JONNYO little cargo, teardrop trailer!!!

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JONNYO little cargo, teardrop trailer!!!

Postby jonnyo » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:18 am

My name is jonathan, i have race professionally for 10 years all over the world in the sport of triathlon representing canada. And one thing i like is traveling! time to find a way to bring my home with me!

The problem, i drive a 2010 subaru wrx. It s a turbo charge car, 265hp and not really recommended for towing. The next issue is, i have zero skill or experience building about anything.

I want a queen bed, a outside kitchen, power, water, heat, and FUN all of it at around 700lbs and not too bad on mpg!!!

Starting with:

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Rance aluminum 5X8 trailer with 44 inch weight interior
Weight, 465lbs!!!!

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The fun begin!!!
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Postby jonnyo » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:33 am

few more pic of the trailer:




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time to get some work done!

planning to make a little bed head storage...something like this..

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perhaps a window at the front also!!!!
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Postby jonnyo » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:41 am

day 2 was insulation, but i had no pic of that....lots of pink board, cutting and fitting between the aluminum studs....

There is already some wires inside some of the studs for the lights and i have decided to put any other wire on the floor against the wall (inside the molding)

day 3, making plywood walls, cutting, fitting, cutting more, re-testing for fit, about 5h for this....

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All done with my only tool, a 27$ jigsaw from canadian tire!!! I got a old drill also!!!

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also made some thicker frame around the door and window in the best way i could think about. the aluminum studs are 1X1 so my wall will have a 1 5/8 thinkness with insulation, plywood, and finishing panels....

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Postby jonnyo » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:47 am

Day 4......

, trying to screw the plywood to the walls and ceiling alone!!! my head holding the plywood against the ceiling and trying to reach for the drill and screws....very clumsy!

I also added some finishing paneling, 26$ a sheet of 4X8 and it does look like normal inside RVImage
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i should also mention that i m working outside, in the rain and 5 degres (canadian degres) ;) so it does make everything a little more difficulte... it s dark all the time!!!!
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Postby Tabazooron » Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:33 pm

Looking good!
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Postby droid_ca » Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:53 pm

That is a nice looking trailer
I'll be following this one
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Postby ohbugger » Sun Nov 13, 2011 3:24 pm

Great job, and great find on the trailer! Mind if I ask how much?
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Postby eaglesdare » Sun Nov 13, 2011 5:11 pm

oh yes, i like this one. very, very nice. i also would like to know the price on the trailer in american money.
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Postby jonnyo » Sun Nov 13, 2011 5:15 pm

the trailer is call Rance Brave 5X8. On sale at 2200$. My main issue with building from zero was that i dont have a garage and it s winter here in penticton, bc.... lots of rain and snow. So i needed something that was already close and sealed so i could work inside.

That was the main expense but i have to say so far, i been having so much fun that i would be willing to try again from the start with a trailer frame only in the summer.....

But for now, i hope to have this ready to go for christmas and peraps a little training camp in new mexico in janurary.

Putting some window in today, what i have learn so far is that a cheap jigsaw does the job VERY well as long as you pick the right quality blade for the task.

a bit scary to cut the aluminum sheet at first but so far so good.


Another goal of mine is to make a ''modular one peice kitchen at the back that could be remove easily from the trailer so i can use it as a cargo trailer on occassion!

here's a pic of my first ''dirty'' window in!!!!

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the ring is not thick enough so i had to use longer screw than the one recommended... i wonder if this is a problem or if i should try to find a different ring or make one? i would like it to look a little cleaner... curtain might do the job???
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Postby ohbugger » Sun Nov 13, 2011 5:29 pm

My sister just did the Ironman in Penticton. Small world! Everything looks good and while the trailer at $2200 seems a little high, I've got to think about all the man hours you've saved and the starting weight seems pretty great! The whole thing being aluminum pushes the price up and the weight down, so definitely worth it to those of us with small cars! Also, no doubt you are benefitting from the many lessons learned from the builder. Has the trailer seemed pretty watertight? Also, I can't see any problem with the trim rings not being deep enough other than cosmetic. Looks like you are doing everything very well! The only thing I would have done different is to use lauan instead of plywood on the inside, still plenty strong and lighter weight. I like the finished sheeting you put up though! What is it?

Link to lauan on HD
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R ... ogId=10053
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Postby ohbugger » Sun Nov 13, 2011 5:41 pm

Just re-read and realized you did all that cutting with a jig saw :shock: Way to use what you have!
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RE: TD sized CT for Basis

Postby mezmo » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:47 pm

Hi jonnyo,

Looks like you've got a great solution for your needs. The Rance aluminum
trailer looks like it's well built from your photos and is a perfect basis for
a non-traditional TD. Price is always an issue, but if what you get for the
cost works for 'one's' situation then it is money well spent. I think you've
found a great way to start in on a build. Looks like you've got a great start
fitting it out for your needs.

A removable back kitchen sounds like a good idea for your needs. You
could put a vertical clete on each side wall to position it when using it. Maybe
consider making it in two sections -fitted to your needs- for ease of taking
it in and out by one person. A nominal 5ft wide single unit could get a
touch awkward or heavy, especially if you want to keep the
camping/cooking items in it while taking it in and out. It'd be easy to bolt
them together once set in place in the back of the trailer. [It'd be a good
idea to use a couple reusable/removable bolts/screws to help keep it in
place too when installed in the trailer.]
- Just a suggestion.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo
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Postby canned o minimum » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:21 pm

Lemme see if "I" got this straight...Yer Tow Vehicle is a Subaru WRX ???

Well my friend, "I" pull with a 1965 VW Beetle ( Bug) and my trailer weighs round 800lbs

It'll do 85 mph when it needs to and the trailer tows straightas an arrow !

That WRX should have NO problems pullin a trailer like yers !!!

Jus remember whar EVERYONE says.. these trailer are always OVER BUILT ! Yers is ALREADY built.. now yer adding to it.. no need fer heavy wood inside !
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Postby jonnyo » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:30 pm

thank you everyone for the tips...

it might be overbuild?? but i dont really know what i m doing to be honest, i just though that by putting plywood on the sides, i could screw until the walls at any places easily without scratching my head. this will come handy when building the kitchen as the wall will be solid to screw in. I wanted to keep it simple.


Thank you for the idea about the kitchen, a few peice bolt together would be perfect, a little bit like a lego parts. I will try to make something up on paper and see.

I know the wrx will pull fine. but i might also be taking my girlfriend VW golf on trip and this trailer will be ok for that car also.

Time for bed, cant wait for next weekend to get more time to build and play!
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Postby canned o minimum » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:42 pm

I wasn't criticising.. jus tryin to be helpful, but I see the method to yer madness ( LOL ) Havin a sturdy wall to screw thangs into...

Let the saw dust FLY !
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