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Thread: "Old Man's Toy" offroad teardrop trailer

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Loveland, Colorado
    Posts
    61

    Default "Old Man's Toy" offroad teardrop trailer

    While the design isn't purely a teardrop shape, I got my inspiration from teardrops from years gone by. Let me introduce myself; my name is Tom Houston and I am a engineeri by trade. My obsession has to do with Jeep Cherokee's and rock crawling and expeditions. Here is a pix of my tow vehicle.

    ExpoRig.jpg

    I've been collecting pieces and parts for a couple of years. The design consists of a custom designed steel trailer sprung with airbags, using a one link suspension configuration with a track bar. Here is a pix of the base parts laid out so I could visualize where to start.

    PartsLayout-Copy.jpg

    I originally picked up a used drop axle with the plan to flip it for more ground clearance. While this would have worked, the trailer ended up being a bit too tall.

    TrailerBrake.jpg
    Last edited by old_man; 05-07-2012 at 02:15 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Loveland, Colorado
    Posts
    61
    I ended up buying a set of spindles and a piece of 2x2x.25 tubing and welding up my own axle. I milled out a square plate and welded it on the axle to hold the brakes. I sandblasted all the brake parts, painted them with caliper paint and assembled the axle.

    On a project of this type, it is important to get everything square, so I used one of these.

    WeldingCorners.jpg

    Here are a few pix of the frame as things progressed.

    DSC_0077.jpg

    DSC_0083.jpg

    DSC_0081.jpg

    DSC_0085.jpg

    DSC_0079.jpg

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Da Burg.
    Posts
    583
    Perdy slick, yet simple suspension set up. I dig it.
    Highlandercj-7

    "If you don't stand behind our troops, Feel free to stand in front of them"

    ...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.'
    Theodore Roosevelt 1907

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Loveland, Colorado
    Posts
    61
    Once the base frame was finished, I needed to generate the curved rails for the design. Being a design engineer, I whipped up a home brew bender. I snagged a round tabletop bland from Lowes. It is 24" across and has a beveled edge. I cut a 2" slot in the table top to allow inserting a 1x2 rod as a bending handle. I cut some scrap OSB and nailed and glued it to both sides to provide a guide to keep the tubing centered.

    DSC_0015.jpg

    DSC_0014.jpg

    DSC_0013.jpg

    The biggest problem is figuring out your bend allowance and where to start the bend in order to get it to finish up where you want it. As in most design, trial and error is the norm.

    Here are some pix of how the trailer sets as of now. I ran out of steel on the weekend and I need to replinish the build fund so I can go buy some more.

    DSC_0018.jpg

    DSC_0021.jpg

    I ran out of time this weekend to finish the hitch. It is a vibration isolating fully articulating design based on one I did about 45 years ago on the farm.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    2,035
    Looks good! Great idea on the home made bender, the curves turned out great!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Clark, Wyoming
    Posts
    370
    I have to say I like it and am impressed.
    JK 2dr rubi Garage
    2000 F350 CC LWB 7.3 4x4
    2003 F550 6.0 4x4
    2006 R1
    1999 35' 5th wheel RV

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Batesville, Indiana
    Posts
    519
    NIcely Done!
    2006 Trailblazer 4.10s locked 14 bolt Sliders Skids Bumpers Tire Carrier Roof Rack 35's PIAA's Winch Tuned I6 300HP 2.7:1 TC

    http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...06+trailblazer

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Loveland, Colorado
    Posts
    61
    Thanks for the compliments guys. I started fabricating on the farm about 50 years ago and on a different scale do it for a living. I just couldn't bring myself to put a HF chassis under something I was building. Everybody runs 31's on their trailer, right?

    I do some pretty hardcore rock crawling and wanted something that could hold up to some serious abuse. I work in both metal and wood, but as it turns out, the wood ends up being heavier and not as strong. My wife calls me a pain in the *** perfectionist, but then in the same breath says, but you do a nice job, like there is no linking of the two.
    Tom Houston - Past NAXJA Colorado Chapter President - Past National NAXJA President
    Loveland, Colorado
    My Teardrop Build http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ardrop-trailer

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    2,035
    I am inpressed! Keep us posted on the build.
    What brand of corner jig are you useing?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Clark, Wyoming
    Posts
    370
    Quote Originally Posted by old_man View Post
    Everybody runs 31's on their trailer, right?
    I always liked the idea of having matching tires/wheels to the vic. Just makes sense. I run 35" on my trailer but now that I am stepping up to 37s on the jeep I find myself in a dilemma. I guess I'll use the small 35" trailer tires like a bicycle spare tires they put in some vics. Between the air compressor, tire plug kit, jeep spare, and open diffs (if they are not locked) I'll get by

    Quote Originally Posted by old_man View Post
    My wife calls me a pain in the *** perfectionist, but then in the same breath says, but you do a nice job, like there is no linking of the two.
    I understand....
    JK 2dr rubi Garage
    2000 F350 CC LWB 7.3 4x4
    2003 F550 6.0 4x4
    2006 R1
    1999 35' 5th wheel RV

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