Teardrop Trailer
 

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-...railer-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...

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

Cool

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

Nice!

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

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

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)

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

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.

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

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!!!!!

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

frizzy, as ALWAYS, I'm loving your build

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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.

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

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!

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

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"

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

Looking good! I like the dog!

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Great work frizz

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

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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.

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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/...22f06ae7_z.jpgunnamed 123 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

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.

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

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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.

Re: Teardrop Trailer
 

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