Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well I have looked at this from multiple angles and I just do not see a way of putting fins on a tear without a major reworking of the shape and functionality. I have put some fins on odd things too, I put a set of 59 Cadillac fins on my 1966 Ranchero.

The only way you could make this look right is to give the whole thing a longer, lower body. More like a car or a boat. To keep the tear functional you may want to look in to fooling the eye with a clever paint scheme which mimics the lines you would get on a car with fins.

I forget which one it is offhand but there was a trailer that had some little "Buck Rogers" type fins attached to the side.

You may even want to go for that boat design. Cheange the shape of the front and have a forward slung, enclosed cabin.

Thanks.

I wrote a long post about what I'd love to do back during the design contest.

I have thought long and hard about how to describe it better. I have tried CADware, Microsoft Paint, and Microsoft Word to no avail.

I despair.

here



these are the airplane-style ones ... this is a 550 camp-inn, I believe.

that tongue looks awfully heavy to me, with the box and LNG bottle both up there.

I'll be pulling with a 318-powered Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab though, so ... ... I can pull a pretty serious load.

Having said that, I do not have the extra-big or the dual-tank fuel tanks on this pickup.

And i've figured out how to balance my spare on the front of the fender.
I'm going to put a jerry can on the other side.

Laredo.

The 550 in the picture would have a tongue weight of about 130lb. About perfect for a 900-1,000lb trailer like that. It can be decieving.

Cary

Oops sorry, I forgot to log in.,

Cary

Thanks.
I like those windows a lot.

Shrug53, I never did see your email address,
even on your www.forgottenclassics.com page.

Let me just lay down some dimensions here.
6 feet wide x 5 feet high x 9 feet long.
two doors. I like the idea that the top would extend out over the sides by about a half inch on either side (like a drip rail or molding).
a top vent (i like the idea of the fantastic fan).
two windows in the front wall like the trailer pictured above.
small round windows like those in the Short Short trailer in the sides.
I really like the 'rounded weekender' side profile.
I was thinking that I'd like a wider track than the HF trailer offers, and maybe 16'' wheels (i can get rims to match my truck off ebay).

As may be obvious, I'm not sure it's worthwhile to stick to sheet good dimensions -- the insulated weekender with improved lightweight panels looks much more the thing I've got in mind.

Laredo wrote:As may be obvious, I'm not sure it's worthwhile to stick to sheet good dimensions -- the insulated weekender with improved lightweight panels looks much more the thing I've got in mind.

As you've already guessed, sticking with 4x8 dimensions limits you in a big way.

I don't think a real wood worker limits himself to the size of the wood. That's why there are so many different types of woodworking joints!!!

There are so many trade offs... speed, simplicity, weight, time, strength, resistance to heat transer, looks, and even cost!

I think that's why there are so many different designs available...

I see you can pull a serious load, so why the insulated version?

Are you planning on summer camping with a/c?

Do you have lots of time to build your trailer?

What sized bed do you want in there?

Mike...

P.S. You might end up building what I am building in the carport... I guess I'll have to take more photos, eh?

i like the weekender design because it looks like i might be able to build it.
i've been dreaming about a teardrop for years, and i've been scared of the curves the whole time.

i like the idea of the insulated version because i plan to use this a lot on weekends year round -- and the lighter weight of the trailer will save gas. plus, i might want to do Christmas at Palo Duro Canyon or Labor Day (next year) at South Padre or Balmorhea, or even in the Big Bend.
i like the idea of not sticking to the 4x8 because i want to take my husband with me, which means that we really need a queen bed (we lug a queen size Coleman air mattress with our tent, so ... ).
i think i still want to try the harbor freight stove.
i also think i still want to do the PVC water carrier.

Laredo wrote:i like the weekender design because it looks like i might be able to build it.

If you think you can, you can!!!

Laredo wrote:i like the idea of the insulated version because i plan to use this a lot on weekends year round -- and the lighter weight of the trailer will save gas.

The insulated lightweight version certain has it's benefits... but it's more work. Lots more work. Did I say it's more work???

I went out to the garage this evening for a few minutes to glue up a frame for a panel. Here's what it's looking like...


The point being that it's more work. (Hear an echo?) But if you are up to it, it can be your extra wide, lightweight, insulated tiny trailer without curves that you thought you were afraid to build!!!

Mike...

P.S. The frames are built up with biscuits!!!

"if you think you can ..."

yeah. that's what the whole weekender thing hit me over the head like.

"The frames are built up with biscuits!!!"

y'know, this would so make a great "New Yankee Workshop" project but that will never happen

Well it sounds like you feel you can do it. I only hope that you have a digital camera and take lots of pictures! We have an album here that you can upload the pictures to...

I really thought that someone would have built a Weekender by now. The simple version, out of solid plywood. But so far no one has, at least not that I know.

So help me out here Laredo... what information do you need to get started?

Mike...

I think i'm okay on info.

cash, now, is another story.

but that's not news for anybody here, i bet.

Are you going to build the original design, or the final design?

http://www.mikenchell.com/weekender/final.html

Mike...

Laredo wrote:"if you think you can ..."

yeah. that's what the whole weekender thing hit me over the head like.

"The frames are built up with biscuits!!!"

y'know, this would so make a great "New Yankee Workshop" project but that will never happen

Written them twice about these tears so far. They would go great with the little sale boat he built several years ago.

Maybe if more people wrote asking for him to build one he would.

Bufordt

Laredo wrote:I think i'm okay on info.

cash, now, is another story.

but that's not news for anybody here, i bet.

Money is what's holding me up on my second one right now. Hope to have it all together in the next few months.

Bufordt