ready made trailer frame

[Cliffmeister2000]

I know this question has been asked before, and I have read the stickies on the subject, but I am going to ask anyway. I have purchased a 5' x 9' trailer ($125.00) to use the frame for a tear. I am going to make a 10' x 5' x 5' tear. I don't plan on making a real fancy galley, and I do plan on having a tongue box on the front. My question is this: currently the axle is 48" from the rear of the trailer which is 45% of the total bed length. Do you think I need to move it back or can I get away with leaving it where it is? I have read that 45% is the max you would want and only if your galley is not too heavy.

Rob

I don't have anything to add about wheel position or tongue length, but I would like to pass on my experience in building a 5'x5'x10' Weekender.

I am 6'4" tall (or long, when in the teardrop), so the 10' length was fairly manditory. I also appreciate the 5' width, athough I have wheels inside, so the sleeping area is effectively only 48". However, I found that I gained very little by making it 5' tall, except a little cupboard space. The Weekender is still not tall enough to stand up in, and I am only 39" tall while seated, so the extra foot doesn't add to my comfort whatsoever. In exchange for this cupboard space, I effectively doubled the amount of plywood I needed both inside and out, and made my Weekender quite a bit more expensive. If I had it to do over again, I would stay within 48" of height, or go find a source for either 5x10 or 5x5 sheets of plywood.

Good luck on your build!

[rwelp]

Thanks Cliff,
That has been more and more on my mind as I plan my build. My wife wants the 5' height because she thinks she'll be claustrophobic in a 4' height trailer. You are right about the amount of wood too. I have been adding it up and it adds up quickly, not to mention the problem of joining the pieces together.

[bve]

I know this question has been asked before, and I have read the stickies on the subject, but I am going to ask anyway. I have purchased a 5' x 9' trailer ($125.00) to use the frame for a tear. I am going to make a 10' x 5' x 5' tear. I don't plan on making a real fancy galley, and I do plan on having a tongue box on the front. My question is this: currently the axle is 48" from the rear of the trailer which is 45% of the total bed length. Do you think I need to move it back or can I get away with leaving it where it is? I have read that 45% is the max you would want and only if your galley is not too heavy.

Rob

I don't have anything to add about wheel position or tongue length, but I would like to pass on my experience in building a 5'x5'x10' Weekender.

I am 6'4" tall (or long, when in the teardrop), so the 10' length was fairly manditory. I also appreciate the 5' width, athough I have wheels inside, so the sleeping area is effectively only 48". However, I found that I gained very little by making it 5' tall, except a little cupboard space. The Weekender is still not tall enough to stand up in, and I am only 39" tall while seated, so the extra foot doesn't add to my comfort whatsoever. In exchange for this cupboard space, I effectively doubled the amount of plywood I needed both inside and out, and made my Weekender quite a bit more expensive. If I had it to do over again, I would stay within 48" of height, or go find a source for either 5x10 or 5x5 sheets of plywood.

Good luck on your build!

That's some real good information Cliff. I recently did up a very crude cardboard mock-up of the cabin - I found out that 5'w x 6'l x 4'h was plenty of space. I too will have wheel wells inside the cabin, however for the most part it is just going to be me and my little dog so this will be lots of space.

Rob you may want to consider a cardboard mock-up too, it's very telling in terms of the space you will have.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I know this question has been asked before, and I have read the stickies on the subject, but I am going to ask anyway. I have purchased a 5' x 9' trailer ($125.00) to use the frame for a tear. I am going to make a 10' x 5' x 5' tear. I don't plan on making a real fancy galley, and I do plan on having a tongue box on the front. My question is this: currently the axle is 48" from the rear of the trailer which is 45% of the total bed length. Do you think I need to move it back or can I get away with leaving it where it is? I have read that 45% is the max you would want and only if your galley is not too heavy.

Rob

I don't have anything to add about wheel position or tongue length, but I would like to pass on my experience in building a 5'x5'x10' Weekender.

I am 6'4" tall (or long, when in the teardrop), so the 10' length was fairly manditory. I also appreciate the 5' width, athough I have wheels inside, so the sleeping area is effectively only 48". However, I found that I gained very little by making it 5' tall, except a little cupboard space. The Weekender is still not tall enough to stand up in, and I am only 39" tall while seated, so the extra foot doesn't add to my comfort whatsoever. In exchange for this cupboard space, I effectively doubled the amount of plywood I needed both inside and out, and made my Weekender quite a bit more expensive. If I had it to do over again, I would stay within 48" of height, or go find a source for either 5x10 or 5x5 sheets of plywood.

Good luck on your build!

That's some real good information Cliff. I recently did up a very crude cardboard mock-up of the cabin - I found out that 5'w x 6'l x 4'h was plenty of space. I too will have wheel wells inside the cabin, however for the most part it is just going to be me and my little dog so this will be lots of space.

Rob you may want to consider a cardboard mock-up too, it's very telling in terms of the space you will have.

The cardboard mockup is a great idea, especially to convince the wife.

[bve]

The cardboard mockup is a great idea, especially to convince the wife.

Just another one of the great ideas found on this site.

[eamarquardt]

That's some real good information Cliff. I recently did up a very crude cardboard mock-up of the cabin - I found out that 5'w x 6'l x 4'h was plenty of space. I too will have wheel wells inside the cabin, however for the most part it is just going to be me and my little dog so this will be lots of space.

Rob you may want to consider a cardboard mock-up too, it's very telling in terms of the space you will have.

What happens if you find a "significant other" in the future, will there be enough room then. Others in earlier strings (as I recall) seemed to think that any tear needed to be wide enough for two for contingencies and resale value. But these may not be concerns for you.

I agree mock ups are good!

Cheers,

Gus

[rwelp]

bve wrote

That's some real good information Cliff. I recently did up a very crude cardboard mock-up of the cabin - I found out that 5'w x 6'l x 4'h was plenty of space. I too will have wheel wells inside the cabin, however for the most part it is just going to be me and my little dog so this will be lots of space.

Rob you may want to consider a cardboard mock-up too, it's very telling in terms of the space you will have.

Good idea, now to find a large enough piece of cardboard or tape a bunch of pieces together.

Rob Welp

[rwelp]

I know this question has been asked before, and I have read the stickies on the subject, but I am going to ask anyway. I have purchased a 5' x 9' trailer ($125.00) to use the frame for a tear. I am going to make a 10' x 5' x 5' tear. I don't plan on making a real fancy galley, and I do plan on having a tongue box on the front. My question is this: currently the axle is 48" from the rear of the trailer which is 45% of the total bed length. Do you think I need to move it back or can I get away with leaving it where it is? I have read that 45% is the max you would want and only if your galley is not too heavy.

Rob

I don't have anything to add about wheel position or tongue length, but I would like to pass on my experience in building a 5'x5'x10' Weekender.

I am 6'4" tall (or long, when in the teardrop), so the 10' length was fairly manditory. I also appreciate the 5' width, athough I have wheels inside, so the sleeping area is effectively only 48". However, I found that I gained very little by making it 5' tall, except a little cupboard space. The Weekender is still not tall enough to stand up in, and I am only 39" tall while seated, so the extra foot doesn't add to my comfort whatsoever. In exchange for this cupboard space, I effectively doubled the amount of plywood I needed both inside and out, and made my Weekender quite a bit more expensive. If I had it to do over again, I would stay within 48" of height, or go find a source for either 5x10 or 5x5 sheets of plywood.

Good luck on your build!

There is a hardwood store here locally that sells 5'x5' sheets of baltic birch plywood. I have a business account there, as that is where I get a lot of my wood for my woodworking projects.

Rob Welp

[Cliffmeister2000]

There is a hardwood store here locally that sells 5'x5' sheets of baltic birch plywood. I have a business account there, as that is where I get a lot of my wood for my woodworking projects.

Rob Welp

You are very fortunate! Please start a build thread when you get going!