Who Builds Quality Teardrops and/or Squaredrops?

tplane2

Member
If you can find one of the very few OEV Explorer TDKs on the used market you'll be in business at 30k. I snagged one earlier this year and really like it. Exceptional build quality.
 

6912

New member
the best pods you can get is glue and go It is real fiberglass hand laid with foam .
it is laid up in two stages that way it gives it a convex shape a little bit of a bow take a look at a semi-trailer flatbed when it's empty see that bow in it . When anything pushes against it pushes back and then indestructible means it's easy to repair There's that b******* fiberglass futon that people use it can't be really repaired it's just crap it comes in a roll how strong can that be .
Also, the new thing that we see at the shops that we are going to be getting rich off of repairing is this aluma Bond crap. It dents it tears heating from the sun can cause the plastic to delaminate from the aluminum it is crap If you think not go to a sing shop and pick up some of that crap. If a trailer can't last over ten years not a good deal. We are seeing alubond tipe crap after the first camp out
When they make the panels out of fiberglass and foam in 2 steps it preloads it and makes it a convex panel It doesn't have to have the frame so you save that weight and CASH and time. it goes together with an outside Bond beam of fiberglass so it expands the same not aluminum angle the problem with aluminum angle is it doesn't expand the same as fiberglass so eventually it will work a leak also If you watch plays with sticks on YouTube they talk about vibrations in the trailer Fiberglass to fiberglass have the same vibrations ag
Again if you can find someone that's making a glue and go style trailer I've seen a few boutiques making them for trailers. when most are charging $15,000 plus they're around 8,000 they have litte wast . So if you can find a glue and go I see a few every now and then come up on eBay In a few days will post about my father-in-law build a off road / motor bike one. He is By the afterbay up there by Oroville ca on the road that goes between Biggs and Oroville he's there on Sundays he would love to have anybody stop by and see how to build .
Again there's no better trailer pod than an glue and go style trailer again no asinine frame you waste time and money on it's insulated it has very low heat cross-over like wood. there is fiberglass on the outside and inside so it's easy to keep clean if you have any damage it's easy to fix we've had some of our rentals be rear-ended roll down hills and the most I think we've ever paid to have the fiberglass fix is about $50 again this is hand laid real fiberglass with woven and woven is what gives it the strength think of all those little strands being glued together I have seen 7 builders that want to build something to last not make a fast buck so there out there hard to find.
In the picture is of one of the pods he did and a few panels.
A little truth about fiberglass trailers the old eggs last dang near forever the only thing bad about them is the same with many of their new ones they are made with a chopper gun so that means there is more resin than there is actual structural material and resin is like taking your grandmother's favorite glass and throwing it on the ground .
They are heavy from the resin about 9 lbs a gal.
the trailers are built the glue and go have an outside fiberglass skeleton then you have the panels that are convex and then you have an actual inside bonded skeleton they go together so

easily. Anybody can build them there's one outfit that is building them and I believe the two girls that do most of the work or between eight and 12 .

It's so easy to make your own
You cut side panel shape. See lip that the foot on your saw makes in the last picture Set the front top back panels on and add the outside bond beam angle on. on inside run 4'' wide bond fiberglass beam. after a week you add can foam will fill up any gap
pod 4,5 by 4,5 by 8.5feet 190lbs IMG_20220129_164311.jpg
sm.jpgIMG_20220110_163942 s.jpgIMG_20220129_164311.jpgsm6.jpg
 
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HaveeBear

Member
If I were to buy right now, I'd prob get a Hiker. Not the traditional teardrop style, but a good [enough] quality trailer for my purpose.

I would second the advice to check out "Playing with Sticks." Drew gives excellent reviews and advice. He'll also reply to your comments/questions. Appears to be a genuine person!
 
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Uncle Jeffy

New member
I'll second Hiker Trailer. They have lots of models/variations of squaredrops. I've owned one since 2019 (Mid-Range 5x8) and while I haven't taken it on anything more rugged than gravel, it has held up very well to the PNW environment. Some don't like the wood construction, but the offset is good value and the customization means you only pay for what you really want.
 

Teardropper

Well-known member
Build your own...

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Louisd75

Adventurer
I’m thinking about going to a small “rough” road capable trailer to avoid having to break camp every time I want to explore an area. The company that I was considering (Aero Teardrops) is now out of business. I’m not interested in a typical flimsy mass produced trailer. Budget target is something under $30k.

Any recommendation?

Another option to check out is Camp Inn. They don't offer an "offroad" version, they do offer an SUV option that gives a few more inches of ground clearance and, IIRC, larger tires. They've been around for over 2 decades and have a bit of a cult following. They have two main models, the 550 (8' body) and the 560 (10' body). The longer model gives you a convertible couch/bunk bed that can be removed entirely. I copied a lot from the 560 when building my trailer.

 
Supposedly, the guy who wrote that book hangs out here and answers a question when they pop up.

TDFZ4AF.jpg
I’m thinking seriously about doing a build. I already have an aluminum utility trailer with removable ramp and sides. 54” w x8’.

There are stake pockets that could be used to secure the body to the deck. Teardrops NW does that with tabs on their trailer frame.

BTW, I heard that guy is an old Idaho Rabbit Ranger. Any truth to that vicious rumor?
 
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