Teardrops & Tiny Travel Trailers

[Wolffarmer]

I think if that frame ever comes apart. You will have other things on your mind.



Looks mighty fine to me.

Randy
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[pete.wilson]

Hey

I'm no frame expert by any means but should'nt the A-frame have a rear cross member and another maybe towards the front of where the tear body meets the frame to help with twisting motions? I realize that is deminished once the body of the tear is bolted down, but I would trust steel frame members over the wood body. As it is, your relying a lot on the welds of just the axle to resist the flexing motion of those long side rails. Other than that, it's a great looking and relatively simple trailer. Is this correct?

Pete Wilson
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[Corwin C]

[BigAl]

It's taken me a while due to other commitments, but the remedial work has taken place.

Every weld has been rewelded, and as an extra precaution a 1 1/2" steel strap has been wrapped around the stub axle and cross member and this too has been welded in place.

Just for my peace of mind I also added a "breakaway" cable. If the bolts and welds and steel strap should fail, the stub axle and wheel assembly might at least stay with the vehicle and not bounce into oncoming traffic.

Overkill perhaps, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

This picture was taken underneath the trailer...


This picture is annotated...

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Kind Regards, BigAl.

Build Journal

[emiller]

I think another thing some over look is that axles torsion or leaf are rated as a pair. 2000# axles means each axle will handle 1000#. On a torsion axle if your trailer weighs 1200#'s there is the chance of over stressing the axle because the torsion axles cant equalize the weight like sprung leaf spring axles. You need to make sure you get the proper size torsion axles to handle the weight. Not saying you will be driving on two wheels all the time but if you have pot holes like we have here in the States. On my first tear it was a 5x10 with 2000# axle from Northern Tool and both sides bent in at the top so I replaced it with a 3500# axle and 2000# springs. I think the same happened to Outback Teardrop. I think in your case the weld broke do to bad weld job. The metal should tear before a weld breaks.

[pete42]

[Ratkity]

I'm glad you have everything fixed and now have peace of mind that things are gonna stay together!

Time to go CAMPING!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[afreegreek]

I never liked the look of those stub axles.. your situation is exactly what I've always seen as the reason to stay away from stubbies. personally, I'd never use them, a full width axle is so much better in every way.. I also like thru-bolts or U-bolts over welds..

[bve]

No offense but those screw clamps aren't going to hold squat, and I hope they never get tested.


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[asianflava]

[afreegreek]

cable splicing isn't hard to learn.. there's plenty of websites that have well illustrated step by step procedures.. I used to be a logger and had to learn.. it took me about 3 or 4 splices to catch on.. we used 'Marlin spikes' about 30 inches long but we were working with real cable.. you could easily use a big straight blade screwdriver for little cable..

here's two methods.. the first can be done when you need the eye through something.. the second won't work like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBlvFRDHdgM

[eamarquardt]

[BigAl]

I have also added two of these per stub axle. Four in total.

They clamp the stub axles to the crossmember.



I tried to locally source U clamps that were large enough without success.

The straps are 1" x 1/4". Both the bolts and straps are galvanised.

I also take on bve's point about the screw clamps (without offense) ;).

I tried to buy the correct wire rope fastners, but they were out of stock. I will buy them online and not rely on those little screw clamps.
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Kind Regards, BigAl.

Build Journal

[Larry C]

[BigAl]

Hi Larry, Thanks for your advice. The original welds failed due to lack of penetration.

The guy who originally did them used one of those smaller MIG welders.

When I had the welds redone, the workshop that rewelded them did so with a larger and much more powerful unit. As a result the welds are much thicker, and hopefully stronger.
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Kind Regards, BigAl.

Build Journal