No Frame Trailer? Would this be safe?

[angib]

Is that something I needed to know?

Well, maybe not, but I thought you might want to know where you can buy one - a 'Peaches' merkin.

And before you go checking out who Peaches is, I think the phrase 'transexual musician' is involved, but I ain't right sure.....

Andrew

[Roly Nelson]

Having used a 200 lb Harbor Freight, trailer for my Woody, I have found that a frame is useless if it is expected to provide non-twisting stability to a properly glued and screwed teardrop body. Take any frame (without a tear on it) and load it with cement blocks on all 4 corners, then jack up only one corner and, Bingo, a major twist will be noticed. I have jacked up the rear corner of my completed tear, lifted one wheel 2" off of the ground and the doors open nicely with no binding, hence the whole unit is like a car unibody, un-twistable.

I have no doubt that building a frameless trailer would work, the question is, for how long. I suppose that many years of water splashing against the wood bottom would take it's toll, and structural failure would inevitabley occur. If a fully loaded frameless teardrop were to break loose from it's tongue or have a spring rip loose due to rotten wood, it could ruin your whole day if it hits you head on at 140 mph. Just my 2 cents, now back to building the 6 foot long 1/4 Nelson Stacker on a 3'4"x4' HF trailer, presently bolted together in my workshop.

Roly Nelson, back from Minden with the 1/2 Nelson Woody......whew!

[BobR]

Hey Roly,

Any drawings or pictures of the 1/4 Nelson Stacker? Sounds really interesting...I am also sure its going to be another Woody, right?

[Woody]

Roly,
I agree with BobR, how about some pictures of the 1/4 Nelson.

[Jiminsav]

I'm willing to wager it's half of a Half Nelson.

[mikeschn]

Nah, I'll bet it's at least three quarters of the 1/2 nelson!!! Wouldn't that be a 3/8ths nelson? We are gonna have to talk to Roly about the naming convention!!!

Mike...

[Bobgorilla]

Here's an example of what can happen when you bolt the axle directly to the body...

But..... impressively, the photo Mike showed is what the trailer looked like after being dragged down the road on its belly at 60mph. Does anyone else think their trailer can withstand this? However, failing to fix the axle on properly was indeed stupid.

I don't think building a frameless trailer is something for a novice to do, but if anyone thinks it can't be done safely, I can tell that they don't know much about structural engineering!

Andrew

Absolutely right!, Andrew. I know a couple of examples of boats and planes that have no real frame, but whoever would design this needs to know an enormous amount about engineering (at least compared to how much I know)
P.S. isn't it pronounced murikin?

[engled]

[color=red]Build your Tear Drop camper on a flat bed utility trailer that already has a title and there is no need for an inspection to get License Plates.

I would like to know what this guy is smoking I haven't had anything that good in years!
[/color]
Dan

That is very much so, it took me all of 10 miutes to get a tag for my Cubby and it was at home when I did it.

[Woody]

I have been saying that for a year, IT WORKS. That is what I did to get my tag. Take the Certificate of Origin and the reciept for the trailer frame and get a tag. You bypass inspections and all the crap they want you to do for a camper or homebuilt campers. Plus you save money and time to boot

This should be a piece of info that should be readily available in a "sticky"

[Cutterpup]

That is very much so, it took me all of 10 miutes to get a tag for my Cubby and it was at home when I did it.

From Alabama Vehicle Registration FAQs

http://www.ador.state.al.us/motorvehicl ... n_FAQ.html

"Is it necessary for the license plate issuing official to inspect the vehicle?

Under Alabama law, if the vehicle is being titled for the first time in Alabama, an inspection of the vehicle identification number is required. Thus, it would be necessary for the vehicle to be taken to the county office in order to make application for certificate of title and for the vehicle to be registered. "

Not Trying to be a P.I.A. but how is it that you were at home and was able to get a Title?

Dan

[Cutterpup]

Woody

I have been saying that for a year, IT WORKS. That is what I did to get my tag. Take the Certificate of Origin and the reciept for the trailer frame and get a tag. You bypass inspections and all the crap they want you to do for a camper or homebuilt campers. Plus you save money and time to boot

The "plans show a frameless trailer" who would supply a Certificate of Origin for a homebuilt?

Or are we just talking about two different things?

Dan

[Woody]

I was stating about the Certificate of Origin provided by the trailer frame manufacturer. In Florida, I went the court house and presented the Certificate of Origin ( which had the VIN number on it) and the reciept of purchase and got a tag. The teardrop body I then built on on the frame. So we are technically talking about two different things. Getting a VIN for a home buit trailer is a tad more work involved in it. You could always do what some Hotrodders do. A friend of mine had no title for a custom rod he hand built. If I recall correctly, he was refered to someone in georgia from a car magazine and bought an old title, for a car of the same year and make, for registration and tagging purposes. So it may be possible there is some outlet for other types of titles also. I don't know

[madjack]

...for a home built trailer in La. you call the State Police, an officer comes to your home and inspects trailer...fenders, lights,ect,ect. He takes out his stamp set and puts vin# on trailer and gives you some paper work to take to the local DMV office were they issue a tag upon reciept of paper work and appropriate moneys
madjack

[Cutterpup]

Woody, now we know we were talking about two different things. Apples and oranges make a good fruit salad but either one will squish nicely when you drive over it.



Several posts back it sounded like someone was saying that they could get an inspection, vin number, etc at home rather than towing the finished trailer to an inspection station.

People who build on their tears on already finished trailers have an easier time than those who build their trailer frames themselves. But, they miss out on the bruised feet, strained backs, cut fingers and burn holes in their clothes by not hauling, moving, cutting and welding the steel.

Fortunately ours passed without a hitch (well not really...we needed a hitch on the jeep to get it to the inspection station). Our neighbor, on the other hand, bought an old boat trailer to haul a motorcycle down to Florida, then bought a harbor freight trailer just to get the certificate of origin, etc to put on his bike hauler, registered it then took the parts he needed off the harbor freight and gave us the rest.

Judy

[asianflava]

I was at the tag office the other day paying for the registration on our cars. I asked about tagging a homebuilt trailer. She gave me the form and highlighted the parts I needed to fill out. She pointed out the empty weight and maximum weight boxes and said that if the 2 boxes don't add up to 4000lbs, then the trailer DOES NOT need a title.

I've heard that they are pretty lenient here in TX. I guess what everybody said is true. I've heard that you don't have to show the trailer to anyone to get a tag for it.