I have to ask.....

[honeask]

I know this is just between us ladies (yeah right!) and I need to know something. Was a teardrop/tiny trailer your idea or was it your mate's idea to get a teardrop/tiny trailer? Did you both come to a mutual agreement from the beginning or did one of you have to show the other the light? My husband is not jumping on my bandwagon and it's getting to me. If you were the one that talked them into trying the teardrop, how did you do it? I would like to do this before I forget why I wanted it. Thanks for any guidance in advance.

 

[Miriam C.]

I didn't ask! Mike was very skeptical until I got the wall up. He turned down a normal TD due to size. Not that I couldn't have one but he wasn't getting in one. He was more receptive when he went to a group camp and met some of the guys.

Really he didn't have faith until we took it down the road and he realized it wouldn't come apart at the seams... This is the point where he got it!

 

[oklahomajewel]

Well, I was single when I fell in love with teardrops and built my first Jewel Box .

Then I couldn't part with my dear camping friends , but decided although I loved my first Jewel Box , it would have to be bigger and better then next time.

Still single, and needing help I put the word out for someone to build it for me. So a friend suggested Kenny .
He didn't know about teardrops, but starting liking the idea of building one and then went camping with me a couple of times and .... well, I don't know if he fell in love with the teardrop idea ... but he did fall in love with me !

(and it's not just the camping, we have LOTS in common & really hit it off)

the Jewel

 

[SuperiorBound]

My husband bought it for me. He doesn't like to camp and I do. So now I can go and have a good time camping and when we go together I have the comfort of a hotel.
Got it good two ways.

 

[honeask]

Wow Jewel,
Sounds like you "built" a relationship and a teardrop, very cool.

 

[nevadatear]

Absolutely my idea, and I sold him on it. I had been looking at them for about 5 years before we got married. Then we looked at commercials, didn't like what we saw, knew we could make it better. It took me about a year to convince him he wanted to build one. I had a real advantage as my husband is a welder, machinest, and likes to work with wood, and I am the finisher.

He didn't really want to take on a big project, he is so busy with his own business, but I kept showing him ideas, and once I found this website, and Steve's "handbook" and bought that for him, so he had a general idea of how they go together, he was ready to go. Once he drew a profile, I knew I had him. And although a lot of work, building it together was really fun. He designed the profile and basics, we decided on all the details together, he engineered it, built the frame, and did the heavy lifting. I did all the wood finishing and the motivating to get it done, or it probably still wouldn't be (he is not a completer, I am) He would not allow me to use a hammer after seeing the damage I can do when I miss, and I am now not allowed to use the powersaw after cutting off 1/2 my thumb (yes, really, but not until the trailer was finished, it was a very last project).

And we both love it, and we have threatened each other we can never divorce because we would have to cut the tear down the middle.

 

[honeask]

Thanks Debbie,
I know he could build one but the planning, pondering and perfectionist in him would kill me. I suspect that if we ever purchase one he will immediately start looking at how he would do it better. We are supposed to make a trip to Ft. Worth to look at one after we complete our committment of volunteering at the Houston Rodeo which is 2 1/2 more weeks. It's the first time in 18 years that I want it to be over quickly. I'm holding him to that road trip to go see a guy that builds them. He can build one later but I want to have one NOW.

 

[Hiker Chick]

Lay out the math. If you're teardropping in lieu of hotel rooms or cabins then they can pay for themselves rather quickly. Below is some June 2010 calculating I did on my teardrop that I bought in September 2007:


"A friend went up with us and stayed in the Lodge (Shenandoah National Park) while Gidget and I camped in the teardrop.

Her lodge room was $25 a night just for the pup. My friend only slept and showered in her room. She spent the rest of the time in my campsite or walking around with me and Gidg.

Her lodging cost for 3 nights = $500

My lodging cost for 3 nights = $ 63 (includes three $1 showers)


We both saved money by cooking in my campsite and not eating any meals in the restaurants.

I've camped about 80 nights in my teardrop since October 2007.

Would have cost over $11,000 more over those 80 nights to stay in one of the park's lodges.

A private cabin outside of the park would have been at least an additional $10,000 on top of that $11,000. $21,000

Prior to teardropping we often stayed in cabins. I certainly never would have stayed in cabins 80 nights during that time, because of the expense. But camping is affordable and the teardrop makes weekend camping much more doable and comfortable.

The teardrop enables us to camp much more often. That's priceless."

 

[T@Baker]

The T@B is mine. Hubby isn't much on camping, but he goes half the time depending on the activities and where I'm going. My mom and I camped all of my childhood and adult life, changing from a TT to a MH after I was married and expecting our first child. Hubby went with us on week-long vacations in the MH, but not on weekend trips.

When mom's health prevented her from going anymore and she sold her MH, I started tent camping...after about four years of missing it. Loved it, and still do, but not the packing/unpacking/digging in containers. The midwest gets pretty uncomfortable without air-conditioning, so that was another factor. I was planning on getting a pop-up, but didn't really need that much space. Set-up, tear-down, and not being able to get in without popping up had me looking at small trailers. When I feel the need to sleep in a tent, I have my add-a-room.

 

[cdfnchico]

Definitely my idea...saw one at a carshow...and wanted one of our own. He wasn't as excited! Found this forum and started lurking...and then convinced him to visit a gathering. That was when we become convinced we could do it. Everyone was so friendly... We were able to check out different sizes and styles. Now he loves it as much as I do!

Drag him to a gathering!!! Good luck !

 

[doris s.]

Teardropping was my idea. Building our own was my idea too. My hubby is easy going and thought it would be fun to build it together. It was a joint project for sure. We had a ball. We love camping in it too.

I hope you get a teardrop and have some fun!

Doris

 

[CAJUN LADY-TNT]

It was my idea to buy 'my' Teardrop. I don't know how to build much of anything (well, maybe one thing) and I don't have the proper tools so I bought one from a guy locally who had built it for himself. Luckily he and his wife were 6'4' and 6'2 so he built the Tear 10'x5'6". Quite roomy.

After having it for a little over 2 years I decided I really missed standing up in a camper so the Tear was sold and I then became the proud owner of a Scotty HiLander! Love it, love it, love it!

 

[honeask]

Thanks ya'll. All the replies makes me realize I'm not really crazy. Our Rodeo obligation will be ending next Sunday and after that we are gonna have the TALK. I have a builder in Ft Worth that interests me so hopefully we will be taking a road trip soon. Trust me when it finally happens I will post....in ALL CAPS! My only other option will be to hypnotize him.

 

[TJ1949]

No sandy your not crazy for wanting one!
They are so cute..Just like most of the others ladies I too saw them and wanted one 1st,but it didnt take much to talk John into building one,or trying to build one I should say.. ,,were really not sure what were doing but were doing it together and having fun!!
Good Luck on the hypnotizing..lol

 

[eaglesdare]

my idea here also. i conned hubby to go on a camping trip last september. he had no idea he was driving into the middle of a gathering. he met some folk and had a good weekend and he was ok with the idea. he helped a little with the build process and we did our maiden voyage last weekend. i don't think he is totally thrilled but he will go. and if he doesn't want to go i can.

 

[jlreyburn]

All my idea! I just kept reminding him of the troubles with tents if it rained,
annoying doors on a pop up, being able to be ready to go at a moments notice. We drove to Canton, Oh from Indianapolis - JUST TO LOOK - yeah right! Found one we loved and bought it. He's been hooked ever since. Good luck, it's worth every bit of convincing you have to do.

 

[norskenancy]

We have had all types of campers over the years. Pop ups, hybrid, tent, and the latest that we just sold was a 63 Shasta. We decided to get a teardrop, hopefully the one we are interested in. While my husband has always stated he wants to be able to stand up when he puts his pants on (never does at home), he is the one that decided on the teardrop. I wanted one because I don't like to cook inside a camper, especially in the summer. To me food always tastes better when cooked outside.

We cannot wait to meet some new friends thru teardrop camping.
Nancy

 

[honeask]

We are now going to be a teardrop owner. Happy, happy, happy! Should be ready by the end of August. That trip to Ft. Worth to pick it up will be great!

 

[Tommy2bits]

Good Job Sandy!!! The more you go to the gatherings will help too, the pot lucks and the men and women getting together. There is such a variety of people there, everyone knows someone they can connect with.

If the work of camping is a concern to him, try to plan ahead and pre-pack the teardrop. There's nothing so cool as hooking up and just going!

 

[Miriam C.]

We are now going to be a teardrop owner. Happy, happy, happy! Should be ready by the end of August. That trip to Ft. Worth to pick it up will be great!

Way to go Sandy! And hubby! Hopefully by August it won't be as hot out...