8' Grasshopper

Did you just design your very own teardrop or tiny trailer? Want to discuss it? Here's the place to post your design for discussion!

8' Grasshopper

Postby kyfly » Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:47 pm

Does anyone one have plans or a profile for a Grasshopper or similar design that will sit on an 8' trailer? All the ones ive found are a bit longer.
kyfly
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 29
Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:04 pm
Location: Canada

Postby bve » Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:07 am

Hi, I just saw your post, I don't make it on here that much these days, however I had the same idea in mind, I started an 8' design in sketch-up, in the end the design grew to 9'6" however there are some shots of the 8' in my thread here : http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=34919

My build stalled out over the past summer due to other priorities and a lack of time, I do intend to finish - hopefully this spring. I see you too are in Alberta as am I, in Edmonton.


Burke
Burke

KISS > COMPLEX
Image
Image

Build threads converted to PDFs.
As of 2008-08-08 I have added more build threads to the pdf collection
User avatar
bve
500 Club
 
Posts: 694
Images: 98
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:44 am
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Postby Shadow Catcher » Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:45 pm

I have the side profile for a 10' (Plans for the Mega-Mini). PM me if you are interested?
User avatar
Shadow Catcher
Donating Member
 
Posts: 5993
Images: 234
Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:26 pm
Location: Metamora, OH
Top

Re: 8' Grasshopper

Postby gorving405 » Sat Dec 01, 2012 2:02 pm

Just caught your post. :)
There is a design you can find on Angib's site:"Teardrops and Other Trailer Designs".
It is the Mini Hopper design,which could be modified to suit.
gorving405
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:04 pm
Location: Oklahoma City
Top

Re: 8' Grasshopper

Postby mikeschn » Sat Dec 01, 2012 3:13 pm

I'm doing an 8' Nano Weekender design... look here: viewtopic.php?p=967145#p967145

Image

Mike...
The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, so build your teardrop with the best materials...
User avatar
mikeschn
Site Admin
 
Posts: 19202
Images: 479
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:01 am
Location: MI
Top

Re: 8' Grasshopper

Postby gorving405 » Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:55 am

Definitely a worthy project. Hope this works out great! :)
gorving405
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:04 pm
Location: Oklahoma City
Top

Re: 8' Grasshopper

Postby bobhav » Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:35 pm

Mike,

I'm very interested in your Nano Weekender design I patiently await more detailed drawings and building hints. It looks doable to a newb like me. Are you basing the design on the HF 1195# folding trailer? Are the door windows non sliding? Door constuction is a bit of a mystery to me.

I'm on the bubble, should I buy an existing old teardrop and deal with dry rot or should I scratch build one? I don't see much difference in labor or total expense. I may end up being one of the early builders of this design.

I've finally come out of the woodwork, this my first post. I've been snooping around the site for awhile. Yes, I want a teardrop for my retirement.
bobhav
bobhav
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 61
Images: 4
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:01 pm
Top

Re: 8' Grasshopper

Postby mikeschn » Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:20 pm

bobhav wrote:Mike,

I'm very interested in your Nano Weekender design I patiently await more detailed drawings and building hints. It looks doable to a newb like me. Are you basing the design on the HF 1195# folding trailer? Are the door windows non sliding? Door constuction is a bit of a mystery to me.

Yes, that can be done on the 1175# HF folding trailer. Door construction is not difficult

bobhav wrote:I'm on the bubble, should I buy an existing old teardrop and deal with dry rot or should I scratch build one? I don't see much difference in labor or total expense. I may end up being one of the early builders of this design.

Definitely build a new one on a new HF chassis! :thumbsup:

bobhav wrote:I've finally come out of the woodwork, this my first post. I've been snooping around the site for awhile. Yes, I want a teardrop for my retirement.
bobhav


I hope to have some time over Christmas to get some dimensions to this design. Keep following me in the other thread!

Mike...
The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, so build your teardrop with the best materials...
User avatar
mikeschn
Site Admin
 
Posts: 19202
Images: 479
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:01 am
Location: MI
Top

Re: 8' Grasshopper

Postby bobhav » Sat Dec 08, 2012 9:35 pm

Mike,

To gain perspective, my wife and I tried to get comfortable laying in a 4' wide space, in short we couldn't. 4.5 feet of width would be a must for us and the plan could easily be exspanded to that. I'm excited about the 8' Grasshopper plans.

I do have some newby questions. Our plan is to tow the camper with a Mazda CX5 that has 2 liter engine and an automatic transmission. Will the Grasshopper design be less fuel efficent than a Benray of the same width? Would a smooth bottom on the camper improve fuel economy? I would like a very durable skin / finish on the camper. Is a 850# finished weight a resonable goal?

Thanks again,
BobH.
bobhav
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 61
Images: 4
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:01 pm
Top

Re: 8' Grasshopper

Postby mikeschn » Sun Dec 09, 2012 9:59 am

I did an Escape Hatch Winter Warrior that was only 700 pounds. And it was 66" across, which is more than wide enough for the 60" queen sized mattress. But the EHWW did not have an inside skin. That would add some weight. Also the EHWW was painted. If you wanted a durable outside skin, like aluminum, that would add weight too.

Your best bet is to do up a spreadsheet and estimate your weight, or ask around and see what some of the other benroys and weekenders came in at.

Speaking of fuel economy, the biggest impact is the cross sectional area of your teardrop. In other words, a 5' wide is going to be worst than a 4'. The profile doesn't make that much of a difference.

But look at the EHWW to see how you can build out over the wheels for the additional width you need. http://www.mikenchell.com/WWEH_Photo_Album/

Mike...
The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, so build your teardrop with the best materials...
User avatar
mikeschn
Site Admin
 
Posts: 19202
Images: 479
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:01 am
Location: MI
Top


Return to Member Designs

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests