Noob from Indiana

[Hoosier Daddy]

Hello!
My name is Scott and I am Married with 4 Daughters all grown and out of the house, 3 Grand Daughters and a Grandson.
While I am new to TNTT, I am not new to camping. The Wifey and I had a Pop-Up and this year we have moved up to a 248 Coachmen Travel Trailer.
I have been wanting to build a TearDrop for years and when the Son-in-Law also expressed his interest the rekindled my flame.
Last weekend I found a used 5x8 utility trailer on Craigslist, Made the guy a low-ball offer over the phone, sight unseen and he accepted.
So here I am looking for tips and ideas on building my Daughter and S.I.L. a TearDrop. I'll start a build thread as soon as thing start coming together.
Thanks for having me!

[GerryS]

You picked a great chapter to be a member of! Kurt and Dan do a great job of planning them, not to mention the BIG daddy of all gatherings, Crossroads of America which is coming up in a few short weeks. This is where you want to go ideas...

Have you been to any of our Gatherings? Teardrop or no, there's plenty of great people who will welcome you.

[bobhenry]

Gerry is correct !

Get to the CRA gathering if at all possible in July. With 150 +/- trailers to gawk at you will leave with hundreds of different ideas. Make your visit on Saturday and we will buy dinner. Come equipped with a plate and an appetite and join us for the pot luck dinner.

What part of our great state are you in. I am sure there is someone in the area that would help with pointers on your build.

[bc toys]

Welcome to this great site Scott is the SIL going to be helping you with this build or are you going it alone. As for the CRA when and where is it located is it ever year if so I would look into it for next year want to make a trip out east next summer

[Hoosier Daddy]

It's going to be a project for the SIL and I and I am looking forward to working with him!
No I have not been to any of the gatherings....Thanks for the Heads-up! I will poke around and look for gathering listings, so far had only lurked on those threads associated with build tips / tricks and plans.
I am in the north / east corner of Indiana , north of Ft Wayne about 35 miles, outside of Kendallville.
Base camp at Bixler Lake but occasionally visit Chain-o-Lakes and Pokagon SP's but have ventured as far as Lake Rudolph at Santa Claus, IN.

So a little more detail on my future build, I have had a 4' x 8' utility trailer for decades and always looked at it as the "donor" for my future Teardrop.
As I mentioned we just picked up a Nu-2-Us '05 Coachmen TT and while the original matress was in good shape, the wifey wanted a "nice" one.
That left me with a 54 x 74 matress that while would have been too large for the 4 x 8 would be a nice sixe for a 5 x 8. That lead to having my eye's peeled on CraigsList. Saw this trailer listed and picked it up the next day for $250.



Oddly enough, next to the size of the trailer... the WHEELS are what attracted me, 8 holes around the edge of the 4 bolt 10" rims. With a treatment of Duplicolors Silver Wheel paint and clearcoat should looke like vintage mag wheels!

[bobhenry]

Welcome to this great site Scott is the SIL going to be helping you with this build or are you going it alone. As for the CRA when and where is it located is it ever year if so I would look into it for next year want to make a trip out east next summer

Spencer Indiana at McCormick's creek state park. This national gathering occurs on the odd numbered years. 2011 was the first 2013 was a full to the seams park and 2015 is getting full full full.

Here is the link to this years event.

http://cra2015.weebly.com/

2011 and 2013 are well documented on the forum with dozens and dozens of pictures in each thread.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Spencer isn't that far...



But it is rather short notice, we have an shindig planned the weekend of the 4th here at the camp backyard, Boon-docking down by the lake. Family and friends with two other trailers and a few tents...

[bobhenry]

There is primitive camping at the park as well.

Sure hope you don't have to wait 2 more years for such a great gathering.