Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **vantexan** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:21 am

Could I bolt one of these to a Harbor Freight trailer?:

http://www.capricamper.com/Model42.html

It weighs 500 lbs, is 4' tall up front, 5' in back. Floor is 4' wide, sides are 6'6" wide. I see HF has an 1800 lb capacity trailer so I'm guessing this would be ok, not top heavy?

Thanks,
Wade
Merry Christmas!

by **Arne** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 8:20 am

Sure, but it would always look like you were just hauling it home on your trailer/g/......

Don't know if it needs the side rail support of the pickup truck sides... you would have to call them up to find out.

by **JunkMan** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 10:51 am

If it is a slide-in style camper, it should not require any support on the sides. I have had several pick-up campers, and they were all supported from the floor and never touched the sides of the pick-up. In fact, I looked at one that I thought about buying, and they had it mounted on a flatbed trailer instead of in their pick-up. Said they used it like that for several years. They got tired of having to have to unhook everything each time they left the campground, so they bought a trailer and mounted it on the trailer. Kind of defeated the idea of having a pick-up camper, but they were happy with it.

Considering the lack of curves and such, I would think that you could build something like that much easier than a TD. I recently scrapped out an old pick-up camper to give me some parts for my upcoming TD project, and a pick-up camper seems like it would be very easy to build. In fact, I have even thought of building a TD with the ribbed type of siding that a camper uses. You can get it made in any length you want (it comes on rolls), and the ribs make it strong enough that it doesn't require plywood backing.

by **vantexan** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 3:13 pm

Thanks guys. The Capri's are designed to be bolted into a truck bed floor, but they do offer side-mounted jacks if you prefer to remove the camper. I've got a Toyota minivan I don't want to give up, and this seems like a reasonably priced option that I can actually tow with my 2000lb tow limit. As far as building one, no space where I live to do anything, and very limited construction skills! Thanks again.

by **Montana Kev** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 5:41 pm

I bet for the price of the trailer and the price of the camper you could find a used tear or older compact trailer camper. The other option I would consider after building a tear myself is to buy a used cargo trailer and build your own interior. The interior is the easiest part and it only requires basic carpentry and tools to add foam insulation, paneling and 2 or 3 $25.00 crank-out windows, lights, etc. The cargo trailer would tow better then the truck camper.

One more thought, if you plan to tow more than 1200 lbs with your van you are going to want electric brakes. I tow a 1800 lb Casita camper with a F150 4x4 and I can not stop it fast enough with out the trailer brakes. Towing is not an issue, stopping is. Go rent a Uhaul trailer and load it to the same weight as you plan to tow. This is a good cheap way to test your ability to stop. Don' just roll up to a stop. You have to be able to lockem down when Joe tourist stops in the middle of the road after missing the turn to lake wala wala. Be safe!

K

by **vantexan** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:59 pm

It will probably look a little odd but I like the pluses. A roof a/c, rear door, more interior room, reasonable price. I'm beginning to like the idea more and more of just getting a large rooftop cargo box for my Toyota cargo van and sleeping in the van. Its interior is a little roomier than a 5' wide teardrop. And it's paid for! :thinking:

by **DANL** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 3:55 pm

Your'e right about one thing, VanTexan--the price is right. I'd make sure the front window is safety glass or else get a protective cover for it.
:thinking:

You could make it look a bit better on the trailer by building some fairing panels on the left and right sides that would run diagonally from the point where the unit hangs over the top of the truck bed side wall down to the edge of the trailer frame. Alternately, you could build diamond plate storage boxes to fill in that area.

by **vantexan** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 7:17 pm

I was thinking of a storage box on one side and hanging a Port-a-bote on the other. My main concern is that it isn't tippy.

by **asianflava** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 9:02 pm

Someone posted a link to a site with a homemade Toyota conversion van, I'll look for it.

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

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