teardrop reatals what do you think

[SIXTOTWO]

We know some people who rent out their Little Guys. http://www.millertrailersales.net/ sell them also.
They're usually booked all summer long. This is on the East Coast.

Good luck with that endeavor!

[hotrod]

I think its a great idea but the trouble is going to be keeping people from destroying them. the, its a rental who cares mentality...I really dont want to stomp out a dream but sometimes people suck.

[Miriam C.]

Get good insurance, charge a deposit and have at it. Wonderful idea!

[rebapuck]

Your teardrops will have to be a balance of sturdy and cheap. Some renters just don't care.

You'll have to have a clear understanding of who takes care of what if they breakdown.

I think the idea flys.

[Kevin A]

There's a member on the board by the name of Glassice. If I recall correctly, he has mentioned an idea about building and renting teardrops. You might want to contact him for ideas.

[caseydog]

There are places all over that rent Little Guy campers. The one in our area rents them for about fifty bucks per day.

I rent mine out to people I know well enough to know they will take care of it. It raises some money for my own camping trips.

If you give it i try, keep your "rental" TDs simple and don't put a ton of money into them, would be my advice. Something along the lines of a Little Guy -- basic, lightweight,easy to tow, easy to clean and repair.

As long as you don't sink too much of your retirement funds into the idea, it seems like it is worth a try. I don't know that you will get rich off of it, but it might be able to make you some fun-money.

CD

[Oasis Maker]

Great advantage of a teardrop rental is that there is far less to abuse than with other RV rentals.

Seriously, many years ago I was "briefly" considering getting a pop up. Our local Starcraft dealer rents out about a dozen of these things every year and then sells them used... (1 year old.) Man, I cannot describe to you the sheer funk inside and abuse those things took in just one year. Who knows what folks were doing in there?

BUT, they had tons of fabric to funk up with the seat cushions and curtains, plastic windows, and the entire mechanical canvas pop top was just a mess and most wouldn't even crank up right, the beds were shot from mildew (and a lot more probably). You just know people were folding everthing up wet after a rain. You got porta potti's not being dumped right, burnt food in the stoves and screen doors not shutting right... etc. ugh

You don't have all the crap with a teardrop. You have a mattress - which you will chuck anyway if you ever decide to sell your fleet used. And I totally agree, keep it simple with something like Little Guy Teardrops - I wouldn't even do electrical.

Good luck.

Scott G.

[Corwin C]

My thoughts ... dead simple teardrop 3/4 ply sides and floor, 1/4 ply roof (2 layers maybe). Pick a profile that's easy to build, and mass produce your fleet w/ a router and flush cut bit. Bolt straight down to HF trailer. Sand and seal w/ CPES and varnish or paint. 12v light in cabin and galley (use their battery from TV via long cord under hood or by trailer connection for power) Limo tint the windows (don't need curtains) etc.

Rent (or sell) inflatable mattress (easy to clean), water containers, and other camping equipment separately.

When they return it, sweep or vacuum it out, wipe it off, a squirt of Lysol and rent it out again (all "hard" surfaces).

I think it could be done ... when one gets messed up just crank up the router and slap together another one.

Corwin

[hotrod]

ya know a guy could look at it like being an outfitter. Like up in the minnesota boundary waters. Rent canoes, rent paddles rent life jackets. sell food and camping gear, help folks get headed in the right direction. charge for everything. There is some money in it but overhead is high. Deposits would be a must. Maybe even sell a little trip insurance.say, on a 2 week trip charge $100 for insurance if they have trouble with their trailer, you would come and get it. You might make some dough there, not everyone is going to file a claim.. lotsa ways to make money if a kid keeps an open mind..

[glassice]

Sounds like you have a plan ! After taking to the rental co we sale to here a few Tad bits #1 bad for me .He will keep the trailers for 20 years it coast him $ 7400 to buy and ship to Costa Rica so that $370 a year over the 20 years
#2 he paints a new design every year on half of them so they think he get's new one every year (If you keep fiberglass panted it will last forever It the U V light that kills them0 #3 with no wood he pulls on to 1 ramp to make them lean opens the doors and presser wash them out no big deal to clean out #4 he sales insurance, for $10 a week It covers his all his cost and then some with glass it very easey to fix (he can rent all year)rent is $30.00 a day. hope this helps

[S. Heisley]

Look here for ideas to help with your plan:

http://vacations-in-a-can.com/