A couple buddies of mine and I were thinking about taking a road trip to yellowstone and Glacier national parks early fall next year. I was talking about taking my T-bucket, and one of my friends wants to take his Mustang along. I was talking about making a pair of teardrop trailer to haul behind our cars so we could go camping, and me and my girlfriend could sleep in one and my other friend in the other. Has anyone built a teardrop? What are they like to camp in? where did you get your parts? On a side note, my girl friend has never really had a vacation, much less ever gone camping, so i hope she likes it! Jordan
I'm just guessing but I bet a google search of teardrop trailers would give you more info on building one than you could ever use. never used one.. but I figure going on a trip with nowhere to take a crap or a shower is pretty much the same no matter how you do it. sounds like fun!
I built one from the ground up 4+ years ago! We camp all the time in it and LOVE it! PM me if you want more info.... My new site is still being built (www.RetroTeardrop.com)- I have 100's of build pics...
There's a pretty good teardrop newsletter out of Oregon. Marty Boehme puts it out. Lots of good stuff. There are tear drop campouts, all kinda good stuff. I liked mine for the wife and myself, when my daughter came to be, it just wasn't practical anymore. Now with two kids, no way. Sold the tear. We had a tent off to the side, great for hanging out, dressing while standing up, etc. I had to sleep with the door open, it was just too small, a little claustrophobic, though I am not normally that way. Maybe not enough oxygen for two..... The trailers tow well, hold lots, and are a ball. Do it, you won't regret it!!! Let me know if you want to get in touch with Marty and get the newsletter, or if I can help at all. Tim
A link to the original 1947 Mechanix Illustrated article "Trailer for Two" Or here is one from 1936 "Building a Teardrop sleeper trailer"
I restored one ( a 1947 Kit Teardrop) in 1999 and have used it a bunch since then. We made patterns off the orginal and have built 23 units so far. Our web site is www.bubbastrailerpark.com and sell every piece to build a trailer like the Kit. Our goal is we want you to have a trailer, and we will help you build your own in any way possible. I carry pre cut sides with doors pre cut and pre cut cabinents etc. We duplicate the orginal frames and have special rubber torsion axles made up for us. I travel for weeks each year in my trailer and we live in it on the road each year in the Smoky mountains. Be more than glad to help ya any way i can. Bubba
I have a friend who commissioned another friend, who's a cabinet maker, to build him one. It was a little bigger than the typical teardrop and had a queen size mattress in it. We kept trying to talk them into drawing up some plans, as it got attention everywhere they went. I plan on building one like it, as soon as I get my wagon on the road.
"tootallrodder" is a HAMB'r & he goes camping in one all the time!! And he really is tall, met him a bunch of times & i'd say hes about 11-12 ft tall!!lol, no kidding but he loves his, he even blew off the Road agents show to go camping in it!! Talk to him , he'll give ya all the details. JimV
Lots of good info out there, Tear Drop web ring 52 sites.......http://q.webring.com/hub?ring=teardropper Bubba,s trailer park site......http://www.lindertech.com/btp/
I met a couple recently that were on thier way back from an Alaska trip towing one behind thier van. Looked like it was made from wood strips .
I have not been able to do to camp this year due to some medical problems but plan on hitting it heavy next year. Here is a shot of my teardrop and 36 at York a year or so ago. I did not get it usable until the year they stopped the camping on the fairgrounds at York. Just my Luck. I have done the Fairgrounds at Burlington Vt. The 36 does not even really know it is back there. No effect on Gas Milage. only thing is looking out the rear view mirror, all I see is the Yellow front of the trailer.
Here's a 1947 Ken-Skill I bought a couple years ago. Lot's of leg room inside ( very important ), as I'm 6' 2". It's all original, currently undergoing a full blown apart restoration. Lot's of fun !
I noticed that, but i cant see why I wouldent be able to do it safely. is there any reason I shouldent pull it behind my t bucket? its going to have F1 pickup brakes on the front (self energizing) and the blown flathead would have more than enough torque to pull it. Jordan
It's not a question of the T's brakes or power. It's all about weight. That said....no reason you can't tow a small terardrop as long as you keep the weight of the trailer as low as possible. Under 1200 lbs total should be ok I would think. I would shoot for no more that 50-60% of the total weight of the T.
The "trailer for two" is the one I was looking at for the past few months, and I like the looks. The only things I would do diffrently is that I would make it a foot wider to five feet, so I have a bit more room. the other thing I want to do is, insted of using angle peices, I have a bunch of 1x3 steel 1/8" wall laying around my garage that i am other wise never going to use. How much would something like this weigh? Jordan
I've wanted to build one for years. Saw a set of plans in Hot Rod Mechanix years ago and buried it in the back of my mind for a someday project. Now have a family with kids and a fifth wheel. Last week we were out camping and someone pulled into the campground with a teardrop. Of course I ran over and talked to the guy for a while. He had just finished building it and was only it's second trip out. He used one of those utility trailers from Harbor Freight for the frame and was able to keep the whole thing under 1000 lbs to pull behind his small car. I have one of those HF trailers and have hauled it 1000's of miles with no trouble and see no reason why it wouldn't be a great....and cheap....jump start to a teardrop project.
Stay clear of HF trailers....build one or have one built...all I can say! If you MUST use a HF trailer - Please weld it together and not Bolt it together.... ..
I was planning on building the trailer frame and everything my self. I have helped my dad build a few trailers, and know how to do everything. plus when i build it, I can do it exactley how i want. Jordan
Jordan you have the right idea...I built mine so I could do a larger trailer - mine is 5'x10' plus I built mine from 2" sqr not angle like most. Good luck... and feel free to pick my brain if you have questions, also I know MANY other teardrop owner/builders I can put you in contact with. ...
yes.. If you build over 5x10 - maybe? - but then the teardrop would be too big anyway! If you are going to tow with a small car (MINI Cooper small) then don't build over 4x8 size to be safe. ..
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