Starting a new camp trailer

I just started acquiring parts to build a teardrop style off-road trailer.
The hitch is from http://www.locknroll.com/index.aspx and I got it yesterday.

Here is a side view of what I am going to build.



I am going to run 30x9.5 tires on stock jeep wheels. I will be able to use the Jeep spare on the trailer as well. It will be the same width as my LJ and just slightly shorter then the top when its up. Hitch to rear of trailer is just over 11 ft. long. I have a 3500 lb 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern axle with brakes, and 3K lb springs. I will probaly have to take a leaf out of the springs when the build is done to soften the ride. The cabin itself is 48 inches tall with 6.5x 5 ft of space for sleeping.

Right now it looks like there will be about 18 inches of ground clearance under the frame of the trailer.

The design is a modification of one that was recentely built on the Teardrops and tiny travel trailers web site.

 

Ah Grasshopper design IIRC.

I want to build one after I get time to finish Chia.

 

EricM has one very similar to that. Nice functional unit.

 

I like the convenience of these types of trailers, but my only complaint is not being able to stand up when one gets dressed... Are you gonna make a kitchen back end like on the regular tear drops?

 

Yes, that is what the rear hatch is for. And since I live in Texas it will have AC in it for when I camp where there is electricity.

 

Here is a build thread from a guy who lives near Dallas. I have seen this trailer in person, and is very well thought out.
http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29535&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Warning; the language started out as a joke, that I believe was regretted cause it was hard to maintain. A look through the galley (kitchen).

 

Began the frame this week. got the main runners and the tounge cut and fit. Going to weld it all up hopefully this weekend. Then I can cut and fit the side extensions to bring it out to 60 inches wide. The tires will be tucked up under the body for a little more then half their width.

Frame layed out: This is 47 inches wide and 8 feet long for the main box. The tounge adds about 4 feet to the overall length.


It does not look like it but there is an inch of clearance between the frame and the tire sidewall.



Tounge detail. There will be supports for the tounge to frame joint to keep it from breaking.



Detail of the tounge to frame joint. The left side is the main frame. The right side is the tounge. The bottom piece is the cross member.



Finally the mockup of the bracing for the tounge joint.



The tounge and main frame runners are 2x2x3/16" steel. The cross members and rest of the frame are 2x2x1/8"

The hitch is a Lock-N-Roll hitch designed for off-road use.

 

Looking good so far.

 

Sure will enjoy this build. Looking good.

 

Tack welded the main part of the frame together tonight. Spent the day at the State Fair of Texas so got a late start.

 

cool


gerald

 

Got to spend the day in the garage. Tacked the tongue on and made sure everything was square. One thing I hate about welding is all the prep work to get a good weld.
Now on to the finish welding. First the left side:

Then the Right:

Then put it onto jack stands to measure and start placement of the axle. This is where it will reside.


Once the axle is in place, I will finish out the frame. I need to know where to put the wheel wells on the body.
The welding table was one of the first things I built after I got my welder. I wanted to be able to put an engine block on it. I think it will suffice.

 

Nice. If you leave it like that it would make a nice lo rider trailer....

 

Hard to tell in the pictures but it looks like you only have about an inch space between the axle and the frame.....I'm assuming the axle will be flipped to under the springs ??

 

There is only about an inch of space between the tire and the frame. That is by design.

The frame should be level behind my LJ with the sprung under design.

 

Sorry, I misread your question earlier. There is actually 3 to 4 inches of clearance between the axle and the frame in the SUA configuration. That is more than sufficent for a trailer. There is 1 inch clearance from the tire sidewall to the frame.

 

Spring mounts are tacked in place. I had some scrap 1/4" angle lying around and decided to beef up the frame a bit to reinforce the spring hangers. I still need to do the finish welding.



Close up of the spring mount.

 

Nice. Any idea how much it will weigh when it is done? Or will it be enough to require the brakes?

 

Weight should be under 1500lbs loaded for camping. The brakes are for my piece of mind in off-road situations. Especially on loose downhills.