Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Harbor Freight
HEAVY DUTY 1175 LB. CAPACITY 4 FT. x 8 FT. FOLDABLE UTILITY TRAILER


Stow this folding trailer just about anywhere--it only takes up 2 ft. x 5 ft. 3'' of floorspace! Steel frame has built-in slots for stake siding (stake sides and trailer contents not included). Add your own plywood decking for a 4 ft. x 8 ft. bed. Bed tilts all the way to the ground for easy loading. Easy assembly.

* DOT certified tail light, fenders and safety wiring harness
* Heavy duty steel construction with baked enamel finish
* Includes coupler assembly with safety chains and 1-7/8'' ball hitch receiver
* Three leaf spring suspension
* 4.80-12 tires
Max. load capacity: 1175 lbs; Axle thickness: 5mmOverall dimensions: 140''L x 61-1/2''W x 19-1/4''H; Weight: 287 lbs.

Its only 250 so the price is looking good but is this the right trailer to be using?

...many a teardrop has been built using that frame and they are doing fine thankyouverymuch, however I find it to be a little light/flimsy for my taste...just a personal/truckdriver kinda thing
madjack

You've got to remember that even if the trailer itself is flimsy, the body will add a lot of rigidity. Yes, many tears have been built on that trailer.

...my biggest problem with these type of trailers is not the flimsy issue but the 12" low speed hubs/wheels/tires. I know that many people have used them successfully, pulling them up and down the hi-ways BUT they were NEVER intended to travel long distances at interstate hi-way speeds
madjack

That's the trailer I'm using, Derek--and Jack, I hear you about the tires.

It's just that I know I'm not going to be driving long distances. (I hate driving, and I go nuts after just 2 hours.) But even those that have driven long distances with this model, no real problems as long as you're real careful. But you're right--I wouldn't want to go cross-country with it.

By the way, Derek--Kuffel Kreek has a special link on their site specifically about building their Cubby TD on this Harbor Freight trailer. According to their plans, though, you don't assemble it per the instructions. You take two of the steel cross memebers and insert them into the SIDE rails to reinforce them.You then create a wooden center cross member.

And if you can find a Harbor Freight store near you (do a search on their site), the store prices range from $179 to $199.

Yes, even cheaper than the web site.

s4son wrote:

IraRat wrote:(I hate driving, and I go nuts after just 2 hours.)

That explains it.......

I'm not gonna start...

If I were to change the tires then what tires should I get and where?
And what is the Kuffel Creek Website?

Here is the link to Kuffel's story about the trailer above, more or less the same model:

http://www.kuffelcreek.com/1450_lb_chassis.htm


Click their Home button to get a good all-around insight into TDs. I'm building from their Cubby plans, and although I've often complained about the plans (because I didn't understand a lot), general consensus is they're very good, and it gives you the "big picture."

However, if you want to go with larger tires, you would have to change the spindles as well. These tires are a 4 bolt pattern, where most are 5. So, if you're thinking about doing this now, I would say make it easier on yourself and just buy a better trailer in the first place.

Like I said, for me--and the short trips I'll be making--my 12 inch tires will be fine.

...I may get in trouble by the end of this post, BUT it won't be the first time

If I were to change the tires then what tires should I get and where

...it is not just the tires, it is also the hubs. I know of no suitable replacements for this setup(others might). You need to go with taller tires to reduce wear on bearing/spindles(hubs). If you go with this setup remember to check tire and HUB temperatures regularly and make sure to repack bearings with a quality grease

...here's were I will probably get in trouble

And what is the Kuffel Creek Website?

...SHEESH

madjack(shaking head sadly)

Tractor Supply has a 4x8 'no floor' or is it 'no bed' trailer for under $300.00 that has a 5 bolt wheel (still 12", but probably could be changed) I think you would have to cut the fenders off to put a larger wheel/tire combo on it. The is a thread about this trailer somewhere on this site, or at least a discussion in one of the other threadss, try to do a search on maybe 'no floor' or something similar.

Kerry

PS: Might want to check this:http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=3923&highlight=tractor+supply

Yeah, there's a lot to it, Derek--so if you want the 5 on 5 pattern with 15" wheels, get that in the first place.

I just went cheap because I didn't know what I was doing (I used that Kuffel story as my only source of info)...I WAS cheap (and broke at the time)...and I started building this on a complete impulse.

Ignorance never stopped me from trying something new before--so why would it now?

Here is a photo of the Tractor Supply trailer.

I've got a Harbor Freight 1175# trailer on raincheck. Has anyone added Bearing Buddies to this axle? Is it possible? I would feel a lot better about long trips with Bearing Buddies and a load of grease in place.

I've got a boat trailer with 8" wheels that has been across the country and many other long distance trips cruising at 70 plus MPH with no problems thanks to the Bearing Buddies.

Anybody know what size BBs to use?

Hey all,

Thought I'd tack on to this conversation. Up until yesterday, I assumed I was gonna go with a bolt together from Redtrailers.com - very similar to the one above, but a bit wider. Now, I'm reconsidering, primarily because I live in Colorado - lots of mountains and dirt roads, and I'll be hooking it to a my Land Rover, so it may want to go off road a bit. Nothing to treacherous mind you, but not the paved asphalt.

So...finally to the question, with no welding experience, I'm going to solicit bids on Craigslist. What should I expect to pay for custom a 5x8, with a tortion axle?':thinking: