Howdy from Colorado!

[Jeff Hubbard]

Hi folks!
So...here's how it happened. I'm a lifeling tinkerer who has always preferred to build rather than buy. It's all about the journey right? I also have a great many interests including flying, sailing, motorcycling, and homebrewing beer. Did I mention I have a very patient wife as well? A couple weeks ago, I was crewing on a buddy's boat in a regatta on a mountain lake above Aspen (yes, we sail in Colorado) and decided I had slept in the back of my Subaru for the last time and began to look around for a small tent trailer or something of the sort. I stumbled upon a teardrop on ebay and loved it's uniqueness so I began to search further for more info. Over the last few days, I have been glued exclusively to every link I can find online and have repeated the phrase, "I have GOT to build one of these!!!" to my wife more times than either of us can count.

I've pretty much decided that I want a 5' internal width, and 8' long will probably be sufficient. I like the more rounded profiles such as the Modernistic and the Ken-Skill and want to incorporate a place in the galley to put a beer tap with a 5 gallon homebrew keg. I'm currently trying to figure out whether the Harbor Freight trailer is either available in a 5' width or can be adapted due to my lack of access to a welder. Also, I'd love to know of other builders/owners in the Denver area. Other than that, I'm looking forward to the experience and thanks for the great forum!

[oklahomajewel]

Welcome ! You'll love it here and the teardropping kind of camping!
My best advice... see one in person, ... lay down, lift the tongue, raise the hatch... try it out. Even if it's a manufactured one.

We have some great teardrop owners and builders in Colorado... be sure to hook up with them.

Julie

[asianflava]

I have a 5wide Modernistic. Lemme know if you want to see it.

[Jeff Hubbard]

Definitely! I'll PM you to set up a time, perhaps this weekend?

[Roly Nelson]

Welcome to the forum, you'll get lots of building advice from here. I have noticed that some builders of 4 x 8 teardrops, seem to lean to a longer and wider one for their next build. Perhaps with the beer storage and such, you might consider going 9 ft long. Altering a typical Harbor Freight 4 ft wide trailer might pose some problems, if you want to keep the wheels on the outside of the walls on a 5 wide. Lengthening it would be no problem, since you can just extend the floor and walls of the tear body beyond the limits of the steel trailer. I'm sure someone will chime in, that has had some experience in streachin' 'er out to 5 ft wide. Well see. Good luck on you project, you sure live in a beautiful State, I spent 18 months there curtesy of Uncle Sam........Fort Carson.......Ugh!
Roly

[BillandMarijo]

Welcome to the forum. I think a 5' would be better if you are taking your wife along. Itll give you a queen size sleeping area. Im glad I went 5x10. Gives me some area inside for a small trunk at the foot of my bed for storage.
Good luck on your build,
Bill and Marijo

[bobhenry]

I've pretty much decided that I want a 5' internal width, and 8' long will probably be sufficient. I'm currently trying to figure out whether the Harbor Freight trailer is either available in a 5' width or can be adapted due to my lack of access to a welder.

9'4" X 61" http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=92174

If you are planning a rear galley 9' is almost a must. ours measures 10' long x 5'7" wide out to out and it is ultra comfortable for two old fat people.



My frame was 2 square tube dock handrails on bits and pieces of a harbor freight 4x8 trailer. The frame was bent so I got it cheap ($75.00) I used the axle set and the tongue. pics in my album page 2-3
I built the floor up so there are no wheel well lumps by adding 2 layers of 3/4 foam board and a 7/16 osb floor over the foam.

[Gerdo]

Build it 5' wide. You have two options , if you are going with a HF frame. Either build over the tires or widen the frame and axle. If you are going to widen the frame and axle you may want to think about having a frame built. To save fab costs you can buy all of the materials, cut and prep them for welding.

There is a gathering coming up. The Last Gasp http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=31108 You can see a bunch of different TDs.

[EPGregg]

Hi Jeff,

I know just how you feel! That was me just over a year ago.

I just, mostly, completed a 5X8 camper and I'm just up the hill in Estes Park. I had my frame built not far from you, in Loveland, after repeated delivery delay's from Northern Tool.

If you need any information on suppliers, etc. I'll be happy to share my successes and failures. It is a 4X8 world!

Gregg

[Pam Wright]

Jeff and Jeff's wife,

Welcome!!!! Yes, we have a gathering (thanks Mike-Gerdo!!!!) in September and would to meet you!!!!

I too have a 5' wide and would love to show it to you! I'm leaving on a vacation to the east coast tomorrow morning at 6:00am, will be back the 14th. Would love to meet you when I return, and show off the Cherry Drop!

We do have a lot of really awesome people here in Colorado and we all can't wait to camp with you!!!

pam