North53overland
Member
Northern Teardrop Trailer X North 53 Overland
Semi-Custom Northern Teardrop Trailer Build
Alberta, Canada
Hi everyone,
My wife and I have just put down a deposit for an October 2021 delivery of our Semi-Custom Northern Teardrop Trailer (NTT). We have selected their "5x8 Coloured" model which allows us to select from nearly 2 dozen aluminum skin colours for the walls. The roof is a white laminate. Their website: https://northernteardrop.com/5x8-coloured-aluminum/
This all started in August of this year (2020), while camping in our lovely MSR tent at Tunnel Mountain in Banff. The guy beside us had an older 5x8 teardrop which he bought used. My wife was really enthralled with it. After some thinking and the launch of the Bronco. We put a reservation down to get a new 2021 Bronco Badlands and soon after started research on teardrops. The problem was we (I mean me), didn't want just an off the shelf unit. We are new to overlanding and off-road exploration, but not knew to adventure travelling.
Build Key Drivers:
- Long-term reliability
- Dollar value (not cheap, but value for what we got).
- Local fabricator (as local as we can get)
- Someone who would be willing to work with us to create something unique.
After some research, a friend who had a Taco told me about Northern Teardrop in Salmo, BC. I contacted them (Owner is Dale) and had some good chats. I also had some other chats with 2 other Canadian fabricators. While there was one closer to me in Sherwood Park, I felt Dale was the best choice as he was open to some of my requests. While I am new to trailer builds, I have owned one previous RV trailer so I had some understanding of trailer fabrication. Also, as an Owner of a commercial interior design firm, I design for a living. I use AutoCAD daily and always work to strive to create the best for my Clients, and now that Client is myself and my wife.
HABITAT:
Fast forward to this week. Our deposit is in and we have secured the last of the 2021 units to be made. NTT only makes 22-24 units a year as it's a small family business. Our final order with them was as follows:
- 5x8 Coloured unit
- Delete chassis (YES, delete chassis...I will get to that below).
- Delete kitchen (YES, delete kitchen...I will get to that below).
- Add 12 gallon water kit
- Upgrade to all colour changing amber/white LED exterior lights for the porch lights and galley kitchen
- Insulated Roof and Floor.
- Sides will be the standard offered 3/4" plywood construction
- Underside will be done in a black or charcoal bed liner
-
CHASSIS:
- As an avid car person, someone I got to know over the last 3 years is a like minded Audi lover. Turns out he is a welder. And the more we talked, I eventually found out they make custom trailer chassis and have made them for two of the most well known Alberta bases off-road trailer manufacturers.
- So while I had almost hired a different fabricator in Southern Alberta, I decided to choose my friend as he is LOCAL, has made many of these and can help me get what I want on my budget.
- NOTE: Overall tongue length is probably going to be reduced, final length to be determined. Very preliminary sketch.
- Chassis will be welded 2x3 + 3x3 HSS
- Steel-It- weldable matte black paint
- 2000# front tongue jack
- Custom front mounted metal storage box with slide-outs for our Alpicool 75L fridge/freezer (I am a new importer of Alpicool into Alberta) These will be imported and distributed by my new company: North 53 Overland ()
- Battery Storage & Solar Charger storage unit with inputs
- A pair of ARK corner steadies
- Spot between box and habitat for two NATO jerry can holders
- Adjustable vertical posts for area lights
- @Timbren 3500HD standard height axel-less trailer suspension with 6x5.5 hubs (to match the Bronco wheels) + electric brakes. While the trailer will be under 2000lbs, I always feel safer with brakes.
- 2" rear hitch receiver so we can add bike mount or other accessories
- Tires: 285/70 R17 (to match whatever comes on the Bronco)
- Wheels: 17", 6x5.5, to be determined
- Custom bash plates at water tank and other areas as required.
- Custom rolled fenders with steps
- Custom flip-up/lockable steps for each of the doors.
- Rear LED tail lights: LED Halo Brake/Rear lights
KITCHEN/GALLEY:
- As mentioned, I am a commercial interior designer and wanted something not standard, as such I will be designing and fabricating our own galley kitchen at my parent's shop in Edmonton. By shop, I mean my dad's oversized RV garage. A nice 15' x 50' RV garage with 18' ceilings and a mini millwork shop. By getting our trailer in the fall of 2021, it gives me all winter to outfit and design the galley for spring 2022 use.
- Kitchen will have teak edge grain wood counters.
- Accuride or alternative lock-in/lock-out slides
- push-button latches for all doors
- All cabinet fronts will be pre-finished birch plywood
- Custom pull-out for 2-burner stove + cutting board
- A spot for everything, and everything in it's spot.
- The Alpicool 75L fridge/freezer (https://www.alpicool.com/details/overviews.html?id=9)
This blog will be updated as new designs or information comes available. I ask that all comments be positive and not off topic
But that said, I always love feedback and ideas. Design is an ebb and flow of concepts and discussion to achieve the best possible outcome within a set of prescribed parameters.
IMAGES BELOW
- Below is an image of the new NTT Overland model. This was just launched this fall by NTT in collaboration with the previously mentioned Edmonton based off-road company. While I love it, I feel my build will be more customized and unique from what I have seen done by others.
- Preliminary chassis design below.
Semi-Custom Northern Teardrop Trailer Build
Alberta, Canada
Hi everyone,
My wife and I have just put down a deposit for an October 2021 delivery of our Semi-Custom Northern Teardrop Trailer (NTT). We have selected their "5x8 Coloured" model which allows us to select from nearly 2 dozen aluminum skin colours for the walls. The roof is a white laminate. Their website: https://northernteardrop.com/5x8-coloured-aluminum/
This all started in August of this year (2020), while camping in our lovely MSR tent at Tunnel Mountain in Banff. The guy beside us had an older 5x8 teardrop which he bought used. My wife was really enthralled with it. After some thinking and the launch of the Bronco. We put a reservation down to get a new 2021 Bronco Badlands and soon after started research on teardrops. The problem was we (I mean me), didn't want just an off the shelf unit. We are new to overlanding and off-road exploration, but not knew to adventure travelling.
Build Key Drivers:
- Long-term reliability
- Dollar value (not cheap, but value for what we got).
- Local fabricator (as local as we can get)
- Someone who would be willing to work with us to create something unique.
After some research, a friend who had a Taco told me about Northern Teardrop in Salmo, BC. I contacted them (Owner is Dale) and had some good chats. I also had some other chats with 2 other Canadian fabricators. While there was one closer to me in Sherwood Park, I felt Dale was the best choice as he was open to some of my requests. While I am new to trailer builds, I have owned one previous RV trailer so I had some understanding of trailer fabrication. Also, as an Owner of a commercial interior design firm, I design for a living. I use AutoCAD daily and always work to strive to create the best for my Clients, and now that Client is myself and my wife.
HABITAT:
Fast forward to this week. Our deposit is in and we have secured the last of the 2021 units to be made. NTT only makes 22-24 units a year as it's a small family business. Our final order with them was as follows:
- 5x8 Coloured unit
- Delete chassis (YES, delete chassis...I will get to that below).
- Delete kitchen (YES, delete kitchen...I will get to that below).
- Add 12 gallon water kit
- Upgrade to all colour changing amber/white LED exterior lights for the porch lights and galley kitchen
- Insulated Roof and Floor.
- Sides will be the standard offered 3/4" plywood construction
- Underside will be done in a black or charcoal bed liner
-
CHASSIS:
- As an avid car person, someone I got to know over the last 3 years is a like minded Audi lover. Turns out he is a welder. And the more we talked, I eventually found out they make custom trailer chassis and have made them for two of the most well known Alberta bases off-road trailer manufacturers.
- So while I had almost hired a different fabricator in Southern Alberta, I decided to choose my friend as he is LOCAL, has made many of these and can help me get what I want on my budget.
- NOTE: Overall tongue length is probably going to be reduced, final length to be determined. Very preliminary sketch.
- Chassis will be welded 2x3 + 3x3 HSS
- Steel-It- weldable matte black paint
- 2000# front tongue jack
- Custom front mounted metal storage box with slide-outs for our Alpicool 75L fridge/freezer (I am a new importer of Alpicool into Alberta) These will be imported and distributed by my new company: North 53 Overland ()
- Battery Storage & Solar Charger storage unit with inputs
- A pair of ARK corner steadies
- Spot between box and habitat for two NATO jerry can holders
- Adjustable vertical posts for area lights
- @Timbren 3500HD standard height axel-less trailer suspension with 6x5.5 hubs (to match the Bronco wheels) + electric brakes. While the trailer will be under 2000lbs, I always feel safer with brakes.
- 2" rear hitch receiver so we can add bike mount or other accessories
- Tires: 285/70 R17 (to match whatever comes on the Bronco)
- Wheels: 17", 6x5.5, to be determined
- Custom bash plates at water tank and other areas as required.
- Custom rolled fenders with steps
- Custom flip-up/lockable steps for each of the doors.
- Rear LED tail lights: LED Halo Brake/Rear lights
KITCHEN/GALLEY:
- As mentioned, I am a commercial interior designer and wanted something not standard, as such I will be designing and fabricating our own galley kitchen at my parent's shop in Edmonton. By shop, I mean my dad's oversized RV garage. A nice 15' x 50' RV garage with 18' ceilings and a mini millwork shop. By getting our trailer in the fall of 2021, it gives me all winter to outfit and design the galley for spring 2022 use.
- Kitchen will have teak edge grain wood counters.
- Accuride or alternative lock-in/lock-out slides
- push-button latches for all doors
- All cabinet fronts will be pre-finished birch plywood
- Custom pull-out for 2-burner stove + cutting board
- A spot for everything, and everything in it's spot.
- The Alpicool 75L fridge/freezer (https://www.alpicool.com/details/overviews.html?id=9)
This blog will be updated as new designs or information comes available. I ask that all comments be positive and not off topic
But that said, I always love feedback and ideas. Design is an ebb and flow of concepts and discussion to achieve the best possible outcome within a set of prescribed parameters.IMAGES BELOW
- Below is an image of the new NTT Overland model. This was just launched this fall by NTT in collaboration with the previously mentioned Edmonton based off-road company. While I love it, I feel my build will be more customized and unique from what I have seen done by others.
- Preliminary chassis design below.
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