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who's built a teardrop trailer from scratch..??

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Kustom7777, Apr 6, 2008.

  1. Frankie47
    Joined: Dec 20, 2008
    Posts: 1,877

    Frankie47
    Member
    from omaha ne.

    WOW that sure is a step up from my old pop-up starcraft!
     
  2. synthsis
    Joined: Mar 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,899

    synthsis
    Member

    holy shit, those rule. They'd look awesome behind a Porsche Cayenne or some other crazy looking modern car. Not quite right for behind a traditional car.

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  3. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER


    The Harbor Freight frames come with a statement of Origin and their own serial numbers but you still have to apply for a title through your dmv.

    The statement of origin and serial number take a lot of the pain out of it though. Makes it "not home built".
     
  4. 97
    Joined: May 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,982

    97
    Member

  5. jguff
    Joined: Jan 14, 2009
    Posts: 134

    jguff
    Member

    I have built 4 teardrops from scratch and restored/repaired/rebuilt 5 others. The first image is my most recent homebuilt and the second image is a 1948 Modernaire which I took to Bonneville in 2009. Absolutely the best website is www.mikenchell.com It is full of ideas, plans, build journals, advice, and anything you want to know about building a teardrop. It has thousands of members and is very active.

    Jerome
     

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  6. langy
    Joined: Apr 27, 2006
    Posts: 5,730

    langy
    Member Emeritus

    I made mine about 10 years ago now, I made it a little longer at 9'6" long and width is 54"
    I raided an old caravan so i have Fridge, Sink, pumped hot water heater, grill etc etc

    I have a 40 gallon water tank mounted just in front of the axle although i usually travel with it empty.


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  7. FredDrew
    Joined: Mar 29, 2007
    Posts: 6

    FredDrew
    Member

    I built a Tear Drop about a dozen years ago. It has been across the USA, coast to coast twice. If my wife doesn,t go with me, I live in it when at the NSRA Nationls usually Kalamazoo and Louisville. I also live in it on Road Tours with Jerry Dixie of Street Rodder Magazine. It does not save me any money over hotel/motel usage, because I go a heck of a lot of extra runs for the same cost.

    Get it built, you will not regret it. The roof plywood I used was called bendable and I got it at Home Depot. There are two layers grained across the sheet and a laminate in between. I sealed it well and glued heavy gauge aluminum on top of it.

    Fred Drew
     
  8. UnsettledParadox
    Joined: Apr 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,107

    UnsettledParadox
    Member

    thats almost exactly how imagined building one! have any more pics of it?

    i think it would be great to tow one behind my wagon when the time comes
     
  9. Jax2A
    Joined: Apr 14, 2009
    Posts: 419

    Jax2A
    Member

    Check out Teardrops & Tiny Travel Trailers.
    They've got a good generic plan that can be customized and links to several vintage plans.
    http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/

    I'm in the process of designing one myself and found this site the most useful.
     
  10. billsill45
    Joined: Jul 15, 2009
    Posts: 784

    billsill45
    Member
    from SoCal

  11. My grandson's doing a carpentry apprenticeship. I'll have to see if he could build one of these as a project at his local Tech. Thanks to all who've contributed to this thread so far, as there's a lot of really good resource material.
     
  12. Patrick46
    Joined: Nov 26, 2008
    Posts: 565

    Patrick46
    Member

    Fred...sorry, but this doesn't make any sence.

    It doesn't save you any money over hotels??? Where are you camping at??? :eek:

    or... are you saying that because you've SAVED so much money, that you can afford to go to alot more runs!

    We had a Lonely Teardrop for about 3 years and LOVED it!!
    P1010229.JPG
    Now, I'm gonna build us one to my own design.


    also, to the OP...there are alot of fun teardrop groups and organizations out there. I belong to the Tearjerkers...
    http://www.tearjerkers.net/
     
  13. unkamort
    Joined: Sep 8, 2006
    Posts: 1,014

    unkamort
    Member

    I'v had a teardrop fanticy for some time. I'd like to spend my last years roaming the country and putting the national park system to work. One of my wild ideas was to use the altenator off the pinion gear trick to charge something like a semi truck, or deep cycle, battery while traveling and using that to power the rig at night. The only problem I see is the sleeping arrangements. I'm talkin' full leather recliner, heated, massage, beer cooler, satellite, ya know... comfort on the road. Traditionalist frown if ya will... but it sure as hell beats cookin' squirrel out under the over pass.
     
  14. I know Fred and he does a lot of runs, he can do 15 days for the price of 5 when he takes his Tear-Drop.
     
  15. langy
    Joined: Apr 27, 2006
    Posts: 5,730

    langy
    Member Emeritus

    Somewhere, i will dig them out. I didn't want a trad teardrop as i'm 6ft so needed a bit more length so i went with a more swoopy design, also wanted it low to look good so i channeled the body over the frame.
    The one thing i like about my one is the tall 30" tyres, some teardrops seem to have very small wheels.

    I just remembered my buildup pics are here http://rides.webshots.com/album/557865367bEPjbZ


     
  16. Patrick46
    Joined: Nov 26, 2008
    Posts: 565

    Patrick46
    Member

    Hey Langy...
    that's a cute little build you've got there. Looks like a really nice job!

    My only question is why didn't you put fenders on it?
    I'd sure hate to hear that a rock tore all that nice work up.
    Is it a highboy?? I could understand if your pulling it with a highboyed hot-rod...but you don't seem to be. (or is there one in the works???) :rolleyes:
     
  17. langy
    Joined: Apr 27, 2006
    Posts: 5,730

    langy
    Member Emeritus

    Most of my cars are fenderless, I was towing it with my F100

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    until my roadster was done.

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  18. teardropcamper
    Joined: May 5, 2010
    Posts: 5

    teardropcamper
    Member
    from Phoenix

    I have built 5 of them already and is a great way of traveling with your rod. You can check out some pictures on my web site.
     
  19. breeder
    Joined: Jul 13, 2005
    Posts: 10,948

    breeder
    Member Emeritus

    heres one i did a few months ago...i got a lil carried away!!!! lol...and NO! no one is staying in it at the rust revival..so dont ask!!!!LOL

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  20. trnkey26t
    Joined: Mar 27, 2009
    Posts: 4

    trnkey26t
    Member

    You can also get plans from Speedway Motors. My Buddie builds them and has found sources for the trim , molding hatch hinge, axel, windows etc. The guy is located in Auburn CA and ships all over. If you do a search you can find seveal Teardrop clubs on the internet and some vendors. The one he built me is an 8'X4' annd I pull it behind my '26 T Touring.
     
  21. B.A.KING
    Joined: Apr 6, 2005
    Posts: 4,039

    B.A.KING
    Member

    yep i think that he's saying that he saves so much on motels that he goes to more shows .met fred at bowling green last year,june when it was about a 103 in the shade. he goes every where in that thing. its cool as hell.he's a hell of a nice guy also. he is a road warrior
     
  22. UnsettledParadox
    Joined: Apr 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,107

    UnsettledParadox
    Member

    4'x8' seems to be the perfect size. i cant wait to build one, im just not ready now

    its so fitting since i have a wagon. just feels like home to me lol
     
  23. Patrick46
    Joined: Nov 26, 2008
    Posts: 565

    Patrick46
    Member

    I must add to this here...

    our's was a 5' x 9.5', and from EVERYONE we met that also had teardrops, that extra 1' width & length makes all the difference in the world after a few trips! Our next one WILL be a 5' x 10'...but I'm 6'1", and I like that extra room to stretch out.
    (food for thought.)
     
  24. UnsettledParadox
    Joined: Apr 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,107

    UnsettledParadox
    Member

    thanks patrick46!!!
     
  25. b-bop
    Joined: May 19, 2008
    Posts: 987

    b-bop
    Member

    Best site on the web by far is http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/
    Most of the folk there are as helpful as this site. And if you are looking for plans to build, they have a free set, download and go.
    http://www.mikenchell.com/images/GenericBenroyPlans.pdf
    Just like hotrods, you can take the basic plan and modify to your taste. Mine is 5 foot wide, cause I thought the standard 4 foot would be a little cozy for 2. There is nothing better than hitting to open road, no hotel rooms to book, stop where ever and when ever I like.
     

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    Last edited: May 29, 2010
  26. chopt49
    Joined: Jul 5, 2006
    Posts: 945

    chopt49
    Member

    Mine, built by hand in my garage - took me 9 months.


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  27. atch
    Joined: Sep 3, 2002
    Posts: 5,625

    atch
    Member

    is that a basement out in the middle?
     
  28. I was toying with building a small trailer for my truck. I might be sold after seeing this:D
     
  29. wright
    Joined: Nov 19, 2007
    Posts: 65

    wright
    Member
    from illinois

    I just got mine street legal this weekend and took it for maiden voyage. Started the project in Aug. of last year. I still have things to finish on it but it is getting close. I am taking it on the power tour this friday. I will be doing the first three legs of the tour.
     

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  30. I have one of the original PM magazines from the early 50s that had the article in it. I was getting ready to sell them here, but as I was looking through them, I thought that they were too cool to sell. Even better than many car rags.
     

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