fenders vs. inboard wheels

[atahoekid]

In viewing all the great TD's on this site, I've noticed almost all of them have wheels covered by fenders and mounted outboard. I've been thinking going inboard (ala the baja benroy) and using some of that extra space for storage and the like. Am I missing an obvious reason as to why the fenders? Is it ease of construction, design factors, stability, or something else? A little help for a relative newb would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[bobhenry]

You just ain't been lookin in the right places......



and despite what they will tell ya it won't fall over on curves
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here was when it was a bit prettier 3 years ago


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here a few others just in the Hoosier chapter

[emiller]

Your right on just about everything from stability to space. On the original 4x8 tear if you put the fender well in the inside it would take up a lot of interior room.

[bobhenry]

atahoekid:

You expressed interest in a 6x10 by 5 tall teardrop

Those shots in my previous post are all almost exactly that.

None of us have regretted building a little larger than the norm.

Mine is 5'7" x 10 foot and a bit over 5' inside. ( I wired it setting in a camping chair on a rainy day)

I got rid of the intrusive wheelwells by adding 2 layers of insulation and a layer of 7/16 subfloor over the foam. ( Great insulation for our January Shivarees here in Indiana).

So get making sawdust there is NO WRONG DESIGN when building a tiny trailer.

[atahoekid]

Planned start date for the build is April/May of next year. "She who must be obeyed" has dictated that several items on the honey-do list must be completed prior to the start of the build. That gives me plenty of time for planning, thinking and learning from all of you on the site and gives me a chance to squirrel away some funds.

The snow load I get up here at my house (7300 feet) also makes it impractical to try to build outside during the winter and I doubt I would get it far enough along prior to the first snow flying.

Thankfully, my wife is very interested in this latest of my projects so I am getting support. Just got lots to do first.

[Weirdnerd]

It all depends on the frame you get, if you can get a good one with the wheels outboard, go for it, if you stumble upon one with the wheels inboard, improvise.....

[Weirdnerd]

I got lucky that my "craiglist-O-holic" neighbour made some look up on the net and found me a nice dilapidated popup camper for Zero dollars, so the frame was basically free, the rest was 50% recycled wood, you can go to construction sites and ask for their scrap dumpster blessing, they have to pay per weight to haul that stuff off, so they are always happy to let you rummage through lots of free wood.

[asianflava]

The classic teardrops are 4X8, if you have the wheelwells intruding on the inside then you will have a pretty skinny bed. Some of us build our trailers to emulate the classic style, some us make-do with what we have. Don't over think this stuff.

[Ron Dickey]

Mine is with fender and we love parking our shoes and drinks on the fender.

The advanage of a in wheel is more room inside for more stuff.

Very few disadvantages for inside that I can see if something gets stuck between the wheel and the body. Very very rear.

When my weld on my axel broke the tire wabled and burned into the wall we saw it in the mirror and stopped.

outside tire can be changed more eazly but it is exposed to the road and anything the trailer sideswipes, unless the fender is strong. Mine is made of wood.

You could build around the wheel and leave it exposed or have a fender cover that is simple to remove like the cars of the 60's and before had.

[Mightydog]

Don't over think this stuff.

+1