Register now to get rid of these ads!

Art & Inspiration 1938 teardrop trailer

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 55willys, Jul 29, 2014.

  1. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    Anyone tow a vintage trailer behind their hot rod? If so let's see them. This is a 38 teardrop trailer that my dad saved from being tossed on a fire. I was about 15 (now 48) when he got it and fixed it up. It has been to the East coast and back. We used it for a cross country family vacation.

    Well it has not been used for a long time (last licensed in 92) until now. I got it out of the old storage area it was in put some air in the low tire (at least 30 years old) and towed it 40 miles to where I am staying. It is my new home for the time being and I am enjoying it. Vintage workmanship never go's out of style. Here are a couple pics, lets see yours. Jim IMG_0289.JPG IMG_0288.JPG
     
    Model T1 likes this.
  2. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,412

    ClarkH
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That is so cool. Love the tear drops. I got the OK from the wife, hoping to find one.
     
  3. I like it, and the full size one behind it. What's the story on it? I'd like to have one of each!
     
  4. Your new home for the time being?,,kind of a different spin on the term living large! :D HRP
     

  5. That's a "Doozy" you got there! Hope you can fight the urge to over-restore it. Keep the wires, but when you replace the 30 year old tires treat her to some whitewalls! :D
     
  6. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    I am going to copy the design and start building them. Jim
     
  7. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    The one behind it is a 1948 Spartan built by the Spartan Aircraft Co. 27' long, aluminum structured, blind aircraft rivets. Most are polished aluminum but someone had painted this one before we got it. The teardrop is about 1938 as far as we can tell but us licensed as a 1947 homemade boat trailer as that is what we used for a frame because it had a wood frame and tongue when we saved it from a firey death. I am looking in to reproducing it because it is the only one that I have seen of that shape and I think it looks just right.
     
  8. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    Camping out in fastrnu car port while I sort out the drama at home. Kinda where I was 10 years ago living in a 1940 White bus converted to a motor home. It is comfortable size inside 4' wide 4' high and 7' long in the sleeping area. It is 10' overall and has a 3' deep galley area in the back. Perfect size for the dog an I.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2014
  9. ratster
    Joined: Sep 23, 2001
    Posts: 3,588

    ratster
    Member

    here is the one i am building. it will have 15 inch chrome wheels and wide whites
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jul 30, 2014
  10. Rich,why do you need 15 wheels,want two do the job? icon_lol.gif HRP
     
    bald_and_grumpy likes this.
  11. There are many plans and kits available to make teardrops very similar to the OP.
     
  12. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    Looks good ratster, what are the measurements? Jim
     
  13. Stevie Nash
    Joined: Oct 24, 2007
    Posts: 2,999

    Stevie Nash
    Member

    I'll be building one in the near future.
     
  14. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    I have looked at many and very few capture the flowing shape that I like. I think it has to do with it being 10' long and not too flat in the mid roof area. You lose a bit of space with this shape but if it was all about space it would be a box trailer. Jim
     
  15. There are many shapes and sizes, yours has the "look" of a traditional teardrop. Plus the right materials.
     
  16. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    Thanks. That was my opinion as well. Jim
     
  17. blinddaddykarno
    Joined: Feb 5, 2008
    Posts: 121

    blinddaddykarno
    Member

    Not to get too far off track, but just one quick question. Why does almost every teardrop I see have the wheels so far to the back? One would think it would make for too much tongue weight. Of course, you don't want a negative tongue weight either (ask me how I know some time!) Just curious, as I would like to build one too, and really like the proportions of 55willys one, some others I've seen look too short and stubby!
     
  18. wsdad
    Joined: Dec 31, 2005
    Posts: 1,259

    wsdad
    Member

    I'm no expert on these trailers, but I think the reason the wheels are so far back is that the heavy "kitchen" is in the back. The reletively empty sleeping area is in the front.

    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  19. Some of you guys might think about joining the Vintage Trailer social group,there are some teardrop owners on board. HRP
     
  20. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    I have this dumb goal in my head that in a couple of years I want to finish my 46 Tudor and build a tear drop to tow behind it. I plan on retiring then (for the 3rd time) and taking off and seeing the lower 48 States. My bucket list includes things like Bonneville, Rt 66, the New England States, etc. and a tear drop would be a perfect way to do it. Me and Lucky the cat would be hitting the road for about a year, I figure. :)

    My original idea was to buy a Harbor Freight trailer frame (lots of guys build them on that frame) but I now think it would be better to weld up a custom frame with the axle and spring set up I want to have. I figure a window ac unit and a snap on enclosure for a shower and portable toilet would make it much more enjoyable.

    I may never actually build it, but right now that is something rolling around in my head.

    Don

    I really like the way this one is built. I realize it is wider and longer than the usual tear drops, but if I am going to be living in it for a year.............

    [​IMG]

    I figure you could have snap in canvas to enclose it when the back door is up and it would almost be like a pop up trailer.
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2014
    Model T1 likes this.
  21. Right you are, dad; and even then, the tongue weight is still quite light..
     
  22. sixinarow
    Joined: Mar 18, 2007
    Posts: 169

    sixinarow
    Member
    from Fargo, ND

    Here's my Modernistic/Cub that I also saved and just put on the road early this summer. A tree had fallen on it years ago and had been sitting in a local guy's grove since. I have about 80% new material into it and wanted to retain some of the original camper.

    Yours looks like a nice project. Enjoy it!

    Before:

    First time out in the sun:

    Behind my Chevy:
     
  23. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    It's got some junk laying on it but this is my teardrop frame that was made out of Model T frame rails sometime before I was born I'd imagine and used wide 5 Ford hubs and rims. I bought it at an auction with what was left of the floor on it and haven't done anything with it except haul some stuff on it once or twice.
    [​IMG]
    I think the wheels towards the rear are there because of the weight of the kitchen area and the need for the door to be in front of the wheel. Tongue weight shouldn't be all that much though.
     
  24. Degenerate
    Joined: Aug 5, 2007
    Posts: 239

    Degenerate
    Member
    from Indiana

    I have been building a teardrop to tow behind my International P.U. You can find lots of build sites, free plans and plans and profiles you can buy. In doing my research I decided on building my frame from scratch with 2x2 tubing instead of the harbor freight route. I'm starting on the sides soon and bought a profile pattern from Lil' Bear. After I'm done with the first teardrop I plan on building a skinny light weight tear to pull behind my motorcycle.
     
  25. Don, If you use a Harbor Freight trailer, you will have to reinforce it to the point that you could just make the frame yourself. I am using a small boat trailer for mine, but it will not look like a traditional teardrop as it will have rounded sides. Yes, axle to the rear approx. 20% - 80%, You have the kitchen, generator, air conditioner, microwave and stove, along with food and supplies in the rear. You cannot balance that with two propane tanks on the front tongue. Plus it gives more room for the door opening. Some of the earlier models had the kitchen area in the front, thus had the axle in the middle, except it had a very small door.
     
  26. BeatnikPirate
    Joined: May 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,416

    BeatnikPirate
    Member
    from Media, Pa.

    jse_IMG_0325.jpg That '38 teardrop is cool. Here's my '98 teardrop, which is modeled after a late 1940's Kit Camper.
     
    exterminator and Model T1 like this.
  27. snaptwo
    Joined: Apr 25, 2011
    Posts: 696

    snaptwo
    Member

    My grandpa owned one in the 50s and used it a lot . I still remember the odor of the paneling (Masonite ?) and it also had the trunk/kitchen , good memories !
     
  28. Special Ed
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 7,967

    Special Ed
    Member

    Exactly. In addition to the weight of the kitchen itself being aft (I have pots, pans, plates, cups, silverware, canned goods, etc. stored in the kitchen of my '47 Kit Kamper), there is also a water storage tank, cabinets, and an ice box located back there too, along with a small but relatively heavy propane tank for the cast two-burner stove. The wheels are located back there simply to balance the whole thing out.
     
  29. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,251

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    In adition to the weight distribution requiring the wheels to be quite a ways behind center, there are a couple other advantages. They're much easier to back it up, and a lot more resistant to swaying in a crosswind.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.