Patrick in OK

[patrick1966]

Hi, I'm Patrick and live in central Oklahoma. I just picked up this teardrop from a guy in southern Kansas over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I am not sure if it is a commercially-produced camper or if it's homebuilt, but judging from the style, fasteners used, and the axle, I'm guessing late '40s. It is literally a shell. The rear hatch was not attached when I picked the trailer up, and the curbside entry door was missing. I pulled it home nearly 200 miles with my Cherokee without issues. It is very bouncy when empty!

Plans are to get it ready for Summer. I'll need to reskin the roof, build a new hatch door and entry door, and find suitable fenders. The interior is yet to be designed; I have several ideas, but nothing firm.

The floor is all tongue-in-groove 1x4 oak planks. There are 30 total. Most of them are in pretty good shape and will be removed, sanded down and refinished.

I have a pair of old 15" x 6" Crestliners (similar to a Torq-Thrust wheel) that I intend to use on this trailer. Not period correct, but I've had these for over 20 years with zero luck in finding a matching pair, so these are going on the teardrop! I'll probably relocate the axle about eight inches further back and run a torsion axle, instead of the drop I-beam axle and leaf springs under it now.

Eventually, this will go behind my 1947 Hudson Super Six four-door sedan, that I intend to make a nice cruiser out of.

--- Patrick

[Shadow Catcher]

Greetings and welcome to the group. You have a prize there and I will be interested in how you restore it.

[aggie79]

Welcome Patrick,

You have a unique piece of history to start with. I can't wait to see you bring it back to life.

If you haven't, swing by the South Central section of the forum. There are quite a few of us in the Oklahoma, Louisianna, and Texas area. Come camp with us a gathering. In March, we'll be at Beavers Bend in OK.

Take care,
Tom

[reo-ron]

Partick, I'm in Tulsa and am very interested in your project. I have some fenders you might be interested in. I also know where there are some vintage original fenders.
Ron in Tulsa

[patrick1966]

Thanks, guys. Fenders do sound good! So does a little campout. I can't remember ever going to Beaver's Bend State park, and I've lived in OKC for nearly 30 years!

[honeask]

Patrick, very cool vintage looking trailer. I bet you do great things with it. Absolutely check out South Central link, there is lots of good times ahead in 2012, we are starting to reserve for LCGVII at Lake Bisteneau for next Halloween, check it out, very fun but only if you like to EAT.

[patrick1966]

If things go according to plan, I intend to have the camper ready to use by May '12. The Hudson will take a lot longer, but I've got a Jeep Cherokee that will pull this just fine.

[campmaster-k]

Welcome.

[Toytaco2]

Good to have another Oklahoman on the forum. We don't see many TD's around our state.

Good Luck on the restoration.

Mike