MOBIUS Trip

[GreatPumpkin]

Credit to Brad (bbarry) and Mike (Etech)

I had been toying with the idea of creating a data-plate, but their designs spurred me to create my own (borrowing heavily from their designs).

[GreatPumpkin]

Will post pictures and progress on my build soon. I decided to use C.R.A. plans as there wasn't anything else that exactly matched what I was envisioning.

I liked the simplicity of the Benroy, but it just has too many straight lines, not quite enough curve.
I really liked the side profile of the Camp-Inn - greasywheats did an outstanding job on his clone.
Danny's (halfdome, Danny) Lil' Bear profile from Grant Whipp is another fine profile and outstanding trailer.
And then Heikki's (Classic Finn) polished aluminum and red vinyl build were probably my top three favorites, all somewhat similiar in profile.

Mine is a somewhat hybrid of an Original Benroy / Grumman 2 / Camp-Inn.

[bbarry]

Looking forward to pictures soon!

[GreatPumpkin]

Frame Donor
Craigslist Find
$60...

It's in worse shape than it looks. Take a closer look at the rear end separation. (The lack of a rear window probably contributed to that).

[GreatPumpkin]

My little helper

[GreatPumpkin]

DEMOLITION!

[GreatPumpkin]

...and so concludes the end of day 2 (1-1/2 actually) with a bare frame. Somehow I forgot to take a picture of just the frame.

Here I've purchased some additional 1 x 2 "C" channel steel to extend the frames width. Welding in progress...

[GreatPumpkin]

Evidently lost a few pictures somehow of my progression...

I wanted a little more room than an 8 footer, but not as much as a 10 footer. Split the difference and went for 9'. I cut about 2' off the rear of the frame so the wheels would be better located for a teardrop.

Picked up some 1x2 "C" channel from a local welding shop. That set me back another $60. I got the new kid (aka the grunt) to cut it at 108" with a 90 degree cut at both ends. He had a little trouble trying to figure out how to cut the angles correctly - glad I was watching, was able to prevent him from cutting the angles backwards!

Unfortunately I wasn't able to prevent him from reading the tape measure incorrectly. He cut them at 108 + 1/4". By the time I discovered this I was already home. At least both sides were equal. I decided to live with the extra 1/4" and welded it up.

Trailer frame is now 108 1/4" long by 52 1/4" wide. 52" because that was the most room I could comfortably squeeze in between the axle hubs and still have enough clearance. An extra 1/4" width because the grunts inability to measure correctly on that piece too!

Through the demolition phase, I found a couple cross pieces the welds had broken on and baling wire used to hold them in place. No big deal, clean the surface rust and weld it back together. Unfortunately one of the shackle supports was broken also (held in place with the same baling wire), and I wanted a newer coupler put on.

As I am a novice welder I decided to leave the shackle support and coupler to a professional. Once my frame welding was finished, I took the trailer down to the local welding shop. I figured that a professional welder would have it done in no time, so it shouldn't cost me too much.

You guessed it, I got stuck with the grunt again. It took him most of the day and set me back $177.00!


New Shackle hanger


New coupler

$ 60 trailer purchase
$ 40 dump runs
$ 60 additional steel
$ 20 new coupler
$177 welding
-$ 75 (salvaged and sold the fridge)
$282 Total into the trailer

[2bits]

This is a great lesson for those overbuilding a frame for a teardrop. See that frame that was for that big standy? thanks for the pics!

[GreatPumpkin]

This is a great lesson for those overbuilding a frame for a teardrop. See that frame that was for that big standy? thanks for the pics!

Thomas -

Are you saying I'm a poster child for what not to do? Or were you pointing out how lightweight my frame is and that it was originally a standy?

I just used a frame that was available cheap (ha!)
Is it overbuilt for a teardrop - probably, but not from my added width. I originally wanted to rest the walls partially on the frame, but thanks to my C.R.A. plans, I decided to extend the walls beyond the frame and partially recess my wheel wells.

[2bits]

haha! That would be option #2! How lightweight the frame is being that it was originally a standy! I think alot of people underestimate angle and U (C) channel! I used 2" square tubing for mine but I would use one of those two on my next build.

Did I read right $60?? You found an A+ deal there! !!

[GreatPumpkin]

haha! That would be option #2! How lightweight the frame is being that it was originally a standy!

Did I read right $60?? You found an A+ deal there! !!

That's what I was thinking until all the add-ons raised it up to $282! Looking at what I've got compared to a Harbor Freight trailer though, I am still happy with mine.

Yes I picked it up (and drug it home, literally) for $60. I think he wanted $80 or $100, but it was falling apart and his landlord wanted it gone!

No title, but I'll just register it as a homebuilt.

[2bits]

You're still $100 under a HF trailer with full size wheels and aLOT better frame! Not to "dis" the HF frame builders, those are just another testament with what cane be done with lightweight materials! You're definitely still in the "green" on that deal!

[GreatPumpkin]

speaking of HF trailers (and hijacking my own thread)...

On sale now:

[GreatPumpkin]

It's been a cold winter and an uninsulated, unheated garage to work in.

Too cold to paint the frame, so I continued onward with the build. I am simply not securing the tear to the frame - will pull it out from the tear this spring and paint then.

Onward with the build...

Played around a little with the best location for the fresh water tank.




Decided to place it just fore of the axle for better clearance, and weight distribution. It's a 12 gallon tank salvaged from the frame donor. 12 gallons of water = 100 lbs. May not seem worth it, but we camp in places without hookups. This will be plenty of water for cooking/cleaning. The weight isn't really a consideration in this build either, as my primary TV is a full size Dodge.