Another "teardrop"

[48Rob]

http://www.gizmag.com/alto-teardrop-tra ... ndo/31178/

[les45]

Sounds interesting until you get to the price. Must be some #$%@ good quality.

[grant whipp]

Just wondering, Les ... ... what do you think a high quality custom-built trailer like that SHOULD cost?

And, if you built them and were trying to make a living at it (let alone a profit), would you sell them for that little?

CHEERS!

[les45]

I'm sure that a $50,000 luxury car is worth every penny to the guy who can afford to buy it. I choose to drive a Nissan Xterra and have something left over for my other pleasures. My point is that the price tag on that teardrop is not in my price range. I am content with my little homemade teardrop that was relatively inexpensive and fits in my garage. I can then take the $20,000 that I didn't spend on something like this innovative teardrop and spend it on travel, food, and my other hobbies. This whole discussion of value is being blown out of context. Some people buy what they can afford and are purely pragmatic about it. Others make impulse buys, sometimes when they can't afford it, and regret it later. Like the old saying goes about boats, " the two happiest days of a boat owner's life are the day he buys the boat and the day he sells it". If you are in the business of selling high priced stuff, then more power to you. There are lots of folks out there with money to buy it. I'm just one of the more pragmatic folks that tries to balance my wants and my needs.

[Nobody]

Agree with Les pretty much. I'm very glad there are folks producing such a nice 'rig' & am happy there are folks who can afford to buy/use it. At $23K-$29K it's beyond my means, unless we 'skimp' on other things. I'm happy with my relatively inexpensive, home built TD & smaller tow vehicle, & really don't envy those who are able to buy & use nicer things. Wife & I have been doing 'our thing' for almost 54yrs now & with any luck we'll continue for some time yet. We're not 'poor' but our idea of 'living pretty darn good' is 'small potatoes' to lotsa folks, especially nowadays...

[wincrasher]

Of course everyone thinks it's too expensive. Nobody wants to pay for things that generate a living wage for people, yet complain all our jobs are going to China. Go figure.

I'm sure if you got alot of use out of it, you could justify the price. Most people are not in the build-it-yourself group, including me.

Lots of people can seem to justify a $80k Airstream and only use it a few times a year. Heck, my Cricket was a crazy $18k, but I love it and am using the crap out of it.

[48Rob]

I didn't post it because I thought the price was too high, or too low, but because it has some design possibilities for do it yourselfers.

I understand that this is mostly a do it yourself forum, and the general idea is to save money/create something that you couldn't otherwise afford.
Nothing wrong with that, I do it all the time.
Also nothing wrong with someone buying what they like, and can afford (I do that too, with what I save being thrifty).

Anyway, back to the trailer;

I think it is not very good looking; thought the idea/concept is good, the appearance is...lacking.
I also think it is a cheap shot calling it a "teardrop" just to cash in/try to sell the product.

Rob

[the other side]

I think it looks like a "teardrop" from the future. I prefer the retro look myself. There are those that really want a bathroom, and it does give you the "throne".

[Martiangod]

They are not marketed as Teardrops, but as small areo travel trailer
They are quite a neat unit, all aluminum, sandwich construction. Self contained.
They are built with some euro features and appliances. As well as a few standard items such as water heater and furnace.
I think the only ones who made reference to teardrop was Gizmag and posters in this thread.
Not only does the roof raise by linear actuators, but the back wall folds up and down, also driving the seating at the same time. Also with actuators.
When fully opened it has quite a bit of room inside.
I serviced one for a customer fall and spring for a few years.
Never actually ever had to fix anything, just pump antifreeze and dewinterize, and a seasonal test on appliances and propane.
Seamed very well made and lite.
Not my cup of tea, but pretty cool

[48Rob]

Chris,

You are right, I stand corrected.
The company does not call them teardrops.

They do have a lot of cool features!

Rob

[ctstaas]

Hi 48Rob,I don't like the shape but I do like the concept of anythings possible with the design. I made my hatch lid with 1" square tubing rolled and welded. Aluminum tubing is light but expensive but if the design required aluminum get your wallet out.