Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **someones1** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:11 pm

Hello,

New to the forum and interested in teardropping. Going to look at some Little Guys later in the week, and had a few questions for anyone out there that has bought one new.

Can I expect an experience similar to buying a car (as it is also a car dealer)? Should I be prepared to haggle for a decent price? I guess I'm just curious of some ballpark figure of how low a dealer can go under MSRP, if at all.... or is the price pretty firm?

Thanks much!

by **Pottercounty** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:33 pm

Personally, I have always found them overpriced..., whether you can haggle with them, I have no idea. I did look at a couple of them when I was looking for a teardrop but they just didn't appeal to me.

Check the For Sale section of this forum.

by **Big Dan** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:39 pm

I think it would help to know your market. check prices on used trailers and anyone selling the brand you like. Beside the extras that you want to get. A cost you have to consider is shipment. If you see something you like thats half way across the country you have to add the cost of getting it, compared to one close by. That said it never hurt to negotiate the price. are you set on buying something new?

by **canonsue** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:59 pm

My dealer had already discounted the prices. (no extra cost for delivery)

New price for a Little Guy was not much more than the used trailers I have seen for sale on Craigslist.

Where do you live? If you are close to Colorado you may want to chat with my dealer. Send a message via the forum and I can give you his contact info.

Sue

by **someones1** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:01 pm

Not necessarily stuck on buying something new, I guess I just like the sound of a warranty. And, honestly, a lot of used teardrops that I've run across look to be about the same price as one of the two lower tier Little Guys.

I'm going to be driving to Alaska in May (and back in September) and I just need something real basic, and most of all LIGHT. I've heard that the entry level Little Guys are about 450 lbs total, and that the extra gas used on them is pretty negligible. That sounds nice.

edit: I'm in South Carolina, by the way. Already put a post in the wanted section.

by **CliffinGA** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:59 pm

Depending where you are in SC we have a lil guy dealership in Gwinnett at the Subaru dealership on Satellite Blvd. They have their prices posted on a flyer they handout but don't remember what they were. I had a post a few months ago and the salesmanager for the lil guys had posted so you might check that and get an idea what they are selling them for.

Cliff

by **canned o minimum** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:18 pm

"I" have a 2005 Little Guy 4 wide. No galley and they come VERY basic with NO bells or whistles.

A "basic" model ( 4 wide) would weigh about 740lbs. Prolly will come with battery powered lights( AA batteries)

Last I checked, they were around $5,000 new. Maybe instead of haggling the price, you could haggle fer a cover or other accessories to be included.

Good luck and Happy Trails !

by **stumphugger** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:27 pm

I got a 5 wide, with some extras, for what seemed to be cost. It was the last one and they were not going to sell them anymore....Camping World. It has a DVD player that I have never used in it, a radio, and fan. Those are the extras.

I have Princess and the Pea'd the bed. (made the mattress thicker and softer.) Other than that, I like it and it cuts my gas mileage by about a mile per gallon.
No problems so far, but I haven't used it much, yet.

by **PKCSPT** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:54 pm

2009 Little Guy 4 wide here.
No electric or water as bare bones basic as it gets. Bought it new in 2010 for just under $5,000. Don't actually remember the final cost as the dealer deducted a few things like prep and delivery. Gotta say I thought the price a little high but as it was exactly what I wanted I was satisfied.

by **canned o minimum** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:01 pm

Karen...do ya remember the weight of yer LG ?

I added another 1/2 in. of Bamboo flooring to mine and got rid of the cabinet and header board. Now it is wide open inside.

I also replaced the carpet on the walls fer sum birch and wainscoating and chair rail. Added electric lights and a small shelf at the head of the cabin.

My "canned o minimum weighs 785 lbs...also added a reciever in the back fer my cargo tray or bike rack.

Tows like a DREAM behind my 1965 VW bug...

by **PKCSPT** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:06 pm

If I remember it was registerd at 650lbs.

My 2007 bug doesn't even know it is there and my mileage is not affected by much if at all.

My first car was a 68 bug. Would love a 65 someday as that is the year I was born. they are great little cars.

by **eamarquardt** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:19 pm

My nextdoor neighbor became a LG dealer when GM suspended his franchise. It didn't move and he ended up selling it for a loss. As I recall there isn't much markup in them.

Pound for pound, as I recall, teardrops are the most expensive RVs out there.

You might be better off buying a new "Diesel Pusher" and getting more bang (pounds) for your buck!

Cheers,

Gus

by **someones1** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:46 pm

The cheapest (and lightest) Little Guys now are the Joey and Rascal, at 450 and 490 lbs curb weights, respectively, according to their website. This is kind of what I had in mind, but it all goes back to the original question -- should I expect to get them to be able to come down a grand, or a couple hundred, or maybe just twenty bucks? I guess I was hoping that someone here had some insider knowledge as to the markup on these things.

Cliff, I'm actually going to that Subaru dealer next week to see what they have. They sent me a single picture of all of their Little Guys grouped together but that didn't do much for me, hah.

Thanks to everyone for your input so far.

by **07rascal** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:00 am

someones1 wrote:The cheapest (and lightest) Little Guys now are the Joey and Rascal, at 450 and 490 lbs curb weights, respectively, according to their website. This is kind of what I had in mind, but it all goes back to the original question -- should I expect to get them to be able to come down a grand, or a couple hundred, or maybe just twenty bucks? I guess I was hoping that someone here had some insider knowledge as to the markup on these things.

Cliff, I'm actually going to that Subaru dealer next week to see what they have. They sent me a single picture of all of their Little Guys grouped together but that didn't do much for me, hah.

Thanks to everyone for your input so far.

That is correct on the weights. We bought a 2007 Rascal new, msrp was something like $5495....Dealer in Canton Oh sold it to us for $3900. Yes, haggle with them, and do not pay retail.

Our rascal is about 550 lbs loaded at the most. We have added lights, Fantastic Fan and galley enhancements and love it. (Pics are in our Album). We tow it with a 2006 Ford Focus 2.0L Auto. It does great with the trailer and gets us 28-30 towing.

Have had NO issues with the trailer in the 4 years we have had it.

by **roadmaven** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:28 am

This may be something worth looking into. Little Guy has an ebay store where they often have 2 or 3 used models up for auction or buy it now. Currently there's a 2010 Joey model that's never been towed or camped in, although it's listed as used. I think this is their barest of bare bones models, as I'm not sure if it's even wired with interior lights. Price seems reasonable though if you'd use the buy it now option: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10-Littl ... lers#v4-37

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