planing my first teardrop

[Jimmy_C]

Hello,

My Name is Jimmy and i reside in Wisconsin. there is more info over in the intro section for newbies.
What I am looking for is a simple to build sleeps 2 maybe three. I am not sure if I want the galley in the back or inside the trailer. in the back with a hatch seems easier Both have pluses. I want to add a heater and maybe Air and at least one outlet in the galley if it is in the back) and at least two outlets if the galley is inside. I think for the galley simple is better I may just go with a camp stove but a built in one either inside or in the back would be nice with a couple cuboards and maybe drawers,a sink and maybe a dorm size freg as well as a front stow, to put stuff. I will also set things up so that the light inside and the outlets can run on battery power if there is not hook ups.
I will post some pictures of the trailer I will be useing soon. (for more info again see intro section.)

I am starting with a trailer that was build from a pick up. It had the box on it and I removed it. I redid the bed with what I had around. The bed came to 6' x 8' I could get 10' when i redo the bed with new wood. I am going to lenthen the tunge as it is to short and I be searching the net for the math to do that. (unless someone wants to share) Another thing is the trailer in its current state with big 15's on it is pretty high. So I will be looking into lowering it. Suggestions welcome as how to do that. Maybe smaller tires providing I can match the bolt pattern. I have not settled on a set of plans I will go with yet. I am also thinking a toilet in the camper will work well (better that walking however far) or rolling in my case to the campground bathroom. I am disabled and in a wheel chair (i do a disabled deer hunt every Oct.) it is not fun with a tent so I figure build a tear. I thought I would either get one of the cranck up awings or build one that just pulls out on the side of the trailer so my chair wont get wet if it rains. I also will be adding a 2/440 ham rig. The goal is to have it finished to take deer hunting in Oct if not totaly finished at least enough to stay dry and warm.
thanks for readiing
Jimmy C
KC9PXZ
Norwalk, Wi

[txcamper]

Hi Jimmy, welcome to the board - I've only been here a couple months but it's an incredible group with a lot of knowledge.

Picking your trailer design is definitely a personal choice, but I will say that the generic benroy plans would go a long way for answering a lot of your questions. I'm building one and it looks like it's going to be about 2 months total from start to finish with a lot of focus on the project. If you want faster, the weekender is specifically designed for quicker construction times.

http://www.teardroptrailers.us/GenericBenroyPlans.pdf

If your trailer is built from a truck bed, are the leaf springs on top of the axles? If you know how to weld or someone that does, it would be about a 5" lowering to move the leaf springs below the axle. If they're already below the axle you can buy a generic block kit from the local auto parts store in 1-3" drop sizes and they'll go in between axle and leaf springs. I have never seen this on a trailer before, only truck/suvs, so please research the safety of the block option if you decide to do that.

Hope that helps answer some questions!

[Lgboro]

Being in a wheel chair you might want to look at the Little Guy tear that has a rear door. Might allow a better transfer space and be easier to work. I believe one or two people on the forum have built similar designs but I don't recall which ones. If voc rehab in your area has a good engineer he or she might be able to help with issues related to modifying a tear plan to better suit a wheel chair. Good luck with your build.

[Jimmy_C]

Hi you guy,

thanks for your replys. yes the springs are on top of the axle. I can arc weld. I will check out the generic benroy , the weekender & the little guy. If fliping things so that the axle in on top of the springs would lower the trailer by around 5 inchs that about what I was thinking 5 inches put my about were I want it be. basicly what the guy did that built the traler did was cut the bed and fram behind the cab and welded on a tounge and built a tool box type deal & there are some beefy shocks under there as well. My pictures on the underside are not great I will take better ones and post them.

Jimmy C
Norwalk, Wi

[Woodbutcher]

Hi Jimmy, welcome to the board. You have a very aggressive plan there. Lots of those things require space. Have you given any thoughts into a cargo conversion, or build a cargo style on your trailer. You may look into what it will cost to modify your existing trailer verses buying a new one that fits your needs. I don't know what you are pulling with but that trailer appears to be pretty heavy. Most teardrops and tiny trailers need to be built as light as possible. I agree with txcamper that a benroy style may work best if you want a teardrop shape. If getting the wheel chair in side is a must I would go cargo style. A rear ramp could be done with a galley on one side and the bed up front. Good luck and have fun with your build! Ask as many questions as you need and post lots of pictures.

[Jimmy_C]

Hi,

It's been a while since I posted. I decided not to use that big high pick up trailer for my tear drop. I thought maybe this would end up like some other projects put on the back burner then disappear. Well I was wrong
a couple months back I spotter a small trailer back in the brushes near were we all dump stuff then the village crew piles it all up and the fire dept. does a training burn. I asked about who's it was, turns out no one really knew. The village asked around after it sat for a month longer (it had already been sitting a couple yrs.) being as it was in the junk the village said you want it go a head and take it. so yesterday I dug it out and pulled it home about a block. flat tires and all. I got it home and aired up the tires there junk but It's easier to move. there 15’s and a six bolt pattern. it small and light I think it will do ok to build my tear drop. it's to dark to take pictures now so I will post some in the morning. The rims look good and the spring seem ok. The wooden bed has rotted off but I have some 2 by 4’s I can use to put a bed on it for planning temporarily. I also still use the chair but now I am getting around with a walker as well so that’s a good thing. I will post pictures in the morning. Best thing is it was free and the 2 by 4’s were free to. so far zero dollars. So there is a flicker of life in this project. Someone said sometimes you can find these little trailers for next to nothing I guess they were right. More to come.

Jimmy

[indycamper]

Congratulations on finding the trailer! Sounds as if it is just what you needed. WIll be looking forward to the build thread.

[Jimmy_C]

yepper thanks, I put new piuctures on the new find. I cant seem to delete the older pictures on my old big trailer the little on will work allot better I think. more to come as I build. hope to have it loking like it might be a tear drop before the snow flys

Jimmy