What are the smallest camping teardrops?

[Chromo]

I want a little lite weight trailer to pull behind my motorcycle that would still be big enough to sleep in. I am about 6'4"

I was going to go with building just a cargo type trailer and have an HF 40"x48" kit already put together which I just bought.
This is the 1080lb rated with 12" tires one.

For pulling and stopping with a bike I need light weight and preferably aerodynamic too, I like the tear drop looks.

Has anyone built a pretty small tear drop or other type long enough to sleep in that could fit my small trailer?
I was thinking about building the body out over the tongue an extra foot maybe and over the rear an extra 2'. That should give me about 7' length.
This trailer only has the single rail tongue so I am thinking the body U bolted to tongue may add extra strength also.

Not allot of thought into it yet, but I am thinking perhaps box in over the fenders to add extra width also. I don't want to go too wide pulling with a motorcycle, but I figure I will be pulling as wide as the fenders anyway.

I have some 5/8 or 3/4 plywood I was going to use for a cargo floor. Forgot what size it is now since I had it for awhile. It is a bit less than 8' I think. That should make a solid floor I think. What is the lightest size plywood or such I could use for the sides and roof and still be strong enough for highway speeds.

I want to build something nice that will last, but money is a obstacle also, I don't have any LOL

What I want the trailer for mostly is long trips, something I can park on a parking lot at a safe truckstop or gas station or Wal-mart, Rest Area etc... and jump in to grab 3 or 4 hours sleep while traveling long trips.
I hate expensive hotels and most the time I only want to sleep a few hours anyway and go again.
I used to just toss out a sleeping bag somewhere and sleep, but the word is too full of crazies now adays. I'd like to be in a little trailer out of sight at least for safety.

They make various tent trailers for bikes and I was thinking of building my own type but I'd rather have enclosed like a teardrop. Nicer looking, safer, ready to sleep in, not draw the attention of a tent!

Any suggestions welcome! I been looking at allot of great trailers and ideas here, just not seen much I could use for a motorcycle yet.

I do plan to build a larger teardrop to pull with the Jeep or car also.
This is a great site and I am finding lots of nice trailers and good ideas to build myself a teardrop!

Thanks

[Cliffmeister2000]

Wade Winsor
Newfoundland Canada

'04 Vstar 1100 Classic




Factory Little Guy

[steve smoot]

Hi Cliff, this picture was taken in Asheville, North Carolina at the Biltmore estates...the largest private home in America

[Cliffmeister2000]

Nice! (I like the teardrop better).

I'm into small things.

[Chromo]

YA!
That is what I am wanting!

I have an 82 1100 Gold Wing I want to pull it with.
Any details on building one this small?

[Cliffmeister2000]

Look at the design library at the Pico Light.

http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear58.htm

[bobhenry]

Built a 3x5 cargo for my old wore out 86 1200 wing and it is great.
I also built on the 40 x 48 HF trailer. One thing you must do is throw the factory tongue away.

I replaced mine with 9' of 2x2 x 3/16 square tube and took it clear to the rear member. This extends the tongue 2'+ .

The short factory tongue made the most ill handling thing I have ever towed.

I chose 3' wide after measuring the handlebars if the bars will go thru so will the trailer.

It would be fairly simple to use full extention drawer slides and extend the floor after you stop to lengthen your bed. The sidewalls are 7/16 osb and have held up well. I put a square shear wall in the front to eliminate the side to side wiggle.

A 10x10 popup is only a foot square by 4' + when packed up. It would be a great room over the trailer.

Here is a couple pics it ain't fancy but it works well. ( More pics in the very back of my album page 48 - 51)

[teardrop_focus]

Grant Whipp of Lil' Bear Tag-Alongs has built a couple of really neat motorcycle-weight teardrop trailers...


http://www.lilbear.teardrops.net/gallery/index.html

http://www.lilbear.teardrops.net/index.html

http://www.teardrops.net/index.html

[Cliffmeister2000]

Those are both very nice looking trailers!

[teardrop_focus]

Welcome to Teardrops & Tiny Travel Trailers.

Please turn off your caps lock.

Thank you.

[Chromo]

Thanks guys.

I have looked around and I think I will build a modified version of the Pico.

Been pricing materials, I may be able to get this built. I hope it does not weigh more than my bike can handle. What I plan to build will be a bit larger and heavier than the pico.

[BigAl]

I am absolutely in love with this tiny trailer. However 'missus BigAL' might become a little bit lively if I suggest building another trailer. :-/

[Alphacarina]

Been pricing materials, I may be able to get this built. I hope it does not weigh more than my bike can handle. What I plan to build will be a bit larger and heavier than the pico.

The weight (and cost) will be your two biggest problems

The Little Guy Rascal weighs 500 pounds and it's small - The mattress is just 44 by 68 inches . . . . and you're 76 inches tall

http://www.golittleguy.com/teardrops/models/rascal/

For an amateur builder to come anywhere close to building something like it and keeping it in the 500 pound range would be nearly impossible. Little Guy uses lots of lightweight sandwich materials for walls and floor . . . . copying the Rascal in wood would add a couple hundred pounds or more and your bike wouldn't like that . . . . especially in a panic stop mode, Not to mention that you want something even *BIGGER*

To do a quality build with lightweight materials (something other than wood and plywood) is going to be *EXPENSIVE*

Since you need/want it longer. I would suggest making it narrower . . . . just wide enough for one person. Begin with an all aluminum frame and lightweight alloy wheels, design it so that a single sheet of aluminum can do the roof, buy some corrogated sandwich panels for the floor and sidewalls and see if you can somehow buy the lightweight door and frame from Little Guy . . . . contact them and see if they will sell you a door to 'repair' your own Little guy - They did sell me a set of their teardrop fenders for a reasonable sum a couple years ago

If you really expect to wind up with a 500 pound trailer to tow behind your bike, I would expect you to have spent just about the cost of a good used Little Guy Rascal by the time you're all said and done. Please don't go into this thinking you're going to build a lightweight motorcycle trailer for $1K to $2K . . . . you'll wind up frustrated and towing a 1,000 pound brick if you do

Don

[tonyj]

Check out B52's album. His motorcycle trailer is slick and light.