Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm looking for a basic starter teardrop something that will last just long enough that i'll know what i need to build or buy in the next one....

I'd love a 5x10 but if 4x8's are all thats available it would help me figure out if i really need a 5x10

What i'm looking for is a VERY VERY Basic Teardrop for little money that i can use to test and see if i like camping in a tear...

Anyone moving on to a new project or have ran out of room for there old teardrop and want to donate it or sell it to someone trying to get into the lifestyle??

I LOVE the IDEA of camping in a teardrop...But i don't want to spend 6-8 grand on a teardrop and THEN find out the idea was greater then the actual facts...

where are you from?

I'm from Long Island, NY I've never even seen a teardrop other then Online or on TV...I'd be willing to travel fairly long distances to pick it up!

Thats why i'm looking for something Cheap i can use to sort of test out...feel out...to see if i truely like Camping in a Teardrop...or if i'm just in love with the idea....

Any suggestions...is sub-$1000 resonable for a used barebones teardrop...thats on its last season? Anyone have anything CLOSE to this?

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

If you spend time looking at the many styles and shapes on this forum, you will be able to tell what you might like and dislike. That is what most or all the builders on here have done. I like you, had never even seen one in person until I ran across one at Tahoe last year and had to have one. I had no idea what they had in them or did'nt have. Had no idea if I would like or dislike but went for it. Knowing they are small, have no toilet, sleeping area is small, cooking is outdoors, most time must be spent outdoors is a given with most tears and members here.

But the advantages are: they are the coolest thing around, you have a warm place with a bed to sleep, they are small, easy to tow, you can spend time outdors with friends and family eating and relaxing. If you are used to a 30' motor home or fifthwheel and that is your style you probably miss the space and whatever they all like. But pulling into a campground, a store, gas station or where ever you stop everyone wants to see it. How many people see a $300,000 motorhome and tell you it's the coolest thing they have seen and want the tour.

My advice look around on the forum decide what you want in your Tear and build one. Many here have never picked up a tool in their life and have built some impressive trailers. Youll find advice on tools, style, design, electrical, trailer choice etc.
You can build one and then have somthing to be proud to say " Yeah, I built it"

Dave

My advise is to go to a gathering. See them up close, and actually touch one. You'll get a better feel of them, and can see what might fit your fancy.

satch wrote:My advise is to go to a gathering. See them up close, and actually touch one. You'll get a better feel of them, and can see what might fit your fancy.

Great advice thats what I Did last fall and we fell in love with the teardrop trailers after we saw one up close.

Knowing they are small, have no toilet, sleeping area is small, cooking is outdoors, most time must be spent outdoors is a given with most tears and members here.

This is the draw for me it makes me sick people in those huge R/V's that think they're camping but never leave there 35ft trailer...thats not camping! Give me a firepit and a nice chair and thats all i really need...the fiance needs a comfortable bed though! And a Teardrop just seems so perfect...EVERYTHING YOU NEED...nothing extra!

I've looked through here and have great ideas about Shapes and Galley designs....but you i don't think you can ever know for sure until you've slept in one...

What i'm really looking for is a cheap tear drop i can use as a base...for comparison or to upgrade on...maybe an unfinished project that someone has moved on to a different shape...a first teardrop after you've started your third or fourth....I'm not a salesman i've ended up scraping or giving away 4-5 used cars in my time just because i can't sell anything...so i'm not looking for a market

Long Island New York?? hum can you find a parking place for a tear there?? Jim G

MOKI SEAKER wrote:Long Island New York?? hum can you find a parking place for a tear there?? Jim G

If my memory serves me right, there is a teardrop on Long Island. Doesn't Todd live on Long Island?

George G. wrote:... If my memory serves me right, there is a teardrop on Long Island. Doesn't Todd live on Long Island?

Yep! Todd lives in Bay Shore ... and he's got two teardrops ... and one is rumored to be available. Todd is also founder & head honcho for the TearJerkers ... www.TearJerkers.net ... and if you send me a PM, I'll pass along his e-mail address.

Good Luck with your search! In the meantime ...

CHEERS!

Grant

You may want to contact Len he make a bare bone teardrop, it is still a couple grand but may be worth you review.

That is what he build a basic bare bone teardrop

http://www.geocities.com/len19070/Bare_ ... ilers.html

I'm upstate.
I'll build anything, basic or extreme, custom.
Contact me off board, if interested.

hiker chick wrote:If you like camping in a tent, you will LOVE camping in a teardrop!

That pretty much sums it up!