• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Tear Drop Trailer


Rangered06

New Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
290
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
toledo,ohio
Vehicle Year
2006/1987
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
4.0L V6/2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
so been really wanting to do some camping this year with my better half but dont have the money for a camper and really dont want to do the tent thing for a few reasons but wont go into detail. so i was thinking of building a custom tear drop trailer that way its easy on the pocket costs wise and gas wise. has anyone ever built or thought about building one.

was gonna start with http://www.harborfreight.com/1195-lb-capacity-48-inch-x-96-inch-heavy-duty-foldable-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html as the base for it. what do you all think?
 


Will

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Joined
Nov 30, 2001
Messages
6,925
Reaction score
514
Points
113
Location
Gnaw Bone, Indiana
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Toyota
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
I know a couple of people that want to build one. They asked my opinion and I opinioned that they are too small. I designed one a little bigger, and built a scale model from paper that looks promising.

Here is what I've done so far. You can print out those pdf files and make your own model. We're planning to build it mostly without a frame to save weight--wire it together and fiberglass tape the seams.
 

Attachments

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
13,868
Reaction score
5,030
Points
113
Location
Calgary, Canada
Vehicle Year
'91, '80, '06
Make / Model
Ford, GMC,Dodge
Engine Size
4.0,4.0,5.7
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD

Will

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Joined
Nov 30, 2001
Messages
6,925
Reaction score
514
Points
113
Location
Gnaw Bone, Indiana
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Toyota
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
Plywood is what we're planning to use. Probably 1/4".

I don't like those Harbor Freight trailers. I have one and it's not that good. Unless you have no fab skills, I would build your own frame.
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,053
Reaction score
13,525
Points
113
Location
Jackson, NJ
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
I'm with Will on that, stay away from the HF trailer. They just arent built good enough to do what you want to do with it.
 

Rangered06

New Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
290
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
toledo,ohio
Vehicle Year
2006/1987
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
4.0L V6/2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
i was considering building up the frame myself and possibly get some rims and tires on a beefy axle to match my truck
 

Rangered06

New Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
290
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
toledo,ohio
Vehicle Year
2006/1987
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
4.0L V6/2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
anyone know of any good places to get nice steel to build a trailer frame around NW ohio
 

Will

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Joined
Nov 30, 2001
Messages
6,925
Reaction score
514
Points
113
Location
Gnaw Bone, Indiana
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Toyota
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
You don't want too much beef in the axle because it will beat the shit out of a light weight trailer. Maybe you can go cheap and find a rear axle out of a front-drive car, like an old Honda Civic. You want lightweight axle and gentle springs.

Look in the yellow pages under steel. We have a really nice place here--I guess because there is still a good amount of industry in my area. It's a big warehouse where you tell the guy at the front what you want and pay him, then take your receipt out to the guys on the floor and they go find it. If they aren't sure if they have it, they let you go look.
 

Dan B.

January 2012 STOTM Winner
V8 Engine Swap
MTOTM Winner
Joined
Jan 6, 2008
Messages
275
Reaction score
22
Points
18
Age
47
Location
Armagh, PA
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
387 Windsor
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
I'd be searching CL or a traders guide in the area for a trailer. Not sure about where you are but in PA you are going to need a title for that thing. So if you build it yourself you will need to scab a title from something else or go through the DMV to obtain one.
 

Will

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Joined
Nov 30, 2001
Messages
6,925
Reaction score
514
Points
113
Location
Gnaw Bone, Indiana
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Toyota
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
A title for a home built trailer is easy.
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,053
Reaction score
13,525
Points
113
Location
Jackson, NJ
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forums/42-Expedition-Trailers

Check this forum out.

Most of the guys building camping trailers use a 3500lb axle and springs rated around 2000lbs.

The 3500lb axle will give you a 5x4.5 bolt pattern (sound familiar?) and the springs should be matched to whatever you figure your total load will be (+ some extra).
 

Rangered06

New Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
290
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
toledo,ohio
Vehicle Year
2006/1987
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
4.0L V6/2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
had kind of a brain storm today when i realized my grandfather is a bit of a hoarder and has a few boat trailers in his yard which would give me a nice platform to start with definitely stronger then the HF trailers.

what do you all think?
 

Will

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Joined
Nov 30, 2001
Messages
6,925
Reaction score
514
Points
113
Location
Gnaw Bone, Indiana
Vehicle Year
2007
Make / Model
Toyota
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
I think you are focusing on the easiest part. The automotive part is a snap.

I build boats and a fabricate with steel. Steel is by far the easier material to work with. The difference is horseshoes and hand grenades. Whatever you end up doing, you will spend 200+ hours on the trailer body and an hour or two on the frame--and that will be all labor and no thinking. Trust me on this--decide what you want for the body and work on that. When you are ready for a frame, it will seem like the easiest part of it. matter of fact, I might be willing to help with that part. I like building stuff.
 

Rangered06

New Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
290
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
toledo,ohio
Vehicle Year
2006/1987
Make / Model
ford
Engine Size
4.0L V6/2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
the frame is gonna denote the size of the teardrop its self kinda looking at going 5'x10' seeing how im 6'2" lol give me a little extra to move around but im also anal about building from the ground up and haveing everything at arms reach that i need lots of planning makes building a lot easier
 

prerunnerwannabe

New Member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
308
Reaction score
10
Points
0
Location
UT
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
I've got some old school tear drop plans that I could shoot your way if you want.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top