The younger generation?

[dudebro]

I'm 30. Work in marketing too... I like this question.

Here's my opinion on what prevents the younger gens.

20s- lack of available money, tents are fine, meh don't need it
30s- meh, want to build savings, having a baby means it's collecting dust or getting sold

I can say that it's fashionable for the younger generation to dress like mountain men and almost look homeless. Also quite popular to act and be manly. I'd say the marketing ideas from the 30s to 70s would help sell the kit ideas. Adventure and manliness would be key for younger men.

I do like the idea of a easy and organized weekend getaway where I don't have to board the dogs and labor over packing it all in my little car- it can't all fit so we don't pack everything we want. My reasoning is that if my lady enjoys it, we'd be able to do a lot of inexpensive road trip adventures which would pay for itself and be super memorable.

[Dave S]

Younger, older.........heck, you never know when the "interest" is sparked. You have to be where they are.......or they have to be where you are. I started late for all reasons mention, but it seems I get teens, 20's, etc. coming over and asking about my 47 Cub. Had 4 teenagers just about talk my ear off (and those who know me....Running Mouth.....know how hard that is). One of the youngest of the gang told me his friend (pointed him out) was building one and was getting ideas. I go to NASCAR, car shows, campouts, just all kinds of places and "kids" (everyone under 50) always seem interested. We need to help them keep their interest high. Talk to them........Help build one, help find one, help remodel one or help finance one. We can pull them along without them even knowing it. And we need to "create or identify" a reason to have and use one.......and side tents or enclosures make a great addition to a tear.

[oakinteriors1]

I wish I would have built one of these 10 yrs ago...Our daughter is over 30 and the pop-up is 20 yrs old...

After building all the kayaks and paddling with a local group each week through the summer I could never get anyone interested in building their own kayak they prefer paddling those heavy plastics "We builders call Tupperware kayaks" which some cost over $2,000 !
So I mentioned last summer I was going to build a Teardrop and some seamed interested... Time will tell..
And thought I'd mention we live within 10 miles of 3 Big RV dealers that sit right off I-70.... Like to draw business away from those big boys!

[rowerwet]

I didn't discover tears until my 30's, I probably would have built one sooner if I had known about them when I was younger.
my ideal camping is on a body of water with boats heavily involved, sleeping in a tent is just fine for me. For us the tear is a way to see the places we want for cheap, then spend the money for extras like sight seeing airplane rides, boat tours and rides, museums etc.
We're planning our first family camping trip with the tear, (always canoe family camping before this) the big difference will be instead of a few days we will be camping for a week. (four kids, 12 to 3, if it doesn't work we'll be just an hour or two from home)

Personally I think Teardrops have a better chance of getting to younger people now thanks to the internet, I discovered tears because of a link on a boat building page. Before the internet I (or anyone else) could have seen a teardrop and even have talked to the owner/builder, but most people wouldn't go ahead and try to build one with out the kind of advice, support, plans, and knowledge base this and other websites give.
I make sure I give the link to this site whenever I get a chance to talk about my teardrop on boat building or other DIY type websites. People who build and maintain boats, or know the joy of creating and designing things themselves are much more likely to end up building a tear. The one sad side of the internet is the huge group of people who can't run a screwdriver, hammer a nail, or change their own oil. As an airplane mechanic I often hear the industry is seeing a big drop off in interested people, (here in MA many high schools have gone to thinking they should only be college prep) many kids don't know how or want to work with their hands. (I love telling people my trade school total cost was about 1/3 of my yearly salary, I haven't met a college grad that could say that yet)

The other trend working in our favor is the lack of tow ratings for new smaller cars. My Focus isn't rated to tow period according to Ford, it tows my fairly light teardrop just fine. I don't think I could find another camper it could tow. Look around this site and there are pictures of just about everything (even a smart car) towing a tear. For once I'll have to give the block heads in DC credit, the new EPA freedom reductions should cause more people to look into a camper their new econobox can pull, I've even seen some posts asking just that question.