To the teardrop guru's

[bigherc]

So who can tell me what I have here? Seems to be an original kit trailer but aside from that no idea. tags have been removed so I can't tell the year or model. The little cubbies in the galley are throwning me off too, don't know what to make of them. Thanks advance, really interested in any history on this thing.

[doug hodder]

It appears to be a Kit, but if it is...it's been highly modified. Kits had a tongue with a drop to it that went under the body, but they would have been originally through the lower notches in the front skin, not where they are located now. My '49 also didn't have any of the doors on the cabinetry. I just had some shelves with a lip on them.

My galley had the icebox in the same position, but also had a sink in it, some didn't have sinks, but a stove that sat on the left side. That's why you got the propane tank on it. The galley cubbies are kind of a question....never seen that set up before, I'd think that's a modification as well. It' has typical Kit windows with the old metal notched sticks to open them.

It also appears to have some of the original studs to attach the canvas accessories. Does it have an offset torsion axle in it and are those the original fenders sitting in the cabin? Who knows...I"m probably completely off base on it. a good shot of the profile would be helpful. Just my .02. Doug

[bigherc]

it doesn't show well in the pic but the tongue does have a curve to it. Has the axle mentioned but the fenders aren't the originals, they look like older ford style. I'll get a profile pic tomorrow. Thanks for the info!

[doug hodder]

I see it's dropped, but the originals had more than that I believe, at least mine did. Look underneath and see if there was a place that the original tongue would have been bolted into a C channel for the frame. They used round tubed tongues that bolted into a C channel frame with 2 bolts on each tongue member. Is the axle good or is it hammered? Hope it's a good one...chances are, you can't get that rebuilt. My axle was beat. I took it off, unbolted the tongue and bolted the cabin to a motorcycle trailer with a flat bed that I had built. I could remove it at will and haul bikes when I wanted. Doug

[bigherc]

hmmm...The whole chasis is tubular I believe. It also may be from canada, or at least it spent a lot of time there, it has a sticker from just about every place up there. Did they ever make a all tubular chasis?

[Kevin A]

The only thing tubular on a Kit frame is the removeable tongue.

[bigherc]

This isn't my frame, but it is the same as this one. Any idea of the make if it isn't kit.

[doug hodder]

It's hard to say...there were so many different adaptations of things back then. It doesn't have the offset axle like you say you have. I can only go by the ones that I've seen/owned/worked on. Those Kits had a C channel frame, tubular tongue. I'm not an official teardrop guru...can only speak from what I've seen and worked on. Sorry. Doug

[Gage]

I just happen to know a little about that frame. Even though that isn't the orig. axle, you could see where the orig. axles were mounted. I even replaced that axle with a Dexter. The best that Grant and myself could come up with was it was an early '46 and may have been one of the KIT's that went to the RV Show in February of '46. From what I've been able to find out (but no proof) is that the first few KIT frames built by the factory were built with anything (metal) they could get their hands on.



Just a little note.
"The first public showing was at Gilmore Stadium in L.A. in February of 1946. They took 12 completed units to the show and booked 500 firm orders at a dealer cost of $500. Some dealers paid in advance. many offered to pay a bonus to get early delivery. The 4'x8' "Kit Kamper" TearDrop Trailer was destined to win the hearts of Americans... and a place in history."

[prohandyman]

I saw a '46 a year or so ago and it had a round tube frame also. But that axle is probably a replacement, as is the tongue jack.

[bigherc]

I just happen to know a little about that frame. Even though that isn't the orig. axle, you could see where the orig. axles were mounted. I even replaced that axle with a Dexter. The best that Grant and myself could come up with was it was an early '46 and may have been one of the KIT's that went to the RV Show in February of '46. From what I've been able to find out (but no proof) is that the first few KIT frames built by the factory were built with anything (metal) they could get their hands on.



Just a little note.
"The first public showing was at Gilmore Stadium in L.A. in February of 1946. They took 12 completed units to the show and booked 500 firm orders at a dealer cost of $500. Some dealers paid in advance. many offered to pay a bonus to get early delivery. The 4'x8' "Kit Kamper" TearDrop Trailer was destined to win the hearts of Americans... and a place in history."

Man, that's cool! Thanks for the info! Nice job on that build by the way, I may have to pick your brain about a few things, if that's ok. Thanks again for the history, so cool!

[Kevin A]

I just happen to know a little about that frame. Even though that isn't the orig. axle, you could see where the orig. axles were mounted. I even replaced that axle with a Dexter. The best that Grant and myself could come up with was it was an early '46 and may have been one of the KIT's that went to the RV Show in February of '46. From what I've been able to find out (but no proof) is that the first few KIT frames built by the factory were built with anything (metal) they could get their hands on.



Just a little note.
"The first public showing was at Gilmore Stadium in L.A. in February of 1946. They took 12 completed units to the show and booked 500 firm orders at a dealer cost of $500. Some dealers paid in advance. many offered to pay a bonus to get early delivery. The 4'x8' "Kit Kamper" TearDrop Trailer was destined to win the hearts of Americans... and a place in history."

I stand corrected,

[Vedette]

Very Cool!

[bigherc]

I'm sure you have all seen this but it's pretty cool an it talks about the 1 1/2" tube frame

Then in October of 1945, C.W."Bill" Worman and Andy Anderson formed Kit Manufacturing Co. in an abandoned fruit stand on Telegraph Road in Norwalk, California to produce "Kit Kamper" Tear Drop Trailers. They had no orders yet, but their plan was to produce the cute little aluminum-clad trailers in knocked-down form to be assembled by the purchaser.

It was at this time that a third party, Dan Pocapalia, became interested in the project. Worman and Pocapalia had been friends and co-workers at Vultee Aircraft in Norwalk during the war. Dan Pocapalia purchased Andy Anderson's half-interest in Kit Manufacturing Co. for $800. The two of them then had a building, a dream and 60 Fulton trailer hitches. Worman and Pocapalia soon learned that what the public wanted was not a kit, but a completed trailer. They made the decision to produce the the trailers in completed form. Pocapalia took responsibility for redesigning the trailer to make it easier to assemble with less waste of raw materials. Worman took on the job of material procurement.

Materials after the war had to be obtained from surplus markets. The chassis was made of 2"x1" steel U channel, when it could be found, and from 1-1/2" round tube steel tube otherwise. Wheels were from Jeeps salvaged from sunken ships. Many had bullet holes in them which were welded up. Exterior skin was of .032" thick 24S-T aircraft grade aluminum.

[bigherc]

So I was able to tear it down today, here's a pic of the underside. Is this the original axle? How do I know if it is still usable?