teardrop toy hauler

[droid_ca]

You have designed a very creative trailer...I like the graphic decal I'm sure an automotive trim place could cut it out for you

[LDK]

Few more drop pics. I got the rack mounds made and tested the fit.

Hey Sumo

Pretty cool how you're making your camper to accommodate your boats and 4 wheeler. That folding boat is cool as hell. I assume you made the roof rack out of emt conduit too. Do you use a mig welder to weld the emt conduit??

[sumo]

I do use a wire feed welder with flux cored wire.

[mezmo]

Hi Sumo,

Great design for your purposes ! Reusing the tent trailer bed slide-out
canvas is a very savvy move. That saves a lot of sewing aggravation I'm sure.

I'd keep the top part of your build white - heat gain in small trailers
[or any uninsulated one] makes them feel like "The Hot Box of Calcutta"
inside [even when they're white if not shaded]. Dark colors just turn
them into solar ovens. Only white reflects the heat the best.

Your float-boat-pontoons are great ! Does the folding one lock
somewhow to make it rigid when open, or do you just rely on
bouyancy to keep it open/positioned ?

As far as towing characteristics - have you been able to do any
test-runs ? One way to balance the weight may be to leave it as
is and put a tongue box on the A-frame in which you could carry
some of the heavier camping equipment to provide balance.

Can your float-boats be carried/transported on their sides ? -
maybe in a top-to-top ying-yang manner to make them
more compact ?

Another way to provide "ballast" - even though the best "ballast"
is weight from equipment you'll use - could be to weld an upright,
in each front corner area, of large diameter threaded rod on which you could
put a couple/some weight plates from barbells [ you can buy them
separately ], sized as needed, and held down with some large
wing-nuts or such. [Or do one centerd rod on the front frame cross-
member, or - just put them in the tongue box, although, securing them
somehow even in that is the better idea.] It'd be a lot easier than
redoing/rebuilding what is already done. The weight plates could be
used under stabalizer jacks to spread their weight/footprint when
they're deployed when camp is set up, or under the wheels as side-
to-side leveler blocks in place of 2x wood plank pieces etc.. Some of
that plasti-kote for tool handles could be applied to the weight plates
to keep them rust proofed if you can't find those that are already
so protected.

'Just a couple ideas I thought I'd mention for consideration...

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[sumo]

Mezmo. I have thought of the added heat of painting the top black but I will be installing an air conditioner and once the top is up a large portion of the top is white so I am hoping that this will kind of work itself out. I really like your idea of adding weights to the front to even out the load. I am planning on putting a vertical 2" receiver on the front so that I can attach the support for the jon boat I could easily make a weight bar that would side into the receiver.

The folding boat does lock in place. When you unfold it and slide the seat forward it locks, it also has 2 pins on the bottom that lock it .

I have not been able to do any test runs.

The boats can be carried on their side , stacked if I put the boats with the rod holders sticking up on top. and ever hauled vertically. see below pic.

[LDK]

Hey Sumo

Are your styrofoam pontoons made from insulation sheets glued together or is it one solid piece of styrofoam?
Maybe there could be some way you could cover them with some kind of plastic or fiberglass to help protect them.

[sumo]

the boats are made of foam blocks that I got for free for a place that sells utility trailers. they use the foam blocks to separate the trailers during shipping. they are glued together. I have been thinking about using fiberglass to cover the foam but as long as I use them in the lake or ponds the framework protects it good. I would like to look into fiber glassing a couple of them. I am sure some of the foamie guys have some input about what kind of fiberglass to use on these and the cost associated. Any input would be appreciated.

[KCStudly]

Ever consider using exterior latex paint and canvas?

The buzz right now is Glidden Grabber to glue the canvas to the foam, then whatever exterior latex primer and paint over that.

TB2 (and I believe TB3) has been used successfully, too.

[sumo]

This an idea that I have. I am thinking about putting the kitchen in a aluminum tool box. It will contain the stove sink and water tank and storage. This will allow me to move the kitchen around to equalize the weight. I can haul it on the front on the back on a carry all attached to a 2 in receiver or it will slide in the side door. Has anyone ever tried this. Pic below is just the parts sitting in the box.

[RandyG]

I was going to suggest using a water bladder to balance the trailer when you're not hauling toys on the front. Maybe put one in the frame under your front deck and fill it so much to give you more tongue weight.

[sumo]

Added bottom cover piece. Went back with the wider wheels. Trim and paint is next. I am still toying.with the kitchen in kitchen in the toolbox idea.

[sumo]

Little more progress. Added dimond plats to tbe bottom. Done a little trim work and put on some decking.

[KCStudly]

That is shaping up nicely. Keep up the good work.

[sumo]

Front railing welded up. Railing doubles as ramps

[RandyG]

Nice dual purpose!
Save some of that plate for the trim around your top where those 2x4's are. Looks like you're on the "back 9", keep it up.