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Post by clutchburner on Apr 9, 2010 18:23:11 GMT -5
I'm waiting to make a deal on a 63-64 shasta compact.I'm thinking it would be useful for me to have the rear open like a hinged tear drop trailer.Has anyone done this ? The shasta needs total resto so the skins have to be removed..Any advice for a new guy ?  |
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Post by Atomic Addiction on Apr 9, 2010 20:41:37 GMT -5
I guess my question is why? The rear opening in a teardrop is to have access to the kitchen and storage while standing up. So you aren't crunched over inside a enclosed space trying to use the cabinets and countertops.
The Shasta doesn't have that problem. You would have to get by the table to get in and out of the back access door.
You would have to build up the back framing to support a door and the door itself would need extra framing to support it's weight. You would also need some kind of supports system to support the door when open. That system would have to be pretty hefty.
Unless you were talking about a normal side swinging door. Serro Scotty had a design with a rear access door. I don't think the design worked that well.
Ultimately the question is why give yourself more areas the trailer could leak at? Teardrops have this because they have to.
Sorry to rain on the parade. I just think it is opening yourself up for problems. I like the out of the box thinking.
Brian
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Post by clutchburner on Apr 9, 2010 21:18:29 GMT -5
I welcome the input.I was thinking of using it to house a small motorcycle and use it like the modern day "toy hauler" youve seen at the rv dealers.The little compact will be in its birthday suit to get rebuilt anyway... Those pnuematic struts they use on utility trailers would work (im guessing) to hold up a door or it could be like the ramp door ? Anyway,i'm just kicking the idea around and i hope not to offend the purists out there . I sure am looking forward to getting the little shasta !
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Post by clutchburner on Apr 13, 2010 7:31:35 GMT -5
After seeing some pics of the framming on these shastas,i think it would have to be totally reworked with some engineering to make it feasable. I thought they were built heavier than they are .Thanks for the ggod people sharing the resto pics of the trailers.It really helps !
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Post by xscorex on Jan 27, 2011 11:16:16 GMT -5
I was thinking about this too, I would pull out the rear window and put in a swinging door instead of a lift door, the rear is low enough you'd just need a small ramp. if I was tearing out my rear wall Id probably go that route, right now I'm trying to see if I can take out whats left of my closet and see if theres a way for me to load it into the door and pull it out that way. not sure theres enough room to do that though
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Post by clutchburner on Jan 27, 2011 12:04:24 GMT -5
The trailer framing will be an issue.the manufacture used very small pieces of lumber to make the trailer light.if you were a fabricator,you could maybe use aluminum to frame an opening/door.-my 2cents
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Post by xscorex on Jan 27, 2011 14:01:10 GMT -5
The trailer framing will be an issue.the manufacture used very small pieces of lumber to make the trailer light.if you were a fabricator,you could maybe use aluminum to frame an opening/door.-my 2cents well there is a door on the side. I was at the Rv center and they had all kinds of doors, Im sure they have one big enough for a motorcycle to go through. No doubt it would be alot of work. You would have to frame and reskin the back where the window was |
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safetybruce
2K Post Member
Miss Alabama 1961
Posts: 2,547
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Post by safetybruce on Feb 1, 2011 8:41:40 GMT -5
Mike, if you have an aluminum fabricator in the area, maybe you could run the idea past him/her...if you lose the rear window, I don't see why a lightweight frame out of aluminum could not be fabricated with horizontal ribs and if the lip of the frame rested on the skin edges, with a piano hinged top, and a rain shed lip above that, it might work. Lose the table and utilize TV trays that fold up and can be transported in your tow vehicle. I may have a pic or three somewhere that shows a rear door on a sloped backed trailer. If I can find it I will send it along to you.
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