Let's talk Teardrop Trailers

I tow a 2022 Tab400 BD with a 2015 V6 Pre-runner with Factory tow package. I have added auto zone helper springs and replaced the factory aux trans cooler with a bigger cooler. I also added a scanguage to monitor trans temp when towing. On our last trip I went to a cat scale for the following details. Trailer wt 3340# loaded for two week trip, tongue wt 380# with Anderson wt dist and anti sway setup, truck wt 4680# with 2 mt bikes and other gear and two passengers. On our 1895mile trip from Ohio to South Carolina and back. We averaged 14mpg going 55 to 60 mph. Driving mostly in 4th gear and some in D when on the flats. Trans pan temp averaged around 165f and up to 190f in mt., mpg dropped to 13mpg in mts. Rpm in 4th averaged around 2400rpms.I also added extension mirrors, to factory mirrors.

 

2018 intech luna. 1730lb dry weight

I haven't towed it yet with my taco yet but my 2dr 6mt jeep towed it just fine. Once out of the mountains I would still get over 18mpg on the highway running on 285/75/17s.

 

Bought this vistibule teardrop in late October, used, camped one weekend and winterized it. Now it sits under 10 inches of snow. Can not wait for spring.
We are thinking of starting a quest to hit all the national parks.

 

I went through this thread pretty quickly and may have missed something, but does anyone have any information or review of Timberleaf trailers?
Btw, so many great trailers…subscribed.

 

Price and website please.

 

New are 30 thousand used 25. I got mine for 22 as it was a little beat up. For the
Web site Google Vestibule trailers.

 

Prices have really climbed up in the past several years.

 

I posted a few years ago about our teardrop and 2014 Tacoma base model 5-lug. When we started towing the teardrop, I was meticulous about shifting from D down to 3 for highway speeds. The update after a few years is, this has been working great. Except I found out my wife has taken a few trips to the hill country and Dallas without remembering to downshift it. Seems to have had no ill effect on anything. I will continue to use 3 rather than D because I don't think the 2.7L engine has enough fire to drive comfortably in the top gear.

I'd love any advice on this next question - I am contemplating an axle upgrade on the teardrop. The whole thing weighs less than 1000 lbs, but I don't like the look of the folded C-channel axle and the puny 18" tires that came with it. It already has an upgraded tongue. I went to the nearby trailer parts place, and they quoted me about $580 for a 3000 lb axle, complete with leaf springs and 13" wheels and tires. That sounds great to me, I guess, possibly overkill for a 1000 lb trailer but it's the smallest one they sell. Then the next step is going to be finding a trusted and licensed welder to put this on there, I suppose. Any thoughts on all that?

 

I don't see any issues with your plan, I do have a couple things to think about. See if the trailer parts place will sell you the axle with a lighter spring pack. 3000 is a bit overkill for a 1000lb trailer and it will ride very stiff unless you bring at least 1500lbs of "stuff" camping with you. Another idea is to go with the longest leaf spring pack that they offer, with the most leaves. My 3500lb pack came with four leaves and I removed one to make it less stiff on my 1600lb trailer. Longer leaves will be smoother than shorter leaves.

Additionally, if possible it might be worth looking into shock absorbers. They help quite a bit, even at the weird angle that you need to run them at to fit under the trailer. I used some short Monroe ones, part number 5752, which turns out is for older VW buses, but it was the shortest shock absorber that NAPA had in stock. It would likely take a bit more fabrication work to make them fit, you'll want to reinforce the frame, but it's a modification that I think is worth the trouble.

 

The prices on these blow me away. A coworker of mine built one on a 5x10 trailer he bought at Home Depot, I feel like he had less than 5K in it, total.

 

Sounds like a good plan.

I would opt for 14" or 15" tires, depending what you can make fit. A taller tire spins slower than a short one, putting less wear on the wheel bearings and grease.

As mentioned, springs for a 3000 lb axle will not flex with the light load of the teardrop. You can use those springs, just pull out one or two leaves (experiment to see which configuration works best.)

What needs to be welded? The spring pads to the axle? That is an easy weld - be sure to measure twice.

 

You can find bare bones commercial built ones in the neighborhood of $7K. Fancier ones obviously get much more. I built mine and enjoyed the project, I had about $6k into it at registration. The materials are only part of the overall cost though. There's no way I'd be able to recoup the costs of my time without a price that would seem obscene. I usually encourage people to build, but as I'm sure you're aware, there are plenty of people out there that just shouldn't own tools

 

You built that? Nice job! Looks very nice....the time you are spending camping with your kids will always result in good things for you and your family. What memories!

 

Hiker Trailers has a Highway Deluxe 5x8 that starts at $5999.99.

 

Thanks!

We're about to hit our fourth registration on it, tons of adventures!

Last spring we went out to Eastern Oregon for the kiddos' spring break. I rigged up a bike rack so that we didn't have to try and cram all the bikes in the back of the truck or on the top of the truck. We've got another couple of years before it gets too snug so I'm working on a new trailer now, though I haven't done much documenting it. We wound up weathered in for a couple of days during the Oregon trip, first due to a steady day of 40mph winds, then on another day due to unexpected snow. It'd likely be fine if it was just my wife and I, but with two kids it got a bit cozy after a few hours.

Here are a couple shots from last April in case anyone needs a break from winter:

 

Nothing says you have to upgrade the springs for the stronger axle. I built mine on the lighter duty 4x8 harbor fright frame, and later upgraded to a 3500# Dexter axle, on the harbor fright springs, I didn't want the heavier rated springs to stiffen up the ride of the trailer. I would have gone with a 2000# axle, but the lightest I could get, and still have a 6 on 5.5" lug pattern was the 3500# class.

My parts dealer at the time had me place the wheel and tire combination I am using where I wanted them on the trailer, measure between the wheel mount surfaces, then round up to the next odd numbered measurement for the width. The spring hangers were shipped loose, and were added on arrival. To get the spacing for the perches, I took the measurement from the center of one spring center pin to the other, divided it in half, measured the center point on the axle, and placed the perches and welded them in. I did my welding with the cheap harbor fright flux core welder, after confirming with the dealer that would be fine, especially since the axle and spring are clamped to either side of the perch with U-bolts.

 

@Blisterinthesun had asked about teardrops; someone else pointed him here.

I've posted about my trailer but not in this thread.

Intech Flyer Pursue. New is $23,000; I bought this used one last month for $15K (2020 model).

Dexter #9 Torsion axle keeps things tucked up; nothing is hanging low.

The earlier version has a square rack that is prone to breaking. Rhino Bat Wing (270) awning.

The front door is a slide-out tray. Stove and 12V Cooler in there. It makes for a very heavy tongue weight (340 pounds!);
It's a 5'x10' interior space. Barn back doors so it can haul as a tiny cargo trailer. Think sheets of plywood.

The aluminum frame keeps weight down.

Lock-n-roll hitch installed.

edit: added "used"

 

Wow that's a great price. I've been looking for last year leftover to save some money. I'll check that brand out. Most mfr don't keep any in stock and are mostly custom orders with long leadtimes.

 

I added "used" but it was garage kept, lightly used.

There is FB group that focuses on Intech for sale/wanted Generally well built. The smaller Chase (5x8) or Pursue (5x10) are the shorter ones (41" interior height), the Discover and Explore are taller versions.

 

Have you considered going axles-less with a set of Timbren's? I love my set.