teardrop camper

For posting of Trailer, Towed Artillery and Hand Carts. As Found, Restored or Present Condition
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gearhead
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by gearhead » Wed Aug 21, 2013 10:10 am

Sorry for your loss.

Those old heavy steel fenders can be brought back!
A little banging, a little elbow grease, some english wheel time and presto!

Regards, Ed 8)
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tamnalan
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by tamnalan » Thu Aug 22, 2013 5:59 pm

Thanks for the condolences. She was ready to go. I sure don't want to die that way! My father in law died in his sleep in a hotel bed just after playing the slots in Vegas. He was too young but didn't suffer long!

I really don't know anything about '39 Fords so I've been reading everything I can find about them. So far, a surprising amount of stuff looks really similar to what's on our jeeps. Examples: the transmission internals, the brake light sender unit, and the Sparton horn I found on it. That horn might end up on my MB.
Alan W. Johnson
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MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939

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Mac
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by Mac » Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:30 am

37 MM Cannon.jpg
37 MM Cannon.jpg (124.3 KiB) Viewed 7834 times
Not to change the subject Alan, but my Cannon is a Towed Accessories !! ----------------Mac
42 MB #374967
27 trips over the Rubicon

37 MM AT CANNON (It is now complete)SOLD
Gatling Gun is next (pre Jeep era)IN USE BY CAVALRY
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MVCC
MVPA #25442
USS TAWASA ATF 92
MUDHILL MAC

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tamnalan
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by tamnalan » Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:57 am

Very nice, Mac! You built that?

How's your teardrop coming?

Our fearless MU8 leader Lanny is organizing a convoy around Indiana 16-20 Sep. I'll use my teardrop for it and dusted it off today. I also weighed it - 800 lb with no fuel cans or water, and with 150 lb tongue wt. It's heavier than I thought. I must have been towing about 900 lb total on AC12 last summer.

I suspect that the M-100 parts are contributing a bunch of the weight.
Alan W. Johnson
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MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939

Marty, SoCal
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by Marty, SoCal » Sun Sep 01, 2013 7:15 am

Very cool build and write up, Alan! I just saw this thread today! Saddens me to hear of your mother's recent passing, too. :cry:

Anyways, in my opinion the HD nature of the M100 parts is worth the extra weight penalty and may account for the lack of breakdowns on your long trip. Are you going to find extras so you can reassemble your M100?

I've been scrounging military trailer parts to build a similar trailer, I have a M416 casting, landing leg and lunette already. I will probably make it quite a bit wider for two people to sleep inside. I will tow it behind my V8 powered CJ-8 Scrambler. I'm also including trailer brakes, as I'm sure it will be around 1500 lbs or more when I'm done. I'm contemplating making the frame out of aluminum to save some weight.

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tamnalan
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by tamnalan » Sun Sep 01, 2013 7:10 pm

Thanks for the kind words, Marty!

Yes I don't regret using the M-100 parts. I actually have two M-100 trailers so I'm not in a big hurry to put the one back together, but want to someday.

Mine works pretty well for just me but it's much too small for my wife and me together. If I build another one I'll make it at least 4' by 8' I think, and taller. An aluminum frame would save some weight. A different leaf spring would help too.
Alan W. Johnson
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MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939

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tamnalan
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by tamnalan » Sun Sep 22, 2013 4:35 pm

Just returned from Lanny Moore's Indiana convoy. It was outstanding! Monday spent at Camp Atterbury, south of Indianapolis. Tuesday saw covered bridges and an escort by the Freedom Riders' escort (included "funeral escort" vehicles... apparently the body was in my teardrop...) Wednesday brought Ernie Pyle's childhood home and museum, and the Vermillion County Museum. Friday brought a tour of the Caterpillar Engines plant in Lafayette and Fred Ropkey's amazing armor museum near Crawfordsville. Maybe 450 miles total.

Departing my house for Indiana:
Image

Bob Vollmer and Lanny: Bob was born in 1917, is a WWII Navy vet, and bought his '45 MB from the government in 1946! The three of us did the whole trip and others joined in at different times:

Image

Camp Atterbury:
Image
Image
Image
Last edited by tamnalan on Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Alan W. Johnson
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MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939

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tamnalan
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by tamnalan » Sun Sep 22, 2013 4:46 pm

Crossing the Mansfield Covered Bridge in western Indiana. It was built in 1867:

Image

Ernie Pyle childhood home and museum in Dana, IN:

Image

Brad Gross's hamburger place (Gross' Burgers) near Danville, IN. His burgers are very good! Highly recommended. Also in the pic are Brad Gross, George Ellis, and Ron Bolser.

Image

Image

Bob's MB getting a little gear oil:

Image

Fred Ropkey's amazing museum near Crawfordsville, and the Indiana MVPA's annual show:

Image

Thank you Lanny! What a great trip!
Last edited by tamnalan on Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:31 am, edited 2 times in total.
Alan W. Johnson
_______________
MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939

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Re: teardrop camper

Post by Steve Webb » Sun Sep 22, 2013 6:32 pm

Very nice
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by thidisbogus » Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:05 pm

Great pictures Alan. Thanks for posting!

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Mac
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by Mac » Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:08 am

Alan, your tear drop looks better on the trailer with out taking it apart, like on the Alaska Convoy !!--------------Mac
42 MB #374967
27 trips over the Rubicon

37 MM AT CANNON (It is now complete)SOLD
Gatling Gun is next (pre Jeep era)IN USE BY CAVALRY
SOMVCC

MVCC
MVPA #25442
USS TAWASA ATF 92
MUDHILL MAC

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tamnalan
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by tamnalan » Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:44 am

Yes Mac - it is much faster to load and unload it that way. I can't sleep in it on the road though, like I did on the drive up to Dawson Creek and back.

I still want to do some sort of front pintle mount like you have on your MB! That was a great idea.
Alan W. Johnson
_______________
MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939

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tamnalan
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by tamnalan » Mon Nov 25, 2013 4:02 pm

The teardrop got a pic in the latest Supply Line on page 14, in the story about the Indiana MVPA's September show at Fred Ropkey's place. I think the fake data tag fooled the story's author.
Alan W. Johnson
_______________
MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939

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signsup
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by signsup » Mon Nov 25, 2013 4:55 pm

As for interior lighting, they sell battery operated "touch" lights that stick on or mount inside closets, laundry rooms, etc. You could mount a few on the inside and just tap them to come on. I think they run on 9v or C or D cell batteries.
On the rear hatch with the G503 hood catches as latches, I hope no one would come up if you were inside and close the hatch and secure the latches. No other way out. And, you can't latch the door shut if you are inside to keep bugs out.

Is there a different way to secure the rear hatch?
Robert Brough
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tamnalan
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Re: teardrop camper

Post by tamnalan » Mon Nov 25, 2013 5:56 pm

If I was inside and the side door got stuck or something, It wouldn't be hard to kick the hatch open from the inside. Those hood latches aren't that strong. They were very cheap and work ok. It would be nice to have some sort of hatch key lock though.

The side door has a key lock that I can set from inside or outside. I rigged up a way to lock the hatch from the inside too, but I don't use it much. I have to crawl back there to set it. I usually shut the hatch latches at night to help keep the bugs and rain out.

The stick on lights are a good idea and would be plenty. I just clip a flashlight to a bracket now.
Alan W. Johnson
_______________
MB, 201453, "Lt Bob"
MB, 1942, not stock
M-100, Sep 1951
MB-TD, Mar 2012
Ford 91C, 1939


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