Nobody reads these anyway, but....

[PatrickW]

OMG...That is a remarkable example of the good little teardrop...It looks exceptionally well done. You are planning to haul it behind your MB or Mtrike? How about some more dementiontions, weights, and other specs...I'm really getting excited about this. Are there Plans?, or .did you just dig in on it?

PatrickW

 

[SimpleSimon]

There are various sites on the 'net that have quite detailed plans for teardrop trailers of various sizes - some are quite well conceived and executed.

I looked at teardrop trailers some while back, as I was thinking about some trips I'd like to make, but concluded that with my little Corolla towing even a light weight small teardrop was kind of counter-productive, due mostly to wind resistance and weight.

So I designed a 4' x 8 trailer based on the HF trailer frame, that opens out to provide an 8' x 8' flat platform on which a 3 man dome tent is erected. Since the tent is supported by flexible fiberglass tension rods, incorporating sockets for those into the lid makes assembly pretty straight forward. Under the platform deck I designed the thing to have 4 pull out deep drawers that are lockable, and two storage wells under the central area that would serve to put items less often needed as well. I also designed the two rear facing drawers so that, once pulled out, a work surface across them would support a 2 or 3 burner propane camp stove, a camp sink, and food prep area - all under a rain canopy.

The folding platform leaves are designed so that when closed, they seal the top effectively, and include aluminum extrusion U channel wheel slots for at least my trike, and plenty of room for more bikes/gear with tie-downs as needed. I even designed a fold-flat short step-ladder type set of steps to enter the tent by - those fit against the front face of the trailer when not in use. Add in the 4 corner mounted crank down trailer tongue lifts for leveling, and you have a smooth, level floored 8' by 8' tent space with a 66" center height. Couple of those sling type collapsible lawn chairs, and you have a very comfortable camp set up in 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, Dr's bills have prevented me building the trailer - with the cost of the HF trailer kit, and the materials, it can all be done for about $600. Folded up for towing it all fits behind the car, with trailer height being lower than the trunk lid of the Corolla - slides in the cars slipstream pretty well.

 

[GearNut]

That sounds awesome, SS!
I like how you design. I was going to ask for pictures, but oh well. I got a good mental image just by your description.

 

[SimpleSimon]

That sounds awesome, SS!
I like how you design. I was going to ask for pictures, but oh well. I got a good mental image just by your description.

You want pictures?

This is the basic box and trailer frame.

 

[GearNut]

Very nice. Nearly identical to what I was thinking.

 

[PatrickW]

Your Trailer...

I really like it, Patrick...I would like one, would like to own one, and wouldn't mind staying in one...on the other hand, I have one objection, (and, that is the reason we have these forums, isn't it ?!) As nice as it is, it will still amount to the basic "Pull Behind Pop-Up"...which is otherwise known here as the "Scourge of the Florida Highways." ! ! ! They tend to bounce up and down, from side to side, and hop from the right shoulder to a foot into the oncoming-lane of traffic on the left. They are hated and scorned. Spat upon, and mysteriously turn up 'Tagged w/ Bubble Letters on the side professing obscene epithets. Anyway, as much as I like them, and enjoy them, I do not think I would endure the results. and insults to my final work.

Small 'Teardrops as we were talking about, are works of art in themselves, and, no matter if they are somewhat wind-resistant, or ecologically uncooperative, I would rather tow one that is nice and light, than tow a "Pop-up Target!"

Just my opinion, I may be wrong.

I think we usually agree, but not on this one Patrick.

Patrick

 

[give me vtec]

very nice teardrop indeed... i was thinking about building one but im not good with wood (kinda ironic coming from the grandson of a carpenter and the son of an architect).

I wouldn't have even gotten it that far before it sat in my garage for half a decade unfinished. I really encourage you to finish it this summer.

 

[Alienbaby17]

The teardrop we are (on hold) building is just the classic format from the 40's. It's a basic 4' X 8' foot platform. It's very light and I can easily roll it around by hand to move or work on it. You have to remember these were made small and light weight for a reason. In their 'hey day' of the 40's and 50's most automobiles still relied on flathead engine technology for motivation. While those engines were reliable they didn't make much for horsepower by today's standards. My '39 Ford sedan is roughly the market equivalent in todays standards of an average Taurus, but with half the horsepower.

As far as plans go we bought ours on Ebay from a guy that made it sound VERY easy to build and construct. We brought the plans up to my wife's father (a professional woodworker/ furniture maker) and he said the plans were structurally unsound so we kinda 'winged it' using his ideas. There is a website something like, 'Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers' that is thye source for ALL things regarding building one of these. You can find GREAT, proven plans there.

As far as the bike goes I just picked up an old Monark Rocket. I don't know exactly how old it is but is has a registration sticker from Cedar Rapids (Iowa?) from 1963.

My plan is to modify the chassis in the build style of a board track bike and then eventually add the engine. I'm in the parts sourcing process right now.

 

[SimpleSimon]

I like that bike. I can see the possibility of a really nice stretched cruiser/tour bike in that, with the engine behind the downtube - could make a really nice cargo bike out of it pretty easily. A boardtrack racer style should be a dead easy modification, as well.