Ugh, I'm so frustrated!

[BrianM]

Argh.. you looked left first and saw my joined date, didn't ya? Yes, I've been on here and luring for that long (off and on), and no I've never done anything more than lurk and daydream occasionally. Funny thing how 8 years more of tent camping and age wears on you, and it gets harder and harder every year.

So, I'm trying to figure out my best way to get into a TD. To say that I have more time then money is an understatement since I've been unemployed (and WAY under "retirement" age) since 2009, but thankfully I have a background as a motorcycle mechanic and have renovated 3 houses. I'm good with my hands, understand systems and what little money I bring in comes mostly from fix and flipping very neglected motorcycles. I'm also a decidedly function before form guy... with the One caveat of liking unique and rare motorcycles (hey, it's my main hobby and I made the rounds of the normal stuff years ago).

What I'm trying to decide is if it's cheaper (or offers better value) to build something 1-off for myself... which seems to hover right around $3500, or buy an older TD and work on it to suit. The old TD in this case, is a 1947 Tourette that I haven't inspected yet (5 hour round-trip, want to justify the fuel expense first). It's "there", but aged, slightly abused and certainly not original.

Oh, I should mention that I'm 6'4", that's 76".... and I believe that the Tourette has 75", not sure if that'd be uncomfortable since I'm a side sleeper and tend to have an arm over my head, though with slightly bent legs. Still, I find my feet hanging off the edge of a queen mattress sometimes, and that's 80"...

My internal debate goes something like this:

It sure would be nice to design everything to fit me/us... But that'll take months to build, and I'm not even sure that a TD is the right answer. With the Tourette, if you just get it usable you can test things out and if it's a miss, you can be out of it with minimal $$$ loss, not to mention be using it next week, not next year. You know that working on someone elses leavings is Always a mechanical nightmare of wrong fasteners for the job, shoddy work, hidden surprises and unanticipated expenses, not to mention time spent correcting prior ills... and how easy will it be to fix something that's 66 years old and rare enough that there only seems to be a half dozen folks online who've had any hands-on experience with one? But its a dang Trailer, what all could be wrong with it? Heh, yeah... that's the wrong attitude to go into something for which you have zero prior experience... it may be a trailer, but it needs to be waterproof and more than just axle, wheels, floor and lights. Etc...

My wife's given up on me with this one and I'm at a stand-still. Were this a motorcycle and I answering a newbies question about getting started, I'd ALWAYS point them away from a project and towards something that's ready to use. I've just seen way too many people get frustrated by the project experience. But I know about projects, how there are pitfalls and hidden issues you don't discover until it's yours to deal with (ugh, had a BMtroubleU that tossed a bearing in the transmission 1000 miles from purchase). I think I'd lean more towards the Tourette if I had a clue of its value and felt comfortable of getting it at the right price. Any clue what an unrestored 66 year old (uninsulated, non-original) trailer is worth to the general public? Is that an enthusiasts-only thing? Is it something I could reasonably sell in the same Cosmetic condition, but with every important/functional system working 100%? I'm just not willing to gamble much more than $200~300.

So, besides wanting me to shut up already, any other thoughts? Just stick with the tent I bought in 1995? Get a dam job already and buy a little guys 5-wide (wife HATES the way they paint those). Or....

Brian

if you've read this far and to anyone local who wants to meet in person (I'm in central west GA, south of Newnan, north of Columbus) as I'm a homebrewer and will Gladly bring a growler.

[campmaster-k]

I vote build. Just do it. Just build a simple teardrop. You will be glad you did. It does not have to be a career.

[GerryS]

My wife and I were perpetually starting to build for about 3 years....never having time, money and ambition at the same time. We found ourselves falling into some money....at that point we decided to buy. Not a little guy, cant say I'm impressed by their workmanship for style. But there are all kinds of options out there....

[48Rob]

Brian,

Building things, for me, is fun.

For others it is frustrating and worrisome.

You can almost always buy a project already done far, far cheaper than you can build one.

From what I'm reading, you've pretty much decided that the Tourette is a good option.
I would agree. As a tall man "most" teardrops will be too small.

If that falls through, don't discount the tiny travel trailers out there.
With any and all, leave emotions at home and balance what you want to spend with how much it will cost to make useable.
(rot is very expensive)

Rob

[deleted]

Only one piece of advice. If possible, you can build a sleeping area the same size as the trailer. I used a camping mattress and tested my mattress area between our brick fire place and big rubber storage containers and cardboard boxes on three sides one night because a few members here were concerned that I was making my sleeping area (in my 4'x6' trailer) too small giving myself only 8" of clearance length wise and about 30" to sleep in width wise since I moved my galley inside the trailer. When I woke up in the morning having not woken myself in the middle of the night whacking myself into the bricks or the tubs I figured the space was sufficient.

[Roo Dog]

Brian,

Build a Tear to suit you specifically.
Sounds as though you have the hands and the head to do so.
Git inta it.

RD

[pchast]

Brian,

I understand, its tough to just do it. You need to talk about
your tow vehicle first. How much can it tow and what's your
target. I'm still in the middle of a foamy build. I need light.
When you figure what you need, other than the size, You
can determine how and what to build.

From what I've read it seems a pure wood build is faster and
can be built in stages. A foamy needs most of the planning
and everything, electric, back-up blocks etc., decided and
completed before covering.

With a purchased trailer I figured I could build something to
use for less than 1500 if I accepted simple, no AC or Galley.
There are often trailers for sale here and otherwise for 3-5000.
Their bed area would be the question. Just my opinion of course.

I've yet to figure out how much I spent spread out over the
last few months.

[Irmo Atomics]

There's a Hi-Lo in Gainesville right now: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/rvs/4017855179.html
I've been able to restore some real dogs for about $2500 and 3-4 months. Getting started isn't the hard part, finishing is.

[Treeview]

Brian,

Do like Stacie recommended. Make up a bedspace in the house and sleep in it.

I'm 6'2" so the bed in my ToyBox has to go end for end. I tried sideways and it wouldn't work even if I slept at an angle. That for SURE wouldn't work with two in the bed.

That HiLo looks like a decent value if there isn't too much rot and the lift mechanism works. Oh, what else is there without those two?

Having a trailer project like the HiLo would get you out camping right now instead of taking more months to get going. Building from the wheels up is a big task. Rebuilding is a bit easier.

Tom

[BrianM]

Only one piece of advice. If possible, you can build a sleeping area the same size as the trailer.

This was the solution that made the decision for me. I was thinking about it last night when trying to fall asleep and kept realizing that I was taking up the entire 80" of queen mattress to be comfortable. Sure, I could kitty-corner a sleeping area and take space from my wife but that's just plain mean, and I wouldn't want to live with what resulted the next day. So I absolutely, positively Need an 80" long sleeping surface. Funny that within 400 miles (CL searches), there's only 2~3 that may fit the bill, and for pricing I'm not comfortable with. But at least I've made a firm decision.

As for the hi-lo, just not something my wife wants (there was a single-queen pop-up near us last fall that we talked about), same for a Scotty or anything else Not a TD. Our other thought is doing the custom conversion van thing... my earliest memories are of traveling in my parents custom conversion (a brown ford with green shag carpeting... lol, stylish ~ but it had a quadraphonic 8-track! Too bad they sold it before I turned 16... guess tey didn't want their teen son to have a shagmobile )

As for my tow vehicles, the primary would be our 2001 Jetta TDI. I have the Euro/OEM class II hitch, and the car is rated to 1500 without brakes and 3000 with brakes by VW. But I also have a 1997 Toyota T100 truck if push came to shove. I've hauled plenty of motorcycles on utility trailers as well as a 4x8 uhaul cargo loaded to the gills from GA to CO with the Jetta, shouldn't be any issue with a TD.


I have to admit, I am sad with my decision... I really like unique stuff when it comes to toys.

Thanks for the input folks. Building from the ground up will be a challenge... I have no garage of my own so this would be a true backyard build.

[deleted]

Only one piece of advice. If possible, you can build a sleeping area the same size as the trailer.

This was the solution that made the decision for me. I was thinking about it last night when trying to fall asleep and kept realizing that I was taking up the entire 80" of queen mattress to be comfortable. Sure, I could kitty-corner a sleeping area and take space from my wife but that's just plain mean, and I wouldn't want to live with what resulted the next day.

Good thinking. Best wishes on your build. I'm sure in the end you'll be really glad you can stretch out and be comfortable.

[rebapuck]

If you can't fit comfortably in the bed, you won't use the trailer much. It would all be for naught.

Lots of builders have cut costs by scrounging lumber. Get your friends and family looking out for you. Trips to the landfill, requests on Freecycle, cut offs at the formica place and bulletin boards at the grocery may get you just what you want.

As for camping. You still have the tent in the meantime. That will remind you why you want a TD.

[Sputterputz]

Brian.

If you are looking at the touretta in Birmingham a friend of mine went to look at it and said it was really really roached.

On a side note as a fellow Vdubber check out TnEuros.com I'm in n ga and we have alot of get togethers when the season is right. Dieseldoc is my s/n sal is my name.

Sal

[pchast]

Brian,

When finialy camping you will likely use an 'easy up' shelter.
How about buying it now and using the shelter for a building
space?

[Ron Dickey]

There's a Hi-Lo in Gainesville right now: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/rvs/4017855179.html
I've been able to restore some real dogs for about $2500 and 3-4 months. Getting started isn't the hard part, finishing is.

they dropped the price $1500 obo