It's not a teardrop!

[cuyeda]

Went to the Buellton, CA Vintage trailer rally at the Flying Flags RV Resort. had a good time. I could post over 200 photos of the event, but that wouldn't be fun looking through all those photos... to see my top ten picks for the weekend! Let's just get to what interested me the most!

1948-50? Home built! Like the subject says... It's not a teardrop, but thought you might like to see this for inspiration. If you can't tell from the pictures, it has a dropped floor, and very low to the ground with 16" wheels.

[doug hodder]

Cool trailer Cliff.....and if that's the drop floor showing in the last pic....yeah...it is low! I'm thinking of something very similar, just not that big. Doug

[cuyeda]

If anyone could pull something like this off, it would certainly be you Doug! I am not worthy! and by the way, I would like to buy yours when it's finished. So yes, I am calling dibbs on it when it's for sale!

[Gage]

If you look at that last picture closely, you'll notice that the roof line of the trailer is the same height as the tow. Which I believe was a Ford Explorer (can't remember).

[asianflava]

The grille looks like an Econoline. The hubcaps (first pic) looks like a 3/4 ton Econoline.

[dratkinson]

Pretty trailer.

That dropped floor looks awfully low... like a stray armadillo could take it out.

Would it be possible to build a trailer with a dropped floor that was raise-able for traveling? They make trailers with pop-up roofs, why not trailers with a drop-down floor?

With a drop-down dropped floor, you would not need to worry about ground clearance while traveling.

Just my $.02.

[whitefishpoint]

Pretty trailer.

That dropped floor looks awfully low... like a stray armadillo could take it out.

Would it be possible to build a trailer with a dropped floor that was raise-able for traveling? They make trailers with pop-up roofs, why not trailers with a drop-down floor?

With a drop-down dropped floor, you would not need to worry about ground clearance while traveling.

Just my $.02.

So it would be Lo-Hi Trailer instead of a Hi-Lo Trailer.
I like how they did the wood on the inside of the corners.

[john warren]

Pretty trailer.

That dropped floor looks awfully low... like a stray armadillo could take it out.

Would it be possible to build a trailer with a dropped floor that was raise-able for traveling? They make trailers with pop-up roofs, why not trailers with a drop-down floor?

With a drop-down dropped floor, you would not need to worry about ground clearance while traveling.

Just my $.02.

ever notice how much an armadillo looks like a speed bump?

[cuyeda]

@whitefishpoint

Took a peek at your album. Your photos intrigues me to ask how you accomplished making the compound curved sections.

What material is the main roof made of, and what is it coated with? Did you make two trailers? I see one trailer with just the front compounded, and rear doors. Another photo with four compound roof curves. Would be interested in a step by step tutorial. Did you post your progress in a build section of the forum?

[doug hodder]

Some older trailers did have retractable drop floors in them. I believe that Eddie Miller has one now, canvas sides on them.
Cliff, thanks for the vote of confidence. Doug

[whitefishpoint]

@whitefishpoint

Took a peek at your album. Your photos intrigues me to ask how you accomplished making the compound curved sections.

What material is the main roof made of, and what is it coated with? Did you make two trailers? I see one trailer with just the front compounded, and rear doors. Another photo with four compound roof curves. Would be interested in a step by step tutorial. Did you post your progress in a build section of the forum?

I made the corners out of fiberglass. You can see the model, mold and parts on pg 3&4 of my album. Its just 1 trailer. Only the front has the rounded corners.
The top and front are FRP sheets that you can buy at the box stores. I just glued them to the curved wooden spars and sides with PL premium construction adhesive. No screws. Got 2 summers, 5K miles and one winter on it so far and so far so good. The seams between the FRP and the corners are bondo.

My interior is still unfinished which is why I'm so glad you posted the pictures. The way they did the wood on those inside corners is what I have been trying to figure out.

[mezmo]

Hi Cliff/cuyeda,

Thanks for posting those great Pics! Do you know if it is an older build that's
been restored [most likely], or a new build [you never know], built to look
vintage?

The drop floor looks to be way too low to tow, so I suspect they must have
some sort of raising/lowering mechanism. Any info on that?

Just curious. Your pics are always a pleasure to check out.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[doug hodder]

Cliff...did you happen to see what they did for an axle, or is it a pair of short torsion pads, or a modified straight axle with a major drop on it? It appears that the wheels are located ahead of the rear of the dropped floor. Doug

[cuyeda]

Doug,

At this point on my hands and knees point and shoot. This is the closest shot to the axle.

[doug hodder]

That's wild...it's got a leaf spring on it or appears to. Did the drop floor extend beyond the wheel to the left in this pic? Something has been done different behind the wheel if it does. And to think I was worried on the height of my drop floor. Looks like a dragger to me, but it's made it this long. Doug