Yet Another New Guy From Eastern Canada - New Brunswick

[Novaboy]

Hey Everyone,

Although I don't have a trailer yet, I'm hoping to soon. Question.....does anyone else here use a TD with a family, or am I the only one that is nutz.

We have a VW Golf wagon with a 1000lbs tow capacity, so I am very limited to trailer size. I am not much of a builder, so I'll be purchasing something. The only brand that has a dealer even close to me is Little Guy, and thats a 4 hour drive.

The Little Guys have an optional tent that attaches to the side door, which for us means additional sleeping space for the kids. I'm looking at a 5x8 Silver Shadow.

Love to hear from other TD'ers that camping with their kids (my two girls are 10 and 13). My 10 year old is the real keener for camping so I suspect most of the time it will be the two of us heading off on the weekends, and my solo surf and windsurf trips.

Thanks folks, hoping to be joining the TD ranks very soon.

[vickraft]

Hi fellow New Brunswicker and Teardrop enthusiast
We live in Allison New Brunswick near Moncton.
My wife and I are presently building a Teardrop to haul behind our little Toyota Matrix. Our car has a maximum hauling capacity of 1500 lbs. Our trailer should only weight about 900 lbs when completed. Having a lot of fun and looking forward to our maiden voyage in June. If you ever travel this way give us a call and come have a peek of what we are up to.

Vic & Kristy Leger
506-856-7940

[George Taylor]

Welcome. We did use our teardrop for one season with our son, but had to get a Scotty for the short term. Love the teardrop more than the scotty. We did love using it and will be building one that is slightly bigger than the tear we have.

[buckisland1950]

Novaboy:

I currently pull a Little Guy 5 wide with a 2011 Jetta Sportswagen TDI which is rated for 1000 lbs towing. It pulls and handles great. I added firestone airbags to the rear suspension to help with the clearance and that helped a lot as I would bottom out on the hitch. I also have the 10x10 Paha Que tent that was made for the little guy and while it is a bit of a pain to put up by myself is well worth the trouble. I don't think I would be as happy with the newer 5x7 tent even though I usually camp by myself. It's just too great having all that room when it rains or becomes buggy and at night I just drop the sides for privacy and have plenty of room to store all my stuff. Hope this answers some of your questions.

Franke

[Novaboy]

Franke,

Thanks for the reply, glad to hear you have no issue with pulling the 5-Wide with the VW. The SS 5x8 is basically the same weight. Was it a big deal/cost to add the airbags?

[Novaboy]

Hi Vic and Kristy,

Glad to see another NBer on here. I'd love to drop up sometime and have a look at your build. I was in Halifax today and looked at Little Guy Silver Shadow 5x8. Loved it, awesome little trailer. Now if I can get the missus fully onboard, I'll get it. Maybe I'll drop by in June sometime if I take delivery of the Little Guy.

I'll drop you a note sometime. When do estimate the finish of your TD?

Cheers
Terry Burt

[vickraft]

Great! Love to see your new TD. Ours is about 90% complete.

Vic & Kristy

[Novaboy]

Downpayment is on the 5x8 Silver Shadow. Got a great deal, $6995 Canadian, for a new 2013. Pick it up the first week in June.

[vickraft]

Sounds like you got an awesome deal, considering they start around $8,000 US . The best thing is when you pick it up its ready to go. Mine will still be under construction and won't be ready until late June or early July. I had seriously considered one of these before I decided to build mine. Very nice trailer.

Vic

[Novaboy]

Vic, ya thought for small moment that I would build one from a cargo trailer, but soon realized my building skills and available time was non existant.

[Novaboy]

Finally picked up my LG Silver Shadow 5x10 yesterday. Drove the 4hrs home from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The VW Golf towed it very nicely, even in gusty crosswinds it tracked nicely on the highway.

Dealer threw in the trailer cover, wheel lock/chock, and optional spare tire and tongue mount. I also purchased the 10x10 screen tent that attaches to the right side door.

The dogs, kids and my wife love the trailer. Looking forward to our first camping trip.

[buckisland1950]

Franke,

Thanks for the reply, glad to hear you have no issue with pulling the 5-Wide with the VW. The SS 5x8 is basically the same weight. Was it a big deal/cost to add the airbags?

Novaboy:

Sorry I haven't checked back in awhile. The Firestone airbags were $100.00 online and I paid a Tire Store $75.00 to install them. Not to difficult to install yourself if you are handy but I'm getting to the point where it's worth it to me to pay someone else. I definitely recommend the bags.

Enjoy your new TD.....

Franke

[Novaboy]

Here it is, finally home in the driveway. Been so busy with work, I haven't had a chance to sleep in it yet, other than a Sunday afternoon nap. Plan on parking it on the lawn this afternoon and setting up the 10x10 side tent, and do some yard camping tonight. Hoping to get away on Sunday night for our first real overnighter at one of the nearby Provincial parks.

If you close in the pic you can see our Lab puppy snoozing in the trailer.

[Novaboy]

Thanks Franke, I might get a set installed before we go on our big trip to Newfoundland at the end of the summer. Plus a transmission cooler. I'll be putting on a lot of miles on that trip.

Franke,

Thanks for the reply, glad to hear you have no issue with pulling the 5-Wide with the VW. The SS 5x8 is basically the same weight. Was it a big deal/cost to add the airbags?

Novaboy:

Sorry I haven't checked back in awhile. The Firestone airbags were $100.00 online and I paid a Tire Store $75.00 to install them. Not to difficult to install yourself if you are handy but I'm getting to the point where it's worth it to me to pay someone else. I definitely recommend the bags.

Enjoy your new TD.....

Franke

[mikefree]

[quote="vickraft"]Hi fellow New Brunswicker and Teardrop enthusiast
We live in Allison New Brunswick near Moncton.
My wife and I are presently building a Teardrop to haul behind our little Toyota Matrix. Our car has a maximum hauling capacity of 1500 lbs. Our trailer should only weight about 900 lbs when completed. Having a lot of fun and looking forward to our maiden voyage in June. If you ever travel this way give us a call and come have a peek of what we are up to.

Hi Vic. wondering what you skinned it with and where you got it. I have been looking for aluminum in nb but havent had any luck yet....