HELLO FOLKS, ANY ONE OUT THE PULLING A TEARDROP CAMPER. I'M THINKING OF BUILDING ONE AROUND 4'X7'X40" HIGH. PROBABLY AROUND 300 LBS. MY BIKE IS A 93 FLHT WITH A 107" S&S MOTOR WITH A LIBERTY SIDECAR. ANY INPUT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK'S, JOE
I always enjoyed looking at the pic of this one, myself. Used to have more, but Lord only knows which disc they are on.
I believe this was from a French motorcycle site linked at http://www.pashnit.com/bikes/sidecar.htm
Here's someone's concept from 1936. No sidecar, interesting concept...
Also no mirrors. No traffic in those days?
Originally written by JOECAPY on 10/6/2008 3:12 AM
HELLO FOLKS, ANY ONE OUT THE PULLING A TEARDROP CAMPER. I'M THINKING OF BUILDING ONE AROUND 4'X7'X40" HIGH. PROBABLY AROUND 300 LBS. MY BIKE IS A 93 FLHT WITH A 107" S&S MOTOR WITH A LIBERTY SIDECAR. ANY INPUT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK'S, JOE
I'll be watching this with interest. Had the very same idea myself, but was put off by some very exotic homemade job's. Far exeeding my skill's (and probably the power or lack of, of my outfit).
Safe riding Karl.
THE TEARDROP I AM THINKING ABOUT IS REAL SIMPLE TO BUILD, YOU CAN SEE THE PLANS ON EBAY. BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE FRONT A LITTLE MORE AIRODYNAMIC LIKE A V NOSE TRAILER.
Perhap's turning the whole thing around would create less frontal drag? Sure look's simpler to do than the one's I've seen. Is there any info on the frame build of the teardrop?
Safe riding Karl.
http://www.oldwoodies.com/shoptalk-trailer.htm
You might need to play with dimensions. :0)
Joe, I built a camper from the plans you are looking at on ebay. The only modification I made was to make it 48 inches instead 40 inches at the highest point. I made it to tow behind my Ural and it pulled it well. Unfortunately, my Ural experienced a firey end is no longer with us. I just had a Texas Sidecar installed on my Bandit 1200S along with a trailer hitch so I will have something to tow it with. It will tow much better with the Bandit. Pictures of the build are posted under Grove tear drop camper on the Wagner web site. Try the following link: http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/wagnerscycle/photos/browse/d6a1
It was an easy build or I would never have tried it as my wood working skills are very poor to say the least. I figure I had about $750 in it by the time I was done. It is basically a one person unit if you are large. I'm six foot two and weigh about 230. It would work well for two smaller people. Realize it is just one step up from tent camping. You are of the ground, dry, and don't have to put up and take down a tent. You also have plenty of room to haul your gear. Now that I have my Bandit set up for it, I will use it this coming weekend for going to the Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Barber Motorsports complex and Museum in Birgingham.
Joe Grove
Jonesboro, AR
Darn, I had gone to Wagner's to find the pics and all, but I guess I either overlooked them or they were moved to the new photo site albums. I couldn't remember who it was that had done up the article and pics about the trailer build, and I couldn't find anything in searching the archives at Russian Iron or IMZ. I am glad you posted the link and your message, as I was beginning to doubt myself that I had ever seen such.
I have to admit that I'd suspect that there would be a slight improvement in handling characteristics and wind drag if the trailer was reversed. However, tongue weight and how the things inside the camper when loaded may all negate such. Let alone, how it rested when not attached to the motorcycle.
Thanks for the posting on this teardrop trailer. You indicated you had used Ebay plans? Also, which HF small triler did you use? They have about three different ones at their website and your's looks as if it was the smallest. I didn't recall where you had posted your original written report about the trailer build; not just the pictures of it. I had searched here and at IMZ, Soviet Steeds and Russian Iron, but probably used the wrong search terms in trying to locate the actual written report. Where had you posted your original written report?
Nice trailer and it looks to be a fun project. If anyone is interested, you can look up Wander Pup as a search on Google, and there are pdf files you can download for free. I believe this may save you the $60 bucks plus shipping on the Ebay plans. Your local library may even have a Popular Science or Popular Mechanics magazine that has articles on such.
I used the HF trailer #42708-IVGA which is listed at $239. I happened to get it when it was on sale for $130.
Joe Grove
Thanks for the reply. Didn't you do a lengthy report at one of the websites? Not just pictures, but sort of explaining it as well? I was thinking you had, but I just coldn't find your post, if so.
JOE ,I WOULD SURE LIKE TO SEE SOME PICTURES OF YOUR CAMPER, AND THE FLOOR SUB STRUCTURE. THE TRAILOR IS 40" X 48" , HOW DID YOU GET THE FLOOR TO BE LONGER THAN 48" ? THANK'S, JOE
Pat and Joe, I don't think I did a longer report, just the pictures I posted on Wagner's site. The floor is 3/4 inch plywood and sticks beyond the frame in the front and back. The floor, front, and back, are all made from the same sheet of plywood. If you are thinking of making one, the plans are worth the $25, if for no other reason, he includes contact points for all the suppliers.
Joe Grove
Thanks, I hadn't found any lengthy written report, so I guess I must have dreamed that one for some reason.
Although I was familiar with teardrop trailers, I hadn't see these ATV pull-behind trailers before. I found this one on Ebay while searching for motorcycle trailers. It looked interesting and certainly unique. Too high a price for my pocketbook to handle for a new one, but not so terrible for a used one. No ski areas per sey in my part of the country, but this could be easily converted for holding additional gear and going camping.
Anyone have any experience with such. I was thinking that the smaller tires could also be swapped out on this trailer, but who knows?
