Hi - New with questions

[nclauri]

Hi! I saw a show on the travel channel with teardrops a couple of months ago and I was hooked. One day we will own one, but I do have a question. My husband is 6"1" and weighs around 225-230. He thinks a teardrop will be too small for him. Unfortunately we have not had an opportunity to see one in person. For those of you that have a similiar build what do you think? What are the challenges, if any.

My other question is to buy or to build. What type of qualification do you feel are needed to successfully build your own teardrop and about how long does it usually take?

Lauri

[toypusher]

Lauri,

First, welcome to the board. Everything and anything you want to know about teardrops can be found here.

Your husband's size should not be a problem. A 5 x 9 or 5 x 10 should be plenty big for him (and you).

I personally in in favor of building your own. Althought, there are quite a few very nice manufactured teardrops out there and we have some folks that are members here and will build a custom teardrop for you. Have you gone through the "Hall of Fame" and looked at all the different tears and tiny trailers there? You really do not need a lot of skills to build your own. Some of the folks here had vertually zero skills before attempting to build a teardrop. Planning and asking lots of questions will get you through.

Again, welcome to the board and enjoy!!

[Miriam C.]

Lauri, welcome to the best playground on the net.

You don't need a lot of skill. You just need to read and ask questions and take lots of pictures.

Not only do they help if you have a question, they help others trying to build. Remember, bragging is good.

Enjoy

[tonyj]

Welcome to the board. As far as how long it takes to build, it depends on your time and money. Some have built functional trailers is a few months, and others (like me!) sit and think and spend too much time designing and tinkering to ever consider their trailers finished. If I were to venture a guess, I would say most fall in the 3 months to a year time frame. But again, that depends on lots of factors that depend on the individual.

But people with little previous building experience have mastered the various challenges to turn out very rewarding projects. Take a look at the pictures of the trailers at the Lake Perris gathering that have just been posted. You'll see some beautiful examples there.

My advice--give it a try!

[Outlaw]

Welcome to the site! I'm 6'2" and 250+. My wife and I fit cozy in a 4 X 8 TD that we purchased used. If I were to build, it would be a 5 X 8 just to have a little more space. Keep an eye on this site for TD's for sale. I've seen a few good deals that were ready to roll.

[madjack]

Lauri, I am 6'2 260#s...our first tear was a 4x8, with 6'6" worth of sleeping area...plenty long enough but a little cozy(not bad but...) we are presently building a 5x8 with the same 6'6" length to the sleeping compartment so our 2 mutant chihuahuas don't get smushed ...

We have had many a member who barley knew which end of a screwdriver to hold that built some mighty nice and functional tears..

The time factor is up to you and depends on how much time you can dedicate to it, how much dreaming you do and how much you can afford to spend at one time...you can build a tear for a grand with good scroungin abilities and minimal amenities or you can spend 3 grand or more on a really top shelf unit...the choice is yours...

The Generic Benroy plans located in the top index are a good place to start..using them as a guide, you can build any size/profile Tear you want...

Just remember that we charge for more advice than you can use and the charge is lotssa pics...it keeps AuntiM's bubble oil level and rest of us just luv 'em...

By the way...welcome abord and be sure and keep your sense of humor handy 'cause we are a little nuts about our little campers!!!!!!!
madjack

[jmtk]

Welcome to the forum, Lauri!

I'm one of the folks who didn't have any woodworking skills but built a trailer anyway. I remember discovering this forum, thinking how cool these little trailers were, but that there was absolutely no way I could build one. Just keep reading posts, sucking in all the forum's information, and next thing you know, you'll be thinking you can build one, too. You don't need a shop full of special woodworking tools, either. I used just the tools that one accumulates over years of home ownership (drills, jigsaw and belt sander were the most widely used ones).

I'd suggest building a cardboard mock-up to help your husband decide if he'd be comfortable in a teardrop. A 5x8 would probably be a minimum, longer if you want extra leg room or a deeper galley.

Good luck!

Jeanette

[Mary K]

Welcome!!

I have to "DITTO" what Jeanette (jmtk) said!! I was in the same boat. But I have done and I am still doing it and so can you. Check my build link below for a ton of pics of my build. (they are in reverse order).

Good Luck!!

Mk

[nclauri]

Wow! Thanks for the huge response. I feel so welcome already. My problem may not be in the ability/inability to build the TD, but in the amount of patience it may require!! LOL. My husband has the woodworking skills, but neither one of us have welding, if that is required. I am going to go look at photos and plans. Thanks again!
Lauri

[rbeemer]

Lauri,

You can buy pre-fab trailer frames from local places, I think Harbor Freight has one that bolts together, it is a folding one but with a few modification(not welding(I believe) you can make it into a rigid frame.

[Italia]

Hi Lauri,
My husband is 6"4" and about 255lbs. We love our teardrop. But the way to go is a 5ft wide with 2 doors.


Best wishes,

Italia

[BrwBier]

You didn't say where you are from, but a good way is to see a teardrop in person. Luckily this is the season, their are many gatherings all over the country. Any teardrop owner is more than happy to show you their teardrop, and at any gathering you would be more than welcome to look and ask. One place to look is the section for your part of the country.
Brwbier

[nclauri]

We live in Lexington KY. I didn't see any gatherings near here, but I did a google search for teardrop dealers and I think there is one in Cincinnati. I am currently trying to convince my husband to consider this. We love to camp and this just looks perfect. This next weekend I am sitting him down at this site to look at all the photos and plans. The way I look at it, the building of one would be time spent together and we would be very proud that we built it ourselves once it is done.
Lauri

[asianflava]

I did a google search for teardrop dealers and I think there is one in Cincinnati. I am currently trying to convince my husband to consider this.

If this dealer is a Lil' Guy dealer, just keep in mind that Lil'Guy trailers are on the small side. There is nothing wrong with them, just something to think about.

[oklahomajewel]

Lauri, welcome ! and don't let the look of the teardrops influence you until you actually lay down in one! Definitely get around to seeing one in person and actually lay inside.... and remember! !!!! Building your own is how you can make the bed long enough, make the ceiling a little higher or more squared off , and the door size and shape as you want it !!! That's the beauty of the teardrops!!

Definitely go with 5' wide and have hubby lay down with his hand folded behind his head and then measure his height!

Julie