No Frame Trailer? Would this be safe?

General Discussion about almost anything Teardrop or camping related

No Frame Trailer? Would this be safe?

Postby Bigwoods » Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:59 pm

I was looking at Ebay and found these plans for a trailer that has the axle bolted to 3/4 ply? Any thoughts on this one?

He claims an incredible build time also.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 59328&rd=1

No affiliation with auction and am not advocating it's purchase or the purchase of any plans from Ebay.
Greg in Northern Minnesota

Image

Image
User avatar
Bigwoods
500 Club
 
Posts: 602
Images: 104
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 10:45 pm
Location: Northern Minnesota

Postby metoady » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:36 am

how safe :lol: :lol: :lol: :worship:
ok is this guy for real ... :roll:

i give this idea 3 thumbs down :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown:
Some days it not even worth chewing
through the restraints.......

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/album_ ... ser_id=838
User avatar
metoady
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 112
Images: 26
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:22 pm
Location: hell centro so cal

Postby Woody » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:37 am

safe? :lol: :lol: :lol: my butt safe :lol: :lol: right and good luck
Woody
The Tear Jerker's, Florida Chapter Director
E-mail: [email protected]
Tear jerker chapter site http://www.tearjerkers.net/forums/
Check the SE section for gathering information
Tear Jerkers new site http://www.tearjerkers.net/forums/
Enjoying life in 12 ounce increments is what it's about
User avatar
Woody
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2006
Images: 26
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:07 pm
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Top

Postby madjack » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:44 am

...it could be acceptable if the tongue ran all the way back and connected to the axle. The rest of the technique would result in a quick, dirty throw away that could be fixed with a composite floor of some sort..esentially all this guy did was cut out a tear shaped box and bolted it up...there is no way this could hold up over a long period of heavy usage and no way, built as descibed could it be safe IMNSHO
madjack 8)
...I have come to believe that, conflict resolution, through violence, is never acceptable.....................mj
User avatar
madjack
Site Admin
 
Posts: 15128
Images: 177
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:27 pm
Location: Central Louisiana
Top

Postby Michael W » Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:57 am

I wouldn't want to be on the road at the same time as this trailer. I can see it hitting a bump and the tounge breaking free of its 3/4 inch plywood mounting bolts. Imaging a fully loaded teardrop body tumbling into you lane at 70 MPH. It might be safe at a 4th of July parade speed. I hope the e-bay buying public does not take these plans seriously.
User avatar
Michael W
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 138
Images: 34
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:09 am
Location: SE Michigan
Top

Postby Cutterpup » Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:16 am

Most States require lights, fenders, safety chains. Call for an inspection, the inspector will come to your house and inspect your trailer for a $25.00 fee and give you a VIN number so you can get a Trailer Title and License Plates.


So in Tennessee you can call someone to come to your location and inspect the trailer issue a vin number for $25.00.

Build your Tear Drop camper on a flat bed utility trailer that already has a title and there is no need for an inspection to get License Plates.

I would like to know what this guy is smoking I haven't had anything that good in years!

I looked at his feedback on Ebay the one that got me was

The item was promptly shipped. The plans were found to be unsafe and useless.

Reply by scientificsupply: Buyers email said, I am not capable of building this project. Unfair feedback




Dan
User avatar
Cutterpup
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 239
Images: 15
Joined: Sat May 07, 2005 4:51 pm
Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Top

Postby mikeschn » Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:20 am

Here's an example of what can happen when you bolt the axle directly to the body...

This is a photo of the Boxter upside down with the axle ripped off...

Image

http://www.tinytears.cc/Boxter/Eastho/eastho.html

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: No Frame Trailer? Would this be safe?

Postby TomS » Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:31 am

Bigwoods wrote:I was looking at Ebay and found these plans for a trailer that has the axle bolted to 3/4 ply? Any thoughts on this one?

He claims an incredible build time also.


It's like any other endeavor in life, I suppose. You get out of it what you put into it. Do you want a really nice camper that takes several months to build? Or, do you want an uninsulated plywood box that you slapped together in two weekends? I think I know how most of the folks on this forum would answer that question.

I'd be curious to see how he's attaching that plywood floor to the toung.
Tom Swenson
[email protected]
User avatar
TomS
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1367
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 2:06 pm
Location: Fitchburg, MA
Top

Postby Nitetimes » Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:44 am

I wouldn't trust it.
Rich


Image
ImageImage
-
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to
keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves
against tyranny in government.
- Thomas Jefferson -
Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take a butt kickin'.
User avatar
Nitetimes
7000 Club
7000 Club
 
Posts: 7909
Images: 194
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:44 am
Location: Butler,PA
Top

Postby ALAN GEDDES » Sun Jun 26, 2005 10:15 am

This could get a lot of people hurt or dead. I wonder what kind of disclaimer he has for when the law suits start ?
Alan
User avatar
ALAN GEDDES
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1637
Images: 34
Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:48 am
Location: NC, Fayetteville
Top

Postby Woody » Sun Jun 26, 2005 10:59 am

Alan,
It's called WHO ME? He'll vanish faster than donut in a cop car
Woody
The Tear Jerker's, Florida Chapter Director
E-mail: [email protected]
Tear jerker chapter site http://www.tearjerkers.net/forums/
Check the SE section for gathering information
Tear Jerkers new site http://www.tearjerkers.net/forums/
Enjoying life in 12 ounce increments is what it's about
User avatar
Woody
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2006
Images: 26
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:07 pm
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Top

Postby DANL » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:29 pm

I think this line lifted from his promo text pretty much says it all about the idea of bolting the axle to the plywood floor.


The PLANS show all the dementions...
The tiny trailer in the avatar is designed to carry our recumbents and sometimes sleep in. We LOVE having a kitchen in the woods and a place for most of our gear.
Dan Jones http://sunsetlanding.com/teardrop/teardrop_intro.html
User avatar
DANL
Donating Member
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 10:42 pm
Location: Plymouth MN
Top

Postby angib » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:40 pm

mikeschn wrote:Here's an example of what can happen when you bolt the axle directly to the body...

But..... impressively, the photo Mike showed is what the trailer looked like after being dragged down the road on its belly at 60mph. Does anyone else think their trailer can withstand this? However, failing to fix the axle on properly was indeed stupid.

I don't think building a frameless trailer is something for a novice to do, but if anyone thinks it can't be done safely, I can tell that they don't know much about structural engineering!

Andrew
User avatar
angib
5000 Club
5000 Club
 
Posts: 5783
Images: 231
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:04 pm
Location: (Olde) England
Top

Postby An Ol Timer » Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:29 pm

I think that you guys may be a little harsh in your judgement. He might have something going here. Heck!, Who knows he may be a descendent of Howie!!!
An Ol Timer
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 293
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 4:08 pm
Top

Postby Jiminsav » Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:41 pm

man, you guys are tough on a mountain man..i have played with the idea of bolting the axle on to wood and have found out that TORSION axles ain't gona do it..they like a stiff surface..however, IF you double up 2 sheets of ¾ plywood and use regular spring mount axles, I bet it would last as long as steel if not longer..the reason I say this..there are a buttload of old trailers around rural Georgia that have spring shackles bolted right to wooden boxes with a pipe tongue held on with U-bolts in front and they still use them daily out there..i seen it..i'll preach it..amen brother.
Jim in Savannah
If you can read this bumper sticker, my camper fell off.
User avatar
Jiminsav
3000 Club
3000 Club
 
Posts: 3059
Images: 40
Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2004 8:49 pm
Location: Georgia, Savannah
Top

Next

Return to General Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests