Teardrop Trailer

[frizzen]

At a meet i broke my dumptruck steering, that killed my dragline operation, and all my trailer pulling. I really wanted to practice backing trailers into the docks.

Of my cars, the VW bus is most likely to pull a trailer, so it's gotta be really light. Maybe a baby Utility trailer, motorcycle hauler, or a Teardrop camper.

https://jalopnik.com/5927898/how-to-build-a-teardrop-trailer-for-two
Has a link to a 1947 Sept 'Mechanix Illustrated' pdf, Teardrop trailer for two.
http://www.samstoybox.com/teardrop/trailer_for_two.pdf

Little quick math, a xerox to get scaled patterns, and off to the garage.

Some scrap luan that i've saved for "something" for years
https://i.imgur.com/OdceAawh.jpg

Some 1/8" brass. I ran out.
https://i.imgur.com/ggQEa20h.jpg

Quick mock up
https://i.imgur.com/xR9V6sih.jpg

Better make interior cabinets
https://i.imgur.com/dJZPz9Zh.jpg

Grab the VW, i want to see how it looks
https://i.imgur.com/dA89Ojrh.jpg

Curb side entry, street side window, kitchen aft.

Lots of detailing potenital here, it's gonna be a fun build...

[kaptain Jack]

Cool

[skeeter]

Nice!

[bigford]

Very nice. I was looking at a 1:1 during the summer
Wow $$$ for not alot of space

[frizzen]

Yeah, the manufactured ones are crazy money for a 2 person bed, some storage, and kitchen. It's better than tent, but that $$ pays for a LOT of hotel stays. Homebrew is more about how well you can scrounge and build.

My camper knowlege consists of 1 night in a pop-up. So i'm open to suggestions.

I'm planning tail, marker lights. Interior, and galley lights. Battery holder hidden in a galley cabinet, DIPswitch block to control. Hinge the galley hatch, door, maybe window. Working trailer jack. Suspended axle.

Any thoughts about sealed woodgrain with wood accents, or painted white/blue or white/green? If top bending fails, it's definately 2-tone to hide styrene.

I'm thinking the tires from frame pic with aluminum full-moon disks.

That interior's gonna be a lot of wood, i know it needs a mirror, closet doors. any picture or poster ideas?
(I don't want to do like shag, diamond pleat, tuck&roll... that's a custom van build)

[frizzen]

How about we cut a window shutter, then grab some bamboo skewers, and sewing pins. Razor blade, file, little bit of glue...

Oh yeah, let's do an aluminum full-moon hupcap. Get some sucker to drink a big can of Monster with the screw cap, be a weirdo that asks for the cap or get out of trash, discard everything that's not a moon disk.

https://i.imgur.com/hCCw8Duh.jpg

Push the window in at the top, it pivots open and it holds open for ventilation without a prop rod. Push it closed and the inner sill stops it flush.

[Mustang46555]

That just is too cool! You nailed the style dead on! Can't wait to see it finished.
Just saw a 1:1 at the Fort Wayne RV show, like bigford said, crazy $$$ for the size.

Ah .... is the GVW of the bus up for a trailer? I'd sure hate to have to impound you again! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[skeeter]

frizzy, as ALWAYS, I'm loving your build

[frizzen]

Thanks again guys!
I'm really wanting to see just how far with details i can go with this little trailer.

https://web2.ph.utexas.edu/~yue/VW/VWBus.html
The real Type 2 should be good for an 1100 lb trailer. Now as to anybody actually *wanting* to drive a 60hp bus dragging 1100 lbs...
When i detail the vw engine bay i may need to go turbo instead of dual-carb.

[Mustang46555]

I'd go turbo for sure!
I remember in the very early 80's riding in a friends type 2. 6 adults in it and the wife and I were clear in the back headed to a Pizza Hut. I actually felt sorry for that poor little motor! All the way to Warsaw Jay was stirring the gearbox trying to keep the thing moving! It was like something out of a movie!

[frizzen]

Gotta have a door.
https://i.imgur.com/29LfTE6h.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/u7cv3CUh.jpg

That doesn't sound so bad, "After a while, it becomes automatic"

[Mustang46555]

Looking good! I like the dog!

[Hostile]

Great work frizz

[Wombii]

This is looking really good. Did you make those microscopic hinges yourself?

[frizzen]

Mustang you know how dogs are. "Get out of there, i need to take a pic.'' Nope, this is mine now.
Thanks hostile, it's going slow and styrene would have been so much easier than scale plywood.

I'm trying to decide on how i should do a window in the door, any thoughts?

Wombi, good to see you over here. Yeah, the hinges are scratch built from brass flat and tube, and a splash of solder. Once it's done the steel hinge pin will get cut down and crimped in. Suprisingly it wasn't as painful making these tiny hinges as getting leds into the Adam12 roof lights.

First thoughts involved plastic aileron hinge, copy the window hinge vertical, but those aren't right.
Plan A, solder tube to plate, make Z cut to seperate into leafs. Some day i might even find that part...
Plan 2, make L shapes from flat stock, solder on the smallest tube i can find, trim tube, file a lot until it looks and works ok. The hinges are mirrored so that the door is captive and can't lift off once pins are installed.

[skeeter]

These may work for you Frizzy. I forget the EXACT website I got them from, but it is posted in my thread somewhere with the free bling I got.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4600/27600650409_7d22f06ae7_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/J3YxLV)unnamed 123 (https://flic.kr/p/J3YxLV) by Anthony Kalnoski (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157093418@N06/), on Flickr

[frizzen]

Those would probably work really well.

I made it this far before i broke down and bought a part. 6-32 brass insert nut for the hitch jack. Caster is from a broken pot-metal scooter keyring i had.

https://i.imgur.com/QScSx9Lh.jpg

Cabinet detail is scrollsaw blade kerf, and sewing pins.

[Hostile]

That is genius Frizz! And its the perfect touch. Love it mate!

[frizzen]

Let's pose some random stuff to check scale.

I mean go camping.
https://i.imgur.com/yoI4SX6h.jpg

I'm probably not really doing ''RC Truck and Construction" right. Oh well.

[ittigger]

Very cool build! I'm a big VW fan too. :)

[Fury Fan]

Frizzen -
If you wanted a belly-pan frame for that, I could CNC one for you in 1/8" alum sheet.
You'd need to figure out how you wanted to mount the axle, but I could put some mtg hole in for brackets or something.
If you sent me a sketch of what you wanted and gave me a week or so.

[frizzen]

That's a tempting offer.
I was thinking this would just be a brass & wood home-made looking setup. 1940s Mechanix Illustrated plans didnt mention much cnc. A guy on another board made this observation: "I think the awesomeness comes from looking like "grandpa built the camper way back when... just after he finished the house dad grew up in." That's the feel I get from it - 2redrovers"

But since you've got the capability, i'd love to have a bumper-pull flatbed car / equipment trailer in 1/14. Something suitable for loading a bobcat, or a truck, or crane parts, or rocks, or pallet items on. Probably tandem axle, that doesn't look weird behind a little dumptruck.

[Fury Fan]

Send me a sketch somehow and we'll go from there!

[Hofabooz]

Hi Frizzen

Looking cool man looking cool.

[frizzen]

Thanks guys, glad ya think it's looking ok so far!

The sidewalls are both mounted, and started setting up wiring. Axle upgrade in work, 1/8" steel, brass bushing, eclip.

Let's try out those interior lights
https://i.imgur.com/ZECudt9h.jpg



So why haven't you gotten farther with it in 3 months?
https://i.imgur.com/Li5IKTHh.jpg

I shouldn't have listened to the guy on Scale4x4 when he said get you a guitar...
---
Might have found a WAY easier path to being the Slow Camper guy you're stuck behind...

https://fairfieldcollectibles.com/airstream-camper-metal-tissue-box-dispenser-1-16-scale-diecast-model-by-old-modern-handicraft.html

Or

https://fairfieldcollectibles.com/airstream-camper-metal-sculpture-diecast-model-by-old-modern-handicraft.html

[frizzen]

So how ARE you doing a trailer axle under this thing?

https://i.imgur.com/OgkZWU2h.jpg
Tires have bushings over axle, trailing arms are same size bushings, so everything can spin seperate. Springy thing out of a clicky pen. Still prototype phase. E clips hold tires outboard side, probably needs it inboard too.

https://i.imgur.com/F0Y2aLph.jpg
Looks about right. The coupler lower side was opened up to 5/32 for a light snap instead of a pry it off fit.

https://i.imgur.com/lFuaE2fh.jpg
Knocked the stiffener / screw hiders off the back of the pan and threw some brass together.

[frizzen]

https://i.imgur.com/hBsWMJrh.jpg
Added the 'closet doors' so they can use the nose storage area

Entry step on the frame
https://i.imgur.com/GrQ1WVWh.jpg

Also added a pair of porch lights, on the same circuit as the dome lights

Now if i can get a bunch pictures printed out and installed, i'll be about ready to skin the roof.

[Fury Fan]

Lookin' great!

[frizzen]

https://i.imgur.com/YRpweMSh.jpg

Uh, would you like a hand applying finish?

[frizzen]

Life keeps happening, so I still didn't get the pictures printed, so they aren't installed, so the roof can't go on before the meet...

Let's grab a 2 cell battery holder, 2 switches, 3 resistors and finally have it work self contained

Running lights.
https://i.imgur.com/IwUSgGJh.jpg

Dome and porch lights.
https://i.imgur.com/N3qkJtEh.jpg

Mount the door handle with latch
https://i.imgur.com/CFjAngVh.jpg

[skeeter]

Looking good, Frizzy

[frizzen]

Ya know when you make something months ago, then too much life happens...

https://i.imgur.com/Rz5qfMCh.jpg

Should be more comfortable now

[skeeter]

I know that feeling all too well.

[frizzen]

If i'm going to go out towing this on any more public roads, i better add in some more safety before the police notice and want to discuss things...

https://i.imgur.com/UboEtbEh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WLet6qxh.jpg
A jewlery thing (necklace spacer?), and some chain.

Now there's a magnet on bottom of the hitch drawbar. Snap the hitch together, stick the chains up and adjust slack. If i used 2 smaller weaker magnets i could do the chain cross better,

[Stuff]

wow! looks great! love the chains!

[skeeter]

The safety chains look awesome!

[frizzen]

Another RC meet, got parked next to a Tonka Winnebago.
https://i.imgur.com/rDWpN43h.jpg

Site fees at the campground weren't bad, but there were lots of trucks idling all night, construction equipment running first thing in the morning. Don't *even* get me started on the tractor pulls going on nearby!!!

[skeeter]

Great picture!