Cenral Illinois Old teardrop/New member

[7879landau]

Hello everyone I have never been on this site before and just signed up for an account. I just bought a 1949 Kit teardrop trailer that needs to competely be redone. I have never worked on anything like this before so I hope I learn alot from this forum. I am the second owner and have the original tittle. Here are some pictures of it when I first got it home. Jim

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/s ... mll013.jpg

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/s ... mll012.jpg

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/s ... mll007.jpg

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/s ... mll008.jpg

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/s ... mll005.jpg

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/s ... mll004.jpg

[Roly Nelson]

Oh Jim, it looks like you have a lost cause on your hands. From the pics, which are great, by the way, it seems there are a number of major problems you will have to deal with.

No galley cabinets, just a screen into the cabin, bottom of hatch lid rotted and no latch, lower galley door off hinges, front tear alum peeling off, rust on door, screws, window and handle, fenders and wheels all rusty, and your tires need to be replaced. No telling what the inside is like, but likely in just about the same shape.

I will be happy to come by and take it off of your hands so you will be rid of this 58 year old headache which is badly in need of a major overhaul. Of course I wouldn't charge you for the haul-off or the dump charges, as I am just trying to make a new friend who is interested in teardrops.

If you believe any of this, you haven't been reading the board long enough. You have an absolute treasure there, and when you have completed your reconditioning efforts, you will have an original teardrop unlike very few others. Do what ever is needed to make it serviceable again and be sure to inquire on the board if you need rebuilding advice or contacts for missing replacement parts. As you can see, the preceeding statements were tongue in cheek, and I commend you for the rescue of a teardrop trailer that was part of the original designs that started it all.

I have thought about rebuilding such a relic, but in this neck of the woods, most of the good finds have been taken. So, I'll stick to the rebuild of my Kenskill 'standy', which I am working on. Good luck on your plans to bring your tear back to life, take pics as you are tearing it up and putting it back together. You are one lucky guy, and don't let anyone talk you out of it..........not even me.

Roly, welcome to the best teardrop and tiny trailer board on the net and I am congratulating you on your rare find.........

[Mike C.]

Jim,

Welcome to the forum. Looks like you are going to have a lot of work ahead of you, but it should be fun. Hope you learn alot here and if you have any questions, just ask. And be sure and keep us updated on your progress with lots of pictures.

[doug hodder]

Jim...welcome aboard...now the real fun begins!!! I had a 49 Kit in '80...and the fenders were about in the same shape..you can get new ones with the exterior flange on them, identical to the originals...a whole lot easier route than I took when I did it. Is the axle an offset torsion? Just interested to see if they were consistent on their builds back then. Is your plan to do it up as closely to original as possible? Whatever you do...just have some fun with it.. Doug

[Miriam C.]

to the playground Jim... What a treasure. I sure hope you are able to restore it... If not we are a kind lot and will take it off your hands...

GirRdun

[dguff]

Hi Jim,
It looks good to me! I restored a 46 Kit that looked rougher than yours when I first got it home. In the end it turned out very well. Good luck with your project and if I can be of any help feel free to ask.

Jerome

[7879landau]

Thanks everyone for the replys. I have been wanting me an orginal teardrop because I like things old and vintage I never really planned on getting one that needed this much work but you all know how much these original ones cost done. I paid 100.00 for this one. I bought it from a lady in Chicago and her dad was the original owner. He died recently and she said the teardrop has been sitting for 30 years she also said with the flat tire you can see in the pictures.

A friend of mine that loves vintage trailers knew I wanted a teardrop and sent me the email she got fo this tear. She has a spartin mansion, a very small Shasta (she will hate me if she reads this because I cannot remember the model) and she has the mid size model Shasta. she is very cool and holds a vintage triler ralley every year up by Montelow wisconsin. I think she has been doing it for about 10 years now and was even coming back here to hold the rally when she lived in denmark. I told her we should do a combination ralley when I get this thing done and invite all the teardrops that want to come and all the vintage trailers. We both live in central Ill so If someone has something around here let us know.

thanks Roly Nelson for your comments you almost had me discuraged in the beginning but I caught on....Hahaha!!!!!

doug hodder, I have already found the fenders but/and thank you for the comment. I believe those are a reasonable price for new ones. It would cost so much more to have them made in fiberglass and probably wouldt look the same.

and thanks Miriam C and dguff If i need any advice or need someone to take this off my hand I will send a message.

thank you, Jim

[Gage]

Jim, just take your time and it to can look good when finished. The Kit and the Kenskill are the best teardrops to restore or rebuild because of the replica parts that are out there. Take it apart carefully. Use all the pieces as templetes. Here's an example of what it could look like when finished. Notice, the galley is very simple.

The Teardrop fix-it-shop is a good place on line for all your 'Kit' needs. It's at http://www.teardropparts.com/index.htm

[SaGR]

Hey Jim,

Welcome to the forum! As soon as I saw this I thought - here's another victim errr, guest for the get together in October! But um, I think you'll be pretty busy

Great find BTW! I believe that one was posted here in the For Sale area. It was in the backyard covered in plants by the garage?

Well, if you want to tent camp in October and look at some other TD's here's the link - http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=17282

Where in Illinois?


Rick

[7879landau]

I live in East Peoria IL.

Well heres where it had sat for 30 years she told me with a flat tire. Her dad took it off and never bought a new tire for it.




I doubt she posted it for sale on this forum but possible I guess. It was in Chicago, like I said 100 dollars. She told me she just wanted it to go to someone that would appreciate it and fix it up because her dad loved it. They used it alot when she was little. Jim

[SaGR]

Thought this may have been it. http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=16578

Well if you'd like to stop by for the TD gathering in October you're more than welcome. See link in my earlier post above.

Looks like it'll be a challenging rebuild but hell, that's half the fun!

[flygal6]

Welcome Jim.....Looks like you have an interesting and fun project ahead of you. My best friend lives in East Peoria, and I'm down there about once a month. Once you get stuff started, would love to see your progress some time in person (but pics will do as well) Like Rick said maybe you can come up for the gathering in Oct. Have fun!
Carol

[7879landau]

Thought this may have been it. http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=16578

Well if you'd like to stop by for the TD gathering in October you're more than welcome. See link in my earlier post above.

Looks like it'll be a challenging rebuild but hell, that's half the fun!

Wow that sounds like its the one because of the carpenter ants and its not her post. I didn't believe she would log on and post it for sale herself. Thats how I heard about it, a freind of mine forwarded the email she got from her to me. I'm suprised no one on here was interested but then again if this site is like the car forum I belong to there are always alot of tire kickers when it comes to buying something by people who know. Good memory though, Jim

[7879landau]

Welcome Jim.....Looks like you have an interesting and fun project ahead of you. My best friend lives in East Peoria, and I'm down there about once a month. Once you get stuff started, would love to see your progress some time in person (but pics will do as well) Like Rick said maybe you can come up for the gathering in Oct. Have fun!
Carol

Ya stopping by would be fine but it may be a while till I get started on it. Ive been working a car that I plan on pulling this thing with and I keep running into one thing after another. Well I've decided to build a new engine for it and finacially my put the teardrop back even farther. I'm hopeing I'll atleast get to use it by next summer some time. I'll email ya when I get started. It would be nice to Know some people before meeting everyone at the gathering but I'm still thinking of maybe coming up. Jim

P.S. does any one drink at these get-to-gethers? If not I'll know to leave my beer at home.

[Gage]

Well here on the West Coast you can drink all you want. Just don't get drunk and affect others pleasure. You'll be asked to leave.

P.S. I would have jumped all over that Kit, but I was on the road headed for the ITG in Neb. and then on to the East Coast. Didn't see the posting until I got back last month. Like that, figured it was long gone so didn't even ask about it. You did good.