Dear ride,
I understand your reasoning, but it may not be completely sound...
If you do find a "basic" teardrop for a very low price, you'll "experience" a very inexpensive camper.
A very basic job will
not be, or feel, like a very well done model.
If you decide you really don't care for the teardrop experience, you'll find yourself trying to "unload" a basic, cheap (probably poorly done) example...
Not too much call for basic.
Perhaps a better strategy would be to take some time and really do your homework with regard to what constitutes a "well done" trailer, and what the average "sold" price (not asking price) is in your area (where you could find yourself selling it).
Then, armed with that knowledge, you can invest in a teardrop that is priced below the average selling price.
You can try it out at your leisure.
If you like the experience, you're done, enjoy
your carefully selected trailer.
If it just isn't your thing, relax, you'll easily sell it for no loss, and maybe even a small profit.
It may well seem scary to spend several thousand dollars, but if you know you can get your money back, the risk is actually less than spending say, a thousand on a starter model, and then finding no buyer...
In the last year, here on the board, there has been a mix of teardrops for sale.
(actually, it is the same, any year...)
Some very nice, some average, and some poor examples.
The two extremes have a
VERY small potential buyer base.
The very well done trailers are not cheap, they are certainly worth a great deal, but since most everyone here, is here because they want to "build their own to save money" they are a hard sell.
The other end of the scale, the poorly done trailers, were put together in a hurry by those who had no clue (or very little) what they were doing, or by those who tried really hard, but realized part way through that they had bitten off more than they could handle, and were just trying to be rid of the whole mess.
The majority of the potential buying audience has done enough homework to know the difference between a good trailer at a fair price, and something "to be avoided".
The average teardrop has great appeal to the masses.
It isn't perfect, everyone knows it was "home built" but it is "nice" and very affordable.
Most everyone is looking for "that" teardrop.
Rob
Waiting for "someday" will leave you on your deathbed wondering why you didn't just rearrange your priorities and enjoy the time you had, instead of waiting for a "better" time to come along...