirely of abs plastic and faired the coastal weather very well. I am trying to find info on this trailer but have had little luck. Plan include foam lining the trailer then a birch inner skin. Fabricating a new trailer frame to allow an atv to be hauled forward of the coach. Oh yes and it will be towed by my 74 cj5 in the woods so it will need to be trail ready. I am a newbe on this site so I may have touble with the pics I have so far but I will try to get some posted. This thing is crazy. It looks like a reentry vehical from Startrec . It was attached to the trailer frame with 1 bolt in the front (spare tire mount) and two small clip straps (plastic of course) that closly resemble life jacket straps in the rear.
Needles to say we will reindesign the mounting system.I do hope you will fogive my poor spellin and lack of proper gramer. We all have ouer flaws.
I will keep posting progress reports as th project and time pemit. Any info on this trailer will be graitfully recived...[/img]

[Juneaudave]

Beauty!!! Nice find!!!

[Mark McD]

Yeah. Sweet. Quick pressure wash and it'll look great.
Love the gull wing door.

[greg755]

Very cool indeed

[2bits]

Nice that you saved that one, it looks very tough and has already proven it's abailty to stand the weather! It looks good to be an off road tear too!

[xrover]

That has got 1970's written all over it. I had a sailboat made of the same.

On the gullwing door, I am liking the idea, especially on days when it is raining and you are going in and out, might keep some water off the head and outside.

[Mark McD]

Any idea what it weighs?

[4123]

Hello Fellow Oregonian! Welcome to the place where all the teardrop nutcases gather. We've got some relatives in Astoria and get up there every now and then. PM me your telephone number and we'll look you up the next time we're in your neck of the woods. I have two sons who live in Eugene and both have home-made teardrops with gull wing doors. (see 'oregonguy' & 'sawyer' on this forum) Keep working on your teardrop and don't let the rain stop you!

[Cliffmeister2000]

Welcome, Boxcar! That is indeed an eyecatcher! When you get the hangf of posting photos, we would like to request some interior shots as well!

[BillandMarijo]

Very cool.
Have fun,
Bill and Marijo

[bbarry]

Welcome, Boxcar! That is indeed an eyecatcher! When you get the hangf of posting photos, we would like to request some interior shots as well!

Welcome Boxcar! Help with photos can be found at the top of the page under "Help with photos" smack dab in the center. You figured out how to upload. Now just click on the photo you want in your album and copy and paste the URL of your photo into your message. Highlight it and click "Img" and you're done!

Brad

[Cliffmeister2000]

Welcome, Boxcar! That is indeed an eyecatcher! When you get the hang of posting photos, we would like to request some interior shots as well!

Welcome Boxcar! Help with photos can be found at the top of the page under "Help with photos" smack dab in the center. You figured out how to upload. Now just click on the photo you want in your album and copy and paste the URL of your photo into your message. Highlight it and click "Img" and you're done!

Brad

Wow, talk about a clean slate! (okay, a dirty slate). I can't wait to see how this one looks with some TLC!

[boxcar]

Well we got the thing pressure washed and dismantaled (all 7 pieces of her) Injection molding ,gotta love it. Am now working on a design or two for the Turtle, or SwartsanEGGER as my friends like to call her. Did weigh her after cleeneing and before dismantaling. I was surprised-350lbs. I will post a couple of drawings later this week once compleated. and look for advice on wich way you guys think I should go. One will be an internal cage system that will allow me to boath atatch the interior skin to and conect the roof basket to toe trailer. The only argument I have with this is that the atatchment points for the basket will have to pass thrugh the roof.
It will result in a substantially stiffend shell (a good thing).
The other option is an exoskelliton or role bar system. This will leave the shell intact and suport the basket externaly.The interior will then be instauled in a more conventional manner.Heavier but it will protect the pressios egg..... Oh by the way 7'2" wide at the doors and 9'6" in length.
See ya!

[Cliffmeister2000]

Oh by the way 7'2" wide at the doors and 9'6" in length.
See ya!

Wow! Much wider than it looks! What are the interior measurements? Could you sleep sideways?

[boxcar]

yes you could sleep sideways if you are 6"or shorter. I am 5'10" and fit nicely.