old_man's Offroad Teardrop Trailer Build Thread

[KaiZR2]

Amazing build old_man, the ingenuity is something of an art form, very inspired to build my own!

 

[price.7117]

Great build! Love the ingenuity of the tube bender (among other things)!

 

[Dilldog]

Very cool build, gives me lots of ideas.
Also on your heater what brand is it? If its an Esbar and you run into any problems hit me up. The trucking fleet I used to work for ran them, so I have a fair bit of experience with them.

 

[Overland Commander]

as discussed

 

[Overland Commander]

exterior

 

[Jeepgirl69]

Tons of people have asked. So here it is. I itemized the cost of all the materials. It turns out that I spent around $5k including everything. I fabricated everything instead of building premade. I even did the 4 trailer jacks.

Very talented man, awesome build

 

[PNW EXPLR]

I enjoyed reading this. I really appreciate how your mind works to create a solution. Great looking trailer.

 

[Rubinot06]

Amazing build sir!!! I am inspired to build one (though likely not as clean yours)

 

[mr._shafer_sir]

nice build

 

[Billiebob]

Incredible build, I'm fascinated with the frame, suspension and the teardrop is flawless.
Great unit, I'd love to camp next to you.

Incredible paint too.

 

[NJ5]

Old_man, please let everyone know if/when you've got the plans or kits available!

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I never get tired of looking back on your builds. Knowing how much trouble you had with your knees over the years makes what you have done even greater.
I hope your most recent surgery has helped you deal with it.

 

[Jim SoG]

I love the entire package, rig and trailer........sighs with a far off dreamy look.............

 

[Msfitoy]

Beautiful build...I'm inspired to do the same...

 

[Krazyjohnny]

Great job. I am sure you thought about pie cutting the tubing to get your bends. The suspension is really great. There was a guy years ago out of NW Arkansas named Soni Honneger (sp?) who built an crawler they called the Scorpion that had a similar suspension except the airbag was at the center pivot.

 

[old_man]

I am a mechanical engineer and tool and die maker from way back. I built a tool to bend the tubing. I have air/hydraulic benders for the big stuff and small radius but a big radius presents other issues. It worked perfectly.

How do you keep the trailer from tipping from side to side with a single airbag? A sway bar?

 

[Krazyjohnny]

He has a panhard to keep the axle in place and airbags on each side of the axle of the trailer with shocks.

 

[old_man]

Just doing an update/mod on the trailer. The people who were aghast that I was running 31" tires on the trailer are going to flip out now. I replaced the brake drums on my 3500# axles with the same lug pattern as my jeep to keep from having to have two spares. My trailer is now on 35x12.50x15 BFG ATs. I had to change out the fender flares for a bigger one to clear the tires. I should have some pix up in a day or two.

 

[smritte]

What was your old pattern? I'm assuming your Cherokee is 5X4.5.
I need to do the same for my M-100. I had it set to my TJ, now with my Cruiser I have six lug. Too bad that means new rims for the trailer too.

 

[old_man]

Just finished up converting the teardrop to run matching tires to the Jeep. It is on 35x12.5's as well. The XJ is running Ford pattern axles 5x5.5". Hope to post up some pix in a day or two.