I was an infantryman in Vietnam (101st Airborne) it read my team spent just over 330 days in the jungle out of 365 day tour. We used our sir mattresses as ground sheets as we couldn't blow them up...they squeaked when we moved around, We ate dehydrated food packets; Long Range Patrol or "LRP rations" (pronounced "lurp") ... (brown bits with white bits). Before my military Service we always went camping in Michigan from childhood on. Upon my return to the world a friend asked myself and another grunt if we'd like to go to "Iron Mountain" in the Michigan upper peninsula? He was just out of the Navy, sounded good until he said we were going to "Back Pack" ... Pass!!! I'm 73 years of age, own a great teardrop, I built, 5' X 8', that tear drop is the greatest camping idea. I have friends in the USA with massive/big motor homes. In Australia where I lived and retired, my 4 cylinder "Proton Jumbuck" Ute tows that trailer fine and gets great gas mileage. I built it with marine grade plywood, mostly 1/4 inch with 1 X 2 inner supports, 2 layers of fiberglass, plus 4 inch wide extra layer on all the corners. One comment; I grew up near the great lakes. there ar plenty of Marine Supply places, which is a great source of latches, brass screws and tons of accessories. Loved you videos ... be safe.
regarding the interior galley hatch light my solution was to pop the lenses off and spray them with VHT tail light spray. Red. They no longer are near as bright but bright enough to make a drink, grab some chips, whatever. The red light doesn't mess with your night vision and it doesn't seem to attract bugs either.
This is absolutely fantastic. I've designed a squaredrop build in FreeCAD (thank you everyone out there) to increase a little space for the galley and sleeping space. I want a thin cushy murphy pull out that can give a hang out space to eat and watch TV with a table inside. The trailer is sooooo key. Love all the little tips. You took many ideas where I needed to go to the next level before I start focusing on the frame. Thank you! I'm getting more motivate by the day. You rock!
I agree with the issues you have listed, especially not sleeping on the ground especially in wet weather. Took a teardrop, towed by a Jeep, from Arizona to Alaska through nearly constant rain - really great not having to get in a wet bed or worry about leaks. Also when returned to USA(Montana) had to replace the trailer tires as the teardrop axle had bent due to the frost heaves/off road use. I suspect weight of gear and trailer may have contributed to the bent axle which wore the trailer tires out on the inside edges. Had to replace the axle when we got home. Protective band on the front lower edge of the teardrop had significant damage due to the jeep tires throwing rocks into it.
I built one several years ago. I went with the canvas and paint exterior. Also used prebuilt doors like yours. I totally agree with the use of independent suspension. I used a Northern Tool trailer frame. It was a little flimsy and defiantly would use a stronger one. I would be a little more careful about how I placed it on the frame as it was a little tonge heavy and made it hard to move around off hitch. I placed the entry doors too high and it made it difficult for me to get in and out of. I put in lots of electrical, and didn't ever regret that. In face I put in an inverter to have some 110v for my sleep apnea machine. I sold it a couple of years ago and am really thinking about building another one. I did insulate mine pretty much the same as you did, never regretted that. First night on the road with it, it froze out side, I was as snug and warm inside as could be with no heat at all.
I just took on a project to help a friend repair/rebuild a 2012 Teardrop trailer that suffered a turning radius accident. The whole front driver's side was crushed. Thankfully, the frame and galley was unaffected. I've started watching a lot of videos and taking lots of notes. Thanks for sharing your experience. After all I've watched so far, no one ever talks about outfitting the inside with a mattress or foam pad. The trailer is complete and then all of a sudden they have a perfectly fit bed. Given there are various sizes, where do you get custom cushions?
Let some air out of your tyres as I suspect you are no where near the rated weight of your springs drop it a few psi each time and as for a bug free kitchen area get some yellow coloured film as the bugs don't see yellow and take a look at some of the aussie videos for some lighting tips Oh Tyres and Coloured are spelt the English way
Thank you. 10 yrs ago, I was looking at building a teardrop. Well, life happens and timing wasn't right. I really like your rig. The proportions of the your design is spot on. If find myself presently willing to entertain the idea building one. I used to backpack a lot too, and I agree with you about comfort. I'm going to check your page right now. Thank you.
Tipp: if your light is way too bright use some cheap masking tape or painters tape (Don't know the proper term) the paper color one it dampens the light significantly without the need to change the intensity or led. It's really good for head lamps too
I am going to build but my wife and I are both retired and I'll be 70 next March. I must incorporate some type of indoor toilet with shower for her. I'm thinking a larger tear drop. I think I will use aluminum tubing instead of wood for the frame. I do a lot of metal work for the farm. Thx Danny and Page I enjoyed the video
Currently building my teardrop. The biggest problem I’m dealing with is I ordered my torsion axle last October and have no clue when I’m going to get it. This is the first woodworking project I’ve ever done. Following Oregon Batman’s video/plan series. Just finished cabin wiring and about to insulate the top. Thank for the motivation! I would post a picture, but I don’t know how to do that.
Thankyou for some good information. Living in South Africa some of the things are a bit more difficult to get hold of but going to get going soon on my Build of a teardrop Camper.
Glad to have stumble on your site I am starting to develop frame plans for a 11ft 6 inches, that would be a walk in. I already have two trailer under my belt, a ten ft. and 14 ft.6 inch these days with gas prices soaring, your trailer is very interesting. enjoy your camping
Very valuable and helpful information. Thanks for sharing. Funny how virtually no one's phone has buttons anymore and a glass screen, yet we're encouraged to "smash" the like "button". Safe and happy travels to you both.
I was looking around at stand-in trailers like the Scamp and thought they were a little pricey. I looked at small Airstreams on line and was just amazed. Really$$$ Fine video that you two made and has me interested a home made teardrop. Thanks! 4
Tip 0: buy the plans now Tips 8,9,10: buy the plans NOW! As a family who enjoys the outdoors, loves to DIY, and has two kids … the one thing we are (patiently) waiting for are the plans for the 5x10 with the bunks ;). Then we’re off to the races on the build. Looking forward to it!
My biggest mistake was not sealing the bottom of the sides with epoxy. I had a water intrusion which required replacing about 10" of the lower left side. Luckily before the repair it had just a varnish finish so I could see the rot starting. It was just a matter of being in too much of a hurry. I have about 25,000 miles on it. It is built on a HF 2000# folding trailer. If I were doing it again I would move the axle location further aft and go with 13 or 14" wheels for better ground clearance. . With the small tires things do get jostled around when you travel on backroads.
I built a square drop and I would have done a few things differently. First I used an old Jetski Trailer as the base, which puts the axel about 1 foot too far forward and limits the amount of weight I can put in the galley (no Icechest). Second I built it specifically with a space for my Dog to sleep that was not directly in the cabin area to avoid getting it excessively dirty, so there is a large pass through window in the galley that is the same size as my dogs crate where she sleeps. I would build a box on the tongue that has a pass through channel to the cabin for my dog. Finally I would not have used Filon as the siding material, it warps in the heat and cold no matter what you do, so when it gets hot you get that ripple texture on the sides and it makes the trailer look a little less professional. I would either use aluminum or bite the bullet and wrap the whole thing in Fiberglass as it would ensure no leaks and strengthen the entire thing.
Thanks for your input! I'll be using it on my build... My 'DIY effort' is a tiny cargo/camper conversion. My 'food prep' is a folding table under the awning. Future Rear galley will be part of a 'room' that bolts to the ramp. I've considered axle/suspension/elec brakes, etc. My 3500# axle has stiff leaf springs! Also, my little Scion tow vehicle may need help stopping all this in the rain.
just trying to learn, too broke to officially start yet. not been camping in many years, but I traveled a lot of the country by motorcycle in my youth, and camped while traveling, but missed most, as I was an alcoholic then, blasted hours non stop, slept under tarps many times, attached to my old Harley, and missed the beauty this country has to offer. now wanting to do traveling in future, but want to be able to pull with small car, or truck, so want lightweight camper. I am qualified to build frame, I built hundreds of trailer frames, from cargo, utility, to car trailers, but never a camper. I do agree on axle choice, but for some people an air bag may be better? but off road, you are totally correct, no chance of puncturing an airbag off road if you use a torsion axle. will want an awning on side, porta potty inside, with a privacy curtain, plus a table to eat on, on rainy days. next, not sure how much battery capacity you use? and didnt see solar? plus need place for 2 propane tanks, 1 for use, 1 for backup, with propane stove top. and heat when needed.
That’s a great video. Getting off the ground was very important to us. We were tent camping at pedernales state park when in the middle of the night a raccoon got into the tent. I didn’t zip it up all the way. That thing freaked out running all over the tent. We freaked out because we didn’t know exactly what it was at first. It was pretty dramatic for about 30 seconds. On the way home my wife said that’s the end of tent camping for us. And the timbren axles they are hands down the way to go. Smooth and quiet. I built a new trailer for our teardrop about a year ago and and have been very pleased with their product. Y’all are making some awesome videos that are extremely informative. Thank you for posting.
LOL Paige and I are cracking up! I apologize but thats a great story. Imagine if that happened and you had a dog with you! So that experience led you to the teardrop life? It's a pretty amazing upgrade isn't it?
You guys Have Done It! The Modern Minimalist American Dream! You built your Own Tear Drop! I have tremendous admiration for your fortitude and collective ingenuity. Question: What is the particular Technique did you use to Bend and shape the Galley Wood Door? Thanks
Excellent work. I think we all want a little longer once we hit those limitations. I am personally not a fan of the "base camp" style of camper and always want to maximize interior space over exterior accessible tables and tools, but realize I'm in the minority as this kind of camper seems popular now especially with the off road crowd, and if you don't have a pickup then that would be a good place to work at camp.
With all of the portable electronics & rechargeable power stations, why install a somewhat dedicated and permanent power & charging systems into a teardrop? We decided not to install as the portable elements can be moved to a vehicle, tent, or even our home as a backup. What even pushed us more towards a mobile component system is the tech is changing so fast these days.
You two are awesome, I am looking to do something similar but include a small “back porch” to haul my Dirtbike, but then enjoy as a porch or portable shower once at camp. My only concern is weight distribution. The bike is about 240lbs, so I don’t want the thing to start wagging all over the place. Had that happen with a 27 ft travel trailer years ago.. No fun😳
My 4x6 cargo/camper conversion has a rear ramp and doubles as a toy hauler, I added a 48"x58" front deck for a second bike and the 4' tongue extension cured all trailer sway! My 'back porch' will haul generator, water and other heavy stuff if the deck is loaded. Otherwise, I can load more gear up front. Hope this helps
It is good to also consider that on the back of trailer, whatever you put back there (besides the weight distribution) will also feel a lot of the affects from bouncing, etc.... the tail will wag the dog, lol. Hence why strongly recommend putting bikes and such on front of trailer if possible
I am planning to build a teardrop camper coming up soon but I have a few things challenging me. First thing is custom frame or a utility trailer and cutting the rails off, second thing is obviously storage space. I don’t want to clutter the galley or cabin with things like fishing gear, a slack line, etc. Third thing is I plan to make mine out of fiberglass, that’s the biggest thing to figure out. Everything is just on paper at this point but I’m doing countless revisions to make sure I get what I want in the end
You’re doing it right. Take your time planning and designing what works best for you. Do you have the equipment to weld the frame yourself? We do sell our trailer frames if you are in the area. Do you plan to fiberglass around a wood structure?
@@WanderTears I do have the equipment to weld a frame, I have just never welded a project of that size. I’m in southern Nevada, not sure if that’s anywhere near your area. I want to try to use as minimal wood as possible since wood can warp with moisture and I plan to take it in many different climates. I was going to make fiberglass molds for each panel and use aluminum to frame the walls of the trailer.
Northern tool makes a nice kit trailer without sides just upgrade the shit tires they give ya with it (not harbor freight ! ) if you want to keep weight down fiberglass isn't the way except for the siding that's called filon. I used weldwood red contact cement to attach and it worked great. If you use sealants wood is fine but use rv sealants like pro flex and dicor not home depot silicone it won't stick and doesn't last
Look for an Australian bloke named Daryl Sheather he built a square drop for his jeep all the way down under and explained the build process and the reason for using which silicones and which adhesives and sheet materials good build videos
Ok. This might be a bad question, but I noticed that if one had anything loaded on the roof rack, the vent fan opening up would bump into whatever you had loaded. Any comments appreciated. :)
4:01 Maybe your leaf spring are too stiff? A torsion axle too stiff will not solve your problems. A properly sized torsion (or leaf or coil or airbag) would be an improvement to a trailer that is over-sprung. Longer leaf pack with more leaves might be nice too, they can be a bit more progressive
The leafs springs were definitely too stiff. We have switched to 2000lb leafs But the Timbren and Torsion absorb bumpy roads much better than the springs do.
@@WanderTears Do you think that 2000 lbs leafs are more bumpy than 2000 lbs torsion? Is the main advantage of timbren the dampening provided by the rubber?
Is it possible to get softer leaves made..? The rubber torsion sort will get worn quickly and then the tracking will not be straight so issues from tyre scrubbing will occur. No experience with tuther version. 🤔
I disagree with the immediate jump to independent suspension (I call it "ITS") from typical trailer leaf springs in pursuit of a softer ride. As I frequently point out on a trailer sub-forum, people are not riding in the trailer (at least I hope not!), once you've stopped foaming the beer and breaking the eggs do you really need it to ride any softer? You are correct that typical trailer leaf springs are very stiff. They are made that way so that ride height does not change much regardless of the loading. Being that stiff they are also not really in need of a damper. By using different leaf springs you can achieve a softer ride. This will require fabrication skills and they will also require dampers (AKA "shock absorbers"). Ultimately leaf springs suffer from a fairly high level of internal friction. There are tricks to reduce that, but I can't see the effort being worth it on a trailer. But you CAN achieve a supple ride on a trailer by using leaf springs that are longer and not made for trailers. Jeep YJ springs are one semi-frequently used application. A downside to ITS systems can be nearly unsolvable camber and toe adjustment problems. Some designs seem to work well, others are a never-ending battle. They could, but I've never seen a Torflex have this problem, but lots of home built ITS systems do. It was a battle that Adventure Trailer fought with their design. Holding tight tolerances with their design in production proved to be difficult. Torflex axles really, really need dampers for wash-board roads. They're fine as-is when mostly used on pavement, but when camp is multiple tens of miles down a wash-board road the rubber in the axle is working as a spring and a damper. That gets it really hot. Potentially hot enough to pull the vulcanizing loose. Just don't go there, add a damper at each tire. They're designed to radiate the heat generated into the air. That is what they do. Our little off-road tent trailer has 1000's of miles over wash-board roads under it's belt, all logged with dampers on it's Torflex axle. No experience with the Timbrens, but from looking at them I think that they too will greatly benefit from adding dampers. I once towed our little off-road trailer about 300 miles with 5 psi in it's then 33-12.50R15 tires. I could not tell and it made no noticeable impact on fuel economy. The tires weren't even warm over the duration of the trip (I put a hand on them at every stop). The point is that a light trailer on big tires doesn't need 50 psi in the tires. Finding an appropriate lower tire pressure can make a big difference in the ride quality.
You two are awesome and cannot wait to get started upon my trailer; with your inspiration I declare this is the year. Cannot wait to share and hope to see you out on the road. Cheers!!
Ive done some research along with comparison trail rides with friends offgrid trailer with the timbren axle and the independent suspension bounces and really has not proved any better than my leaf spring trailer with how light these trailers
Seriously considering building an Overland Camper, but my truck is already built out with drawers/storage/cooking so only benefit it would add is sleeping more comfortably. Wondering if that’s worth the limitations it’s going to cause on where we can go….
I have some questions: * how to change clothes inside the mini-camper. * how much space is there for the two inside. * and is it comfortable to make love or do you have to be creative. * How about the heat, do they use a/c or just let the wind pass.
It is a queen size mattress. So for the first 3 questions imagine a boxed in queen mattress. And for the last, we don’t need AC because you aren’t in there during the day. A vent fan works well.
Here is your script: Danny: Hello, I'm Danny Paige: Hi, I'm Paige Danny and Paige: And we're Wander Tears! See, that wasn't so hard. I just liked and subscribed. BTW, you two are cute, awesome and cute together.
Curious question on the decision to go with the traditional tear drop design vs a square drop design. Was that decision the two of you made or you never considered a square drop design?
I am curious as to the total cost of this tear drop when done. I see the cost of some of the store bought ones and no thanks. Also i see the different styles, which is the most efficient to pull. I would have to guess the tear drop style. And the others less efficient but more space trade off. Thanks to you both. A very interesting build to watch.
Yeah you could spend $4000-$10k on a diy teardrop. Our teardrop shape led camper cost around 6k but that was in early 2020. Prices have changed. Looking around 7k or so. It can be done for way less with some resourcefulness and patience.
I’m currently building a very rough “Square Drop/toy Hauler” as a 5x8. Kinda a cool concept that I’m surprised I’ve never seen done before. I wanted the ability to take a small motorcycle (Honda Trail 125) with me but still have a small camper that could in theory be towed by a Honda Civic. Anyway I’m thinking of going more rustic and not even running tons of electrical but just using LED battery lights and extension cord with Jackery 1000 and solar panels. Thoughts?
My 'DIY effort' is a 4x6 tiny cargo/camper conversion. It has a rear ramp and doubles as a toy hauler, I added a 48"x58" front deck for a second bike and the 4' tongue extension cured all trailer sway. Future Rear galley will be part of a 'room' that bolts to the ramp. I've considered axle/suspension/elec brakes, etc. My 3500# axle has stiff leaf springs that I may change! Also, my little Scion tow vehicle may need help stopping all this in the rain. So far I added a/c, roof rack, awning, TV, AM/FM-CD/DVD player, Solar panel, inverter, and furniture...
I have done a lot of research on making a teardrop camper. One of the guys I watched said/showed that the timbren axle off road wash boards will destroy themselves relatively quickly. Torsion axle maybe good, I have no research on that....As for the Solid Axle, do you have shocks on it?
@@WanderTears Do it! It will change how it rides a lot! You will still have the issue of the clearance in the middle but I doubt many trails that a teardrop is going on is running into that problem. If you have onboard air maybe a air shock to help with weight and the off camber stuff....
I'm constantly wondering why people don't build their tear drop campers over the wheel arches? So then to have fold up timber boards on the side so as to manage items better Inside the camper as well as giving you a few extra feet in the galley?
I'm new here but just wondering.... It 's made with Plywood but what kind? Are they using marine grade and something like the West system or just epoxy over fiberglass....???
My most challenging part is i'm Not a Carpenter Or a Electrician !! I'm a Welder ! (Retired Navy Hull Tech)I can weld up the Crack of Dawn an a Broken Heart 🤣 But Not a master with wood! I built the trailer already Guaranteed Not to brake !! 2"x3" C channel.. #3500lb. 5on5 lug pattern to match my jeep brake axle ( Under the springs) an 285x70 17's off a Jeep ( Love Facebook Marketplace) AND i Don't have a Sweet Wife To Help 😉.. Keep the ideas Comin !!
May I ask you how much the materials cost is ....ballpark. I am 73 and just can't set up and break down a campsite everyday and sleeping on the ground is becoming a problem. Wife hates camping, so I solo all over the states.
These make camping so much more enjoyable. To set up, tear down or drying out your tent. Costs are fluctuating as you can imagine but it remains worth it!
I did not realize people built these. Seems like the cost would be higher than those that can be mass produced. Wonder what kind of tooling is required and if anything special required, other than skill!
I want to build a tear drop trailor max weight 600lb. I need galley and a cartridge toilet would like a foldable double bed, couch durring the day. I will pull it with my 2019 Harley triglide Ultra. Need help.
All these tear drop builds put the cabinetry where the bulk of the weight is, in the back of the camper instead of the tongue side. Why? That means to tow it safely you have to store your supplies on the bed. It's like every teardrop build has a galley in the rear, this is a mistake.
Could you built a little awning (not sure what it’s called in the US) to go over the side and/or the back? Or is it just not worth the effort if you’re moving on every couple of days?
Ok I might be wrong but I gotta ask , did you build a Toyota motorhome with your dad n post videos on here under another name if not you look just like the dude that did. But anyway my real question is with your siding did you have issues with bubbling in direct sun ? I used filon and my back wall bubbles in sun but sides are fine it's really weird
Haha no that wasn't me. we haven't had any issues with the bubbling or warping in the sun. We try to give it space to flex against the wood, and it seems to be working!
The space inside is about 79” long. We’ve had a 6’5” guy lay in one of ours and he said it was fine because he sleeps on his side. So I guess it depends.