Build a Camping Trailer

A Little History First

William Byam was a young college graduate when he read a how-to article on building a camping trailer. Although he followed the instructions, the outcome was not successful. William recognized errors in the written plans.

He knew he could fix them and sure enough, he was able to perfect the instructions. By 1930 he was building and selling trailers in his own back yard. He called his new company Airstream.

Another man was also mesmerized by trailer building and in 1936 the first teardrop trailer was built. The trailer was named because of its shape resembling a teardrop.

How to Build a Camping Trailer

While many purchase and restore vintage camping trailers, building your own trailer takes more dedicated work. If you don't think you are up for building from scratch, you may want to purchase a teardrop and customize it to suit your needs.

However, if you think you have what it takes to construct a teardrop, and you are up for the task, you can order plans from the Tiny Tears official web site.

For $11.00, you can obtain 29 pages of detailed plans that show you step-by-step how to build a 4x8 foot trailer. Pictures are also included in this three-ring binder of instructions, as well as design information, a full size teardrop pattern drawn on brown craft paper, a materials list, and a listing of suppliers. Last, but not least, a CD with 243 JPEG images for enlarged viewing on your computer is also included in this package.

The No-Weld Wood Chassis, a building manual that was recently published, shows how to build a teardrop trailer chassis (base or foundation) at home without the need for welding. Included with the text are pictures, two pages of drawings, appendices providing load and stress calculations, vacuum bagging techniques, and an extensive list of suppliers.

The Three Stages of Building

• Stage One - The Cab (all the wood components)

• Stage Two - The Trim (the aluminum skin and all the trim parts)

• Stage Three - The Frame (after the cab has been completed it is then lowered on to the frame)

Types of Teardrops

Teardrop trailers sleep two comfortably and there is an area for cooking under the rear hatch or galley lid.

A typical teardrop is 4 feet wide, 4 feet high, and 8 to 10 feet long. Some are as big as 6 1/2 feet wide, 5 feet high, and nearly 12 feet long. Most have the wheels and tires outside the body covered by fenders. The larger models often have them inside the body.

Some of the models you can build are:

• The Boxter
• The Roundtail
• The Schwewp
• The 36 Uni Wheel
• The Kenskill

Materials Needed

To construct a home-built trailer, you will need to go to your local home improvement store and purchase various tools and materials. Some products may be found by going to a RV salvage or surplus parts sale and by locating dealers online. A list of items needed includes:

• Adhesives and Epoxies
• Aluminum and Fiberglass Siding
• Axles and Running Gear
• Doors and Windows
• Electronics, Lighting, and 12-Volt
• Fenders
• Molding
• Hinges

You will also need a large dose of time and patience!

Don't forget to add accessories like a dome light, license plate brackets, and decals. All of these can be ordered and shipped to you.

The Trailer is Ready

Where will you take your trailer now that it's complete? Pack it with sleeping bags, foam mattresses, blankets, towels, food, and drink. Then hook it up to your Jeep, truck, car, Corvette, or mini-van. Any of these can haul your trailer with a tow bar and take you wherever you care to go.

Camp Sites to Visit

Why not head out to some remarkable campsites? Spend some time camping at the Oregon Dunes. You could even do some camping in Texas. Wherever RVs are welcome, so are smaller trailers. Pack the appropriate gear for the destination you choose. Enjoy your time camping, and hopefully along the way, you will impress many with your knowledge on how to build a camping trailer!