Itty Bitty Trailer inherited

[E. Aaron Scott]

I have a trailer that my Step Dad was fixing up before he died. He was using it to haul his tent and cooler when he went camping. Not sure what plans he had for it but I know that he was wanting to do something with it. He put on new tires and rebuilt the axle and bearings. He also tore out the wiring and was about to install new wiring. Now I have it and I'm not sure what I can do with it. It is pretty small: 3'6"X 6'2" it has a 32" tongue. The frame and suspension seems like a bit of overkill to me. The frame rails and tongue rails are made up of steel tubes that are 4X6, they look more like something from a truck frame then a small utility trailer. The leaf springs are really strong. We had three guys that were from 200-250 lbs each on it at once and the springs compressed only 10% of their travel. The tires are Taskmaster 4.80X12 and are in new condition. The spare tire has a speed rating of 45mph and the tires being used have no speed rating that I can find. I'm not sure if anything could be done with it. If anyone has any ideas that wold be great. I thought about turning it into a 4X8 td but then I measured it and it was 3'5" on the body and 4'7" total width. So I'm not sure.

[LWW]

Sounds like it may ha ve started life as a trailer for a portable welder. I could be wrong but! Larry

[E. Aaron Scott]

Now that you mention it, it is of the right size and build. Hard to tell if it had anything mounted to it because he put a steel deck on it.

[E. Aaron Scott]

Wonder if it could work as a benroy type of td with the wheels tucked up under the body instead of out on the side

[Junkboy999]

As far of making a Teardrop anything can be made if you just try. The key is that the TD is really just a strong
box. It has a flat floor and rounded top corners. If you build a platform on the trailer that will start the bottom
of your box.

If you can post a picture, we might be able to give you some pointers.

[Mukilteo]

Yep, pictures would help.

[E. Aaron Scott]

Ok had my mother in law take some pic of it since it is at here house. She wanted to borrow it and from the looks of things decided to turn it into something to pile junk into Guess after Thanksgiving I need to haul off the junk and bring it back to my house and get it cleaned up some.

Sorry for all of the junk.

[Rolly]

The trailer reminds me of an old Uhaul trailer. Check the tounge for stamped in name/numbers. Might be an urban legend but I thought years ago Uhaul scraped worn trailers, never sold them.

Rolly

[Junkboy999]

Ya

I think Rolly hit the nail head on about U-haul.

Weather or not it can be used as a Teardrop depends on your ability to work metal and what type of TD you
would like to make. As it is now, you might be able to cut off all the trailer top and make a platform that will
hold a small one man sleeper only teardrop ( no heavy gally ). If you want a bigger TD, like a two person sleeper
or one with a gallery you will have to move the axle back, and might have to extend the tongue.( or replace it )

I know I have no metal working skills ( for now ) so I can’t say how much work it will take to get a TD out of that.
I’m a woodworker, so I would say.. make some nice looking wooden sides and front for it, give it a good coat of
paint and try to get $250 out if it on Craigslist. Then pick up a bolt together one from harbor freight or northern
tools. ($299.00 on sale ). Theres quite a few good looking TD made using bolt together frames.


Just my $.02.

[jeff0520]

Here's an idea. Make a BIG under-floor storage area, and build your floor on top over the fenders. That would give you lots of storage room. Add a couple of cargo doors on either side forward of the axle, and have your galley hatch extend down far enough in the back to close the back of the storage area too. That would solve the width problem, and as a bonus, with the right profile the extended hatch could act as a roof over the galley while you are cooking

[Miriam C.]

Here's an idea. Make a BIG under-floor storage area, and build your floor on top over the fenders. That would give you lots of storage room. Add a couple of cargo doors on either side forward of the axle, and have your galley hatch extend down far enough in the back to close the back of the storage area too. That would solve the width problem, and as a bonus, with the right profile the extended hatch could act as a roof over the galley while you are cooking

That or sell it and buy what you need. You can also get all that extra weight off!

[Rolly]

Double check the ball to trailer hitch fit. Uhaul used to have a 2 1/8" hitch.

Rolly

[bobhenry]

Yes it is a uhaul LV 4X6 open top utility trailer. One of the oldies pre 1970. The things were built and rebuilt and rebuilt there were 3 plywood sides that bolted to the ell shaped corners. The tailgate is a lift out and lay aside heavy reinforced plywood section that slides into a u shaped track. The coupler is adjustable from 2 1/4 "+ to 1 1/2" just keep on tightening until it fits. The little horns on the tongue deck was for winding the lighting wiring around during storage between rentals. Yep they were sprung stiff 5 or 6 leafs if I remember correct. You will never overload it but you might get to where you couldn't stop it

Not the best candidate for a teardrop but if you moved the body 2 foot forward by encroaching on the tongue length somewhat you might make a modified cargo or square butted benroy style by building over the wheels.



This one is a little older but has the same body . However it is equiped with the older bias ply tires commanding the larger fender than the newer ones .