Greetings from Iowa

[3doghouse]

I am very happy to have found this community. Please forgive me if I ask a lot of really basic questions!

I have a major teardrop lust going on. I often read posts whilst having my morning coffee, just to dream a little before the corporate world gets its claws into me for the day.

A bit about me. For me, the major appeal of teardrops is the minimalism, freedom to go anywhere, and ability to carry the essentials of my life with me.

I look longingly at So-Cal and CampInn a couple of times a month, and have begun setting aside money to buy one in two years. Once I semi-retire in about 2-3 years I want to take an extended road trip around the country and up through Canada. I have traveled pretty extensively throughout this country, but always on highways. I want to get off the highways and explore parks and small towns.

I know that a couple of you are full-time teardroppers. How often do the rest of you adventure out? And where do you normally stay, in a campground or NFS land, or? My ideal is to get far enough away from the world to be able to park in the middle of a meadow where the dogs can romp safely and I can read, sleep, and take long hikes with the dogs. I have been reading about solar showers and galleys so that I can stay clean and fed.

I am a single woman who would be traveling alone, so my primary concerns revolve around safety and security. I have 3 dogs, but the only danger they might pose to a stranger would be death by salivation. I plan to have bear spray on hand to ward off animal predators of various species, but am also concerned about more mundane security issues. For instance, how do you secure your teardrop, animals, and belongings while in a campground shower or while out for a hike?

What, if anything, do you miss the most when you are away on a longer teardrop outing? What is the longest trip that you have taken?

I am in Iowa, and would love it if I could see someone's teardrop. Thus far, it has been an abstract fantasy. I need to see one in person. Is there anyone out there in the upper midwest who wouldn't mind letting me see your teardrop?

I have already learned a lot about the teardrop lifestyle from reading your posts. Thank you and look forward to future posts!
Sheila

[Bodyman]

Welcome to the forum Shiela
Read and post questions on the forum. All your questions and concerns will be answered by the time you are ready for your trip.
Where are you located? I have a small informal gathering (about 6-8 teardrops) in May at my campground about 50 miles north of Cedar Rapids. You are more than welcome to come and check out the teardrops and even talk to Craig and Betsey from Camp Inn.
Later
Randy

[Verna]

Welcome, Sheila!!!

I, too, travel around the country by myself with one small dog. I have tent camped and I also bought a TTT this year.

I have always felt secure amongst other campers. We seem to be an honest, helpful bunch of friendly people. Your dogs will tell you if there is someone who you should be wary of, even if they are the salivating kind like my Sunny Day.

As far as security when leaving your TD, just put your dogs in the TD, lock it, keep the keys with you, take your shower and everything will be there when you get back. Take your dogs for a walk, and everything will be there when you get back. Take your vehicle for a side trip and the TD will be there when you get back. I've always felt safer in a campground than in a motel.

Check out the "Lady Teardroppers" section and the security thread. There's a lot of good answers to your questions.

Good luck with your upcoming retirement--it's everything you've dreamed of, and more!!!

Verna

[3doghouse]

Welcome to the forum Shiela
Read and post questions on the forum. All your questions and concerns will be answered by the time you are ready for your trip.
Where are you located? I have a small informal gathering (about 6-8 teardrops) in May at my campground about 50 miles north of Cedar Rapids. You are more than welcome to come and check out the teardrops and even talk to Craig and Betsey from Camp Inn.
Later
Randy

Hi Randy,
Thank you! I would love to come to your get-together in May to see some "live" teardrops. I am in Des Moines, so most likely am only about 3 hours from you. Oh, and about talking to the Camp Inn people, let me just say that I begin drooling copiously over their large teardrop with the windows every time I see it on their website! I will check in again on this meeting next spring. Thanks for the invite!
Sheila

[Bodyman]

[3doghouse]

Welcome, Sheila!!!

I, too, travel around the country by myself with one small dog. I have tent camped and I also bought a TTT this year.

I have always felt secure amongst other campers. We seem to be an honest, helpful bunch of friendly people. Your dogs will tell you if there is someone who you should be wary of, even if they are the salivating kind like my Sunny Day.

As far as security when leaving your TD, just put your dogs in the TD, lock it, keep the keys with you, take your shower and everything will be there when you get back. Take your dogs for a walk, and everything will be there when you get back. Take your vehicle for a side trip and the TD will be there when you get back. I've always felt safer in a campground than in a motel.

Check out the "Lady Teardroppers" section and the security thread. There's a lot of good answers to your questions.

Good luck with your upcoming retirement--it's everything you've dreamed of, and more!!!

Verna

Hi Verna,
Thank you for your response!

My only concern about teardropping alone revolves around being alone and vulnerable if something should go awry, which is a bit strange because I have always been an adventurer and very independent. I feel better hearing about your positive experience traveling alone.

I will take your advice and read through the threads you suggested. I am going to plan a few tent camping trips by myself to test my comfort level.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. I love it that you are such an open and welcoming community. I look forward to being part of this forum.
Best,
Sheila

[Catherine+twins]

My only concern about teardropping alone revolves around being alone and vulnerable if something should go awry, which is a bit strange because I have always been an adventurer and very independent. I feel better hearing about your positive experience traveling alone.

Sadly, incidents and accidents can happen when you are home alone, too. Perhaps you can have a "home base" that you can call in to regularly. For example, my retired step-dad often decides to go on impromtu road trips, but he calls us once a day while he is out photographing the world: "I'm leaving Green River for Gunnison," "I'm heading from Gunnison to Silverton and then to Durango," and so on. If you don't have anyone you can call every day, maybe several friends you can call (or email) once a week--"If it's Wednesday I need to call Gail." Using my step-dad as an example again, he posts to his blog while he is on the road, and his Facebook, another way to keep in touch with family and friends. However, if you do blog and facebook for others to read, make lots of references to "My friend Gail is staying at my house while I'm on the road, taking care of the geriatric dog who had to stay behind...." even if Gail is only there for 15 minutes a day watering the plants on the windowsill. There have been unfortunate cases of people blogging about their vacations and robbers using that information to empty their houses down to the studs! (Sadly, that sort of thing happened even before Facebook and twitter. My step-dad's boss and his family were in a car crash many years ago, which was reported in the local paper. While they were all in the hospital recovering, their house was stripped!)

Finally, consider posting this sign in your car when it is parked in the campground:

If my car alarm is going off, I may have fallen and I can't get up! Please Help!

And then keep your keys with you and know which button to push to set off the alarm.

Oh, and start with a few short trips. You'll want to figure out what you need most, what you don't need at all, and how long you can take your own company.

I'm 50 and have to put my kids (now age 10) through college before I retire and relax. But we are already camping (in a tent still, but working on the trailer again). In fact, I'm already planning a trip to the southern edge of New Mexico around Thanksgiving! Anyway, I envy you. Have fun!

Catherine

[Audrey]

HI Sheila,

Great post. I just joined as well and your profile similar to mine. single female, 4 boston terriers, concern is yes, leaving them inside but obviously I want to have some airconditioning for them,,,,,(that is my biggest concern, where to put air and to find one small enough for TT).

and all those who responded to your post,,most informational.

I'm toying with idea of making one. a nice member who lives not far from me extended offer for me to come look at his in a couple of weeks.

can't wait!

ps, I spent a year in Grinnell (3 decades ago!).

Audrey in Colorado

[Roly Nelson]

"I need to see one in person. Is there anyone out there in the upper midwest who wouldn't mind letting me see your teardrop?"

Oh Shelia, I had to laugh out loud when I read your post. By the way, welcome to the best teardrop and tiny trailer information board on the internet. Actually, I know no teardropers who would ever NOT allow you to see their trailer. Hey, we love for look-e-loos to come and check us out. How else can you get an idea of what shape, size and quality rig you are looking for.

As far as protection when you are in or around your trailer in a campsite, there is a powerful Raid wasp and hornet spray available in a handy container that will shoot a spray 22 feet, and repel most any dangerous person or animal. If shot in the eyes, it will require a trip to the hospital, which should teach the aggressor a lesson not to be forgotten.

I know no one who has ever been robbed of their belongings while at a teardrop gathering, or from informal trailer get-togethers. However, I feel camping at remote sites, far away from other fellow campers, could pose some sort of uneasyness for a woman alone. (and even this 79 year old man). I suppose that is why I tend to refrain from staying overnight at a Walmart parking lot, where the same situation might apply. Some feel differently, but to each his own.

Good luck on your search for a quality built teardrop, the two that you mentioned should make you happy. If you have the time, I think it would be worth your while to drive up to Mid-Wisconsin and check out the Camp-inn trailers. Their welcome mat is always out, and in my opinion, is the highest quality rig on the market.

Keep us posted on your search and purchase, we will be looking forward to seeing you in a campground, and surely you will also be happy to let other non-teardroppers check out your fine rig.
Roly, the li'l ol' woody TDer in So Calif.

[Oldragbaggers]

Welcome Sheila. I enjoyed your post very much and can relate to much of it. I travel, by various means, water and land, with my husband, but I have no doubt that if I were alone I would continue to do the same.

Having shared my life with an ex-police officer and military man, I know we will always have a gun aboard for protection, be it boat or travel trailer (no dogs for us) . While various sprays and repellants might work in some situations, there are times when certain people can just be affected to a higher state of agitation by such things. But, we're talking extremes here.

There is a sense of community among campers, the same as we have found among boaters and bicyclists, that leads to a feeling of security not found in more anonymous environments. Isolated areas would make me more nervous than an area where I was around other campers.

You have found a wonderful group of people here. I am currently building my first teardrop and they have been such a wealth of information and source of encouragement. You will no doubt get invited to gatherings and have many chances to see lots of teardrops. We had already attended our first gathering before I ever cut my first board for my teardrop. Everyone was so generous with their time and the hospitality extended to us was amazing.

There are as many different types of teardrops as there are people who build them and camp in them. You are sure to find something perfect for you.

Becky

[Woodbutcher]

Sheila, I have my Teardrops in Galena Illinois. You are welcome to come look at 2 very different teardrops anytime you like. Plans are being made now to do a third. Also completely different. Good luck with your search. This is a great place for help and information. I attend the outing in May with Randy's (bodyman) group.

Steve