Hello from Asheville,NC! Any advice?

[happytrails]

Lots of good information on this site! I'm looking to buy my first teardrop, and don't want to build my own. I need to look at some in person to see how the different sizes are, but I'm thinking 5x8. Here's a question for the group: when you were first buying or building your teardrop, what do you wish you had known ahead of time? Are there issues you wish you had considered before taking the plunge? What mistakes did you make that you'd like to keep us newbies from making? Thanks, Andrea

[Miriam C.]

Welcome to the playpen Andrea. I really wish I could have seen one in person. It if really helpful to actually get in a tearddrop and get a feel for the size.

There are several gatherings comeing up that wouldn't be to far for you to drive. I think the Georgia Easter gathering is pretty close.
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=13638

Or the Piny Creek NC.
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=13374

Hope that gives you a good start

Enjoy

[Ira]

Hi, Andrea--and welcome! (I know crap about Asheville, but I recently saw a show that really impressed me about it. Cool town. Pus liberal, which I always like.)

I would have built a 5 by 10 instead of a 4 by 8, because I'm now towing with a large truck. However, the initial, strong, MAIN appeal of a TD is that adorable small size.

And it doesn't get any cuter or smaller than a 4 by 8.

But your 5 by 8 decision is a smart one.

It all has to do with what you think you need and want, but that often has nothing to do with what you REALLY need . Us builders get retarded doing certain things because hell--we're building the thing, and we're allowed to get as retarded as we want.

But w've all changed our minds a MILLION times prior to completing the build.

Your cabin is a place to just SLEEP, because believe me, you're not playing volleyball in there. So think of any entertainment stuff you just HAVE to have in there...like a DVD, TV monitor, etc. And maybe a cooling system. (Because for me, I just HAD to have air conditioning here in South Florida.) Also, even in a 5 by 8 as opposed to a 4 by 8, your storage space in the cabin is pretty nonexistent.

THESE THINGS ARE TINY!!!

For the galley, are you heavy duty cooks? ANY idea of how you want to utilize the galley?

Main thing is, if you're purchasing a 5 by 8, go buy the raw model and build into it later what you later know you REALLY want and need, after a few camping trips.

Because like I said above, your current thoughts, wants and must-haves will have nothing to do with YOUR reality at all.

[mrainey]

Hi Andrea,

We're in Kings Mountain, which is well under two hours from you. You're more than welcome to come down and look over our Yoder Toter 5 x 8. We've taken a couple of trips with it and probably can answer a fair number of your questions.

Heck, you can even spend the night in it if you'd like!



Mike & Alice

[ALAN GEDDES]

Get to a gathering and most questions will be answered. Check the South east gatherings section and check in with Ross. Are you a camper already with most of the gear/ what will you tow with/ one or two of you/ do you need to have ac, tv etc. There are many things to think about. We use ours just to sleep in and hall stuff. We usually cook on picknic table and don't have built ins in the galley; just one shelf for the coffe maker. An EZ up is nice to have but not required. After 4 seasons of TD'ing the only change we would make is to go a little wider.

[Kevin A]

Andrea,
check out the last posting in this thread,
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... 029#185029
Dan is in Brevard, NC and has a trailer for sale.
Here's his website. http://brinet.com/~mbsncfl/page1.html

[Zyamfier]

The "Dragon Wagon" will be available for viewing at Fontana Village in NC on the 3-6 of May. It would be a short drive from Asheville to there. Plus you get a bonus of over 600 MINI Coopers driving the mountain roads around the resort.

[Miriam C.]

Andrea, Allan G. has a tear in Fayettville too. His is a real good price.
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... 405#184405

[mincey]

Welcome Andrea!

We have a T@B. When I was first looking at tears, I knew we wouldn't be able to build, so in my research, I had narrowed down to a Camp Inn. They have a great reputation, and good ideas for options. I was not impressed when I looked at Little Guy - too spartan for us. And even though the Yoder Toter's quality is also excellent, I didn't care for the Yoder Toter galley because we wanted a sink, stove, etc. and it is on the spartan side as well. I guess I just like a lot of bells and whistles!!

We ended up with a T@B because my hubby wanted something a little larger than a tear, and so we compromised with the T@B clamshell floorplan, so I still have my outdoor galley under the hatch like regular teardrops.

By the way, we camp about an hour away from Asheville several times a year at Four Paws Kingdom in Rutherfordton. Wonderful campground for our dogs!!

Cheryl

[boomer]

Hi Andrea,

We're in Kings Mountain, which is well under two hours from you. You're more than welcome to come down and look over our Yoder Toter 5 x 8. We've taken a couple of trips with it and probably can answer a fair number of your questions.

Heck, you can even spend the night in it if you'd like!



Mike & Alice

Mike and Alice, I just joined this group. I'm thinking about the Yoder Toter 5 x 8. I talked to Keith out there and he seemed like a real gentleman to deal with. My questions to you are - are you happy with it and what do you use for a tow vehicle ? thank you, Boomer

[mrainey]

boomer,

We're very happy with the Yoder Toter. Nothing to complain about at all. Keith is a gentleman, a pleasure to deal with.

We took the Yoder to the Everglades, slept in it every night, and it never leaked a drop despite some major-league wind and rain. We use a new V-6 Highlander to pull it - effortless, you hardly know the trailer's there. Gas mileage without TD is 24-25, with is 18-19.

As mentioned, the interior is very well finished but on the spartan side. We don't mind the plain galley - like Alan, we tend to spread stuff out on a picnic table and use the galley more for storage.

The queen-size mattress that came with it has been comfortable enough for our post middle-age backs. We haven't felt the need for supplemental memory foam or other padding.

We'll be taking our toy to Yellowstone and Glacier this summer. Cannot wait.

You're welcome to drop by any time and have a look.


Mike & Alice

[Chip]

Andrea,,,,,,, welcome to ya neighbor,,, I am just outside Greenville SC,,

Good luck making up ya mind as to what, which, size, extras, etc ya want in a trailer,,, the more ideas you see the more trailers ya will need to put all of the different ideas together in one place,,,, My first was a wider and longer trailer,,, the one I have ow is a 4x8, I really like the extra room of the wider one but I sure love the lighter weight of the 4x8,,, everything is a trade off,,, ya want a sink,, ya loose half of the counter space,,, ya wanna a/c, ya loose strorage space,,, etc etc,, the facts are that you will spend very lil time inside other than sleeping so plan on being outside socializing with the rest of us,,,

If ya in the area, drop me a privats message or email and you are more than welcome to look at da "pickled Inn" and Ill try to answer any questions ya have,,,

look forward to meeting ya some time,,

chipper

[Tear Fan]

As Miriam said, there will be a few teardrops at Cloudland Canyon on St. Patty's Day, if that interests you. You won't do better than the advice you receive here on the forum. No matter what question you ask, someone will have asked it before, and the collective experience of all who are members is priceless. We are thankful to be associated with this group and welcome y'all to The Nuthouse!

Marvin and Jennifer

[Bill Fernandez]

welcome Andea
You will be better off with a 5x8 If you are going to build one finding plywood for 5 ft wide is not easy But I'm still building mind If I had to do over I would have bought one instead. good luck with what ever you decide to do.

Bill

[boomer]

boomer,

We're very happy with the Yoder Toter. Nothing to complain about at all. Keith is a gentleman, a pleasure to deal with.

We took the Yoder to the Everglades, slept in it every night, and it never leaked a drop despite some major-league wind and rain. We use a new V-6 Highlander to pull it - effortless, you hardly know the trailer's there. Gas mileage without TD is 24-25, with is 18-19.

As mentioned, the interior is very well finished but on the spartan side. We don't mind the plain galley - like Alan, we tend to spread stuff out on a picnic table and use the galley more for storage.

The queen-size mattress that came with it has been comfortable enough for our post middle-age backs. We haven't felt the need for supplemental memory foam or other padding.

We'll be taking our toy to Yellowstone and Glacier this summer. Cannot wait.

You're welcome to drop by any time and have a look.


Mike & Alice

Thanks for responding Mike and Alice. I talked to Ken in Ohio the other day and we might go to Ohio the last weekend in March and look at them. Thanks for the info, I appreciate it very much, Boomer.