Teardrop considerations for on/off highway travels.

[fullofdays]

Trying to determine the right level offroad teardrop for a 2week cross country trek (East coast to Utah) Planning for late 2013.. Much of the route will be slab out and back but once we arrive in southern Utah there will be trails and routes that require a capable offroad trailer that can survive following my JKUR I'd imagine. This is a first cross country trek and I'm trying to determine the right level of build i.e. suspension and features. trying to tap into knowlege from those that have been down this path..so are there features that are must have vs nice to have for a teardrop that will be pulled on slab the way out but used off road once in Utah?

for east coast local trips, a basic teardrop would suit our needs for camp ground and primitive sites as a base camp. So I'm considering a simple silver shadow or 5 wide for this... But for a 2 week trek to Utah, Would a Little guy teardrop survive the off highway portions of the trip? Would a Socal/AT 459 or moby1 be the way to go?

Thanks!

 

[Aspen Trails Trailers]

I am sure the SoCal Tear Drop Krawler would fit your needs. I would recommend mine, but not enough time to build you one.

I would stay away from the ones that are not designed for off road. Moby, AT and SoCal Tear Drops make more than adequate trailers. Give Gabe a call, I am pretty sure they have an operation on the East coast.

Bob

www.aspenXtrails.com

951 692 0958

 

[fullofdays]

Thanks Bob-- when you say designed for offroad, what features would be essential?? For example, would something like this work? What do I need to look for in a teardrop?? http://www.tcteardrops.com/Off-Road_Teardrop.php

Any expo guys seen or own a TC Teardrop? No mention of suspension on the site... Interior looks rough and ready....

 

[Aspen Trails Trailers]

I think it mentioned Torsion. I am not a fan of the side torsion axles. I believe it needs to be connected to both frame rails. Dexter or Alko. Those are the major manufacturers.

The frame is the most important part. Should be box tubing, I think. No support on angle, channel makes things heavy and still has the bend factor. Off roading puts twist/torque to the frame. Twist it far enough with channel/angle it fails to return.

If there is a female in the camping plans, water and the more the better. Some type of generation, hair dryers and wands seem to become a main stay of their life. lol

It really depends on what level of off roading you plan to do with it. Little guy or any of the other ones would suffice for a base camp I think.

I have never heard of the one pictured, but looks to be a pretty nice trailer, but no pictures of the frame.

One word of caution. You will almost always do more off roading than you think you will. You will gain confidence in your ability to tow the trailer and that can get you and it,in over it's ability.

Insist on brakes!!!


Bob

www.aspenXtrails.com

951 692 0958

 

[fullofdays]

good to know! Thanks Bob

 

[John E Davies]

Thanks Bob-- when you say designed for offroad, what features would be essential?? For example, would something like this work? What do I need to look for in a teardrop?? http://www.tcteardrops.com/Off-Road_Teardrop.php

Any expo guys seen or own a TC Teardrop? No mention of suspension on the site... Interior looks rough and ready....

I don't own a teardrop, but am in the shopping phase.

That TC trailer looks adequate for dragging around forest roads in the East, but I wouldn't try Moab with it. It has a 1500 pound axle (too light) and obviously low build quality in the cabinets (velcro to hold the doors closed, no compartmentalization to keep stuff from sliding). In general it looks pretty crude. The rear hatch is just a slab of plywood. Crude may be OK in terms of looks, but not in terms of design and build quality. I would have to look closely at how the materials are held together (staples?) before passing final judgement.

Maybe their offroad model has an upgraded axle - it doesn't say the capacity. I would want a larger water tank plus a narrower front box to avoid trail damage. Plus at least 33 inch tires. Comparing it to the premium trailers, I think it's a "wanna be". I personally would not risk being stranded on the White Rim with a broken down trailer. The minimum towing charge is north of US$1000.....

Any trailer I buy will have to have some stout rock rails to help protect the sides and fenders from impact damage. Plus that gives you some easily accessible recovery points for when you need to drag it sideways out of a ditch.....

A agree about the frame materials - in the above pic you can see that they are using angle. If that is how the rest of the frame is built, it won't hold up. Can you ask them to post some frame shots, with no body attached?

Have you ever tried to polish or wax diamond plate aluminum? It will cut your cloth and fingers to shreds. Plus it gets eaten alive by deicing chemicals. Keep that in mind if you think you will ever go out in the winter.

Have you thought about going to Overland Expo in Flagstaff? There will be a number of offroad teardrops there, including Moby1. Adventure Trailers doesn't plan to have a display model, but I bet there will be one somewhere on the grounds. I also expect to see some SoCal models.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[rocrunr]

Bob builds a cool trailer but as stated no time at the moment. Lots of talk on here about the Moby1 trailers and they look like a quality build, but again not sure about the time thing. Socal is also really good. It really is about your budget, how often are you going to use it and the time frame in which you need it. Ever consider renting one ? that gives u the opportunity to see if and what you like and dislike about teardrops.

 

[fullofdays]

Gabe @SoCal said his lead time is August!! I have thought about renting but nobody in NC has an offroad teardrop, much less one I could rent for a weekend...

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Aspen Trails Trailers]

Check with Martyn at AT, I think they or SoCal Tear Drops have an east coast affiliation. Not sure.

Also take a look at the Chalet LTW. Great little trailer. I am considering building a similar product. I really like the versatility of this type of trailer over the tear drop or military type trailers. I have had two Chalets, never the smallest one though. I think I can make one that will be capable of going anywhere. I have a glass guy who says he can make the roof section. That is the draw back on them.

But they are warm, and a stand up deal, with a full bed. And I am pretty sure you could find one quickly.

Also Aliner makes an A frame trailer, not sure if they make the smaller version. Have heard that the Aliner has some frame problems, but have never seen the problem. Just a heads up.

Bob

www.aspenXtrails.com
951 692 -958

 

[fullofdays]

that sounds like the IDEAL trailer. no frills and bullerproof. lets chat about an A frame build Bob!

found this Aliner Expedition which is interesting. HUGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nqaw8kxDXg

 

[fullofdays]

So can I take a chalet or Aliner and add suspension and clearance so it will go anywhere my JK can go or is there more to a build like this?

 

[Aspen Trails Trailers]

I will not make that statement. I think the Chalet would be better from what I have heard about the Aliner. But I will be making something similar for my next trailer I think. I looked at one the other day, and it does have a box tubing frame, I think it is 090 not sure. It does use the standard zmember cross members the trailer industry uses. Not impressed with them. It should handle most forest roads, some off road trails. It is not ready for Rose Garden Hill in Moab, but some of the Kokopelli I would tow one on. Might have to do some attachment straps inside as I think the frame is wood. I have heard they are aluminum, but did not check. If they are aluminum on the upper frame, it is a pretty darned nice trailer.

Give me a call. I will stop by the dealership tomorrow and look at one. They have the one with the high sides. I think I would want the regular side one, but not sure.

Bob

www.aspenXtrails.com
951 692 0958

 

[fullofdays]

I will not make that statement. I think the Chalet would be better from what I have heard about the Aliner. But I will be making something similar for my next trailer I think. I looked at one the other day, and it does have a box tubing frame, I think it is 090 not sure. It does use the standard zmember cross members the trailer industry uses. Not impressed with them. It should handle most forest roads, some off road trails. It is not ready for Rose Garden Hill in Moab, but some of the Kokopelli I would tow one on. Might have to do some attachment straps inside as I think the frame is wood. I have heard they are aluminum, but did not check. If they are aluminum on the upper frame, it is a pretty darned nice trailer.

Give me a call. I will stop by the dealership tomorrow and look at one. They have the one with the high sides. I think I would want the regular side one, but not sure.

Bob



www.aspenXtrails.com
951 692 0958

Sounds good





http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/28585-Chalet-Arrow-into-off-road-Arrow

 

[whiskeycutter]

Tear Drop Considerations

Fullofdays what did you end up with? I also live in NC and travel to Utah for the summer camping, fishing and hanging out. Flat road worthiness is a definite must. I tried a Hallmark Ute truck camper last year since I have an F250 for my farm anyway, a nice rig but I didn't like having to move it every time I wanted to explore so I will sell this fall. Also didn't work well with my big dogs. I am looking at teardrops as well and am torn between an off road and an over the road model. Most of the time I camp in National forests since I am not fond of campgrounds but I dont do any radical 4 wheeling mostly forest service roads with an occasional trail. So interested in what you got and how it worked. If the off road ones weren't so $$$ I would jump on one. Cheers

 

[Hilldweller]

Paul found himself a Conqueror Conquest and has been using it a couple of months.