So you think you want a tear????

[nyscilla]

Oh - I know I want a tear!! Have loved camping since I was a child and now love taking whoever will come (or just myself) and hitting the great outdoors. However, tents are hard to do with just self or self and niece and I am getting a little too old for sleeping on the ground and have been unable to find a cot that was much better! The perfect solution - a teardrop - still spending time outside, cooking outside, but with a wonderful mattress! I can't believe I never even knew these existed until I found this site (I'd seen little trailers which is what led me here - but not the true teardrop design). Unfortunately, won't be able to build myself (no skills no time no garage) so the hunt begins to find the perfect teardrop fit! I know I'll be using this site lots. Thanks!

[Shadow Catcher]

One recommendation, join Tearjerkers and come to gatherings. There are a number of folks I have met that did exactly that, found what they wanted and got some ideas. There is a lot of very inventive people more than willing to share.

[tipoblanco]

if anyone is looking for a small camper Gina and i have just posted ours for sale,this is the link on craigslist,and dont be shy if you have any questions about ours or if you need ideas about building your own,you are in the right place,we have been there done that,still have my tee shirt that says so
http://eastnc.craigslist.org/rvs/5061356511.html

[blentz]

Hay everyone. Ive been bitten by the bug. I'm gonna build. The problem I have is that there are soo many great ideas out there it difficult to decide what way to go.
So my question is, do I build something simple now and later a more advanced one? Or just go for it now?
I do have some skills, I've done woodworking for several years now and a small time electrical contractor for many years. No welding experance. Currently working in aircraft maintenance.
I must admit I've seen some real craftsman on this site. And would like your input.
Anyway, what do you think?

[jonw]

So my question is, do I build something simple now and later a more advanced one?

My recommendation is go simple now and build something you can use sooner. You'll learn a lot when building and learn even more what is useful and important to you by using it. You'll then be in much better shape for your next build, and you may even decide your first build is good enough and you're happy with it.

[blentz]

That's kinda what I was thinking but I know I can get off into the deep end pretty fast, I'm just that way.
So making this decision to build simple will get it started much sooner.
Thanks for the imput. I'll be making a materials list today.

[Kaz]

The info and people willing to help is amazing. It's nice to see people helping any way they can just because they want to. Not sure exactly what made me want one. I think originally I wanted to restore a vintage Shasta or something. Then I stumbled on this forum and was hooked. My wife calls it my tear drop porn. I'm addicted. Can tell you one thing though after camping all my life you can't get the woods out of my blood. Been through tents, cabins, pop ups, and fully equipped trailers and the tear drop is by far the best way to camp for me. It's like having a chuck box on wheels with a mattress inside.

[blentz]

Thanks Kaz, I can see this becoming an obsession, I love making stuff and shortly I'll be retired from my regular job.

[Rabid_Dingo]

Hello everyone!

Lurking for a very short while. I have been spending most of my time watching build videos on YouTube.
This was recommended by one of the videos as a source of info and camaraderie. A friend of mine dumped
a HF trailer on me, literally just signed the title over to me. and it has spent the summer gathering a layer of
dust. I cannot pinpoint the moment that triggered my desire to take on this endeavor. But here I am.

I am thinking an over-winterish project to be ready for next late spring/summer season. But we'll see.

Anyone in Colorado? I keep Googleing but groups seem lightly challenging to find.

Cheers!

[sprinklebell]

So, I know this is an older post and what not, but I just wanted to get it out there that I have no clue where to start.
My fiancé and I purchased an old 1968 Red Dale camper and it is by now means a tear drop but it is rather small. Then we realized the the camper itself is not salvageable.
Now we are in the process of stripping everything down to just the trailer frame and rebuilding.
Ultimately, we are planning on building a "standy" with a garage kitchen in the back. We would like to have at least a toilet in it as well.
We have never really built anything and some of these plans look very confusing.
Does anyone know of any like crash course in reading these plans or any plans that have DETAILED notes on how to build without costing like $100 for something that doesn't even give you a picture of the finished product?

I am so lost lol

[sakrebleu1]

So, I know this is an older post and what not, but I just wanted to get it out there that I have no clue where to start.
My fiancé and I purchased an old 1968 Red Dale camper and it is by now means a tear drop but it is rather small. Then we realized the the camper itself is not salvageable.
Now we are in the process of stripping everything down to just the trailer frame and rebuilding.
Ultimately, we are planning on building a "standy" with a garage kitchen in the back. We would like to have at least a toilet in it as well.
We have never really built anything and some of these plans look very confusing.
Does anyone know of any like crash course in reading these plans or any plans that have DETAILED notes on how to build without costing like $100 for something that doesn't even give you a picture of the finished product?

I am so lost lol

I think it'd be pretty rare to come across what you actually need, but if you do, I'm sure everyone on the forum would greatly appreciate to see the crash course. Good luck in finding the plans you're looking for.

[mcubberley]

I think you have found the right place. I would suggest reviewing build journals and then researching specific questions you run into in those threads. Don't just read the ones that look like your target. Read all kinds because many of the techniques are common across styles.

I think doing that will result in the crash course you are looking for. Just remember that mistakes and misteps are all part of process. You can learn from other people's mistakes but rest assured you will make some as well. Sometimes you don't even realize it was a mistake until you see for yourself it was one.

Be brave and act with confidence that's the most important first part.

[c311833]

Hi fellow newbees and helpful tnttt veterans! Now retired, my wife and I, having done an RV trade study, have decided a teardrop will be ideal for our initial travel needs. I'm good with my hands and have no doubt I could probably build one but I lack the motivation some of my fellow newbees seem to have.

So my wife and I are in the market for a 5x8 TD of some sort, new or used, with a galley. Ideally we could find something local to us in the Southern California area, but I'm not opposed to driving a distance to find the right unit at the right price.

So any suggestions, experience with units from the various manufacturers would be greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to becoming active members of this great community of great people!

Best regards!

[Train Wreck]

Hello Everyone,
So as you can see I am new here. I have been on this site for a while now but just decided to sign up when I made the decision to tear Down my 25ft Flagstaff camper. Got it for $2000, at the time of purchase it seemed like a good deal after digging deeper I saw it needed ALOT of work so I ripped it apart. Kept everything I wanted from it and am starting fresh. This may sound dumb to some but I plan on doing a 20ft long 6ft high teardrop. I just really like the shape. Here are some pics so far of the tear down and frame painting. Is there any other teardrops this size?

20180412_152017.jpg (148.05 KiB) Viewed 17077 times

20180411_174448.jpg (98.29 KiB) Viewed 17077 times

20180324_164650.jpg (203.2 KiB) Viewed 17077 times

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[Train Wreck]

Hello Everyone,
So as you can see I am new here. I have been on this site for a while now but just decided to sign up when I made the decision to tear Down my 25ft Flagstaff camper. Got it for $2000, at the time of purchase it seemed like a good deal after digging deeper I saw it needed ALOT of work so I ripped it apart. Kept everything I wanted from it and am starting fresh. This may sound dumb to some but I plan on doing a 20ft long 6ft high teardrop. I just really like the shape. Here are some pics so far of the tear down and frame painting. Is there any other teardrops this size?

20180420_132622.jpg (117.01 KiB) Viewed 17076 times

The attachment 20180411_174448.jpg is no longer available

The attachment 20180412_152017.jpg is no longer available

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Trailer cleaned and painted

20180420_132622.jpg (117.01 KiB) Viewed 17076 times

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk