New Guy Intro

[JustBob]

Hello all. My name is Bob, and I live in Southern AZ. I have been looking at tears for some time, but just in the last week found this site. This is a great asset for those of us who knew about them, but not enought to build or even know where to buy these little jewels. It is also a great introduction to what Teardrops are and what you can do with them.

Just this afternoon, I found the idea that I have been waiting for. You see I ride motorcycles everywhere, as my sole transportation. I have looked at a few teardrop campers, but even though they said they were made for a motorcycle, they invariably were too heavy. I ride a big touring Victory, and now I haul a cargo trailer and camp, but I don't like tents. I have tried the popups that tow behind bikes, and I don't like the way they haul, and how hard they are to stop. In the non-standard forum I found a way to make a lightweight trailer using coroplast. I also ride recumbent bicycles and made a couple trailers and tailfairings using coroplast, but never even thought about using one for a teardrop. I have priced the coroplast, and even have a used tent camper trailer (for motorcycles) that I am going to use as my platform. I will take pictures and post them, but this will be my ultralight teardrop build. Thanks guys for providing me this very excellent site and all the information.

By the way, I also am building a trike for my wife to ride, and will be building a larger teardrop as soon as I finish the ultra tear. I have some other ideas for that one, but it will not be as bare bones as this one will be. Hope to see ya on the road.

JustBob

[BillandMarijo]

Bob,
Welcome to the forum. Like the idea of hauling a tear on the back of your bike. I live in Pa and am still riding my bike, 1200 Yamaha Ventre, the wifes getting mad cause its been in the 30s in the morning and I am still riding to work. I guess its time to put her in the garage for the winter. (the bike..lol) I retire next Jan 2010 and look forward to traveling with our Tear the wife and I built. So if you are planning on building or buying take your time, plan and figure out what your needs are. And most importantly enjoy.
Have a good one.
Bill and Marijo

[Roly Nelson]

Hi Just Bob, welcome to the forum. Looks like you have the exact teardrop in your mind, now all you have to do is build it. How about posting some pics of the one you have built, and do the same when you build the "big one".
Roly

[Lgboro]

If you haven't found them yet there have been several in depth discussions of lightweight tears and a few that also discuss motorcycles tears. There are several in the hall of fame - Trikermans Teardrop is one that comes to mind. Look forward to following your build and hope you are able to get started soon.

[Miriam C.]

to the playground Bob. Really looking forward to the pictures of this build. A lot of us want/need something smaller. Just be sure not to get it light enough to take flight.

[JustBob]

Thanks for the welcome yall. I am going tomorrow to get the trailer i will be using. It's a popup aluminum trailer designed to be towed by a motorcycle, but in it's current configuration it is much too heavy. It is 5.5' long and 42" wide. I am taking it down to the under frame for the build. It is a little smaller than the trailer as it sits now. I read the post about the bicycle camper and though it is definitely not for towing behind a bicycle let alone a motorcycle, it has some definite promise. I want my trailer to looke like a regular teardrop, just a lot lighter, with some storage in the rear. I won't have a regular galley, as the material I will be working with doesn't like heat much, but I already have a standalone kitchen I built when my son was in scouts and I was an adult leader. It should work ok, or if not, I can build a downscaled version to work. I want the trailer fully loaded to weigh no more than 250 lbs. I may go with the trailer wheels that are on it now, or use a couple of small motorcycle wheels I have now. It would probably roll easier with the motorcycle wheels/tires on, but it will sit a lot higher than I want it. I guess I will have to check for some rounded trailer tires sold on a motorcycle cargo trailer, expensive, but right size and they are high pressure and roll very easily.
Now I can't stop thinking of it.