Offroad teardrop?

[RunninRubicon]

teardrops

I like the pics and sites. I just didn't like pulling something I can fold down and get out of the air. Otherwise your just pulling an air bubble. Colder climates would be better for this kind of rig then here in the SW. But it's all there. Could store some stuff inside. Add a water tank and battery/refrig.
It would be cool. I like that they are lite weight. Finally we get it!

 

[The BN Guy]

I suppose you could build some sort of tubed rack and mount to the rear of the 'drop for fuel storage. Or build a small box for the tongue maybe?

I like that design. Looks like a good size for two adults and a baby.

Ooh, just looked at the dealer link...me like the prices very much!

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I've had a Tentrax for the last five years or so. I've towed it to four different states and over the Rubicon. I like it and it performs well. I however have been biten by the new trailer bug. Nothing to replace the Tentrax (No reason to sell it), just something new to mess around with.

A friend of mine on here (Redline) just took delivery of his A.T. Chaser. I really like it. The quality, materials, suspension and craftsmanship are top shelf. I had pretty much decided that would be the next trailer. Then this thread was started about tear drops.

The cool little retro trailer that is normally reserved for hot rods and more recently motorcycles. So, I had a little free time today. I braved the storm and went to Auburn Ca. to American River motors to look at these and see how they were built and what mods they would need for our kind of camping.

Here's what I found. They have a couple of different models that would be useful to start with. A four foot model and a five foot model. Those are interior dimensions. The exterior dimensions are a few inches wider. The platform models have a platform in front of the teardrop. The platform has a floor made of expanded metal with a couple of tie down d-rings located on each side.

The prices in Ca. are $4995.00 and $5995.00 respectively. (Funny how they are a lot cheaper on the web site). These are for the platform models. The non-platform is cheaper.

This is a pic of the non platform. Notice the curvature at the front of the trailer.

Here is a pic of the platform model. Notice the front is flat to facilitate the platform.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Continued...

another picture of the platform

Here's a cool little ac unit pictured on a non-platform model.

One feature I wasn't crazy about was that lack of a dedicated galley, like the classic teardrops had. These all had a single counter on a hinge. Below the countertop is where your feet would be when your sleeping. They are pretty short. I like the feature of a dedicated galley. I brought along my arb fridge to size it up and as the trailers sit stock. It won't fit under the rear countertop. You would need to cut the counter top pretty much in half to sit the fridge inside the trailer. There is plenty of room on the platform if you don't mind it sitting outside in the elements.

In the below picture you can see the weather stripping. This one leaks a little water as it sits on the lot. Kepp in mind it has never been used or off of the lot. I asked the sales guy about it and he said he would replace it before it left the lot. I don't know how many times it has been opened and shut on the lot, but probably quite a few.

Overall, I think they would need some moderate fab work to hold up to the abuse overland travel dishes out. First off, armor. Rocker panel protection and a bumper of some sort for departure angle. Secondly, lift. The stock tire sizes are right around 25" on a 13" to 14" wheel. The bolt pattern is 5 on 4.5. They are low. The axle is a torflex 1500 to 2000 lb. The sales guy said it is possible to place a lift block in there, but he doesn't offer the modification on site.


I think it would be a fun project for someone to tackle. You can really let your imagination run with these. I envisioned an exterior spare tire mount on the platform. A few Wedco fuel cans up front and some sort of battery setup. Maybe not for use on the really extreme trails in the west, but really usable for the majority of the other trails we see.

You will just need to remember that it will need some fab before it leaves the asphalt.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I forgot to add; this guy rents them for about $250.00 a week. Rusty tlc, as we both live in reno we should split the cost and take it down to Samco to see what his thoughts are on lifting one and adding some armor to it.

 

[rusty_tlc]

:doh: I should have subscribed to this thread. Just now saw your post.
For $250 I might rent one to try out for a weekend camping at Bodega or someplace before I went any further with the concept. Just to see how the wife likes it. You know the saying, "If momma aint happy nobody is."

 

[blue94yj]

I don't know if this would interest you but I'm in the process of building a teardrop. I'm almost finished with the metal fabrication work. I should be starting the actual camper in the next couple of weeks.

The camper box will go to the square tubing. The round tubing is for a step/slider.

What do you think?

Charlie

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Wow, that is really really cool.. Makes me rethink my current plans of an imitation mil trailer you can sleep in...

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Charlie that thing looks great. Start a new thread so we can watch the progress. Where are you located?

After seeing these campers (The above photos I took) in person, I started drawing up my own design. Then the WAZAT micro trailer thread was published. It looks very similair to my drawings (Squared off and a little bigger than these). I had planned to use nida-core and even got some quotes on materials. If you look at the wazat thread, the camping module is removable and already built! I am going to contact them and find out if they will sell just the camping module. Then you could mount it solid to a hardcore chassis such as yours Charlie.

What do you guys think?

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Also what is the distance inbetween the wheel wells?

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

:doh: I should have subscribed to this thread. Just now saw your post.
For $250 I might rent one to try out for a weekend camping at Bodega or someplace before I went any further with the concept. Just to see how the wife likes it. You know the saying, "If momma aint happy nobody is."

And I thought you were just ignoring me.

 

[blue94yj]

Also what is the distance inbetween the wheel wells?

I'm not sure I can measure it this evening when I work on it, but the two rails running the length of the trailer are 40" outside to outside.

Charlie

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Charlie bummer man, you will be the first guy to build one of these, but I for sure can say that couple of us will be following you.. At least we'll remember you were first...! Anyway, I started obsessing, I have wanted to build one from scratch and have been doing different plans in my head for ages now..

But, wasn't sure what the actual trailer would be, that was the hardest decision.. After this post, I started obsessing yesterday, I even did some crude mockup yesterday afternoon at the shop...

I have wanted someone you can sleep in (not on - avoiding the tent setup, personally).. But not too big, tough, maneuverable... But tough.. Not a pop-top type setup for the most part but that would work too. But then you lose storage with a pop top...

Anyway, I have been thinking I will build from scratch as well.. I will definitely post up, but this is probably well over a year away, I figure...

Cheers!

 

[sfsloop]

Wow, great start. I'm very interested in watching your progress.

:jump:

 

[rusty_tlc]

I don't know if this would interest you but I'm in the process of building a teardrop. I'm almost finished with the metal fabrication work. I should be starting the actual camper in the next couple of weeks.

The camper box will go to the square tubing. The round tubing is for a step/slider.

What do you think?

Charlie

Very nice.

I noticed a second frame in the background. How many of theses are you building?