Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Micro469** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:12 pm

when I thought of something. Since the main body of the teardrop if made correctly is a torsion box, and therefore very strong, when it comes to the actul trailer, it basically need to hold the wheels in place and provide a mount for the tongue. Why couldn't it be made from ,say, 2" flat steel on the sides with a few crossbraces also of flat steel. The axle and springs and tongue welded on and the tearbox bolted on to it. I agree that by itself it would be really flimsy, but as a package would be very strong and really lower the total weight of the tear.....
Is this feasable or am I all washed up? Do I have too much soap in my ears?????

:roll:

by **Carter** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:51 am

I agree with you John. as do many of the members here. Many fabricated frames are overkill if the torsion box is built correctly. Problem is getting it built correctly. My opinion is that just flat stock would be a little wimpy unless the box was exceptionally strong. Andrew may not agree, he has an ultra light chassis in the Design Library that is nothing more than a tongue and axle. The floor of the box would have to be strong.

I have a set of Flexiride 1400# half axles laying around and am ordering steel for a frame today. In the picture below, the green is 2x2 11 gauge and the blue is 2x2x1/8" angle. Total calculated weight of the steel is 160#. Add the half axles and wheels and tires, coupler and jacks and it should still be under 300#. The sides can be attached with the pre-drilled holes in the perimeter. Floor can be a sheet of 1/2" ply or 1x2, 1/4" Luan and foam composite. No need for a 2x2 wood frame, the angle replaces that. The 48" tongue should be good for a 1300# trailer. With the 1400# axles there should be enough cushion for a trailer that should gross about 1000#.

I'm like everyone else and tend to overbuild. I'm fighting the urge to replace the front and rear crossmembers with tubing. It would just add 15# ....NO, NO, NO, Do it right, Keep it light. I could probably take out more steel, but I'm near the bottom of my comfort scale now. Since the wife wouldn't like downsizing to a tear, I may put this frame up for sale when finished so any comments or suggestions or Are you Crazy's are welcome.

Jim

by **Steve_Cox** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:12 pm

Micro469 wrote:when I thought of something. Since the main body of the teardrop if made correctly is a torsion box, and therefore very strong, when it comes to the actul trailer, it basically need to hold the wheels in place and provide a mount for the tongue. Why couldn't it be made from ,say, 2" flat steel on the sides with a few crossbraces also of flat steel. The axle and springs and tongue welded on and the tearbox bolted on to it. I agree that by itself it would be really flimsy, but as a package would be very strong and really lower the total weight of the tear.....
Is this feasable or am I all washed up? Do I have too much soap in my ears?????

It would work.

But what I find most interesting is how while standing naked and soapy you think about torsion boxes, etc. It's all I can do to remember to wash my face before I wash my other parts. :lol:

by **doug hodder** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:19 pm

Steve...please note..."splish splash I was taking a bath" gave him time to sit and think before the water went cold on him. John....watch out for shrinkage as the water cools! Doug

by **angib** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:25 am

A Chinagraph pencil (US: "grease pencil"?) is the answer - you can sketch your idea on the tiles without having to get out. But don't get it on the tile grout - it doesn't wipe off.

Clearly the other major thing is not to take showers - insufficient thinking time.

Andrew, whose best ideas are in the bath