Half-Car trailers

Anything to do with mechanical, construction etc

Half-Car trailers

Postby RandyG » Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:51 pm

Has anybody seen any of these? Instead of building a whole trailer, most of the work is done for ya. You can find alot of different cars with salvage titles for cheap (just look for one with a smashed front end but good back). A minivan would be cool but tying into the uni-body would require some engineering. Just sparking some imagination with yall...
https://www.google.com/search?q=half+ca ... 66&bih=606
Randy
Aircraft fabricator, novice carpenter, electrical apprentice, audio engineer dropout.
Build thread - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=54126
User avatar
RandyG
500 Club
 
Posts: 695
Images: 115
Joined: Thu May 10, 2012 6:52 pm

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby wagondude » Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:51 pm

There have been some posted. There was one forum member building a trailer out of a Subaru Impreza. Haven't seen the thread in a while, though

Bill
Bill

TnTTT ORIGIONAL 200A LANTERN CLUB
101137
User avatar
wagondude
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1535
Images: 35
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:41 pm
Location: Land of the Jayhawks

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby CARS » Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:07 pm

That yellow car pulling the jet ski....
I couldn't imagine launching that thing. Around here the MN DNR has the boat landing so dang steep you need a 4wd truck to do it!

But, some of those trailers are really cool looking! :thumbsup:
Chris'
Autobody
Restoration
Service

Image
CARS
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 332
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:05 pm
Location: Comfrey, MN
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby angib » Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:12 pm

It looks like a good way to get a heavy but small trailer that requires a lot of work to finish it. I can see how it seems like a good idea at first glance, but it gets worse and worse the more you think about it.
User avatar
angib
5000 Club
5000 Club
 
Posts: 5783
Images: 231
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:04 pm
Location: (Olde) England
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby Rhino Ray » Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:29 am

Image
Saw this heading down the highway.
The eleventh commandment: Ye that snoozeth loozeth. Selling real estate in ALL of Jefferson State (Northern California and Southern Oregon)
Image
Image

My Build http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=49746
User avatar
Rhino Ray
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 363
Images: 60
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:02 pm
Location: Roseburg, OR
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby KCStudly » Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:45 am

Of all of the half car trailers, that is probably the lightest option.

Cool.
KC
My Build: The Poet Creek Express Hybrid Foamie

Poet Creek Or Bust
Engineering the TLAR way - "That Looks About Right"
TnTTT ORIGINAL 200A LANTERN CLUB = "The 200A Gang"
Green Lantern Corpsmen
User avatar
KCStudly
Donating Member
 
Posts: 9640
Images: 8169
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:18 pm
Location: Southeastern CT, USA
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby RandyG » Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:50 am

I'm thinking it would be lighter than what you are thinking. If you take all the seats, exsuast, drivetrain, engine, ect. out, you would be left with just a shell... well I'm still thinking of the uni body idea. A mini van is a decent size and doesnt weight that much to begin with.
Randy
Aircraft fabricator, novice carpenter, electrical apprentice, audio engineer dropout.
Build thread - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=54126
User avatar
RandyG
500 Club
 
Posts: 695
Images: 115
Joined: Thu May 10, 2012 6:52 pm
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby KCStudly » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:00 pm

Not even close to the early jeep, I'm thinking. Those early jeeps have small cross section frames, light sheetmetal removeable roofs, very light doors, hardly any heavy electronics to remove, and they are shorter and narrower than most modern vehicles. Combine that with the boxy shape for good use of interior space (once the seats are removed) and you have a pretty good package.

Sure, not as light as a composite or hybrid foamie, but way lighter than a pickup truck bed and frame, or a van.

I like it. :thumbsup:
KC
My Build: The Poet Creek Express Hybrid Foamie

Poet Creek Or Bust
Engineering the TLAR way - "That Looks About Right"
TnTTT ORIGINAL 200A LANTERN CLUB = "The 200A Gang"
Green Lantern Corpsmen
User avatar
KCStudly
Donating Member
 
Posts: 9640
Images: 8169
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:18 pm
Location: Southeastern CT, USA
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby Forrest747 » Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:03 pm

I pulled alot of my parts for my trailer off a jeep that had front end crash. I seriously toyed with the idea of making it into a trailer. get rid of all the heavy stuff redo the wheel wells and to make it a little wider inside and have teh feet go under the dash. put the galley in the back and have the hatch be the tailgate and window. a jeep pulling a jeep.

the other option i played with was taking an old airplane and converting it into a sleeper with the galley in the nose . light weight doors already in and slimed for aerodynamic forces.


93477
"All the success on the trail can not compensate for having square headlights"

"I've got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!"
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=37701 Build Journal
User avatar
Forrest747
Cowbell Donating Member
 
Posts: 1327
Images: 447
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:40 am
Location: West Valley Utah, Utah
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby RandyG » Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:02 am

the other option i played with was taking an old airplane and converting it into a sleeper with the galley in the nose . light weight doors already in and slimed for aerodynamic forces.


I think you would be the first to try that. It would be epic!

I have a 95 pathfinder I am trying to sell but have tinkered with the idea of turning it into a trailer.
Randy
Aircraft fabricator, novice carpenter, electrical apprentice, audio engineer dropout.
Build thread - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=54126
User avatar
RandyG
500 Club
 
Posts: 695
Images: 115
Joined: Thu May 10, 2012 6:52 pm
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby mezmo » Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:20 am

Hey Forrest747,

Check out Plane to TD/TTT, aka "Comanche Caravan".

http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2011/08/ ... ith-wings/
http://www.thejoyofcx.co.uk/index.php?p ... um&album=5

I would have cut off the tail as well, using the Kamm effect. Leaving it on is too
much length with no real benefit.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo
If you have a house - you have a hobby.
User avatar
mezmo
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1817
Images: 194
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 4:11 am
Location: Columbia, SC
Top

Re: Half-Car trailers

Postby Forrest747 » Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:50 am

Norm, True no real benefit to keeping the tail. however if you dont include it the trailer would look stupid and not have that wow factor. Loved the part where he is towing it around town. That is totally what i would do next time. a few modifications but love what he did. thanks for the video.
"All the success on the trail can not compensate for having square headlights"

"I've got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!"
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=37701 Build Journal
User avatar
Forrest747
Cowbell Donating Member
 
Posts: 1327
Images: 447
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:40 am
Location: West Valley Utah, Utah
Top


Return to Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests