How long did your trailer take to build?

[eddie6775]

Hi everyone, I finally have a definite plan for my profile, arrangement and order of operations to put my little canned ham together. I even have an old ttt from my uncle to pull all kinds of neat parts out of! I can make room in the garage to work too! So. Just wondering, How long did it take some of you? I'd like to buckle down and put er' together!

[kirkman]

Took me 29 days!

[canned o minimum]

"Time" is a relative thang...it's not so much how much time as the quality of the workmanship.

Anything worth doin.. is worth doin RIGHT ! no matter HOW much time it takes.

So many variables... are parts, materials close by and readily available... do YOU have any time to DO this project...jus too many questions..

Do it right...make it YERS !

BTW.. I took 6 months to re-build mine.. it was a 2005 Little Guy.. now it's MY canned o minimum !! Build..rip it out... build again... modify...RE-modify.. it's NEVER "done" !

[CliffinGA]

There is a reason that people say we're "Living on Teardrop time" thats because for some it took a very short time as in a month 2 some I think I have read its been lets say more than 5 yrs. You never know what lifes going to throw at you when you start building. Mine has been going on 10 months in December and I'm hoping to have in campable by Feb.

Good luck,

Cliff

[Aaron Coffee]

I started #1 in April 2000 and took it camping for the first time in August 2000, a lot of hurry up and wait, waiting to get a time for my welder to weld the frame, etc. I started #2 Just after ITG 3(2009) and am still not done. I view my teardrops the same way street rodders view there cars, "their never really done". I continually come up with new things to do or change on both of my td's. My philosophy is that mine will be completely done when it is leaving my driveway behind someone elses vehicle, and I am drying my tears with a stack of cash.
Aaron

[Gage]

Well, it took me 2 1/2 years using only hand tools. I'm one who believes in taking your time and doing it right the first time. Think things out before you dive into it and don't take short cuts. Buy the best. If you don't have the money to do so, then save up until you do. You’ll be much happier in the long run. I've got several thousand miles on my teardrop and 10 years without any major maintenance. You can see how I did it at http://www.gages-56.com/tear.html

You can see the finished product HERE



Side note: Don't over build. Your building a teardrop trailer, not a house. Think about it.

[Reddiver]

About 2 years I loved every minute of the shop time

[jss06]

One year to complete the body. Still need to build the galley and inside cabinats. But at least it is usable.

[Woodbutcher]

Mine are a little more elaborate then some. I estimate my first one at about 600 hours and the second around 350. I will be doing a more basic one next and hope to come in around 200. Your results may vary.
My best advise is to break the project into smaller parts. Trailer and floor. Side walls and roof spars. Roof and insulation... You get the idea. If you see progress at each step the project will go better. It's fun and satisfying to build your own. Enjoy the process and ask as many questions as you need to. That will help insure a good out come. Then take it out and start showing your work off. I can't really explain that part. You will just have to experience it for yourself. I had no idea how much attention these little things could bring.

Good luck and post lots of pictures!

[mvperini]

took most of a year to do mine , and mine was a total restoration, the trailer was complete but when you tear them down to the frame and rebuild them i think it takes just as long as building one. and you are kind of restricted on what you can do because you do not want to destroy the vintage look. so you have to become good at upgrading the teardrop and still have a period looking piece

1947 ken skill teardrop



when i build something i take my time , buy what i can afford, if that means saving money to buy the top of the line items that is what i do. I do not want to go back and have to repair something because i decided to buy cheaper stuff or i took a short cut.
I was taught by my Dad that if you take short cuts it will cost you end the end, and i would rather pay for something once and only once.

Mike

[Juneaudave]

About three years I think...and I enjoyed the whole time I was working on it.

[asianflava]

18 months. I'd work on it for a month then take a month off. Work on it for a couple months, get tired of it then take a couple months off.

[Cliffmeister2000]

5 months. The next one will take a year.

[canned o minimum]

Next one ???

[KenC]

So far about 15 months and I'm still not done. I must be on tear drop time