"The X-II" 5-Wide Convertible Teardrop

[CHUNKYMONKEY]

Hey Zack,

Why did you change your ZKaylorDesign logo from the old one? I like the teardrop design. Just curious.

[Junkboy999]

" The X-II - 08/29/2012 - I have gas! "

Sorry to hear that.

Hope you get better soon.



Terry
Junkboy999

[WhitneyK]

[Verna]

Well, woman don't brag about that....but you guys are different!!!! ;<}

BTW, Zach, I love your new tear drop, especially the lighting. I was showing my 3 1/2 year old nephew the "mood" lighting in my Escape last night. He doesn't like my "hot pink" color. He says his favorite color is the blue!!! Since he has to stay in the back seat, I should be able to tease him with different colors of the lights and he can't see the button that I'm changing the colors with.

[pohukai]

Does the 120# (each) strut feel right opening and closing the hatch?

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Hey Zack,

Why did you change your ZKaylorDesign logo from the old one? I like the teardrop design. Just curious.

I may still use that logo at times - but I am looking to expand into graphic/website design and architectural marketing. Not immediately, but I needed to give the site a facelift and go towards a more generalized logo.

" The X-II - 08/29/2012 - I have gas! "

Sorry to hear that.

Hope you get better soon.

Thanks feeling much better today

Well, woman don't brag about that....but you guys are different!!!! ;<}

BTW, Zach, I love your new tear drop, especially the lighting. I was showing my 3 1/2 year old nephew the "mood" lighting in my Escape last night. He doesn't like my "hot pink" color. He says his favorite color is the blue!!! Since he has to stay in the back seat, I should be able to tease him with different colors of the lights and he can't see the button that I'm changing the colors with.

LOL Thanks! Some people have commented that they think the lights are overkill, and they're absolutely right! But my teardrop doesn't just go to campgrounds or state parks all the time. I like going to music and arts festivals where you camp out for the weekend and it fits right in! More of a modern approach to camping!

Does the 120# (each) strut feel right opening and closing the hatch?

Yeah, I'm definitely not concerned about it falling down! They are definitely stronger than what would be necessary, but its certainly not a struggle to close the hatch. It does want to spring open as soon as I release the draw latches. The strut length that I got is available in a bunch of other strengths, so I'm going to order pairs of 90lb and 100lb struts just to test them out. Whatever I end up not using, I'll just send back. McMaster-Carr is really nice to deal with!

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I'm heading up to New York next weekend, and I've certainly flirted with danger enough to this point - over 2,000 miles on the X-II this summer, and all of that without a spare tire.

Just never got around to it.

So I made a HF trip yesterday and picked up their spare tire mount and a spare wheel/tire.

Because of my cargo platform on the tongue, I dont think it would have fit. I didnt really want it up there anyway - I like to keep the outside of the teardrop aesthetically "clean" and free of clutter. So that really only left one option: underneath the trailer.

Yes, I know that if/when I get a flat tire, I will be cursing myself for hanging it underneath.... but a spare tire that is in an inconvenient location is better than no spare tire at all.

So I marked the location that the mount needed to be so that the spare tire would fit between the trailer frame rails. And because of my raised floor design, the tire is still tucked up tight inside of the trailer frame.

[KCStudly]

Nothing wrong with mixing and matching struts of different strengths, within reason.

For example, if two 120 lb'ers are too much and two 100 lb'ers aren't quite enough, you could put one 120 lb'er and one 100 lb'er. Just don't stagger them too much or you could induce twist in the hatch.

[TRP]

I like the way you mounted the spare. I need to put one of those on my 'to get' list.

T

[Oldragbaggers]

I saw on a thread somewhere that someone had gone to a salvage yard and gotten a "donut" for a spare in order to take up less room. Sounds like a pretty good idea especially since I went to 14 inchers and now my spare would be pretty big to carry pretty much anywhere.

On the other hand we've been running our utility trailer all over hell's half acre for 9 years sometimes loaded to the gills with furniture or firewood or whatever, original tires, no flats. (Knock on wood....)

I have two brand new tires on the teardrop, good ones, how worried should I be??

[bigblockbarry]

I bought a donut spare for mine out of the trunk of a mustang. Never been on the ground- 10 bucks.

[Oldragbaggers]

I bought a donut spare for mine out of the trunk of a mustang. Never been on the ground- 10 bucks.

I like it!! I think that's going to be my plan as well. Crazy Ray's here I come.

[TRP]

I bought a donut spare for mine out of the trunk of a mustang. Never been on the ground- 10 bucks.

That's an excellent plan! I just need to make sure the spare I get will fit my hubs. Aside from bringing my hub with me to the wrecking yard, how do I know if it will fit? I have an original benroy with the original '5 lug' hubs. Is this a 'standard' American made pattern?

Thanks
Ted

[WhitneyK]

I saw on a thread somewhere that someone had gone to a salvage yard and gotten a "donut" for a spare in order to take up less room. Sounds like a pretty good idea especially since I went to 14 inchers and now my spare would be pretty big to carry pretty much anywhere.

Like this Becky? I even used a spare tire carrier from an S-10 pick up.


Ted,
To determine the bolt pattern needed (I hope I explain this in an easy to understand way ) Measure from the center on one hole to the BACK of the third hole.This is the easiest way to estimate a 5-lug bolt circle. See picture examples at this website: http://www.mrt-wheels.com/boltpattern.html
Mine was a 4 1/4" 5 lug bolt pattern, the same used on 70's & 80's Ford's, but my donut spare is actually stamped Chrysler. This is a very common bolt pattern for trailers the way I understand it.
Don't forget to measure your center opening. Not as critical for a spare, but needs to fit over your hub.
Hope this helps

[bigblockbarry]

My hubs are 5 x 4.5 standard ford car pattern. If you buy a donut make sure its for a RWD or it will have too much offset and will hit the side of your trailer. You can get a plastic pattern template at any custom wheel shop for about $15. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MFY-8021200/ .

Barry