Hello from Downunder

[Strop]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for letting me share in your little world of joy. I have been dreaming of a little camping trailer for a number of years now and thought I had found what I wanted and then was frightened away at the cost. I came across this site after seeing a member of a car forum I read talk about tears. I had never heard of them before and I am not sure of ever being able to see one over here, though I know they exist.

It has me dreaming again and the wife assures me I can build one when I have put my car back together and built a garage for the house. So I won't be starting tomorrow but the planning, dreaming, reading and thinking has commenced.

I even have a shape chosen,though that might change a number of times.

All the best,

Laurie

[Roo Dog]

G'day Strop,
Welcome aboard.
Yeah we stumbled upon some pictures of Teardrops by accident and based on the pictures went ahead and built one.
It would have been better if we had stumbled upon this forum first but that is the way it goes.
They are a great project and ours, as it turns out, suits our purposes to a tee.
Enjoy the forum.

RD

[PaulC]

G'Day Laurie and welcome to the playground Mate Get those other projects out of the way and then start the fun part.
Cheers
Paul

[bc toys]

welcome to this great site hope you get to do your trailer soon

[donnan]

G'day Laurie and welcome.

I know what you mean about never hearing about TD's before. I only discovered one by accident and then I thought, boy I gotta build one of them.

So far I have changed my mind 3 times. Went from a Benroy design to the 2 person standy design and just last night I changed my mind again and now am going to build a Widget. If you have not as yet found the different types you can build, take a look at this link. http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/teardrop/tear03.htm Plans are even included!

These forums are fantastic! Full of great designs and ideas and the members here are very friendly and helpful.

My build starts in only 2 days time. My trailer turns up from http://www.easytrailer.com.au

I think building something like this is very addictive, I know I have been absolutely pumped since I found out about them.

Tamworth is my location, where are you from?

Paul

[mezmo]

Hi Strop/Laurie,

Welcome to the forum. A lot of info and friendly people here.

I've learned from internet searches that there were TDs there in
Australia in times past [and some mfrs now starting to build some.]
It appears the name used was "Caravanette" more than "Tear Drop".

Here are a couple links to a couple Australian vintage caravan websites
that do have some info on the older ones. This one I occasionally check
out:
http://www.ourtouringpast.com/

This one I joined, and it seems much more active, and has very friendly
members too. They are focused on pre-1970 "vintage 'vans' . [Those
1970 onward are considered "classic 'vans" and have their own website.]
http://vintagecaravans.com/
Their great forum:
http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?
They have a few threads on older/vintage TDs within the various threads and
sections. They have a "Down History Lane" section [aka "DHL"] and here
is the link to the TD portion of that:
http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/in ... hread=2058

Even if you are not specifically interested in vintage caravans, this website and
forum would be valuable to you as there are plenty of discussions and documentation
of restorations and such, and a lot of the early caravans were home builds or kits
and there are some really interesting approaches taken. Build methods and techniques
are in there too. Among the TDs is this really great one-off home built larger TD:
http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/in ... hread=9601

And I have to give a link to my favorite AU vintage van, the Expandavan. It's not a TD
but rather a really unique TTT [Tiny Travel Trailer, or caravan in your terminology.]:
http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/in ... 060&page=1
[The pics in Replys #15 and #22 are very interesting to me - fold-out beds and dinette room.
There were various versions by various mfrs who succeeded each other in producing them
over the years they were built.]

'Hope this gives some background and useful info for you...

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Roo Dog]

Strop,

There is an Australian Yahoo Groups Teardrop site.
There is a lot of info and a good gallery on the site of completed Tears and builds.
Friendly mob.

Take it easy.

RD

[Strop]

Thanks all for the welcome and the initial information.



It is good to see some action over here. I have a long way to go before I start as indicated in thr OP. probably good as I gives me a lot f thinking time, thought I am considering finding a builder next week for the garage. That just leaves me with a car which I wnt to use as the tow vehicle a way.

Paul, just up the road from you in Armidale.

Best to all,

Laurie

[donnan]

Nice to see you here Laurie.

Perhaps when I get along a bit, you might want to pop in and take a look.

Cheers
Paul