The younger generation?

[225]

How do we make TD's appealing to the younger generation?

Or, how many people actually want a younger generation to be interested in TD's?

[jonw]

I think TDs appeal to certain types of people regardless of generation.

Do you think there is a need to make them more widely appeal-able? Why?

[Shadow Catcher]

My personal feelings are that there are a number of factors involved. We could not afford ours until the kids moved out and when they camped with us we needed more room. It also became more difficult to sleep on the ground and since we come from tenting the tear was more of a hard sided tent, with the live outside paradigm.
On the plus side tears fit in well with most outdoor activities and can be had/made inexpensively. One of the things I have been impressed with is that a proportionate number of gay and lesbian couples are represented and there does not appear to be a negative response. FYI about 5% of the population is G&L and 5% T (transgender) so about 27 million in the US.

[wincrasher]

Think several things are going on.

First, the number of younger people with the skills to build a teardrop is extremely small. To purchase one s not exactly cheap compared to used travel trailers that are bigger for young families.

Second, camping is a somewhat nostalgic thing. People often get an interest in camping when they start to have kids and have fond memories of those summer camping trips with mom and dad.

Third, money is tight for most young families. If they want to camp, they will be looking to do it cheap with as much comfort as possible and room for everyone. Pop ups are the number 1 RV sold (by units) for that reason.

Forth, most people don't understand that teardrops are still made and sold, or that you can build your own. I often get people asking do they still make those things?

And finally, the number of young folks with disposable money and a penchant for camping as a single or couple is extremely low. They have a lot of other things competing for those dollars.

[Bfahs]

I don't know if I'm "Younger" or not. I'm 40.
I'm interested, but for many of the reasons stated above (Family of 5 needs more space, don't have excess space at my suburban house to store/build and time to build is limited) I fear I will need to wait quite a few years until a Tear can be a luxury for just my wife and I.

[CarlLaFong]

Gay and lesbian? This went sideways in a hurry.
Anyhoo, I think most young people will have to get older before they're interested in TTTs or TDs. They're too obsessed with Facebook and their Smart Phones to ever put them down long enough to pick up a hammer.
Your kids and grandkids excepted, of course

[S. Heisley]

With a few exceptions, teardrops are mostly made for two people to share and not for a young family to share. Generally, if a young family wants to go camping, they will use a large tent or a pop-up tent trailer so that the whole family fits inside. (Building a teardrop for 4, 5 or 6 can get complex.) So, once the younger family members are old enough to be on their own or to sleep in a tent by themselves, Mom and Dad may consider a teardrop for their weary bones. When the younger family members are old enough is up to Mom and Dad's discretion.

[alaska teardrop]

How do we make TD's appealing to the younger generation?

Or, how many people actually want a younger generation to be interested in TD's?

In answer to your second question, I'll say, YES

And as soon as I figure out the first question, I'll post a picture of her with my TD.

[PubUltraStar]

I still act like I'm young, so I'll speak for the Generation X and Y folks. Up until I had the resources, I never would have dreamed of getting any type of RV or teardop. My young body didn't care about staying in Tent City. My 42 year old self is saying that a mattress sounds pretty good. My younger self wanted to hike and canoe as far away from people as possible and enjoy nature. Seems like a majority of the teardrop community loves get together and gatherings. I wouldn't have been able to afford one 20 years ago, as most younger people live paycheck to paycheck and can't reach in the pocket and rub 2 nickels together. Is it crazy that I'm building one, even though I've never seen one in person, yes? But, that is my youthful spirit taking a chance. I believe that vintage teardrops will become popular with younger hipsters as they get jobs and can afford it. You're all only as old as you act, so do a naked Chinese fire-drill around your teardrop next time you're in camp.

[Ron Dickey]

I think they will like them more and more. As the price of gas goes up and they have to drive little cars like the folks overseas do. It will come natural. They will want to pull something that is cheap fun light and can hold a large speaker system. Is a fun place to hide out and hookup ah....ah....ah to their car that is.

[atahoekid]

First of all, let me say that my hindsight , IMO is 20/20. When my wife and I were of child rearing age, a tent provided the room we needed to make sure our kids got outside and experienced nature at a price we could afford. Now that they've got lives of their own to lead, a teardrop is perfect for the wife and I and our 2 dogs. Making sure your kids experience nature and put down their electronic devices is part of being a good parent. My kids are now in their late teens and early 20's and their current focus is working hard to be able to pay for their education expenses and living expenses. I was the same way when I was their age. I'm confident that they'll come back around to going camping. They may or may not want a teardrop and they may or may not want me to help them build one, but I'm sure they will get back to enjoying the serenity and joy of camping. Whether or not teardropping appeals to them or not, really doesn't matter to me. It's more about appreciating the great outdoors.

[225]

There are a "few" people younger than me building TD's or interested in them. I am 34. And I am probably a little too wild for most people that own TD's. So we will see how this "gathering" thing goes.

I just hate to see something cool like TD's go away after a while.

[Ron Dickey]

First of all, let me say that my hindsight , IMO is 20/20. When my wife and I were of child rearing age, a tent provided the room we needed to make sure our kids got outside and experienced nature at a price we could afford. Now that they've got lives of their own to lead, a teardrop is perfect for the wife and I and our 2 dogs. Making sure your kids experience nature and put down their electronic devices is part of being a good parent. My kids are now in their late teens and early 20's and their current focus is working hard to be able to pay for their education expenses and living expenses. I was the same way when I was their age. I'm confident that they'll come back around to going camping. They may or may not want a teardrop and they may or may not want me to help them build one, but I'm sure they will get back to enjoying the serenity and joy of camping. Whether or not teardropping appeals to them or not, really doesn't matter to me. It's more about appreciating the great outdoors.

remember the line hey dad can I barrow the car keys....... Don't be surprised when you hear hey day can I barrow the teardrop!!!!

[225]

That would be awesome.

Mine is freshly built. And already, people ask 1000 questions about it. Not the older generation either. So hopefully that will get people going.

When I start going places I am going to tape a FAQ to the window to let people know that you can build your own and can come to tnttt for guidance on how to do exactly that.

[Shadow Catcher]

Since ours has a Filon skin I was thinking of using dry erase markers on the galley hatch with some "explanations"
No it does Not go up. Yes we sleep in it...