Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Gerdo** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:35 pm

I'm toying with the thought of building a smaller, lighter and cheaper TD. I was thinking about welding up my own frame and buy an axle. But I'm starting to think about a HF trailer. I'm looking at the type with 12" wheels. I would use some of the frame and build a lot of it myself, and utilize the HF axle and wheels.

How many miles have you put on your HF trailer?
Are the bearings any good?
Can you buy replacement bearings and seals at most auto parts stores?
What model do you have?
How are the tires?
Can they be towed at 80 mph? (which I'm sure is above the mfg recommended speed)
Would you build on a HF frame again?

by **chartle** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:25 pm

Gerdo wrote:Can they be towed at 80 mph? (which I'm sure is above the mfg recommended speed)

The manual lists a 45 mph limit 80 is a little bit over that. :thumbsup:

by **parnold** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:53 pm

I have a 1972 HF trailer, and a 2010. Both have been towed at 80. The 2010 is the 4x8 1700lb capacity model with 12" tires that I put my tear on top of. I should have left out some of the metal, and had it welded instead of bolting it together to save weight, but I don't regret the purchase at all. I just learned a little along the way.

I am about to start on build #2, and if I can't find a good craigslist trailer, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another HF.

I also purchased a hub with bearings in it which I keep in my tongue box. If something goes wrong, I'll replace the whole hub, instead of messing around with bearings on the side of the road.

By the way, my 1972 still has the original bearings.

by **Gerdo** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:55 am

I looked at buying an axle, wheels, tires and that price way exceeds the cost of a HF frame that has all that and more.

What pressure do you run in the HF tires?

by **parnold** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:49 pm

If it wasn't raining I'd run out and check the pressure. I estimate my trailer in the area of 800lbs, and if my memory is correct, the tire pressure is running around 35 - 40 psi. At 80psi the trailer seemed way too stiff and bouncy.

by **absolutsnwbrdr** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:57 pm

I have the 1720lb model with 12" wheels (same as Paul) and have put about 2500 miles on it in the past year and a half. Probably weighs around 700-1000 lbs, depending on how long the trip is and how much crap I take with me.

I run tire pressure around 35-40psi, and have set my cruise control at 75-80mph a few times. At least every other trip involves 15-20 miles of dirt forest service roads.

Although a few will tell you that this combination of driving/roads will cause a Harbor Freight trailer to spontaneously combust, I've never had a problem. Not even a blowout. *knocks on wood*

I'm just about ready to start building my next teardrop and it will be on the exact same trailer. Its even going to be a 5x10 teardrop (on the 4x8 trailer).

by **parnold** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:18 pm

Hey Zach, let's have a race again to see who finishes #2 first! :lol:

by **absolutsnwbrdr** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:06 pm

parnold wrote:Hey Zach, let's have a race again to see who finishes #2 first!

Just gotta figure out what to do with my first one before I can start the second!

by **gregp136** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:55 am

We used the 1195 pound 4x8 trailer from Harbour Freight. Tire pressure 40. Completed in Spring of 2010 and it has gone over 4000 miles and counting. Works wondeful. Our biggest complaint is not enough free time to put on more miles.

Greg(and Laurie)

by **Nobody** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:45 am

My HF 1800# (1740??) bought in Jan '06, TD 'completed' Sep '06. TD approx 60x114", wheels mostly under the 'box', weighs in at around 1100 (give or take a few #'s). We've towed it 12K plus with absolutely no problems, 'cept for when we towed through water in the streets of several SE New Mexico towns last year, I didn't immediately clean & repack the bearings afterwards so ended up with mild damage (heat spots where moisture had penetrated the grease) a couple of months later. Replaced the bearings (available at NAPA for this model trailer) & TD has been towed approx 2K miles since. I'd buy/use another one... :thumbsup:

by **samsberr** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:46 am

We have the HF 1740...
I added a couple or stiffer cross members to it before the build.
Also the 3/4" floor helps keep things tight.
I've ran it for 3 years and about 3000 miles...
I also carry a spare hub and Bering set...at around 30 bucks for a the hub, bearings, and seal ... It's good insurance...
I repack once a season cause we run at 70 mph a lot.
Always a good practice at stops along the way to check the hubs for excessive heat...just grab them and see if there hot...
I'd do HF again...
Happy trails...

by **satch** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:44 pm

HF 1740
axle cut in 1/2 and extended 1 ft
stock tires (12"ers)
stock bearings
over 1000 miles (usually 60mph) and no problems so far

by **wannabefree** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:15 pm

We have about 9k on ours. But replaced the tires at about 3k and the axle, hubs, and bearings at about 4k. My $270 trailer has cost nearly $1000 now. Better to start out with quality parts if you can. Or replace them when you have to, like me.

http://s26.photobucket.com/user/len1907 · by **len19070** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:25 pm

Wasn't there some poor Uninformed Soul out there who said Harbor Freight Trailers would "Explode" or something? :shock:

"Explode" was the word that really got me....I thought Only Hollywood vehicles "Explode"!

Zach, help me out on this one. :worship:

Happy Trails

Len

http://s26.photobucket.com/user/len1907 · by **len19070** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:49 pm

I'm ya Slow.

Fact is that Harbor Freight frames are responsible for the Majority of the "reality Part" Teardrop Resurgence.

We can't all be wrong.....Maybe that guy shouldn't be allowed to play with Matches???????

Happy Trails

Len

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

How many miles are on your HF trailer?

How many miles are on your HF trailer?

Re: How many miles are on your HF trailer?

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