CGuava's Teardrop Build

[CGuava]

Now I finally have something to show, so I'm putting together a build thread. I'm fairly new here, I've been lurking A LOT the last few months learning about how the heck I'm going to build a trailer. Bear with me on this build, this one may take a while.

Originally, a friend of mine built a very cool trailer: dirtco's build

I loved seeing some of the creativity in Jeremiah's trailer and thought it would be a fun project, and a good canvas to come up with some cool ideas. I was thinking a frame/tub and rack to put my RTT on. I showed some of my ideas to my wife, and she quickly shot it down, as it was probably just another project that we wouldn't use. She said she wanted to rebuild a vintage trailer, and we settled on an offroad teardrop after showing here some pics of the sawtooth, and the Moby1 which I fell in love with. I just can't justify the price of a Moby1, and I really wanted a new project.

I frequently travel the CO back country in search of awesome flyfishing, this rig will be put together to get me back to some of the high mountain lakes, and have a good camp to setup from. Rarely will I be taking this through some of the Colorado Trails out here, but I would envision that I could take this over something like Engineer Pass or Ophir Pass. Anything more and I will just park the trailer and head up/down the trail.

The project also allows me to work with wood for hte cabinetry and interior, which is another reason I was fired up to try building something.

Plan:

• 
  5'x8' cab
  Full steel frame for trailer
  RTT/Rack mounted up top
  Full water, electrical, propane
  Leaf springs and shocks (I considered linking/trailing arms for the rear, but I'm not building this for the suspension, like my rock buggy)
  1" square steel frame for the cab, skinned with aluminum, insulated interior with a 1/4" veneer of some sort
  2 doors
  1 window on the front "star-gazer" style
  Galley in the back, not sure if I'll go basic or really try to make this tie together
  I don't really plan when building these things, I'm just going to fly by wire (which is funny because by trade I'm a Structural Engineer)

Enough with the talk. Here are some pics:

Here's the tow rig:














JK, it's mine, but I don't know many trailers that can follow something like that around.

Here's the actual rig this is being built for:


Frame somewhat built (axle underneath):




Time to hang the leaf springs. From a sheet of 1/4" steel to spring hangers, shackles, u-bolt plates:




Time for some spacers to get the cabin supports all the way out to 60 inches:




Where I'm at today:


Next update should have the frame near done, a little hint for the next step:

 

[CGuava]

Forgot, I got the tongue end piece and jack tacked on today.



My biggest concern with this trailer is keeping is water resistant. I've been doing a ton of research to figure that part out. I'm thinking of lining the bottom with some galavanized sheet before putting a plywood floor in. But I'll finish the frame first and start thinking about that.

Any cool ideas that you guys wish you did within the frame? I'm going to put in a conduit inside one of the frame rails, in order to get some wiring run front to back easily. Other than that, I'm going to try to store some things in the other frame rail, not sure what I can store in there though.

 

[Titanpat57]

Dirtco's trailer is going to be a tough act to follow...but looks like you're well on your way.

Good luck with build, looks great so far!

 

[CGuava]

Thanks Pat! Your build has certainly inspired a lot of the ideas that I have. I really like your front popup window area. I thought that was a great idea. Nice trailer wheels too!

 

[Dirtco]

Excellent start Christian, I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes!

 

[Titanpat57]

Thanks Pat! Your build has certainly inspired a lot of the ideas that I have. I really like your front popup window area. I thought that was a great idea. Nice trailer wheels too!

Haha!..Was looking at your 4runner ...and my head was in a warp...couldn't figure out what was throwing me off. It was the TE wheels(which look damn nice!)...love that front bumper too...very clean.

The only thing I'd stress at this point is take special care to seal the bottom. I have one small leak, that's driving me crazy (I think it's blowing in under the front hatch in driving rainstorms at highway speed) so any extra steps you take now may help you down the road...great welds as well!

 

[skersfan]

I am removing the front window from mine. It seems to me, at speed and in rain, a vibration starts and allows it to force the water under the rubber lip. I have tried to seal it numerous ways. One trip it works fine the next it leaks. Never know what is going to happen. It seems most 5th wheels have gone away from front windows, when we designed our first fiberglass molded trailers, the designer said NO. I do not think it is a question of it will leak or not, but when it will start. As hard as we beat these things, it just begs to be a problem. I have ordered the front piece, have had it for awhile, but still keep trying to find something to seal it permanently, as I like the window. But I see it as a weakness. I do not want to put a cover over it, which might help. Just do not like the look. Never too much silicone on the front it seems.

 

[CGuava]

Man, that's tough to hear Bob. There is so much space up front that a window seemed like a great idea. I was looking at the star gazer window from teardroptrailerparts.com ~44"x9", and I was going to mount it up front. Maybe i'll try to design some type of unobtrusive cover for it while it's in transit.

Bob, I've admired all of your builds thus far, as they're the closest to what I want to build. I've tacked my frame together, but I'm getting nervous about fully welding everything without a chassis table, as I'm afraid it will warp the frame. Do you have any helpful hints with fully welding the frame together for a home garage builder? Here's my proposed method:
-Strap the corners down to the floor
-Tack some 80" 2x3" lengths transversely along each end of the frame
-Stitch weld any long runs of weld
-Let welds cool before welding some more
-Jump around the trailer welding pieces until it's fully welded.

Any other tips you might have?

 

[skersfan]

That sounds like a good way to go. No runs. go from side to side, continue to measure rear corners to center of tongue. If you keep it with in a 1/4 inch it will tow perfectly, no tire wear. I have a jig table, that i clamp mine down in. but for the end of the tongue, I just measure from the floor and cut a piece to set under it. that keeps it level. These are not long enough to be hyper critical. It is nice if you can be, but most do not have the equipment to make a perfect frame. If your using a spring set up, it is knocked out of true the first rock you hit!!! Your doing great work, just use common sense on it. This is not rocket science by any means.

 

[CGuava]

Not too much to update this week. I'm only getting an hour or so a night into it after the baby goes to sleep. But I was able to extend the frame out to capture the 60" wide body. I also was able to bend a little tube which was fun to do again.

Top view. I haven't put in the back floorbeam yet because I'm not sure how I want to finish it in there. I'm considering either a rear swing out spare tire carrier, or putting a manual tire winch up to suck the spare underneath (like my 4runner).





I also had a cool idea. I'm not sure how I will use it yet, but I'm sure I can build a table or something to do it:

Start with flat plate. Cut a tube cap out of it. Drill a 3/4" hole.


Weld a nut on the back:

Cap the tube:

Grind it smooth(ish):

End piece:


Now I can anchor a 3/4" bolt to the side of the frame. I'll figure out a way to use it in camp, I'm sure.

 

[mudbutt]

Not sure if this will help at all. But in regards to the front window... I remember my parents had a travel trailer that had a louvered window on the front. It also had a fiberglass cover on a piano hinge that covered the window in travel mode. When you got to camp it opened and was held up by a metal strap that had slots and a bolt/wing nut. It was there to prevent flying debris and or rocks from breaking the glass during travel. At camp it acted as a sort of awning. Might be something to consider to help keep water from leaking into the window.

 

[silvrzuki77]

Lookin nice! I rolled my fenders for the same look also.

 

[CGuava]

Excellent start Christian, I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes!

Thanks man! First your 3rd Gen was an inspiration to me. Now your trailer!?! What are you going to build next? That way I can start planning. Haha. Any winter wheeling trips coming up? I'd love to bash some snow soon.

 

[CGuava]

Lookin nice! I rolled my fenders for the same look also.

Thanks silvrzuki! I ended ordering the same water tank and pump that you had recommended. I hope I get to try out that system sometime soon.

 

[silvrzuki77]

Awesome looking forward to the install.