T&T's Teardrop Plans Directory!

Vintage (Reprints from the early days):

From the Dec. 1936 & Jan. 1937 issues of Outdoor Life magazine, this 4'x10' teardrop was designed by Walter Hille & J.S. McBeth and named & marketed commercially in 1936 as the Kaycraft Kampster. Weighing only 650 lbs., the trailer features simple plywood construction on a sturdy steel frame, and boasts amenities & details not typically found on even commercially produced trailers of the era. Seven photocopied 8-1/2x11 pages from scanned and enlarged masters made from the original article,  plus two 16x24 photocopies of the original blueprints (sold separately by the magazine), available from Tales & Trails ... $17.50  (cash, check, or M/O only, includes US postage) ...

E-mail: info@teardrops.net

From the March/April 1939 Popular Homecraft magazine, this 4'x8' teardrop is typical-tech for the period, yet sports some really innovative features like home-made screened windows, dressing room, and a table that stows in the galley lid; 5-1/3 photocopied pages from scanned and enlarged masters made from the original article, available from Tales & Trails ... $7.50 (cash, check, or M/O only, includes US postage)

E-mail: info@teardrops.net

From the February 1940 Modern Mechanics magazine, this teardrop is a little more filled out, measuring 9' long and 5-1/2' wide with nearly 5' of headroom. the kitchen is still under-lid out back, but the interior offers a bit more room for stretching and storing. Can be even better with currently available windows and hardware; 9 photocopied pages from scanned and enlarged masters made from the original article, available from Tales & Trails ... $10.00 (cash, check, or M/O only, includes US postage)

E-mail: info@teardrops.net

From the September 1947 Mechanics Illustrated magazine, it's the 4'x10' version of the style teardrop with which we're most familiar. Basic, straight-forward '40s technology that has managed to survive these last 50 years; 6 photocopied pages from computer-scanned and enlarged masters made from the original article, available from Tales & Trails ... $7.50 (cash, check, or M/O only, includes US postage)

E-mail: info@teardrops.net

From the April 1953 Popular Mechanics magazine, a do-it-yourselfer's version of the KAMPMASTER, commercially produced in the late '40s, approximately 11' long and 6' wide with 4' high walls. The rear hatch lifts up higher than expected to allow walk-in access to the stand-up screened-in kitchen inside the back of the trailer; 6-1/2 photocopied pages available from Popular Mechanics, 224 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019 $5.25

From the 1951 Mechanix Illustrated, Crafts & Hobbies issue, this 8'L x 6.5'W x 6'H (approx.) plywood constructed and fiberglass sheathed micro-camping trailer weighs only 780 lbs. While NOT really a teardrop, many of the features like the dropped footwell, under-bed storage, and construction techniques, could easily be incorporated into the teardrop concept. Another interesting feature is the use of an old boat-trailer frame for the chassis. Some very cool possibilities, here! 9 photocopied 8-1/2x11 pages from enlarged masters made from the original article. Available from Joseph Chapman, 2517 Fairway Dr., Mobile, AL 36606-4534
 $10.00 cash, check, or M/O
Ph. 251-473-3934
e-mail: chapman8072@bellsouth.net

15 Vintage Trailer Plans on CD 300dpi high-quality scans of original magazine articles allow you to "save the time, trouble, and expense of tracking down the original magazines." Features 5 teardrops - "Runlite" (1937); "Honeymoon House Trailer" (1939); "Streamline Midget" (1940); "Wild Goose" (1953); and the MI "Camper Trailer" (1956/'61)
 $15.00 plus $3.00 US postage foreign & overseas extra
http://members.aol.com/elsquared/trailerplans.html
e-mail: elsquared@aol.com

Vintage Updates (from original trailers or plans):

Your basic '47 Mechanics Illustrated teardrop with some chassis refinements and other improvements. The drawings are clearer and the instructions more up to date. From HRMx Vol.5 #2, 1991, back issues of the magazine are sold out, but Tex will send you good photocopies of the original article. Available from Tex Smith Publishing, P.O. Box 726, Driggs, ID 83422 $5.00

A totally updated version of the '47 Mechanics Illistrated 4'x10' teardrop. From Kevin Hauser's Kuffel Creek Press, it features COMPLETE and easy-to-follow directions and instructions that almost ANYONE can build a beautiful trailer from! Ring-bound hard copy, $99.95. CD-ROM, $79.95.
Visit his website for more info: www.kuffelcreek.com (There's even a Builder's Discussion Board available!)  

From Kevin Hauser's Kuffel Creek Press, a 4'x8' teardrop of classic design, intended to be built on a no-weld commercially available bolt-together chassis! The plans feature COMPLETE and easy-to-follow directions and instructions that almost ANYONE can build a beautiful trailer from! Ring-bound hard copy, $99.95. CD-ROM, $79.95.
Visit his website for more info: www.kuffelcreek.com 

Teardrop Trailer helpful building hints from the pen of famed automotive & airplane illustrator Bob O'Hara. This 4'x8' trailer is loosely based on a line-art drawing of an early 1930's teardrop. 11 pages of notes, construction detail drawings, and illustrations. Available from Tales & Trails, a portion of the proceeds go to support T&T ... $20.00 (cash, check, or M/O only, includes US postage)

E-mail: info@teardrops.net

Dean Tennis built this amazing little wood-frame and canvas "teardrop" to be pulled behind his restored Model A Ford and look right and period perfect. It weighs in at a mere 350#, complete with a "chuck wagon" style kitchen area. Now, he's making the plans available to you. Dean Tennis, 645 J street, Chula Vista, CA 91910 $29.00, includes S/H E-Mail: TENNENTP@msn.com

Contemporary (Modern Originals):

An original design from W.A. Harper, aptly named, basic and simple in its 4'x8' size. Ten pages of illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions include an added bonus page on how to boot a 12'x6' dome tent to the side of the trailer for expanded livability. Contact WA. Harper, P.O. Box 491871, Redding, CA 96049 $19.95

An original design from Bill Adkins. the plans will build either an 8', 9', or 10' trailer. All materials are available in most areas with hardware, lumber, and camper supply stores. Bill also offers builder support by phone. Completely detailed plans one large sheet, from Bill Adkins, 20905 22nd Ave. W., Lynnwood, WA 98036 $39.95

A 5'Wx4'Hx9'L original design by Don Ferdinand, it contains 18 sheets of drawings, 24 pages of text, and two pages of full color prints that cover the project from start to finish. Contact Wyvern Industries, P. O. Box 1564, Shady Cove, OR 97539-1564 $30.00

Website: http://www.rvi.net/~djfiron1/TearDropTrailer.html

Recently re-discovered, this simple plywood constructed "pod" could easily be re-configured by adding door(s) to the side(s) for more convenient entry/exit. But, hey, it's cool/interesting/different as designed! Available from Paul Butler , Box 1917, Port Angeles, WA 98362 $18.50

E-mail: paul@butlerprojects.com
Web Site: http://www.butlerprojects.com
(Colorized image courtesy of Don Ferdinand)

New Service: Teardrop Trailer Patterns

... has full-size templates for the Modernaire/Modernistic/Cub-types, Ken-Skill, Benroy, and KIT Kamper teardrops, as well as its own 8' and 10' designs. Simply put 8'-10' of 4' wide heavy duty paper-stock into an appropriately sized mailing tube along with return postage and a note as to which profile you desire, then mail it to Li'l Bear. I will trace that pattern onto the paper and mail it back to you. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery, FREE of charge! Or, send $30.00 (cash, check, or M/O only, includes US postage) and he'll provide paper & postage. Each profile has cabinet, door, and window locations indicated, as well as galley lid hinge-point and axle centerline location. A simple chassis drawing (of the way I build the frames) that any competent welder can follow for fabrication is available on request at no additional fee. "Morphing" of designs available at nominal charges. These patterns/profiles are produced as ordered and must be worked into the production schedule as time and available floorspace allow. While I'll endeavor to fill the order as soon as possible, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for delivery. Li'l Bear Tag-Alongs, 12442 Maria Dr., Redding, CA 96003-9569 ph 530-275-6728

E-mail: info@teardrops.net

Website: http://http://www.teardrops.net/lilbear/plans.html

Full size patterns of the "Boxter", "Roundtail", and "Schwep" are now available from Tiny Tears. These patterns are full size on brown butcher paper. Included are instructions on how to use the pattern. They also include a recommended layout of the cabinets/doors.
Tiny Tears, PO Box 3014, Newport, RI 02840
$18.95
http://www.tinytears.cc/patterns.html