WTB in the West: 4.5' or 5' wide Tear

[JessEvans]

Hi all,

Decided the search for a 4-person sleeper teardrop was not to be and realized I could put the kids in the back of the minivan or a tent on top of it...either way, I'm now in the market for a more standard tear. I live in central CA and can come and pick it up anywhere in the Western USA.

Things I'm looking for in it:
* At least 4' 6" inches interior bed width, but preferably about 5' wide.
* A nice galley design, preferably with pull-out counter/stove stand and some drawers. (Not a fan of Little Guy trailers because of the bare-bones galley.)
* Doors on both sides of the trailer
* Screened vents/windows.
* Light enough to go easy on my minivan.

Things I don't need:
* electricity, and all the gear that comes with it (battery, AC/heat, DVD, TV, microwave, etc)

Things I don't absolutely need but it would be nice to have:
* A bench at the front of the trailer to sit on and put on my shoes, with a little potty in it.
* Stabilizing jacks.

We will garage it, so a woody or a painty is ok.

Do you have one you've been thinking about selling?

Thanks, Jess

p.s. I ended up with two logins here, JEvans and JessEvans, so if you're wondering, yes, that's me. And I is a female.

[byrdz1]

How much is your budget? There are some nice rigs for sale, but you can spend a lot of money or not so much. My first tear was 4200.00 and it was a beauty, but to small. The one I have now I have a bloody fortune in it. Also you dont' say what your level of handyness is so do you want something that is "perfect" out of the gate, or are you willing to do a little work?

Good luck with your search, I hope you have fun.

[JessEvans]

How much is your budget? There are some nice rigs for sale, but you can spend a lot of money or not so much. My first tear was 4200.00 and it was a beauty, but to small. The one I have now I have a bloody fortune in it. Also you dont' say what your level of handyness is so do you want something that is "perfect" out of the gate, or are you willing to do a little work?

Good luck with your search, I hope you have fun.

The budget is $3000. My level of handiness is...not much. I can do some finish work, and I'm a darn good painter. I could even probably bolt in a drawer or a slide-out shelf assembly. But that's about it. Definitely no welding or major body work, such as cutting out openings for doors or windows or like that.

I seem to see a fair number of teardrops in my price range and size back east, but none in the West. I wonder if things are more expensive here...it seems like most teardrops here are fully tricked out with TVs and electric fridges and AC, which of course drives the price up. I just want it wide and with lots of galley storage and some window screens. No bells and whistles needed...I am used to tent camping.

Do you think it would be ok to cross post to the regional forums? I don't want to annoy anyone, but I wonder if more people from the Western states (AZ, TX, UT, NV, OR, WA) would see this if I posted in those forums.

[byrdz1]

I think I recall you saying that you would travel, have you seen these?

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/2952591642.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/rvs/2974319361.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/2965290939.html

and have you tried searchtempest? you can search accross many craigslist ads in many locations at once.

I dont' know about cross posting, if someone doesn't like it they will let you know, people do not seem to be shy here

Good luck!

[JessEvans]

I think I recall you saying that you would travel, have you seen these?

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/2952591642.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/rvs/2974319361.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/2965290939.html

and have you tried searchtempest? you can search accross many craigslist ads in many locations at once.

I dont' know about cross posting, if someone doesn't like it they will let you know, people do not seem to be shy here

Good luck!

I did see those! Maybe time to visit my brother in Portland...the first is too small but the others are possibilities. Though I've been talking to the Designated Voice of Reason (aka my husband) and he points out that we need something securable for when our musical instruments are in it at a festival. I need to take another look at the cargo conversions out there. It seems like they tend to be a little more sturdy/lockable than the teardrop trailers.

[byrdz1]

I can't really see how they would be more secure. If you have a lock on the door, then it is a lock and someone would have to tear the door off or drill the lock, that would be the same in a cargo conversion, but that is just my thought.

As for securing them, I make sure I have a lock on my reciever as well as my hitch so no one can make off with the whole trailer, you may want to consider that no matter what you decide. There are lock sets that have the hitch and reciver lock in one package keyed to the same key. I like that a lot, having 5 keys for the tear was a little painfull.