Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **LiLREd** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:30 am

Hello everyone,
My name is Mary, aka LiLRed. I guess you could call me a wannabe as I have yet to own a teardrop trailer. Discovered these little guys about 5 years ago and have been wanting one ever since. I am an avid hiker and backpacker, but can't get my hubbie out there for anything. This may do the trick. Haven't decided if I want to buy or build, but am leaning towards buying. Ideally, I would love to find a restored '47 Kenskill. I love that design.

Anyhow, I am very glad I found this site. I hope to acquire a trailer soon and join y'all on one of those outtings I've been reading about. Looks like y'all have a great time out there.

Just a wannabe in Nashville.[/img]

by **martha24** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:44 am

WELCOME!!
Mary,
This is a good place to dream & figure out what you want to do.
If you can't find a restored Kenskill and you are willing to build, you can get a Kenskill pattern though Lil Bear.

Each profile has cabinet, door, and window locations indicated, as well as galley lid hinge-point and axle centerline location. A simple chassis drawing (of the way I build the frames) that any competent welder can follow for fabrication is available on request at no additional fee.

http://www.teardrops.net/LilBear/plans.html
If you provide supplies & postage:$5 or otherwise $35 if he provides everything. You won't find a better deal than that if you want to build.
Good luck on whatever you choose to do. :thumbsup:

Martha

by **LiLREd** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 11:54 am

I've seen those plans on the website, but I thought all he offered is a paper cutout of the profile. I'd need a lot more info than that as I have no experience whatsoever. Is what he offers enough?
Thanks for any info.

by **madjack** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 12:06 pm

Mary, what L'ill Bear offers is a full sized pattern with markings for cabinet mounting and a frame diagram...enough, if you have the skils and imagination...combined with the "Generic Benroy Plans" at the top of this page, you could then build the trailer of your dreams with all that info, minimal skils and tools...oh yeah...and best of all...all the info you can stand from the members here...all ya gotta do is promise us pictures...we luv 'em and they are worth at least 1000 words.....

Mary, spend sometime reading and familiarizing yourself with the various builds and realize that we have plenty of folks with minimal skils that we have helped get into teardropping and we have quite a few woman builders as well...have some big fun.........
madjack

by **martha24** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 12:19 pm

Mary,
Basically it would be a paper pattern, but he also is willing to put on the pattern where everything goes. Grant (Lil Bear) is a very decent guy who is very helpful. I got many of my supplies though him and have liked dealing with him. My profile is more based on the kit profile and I got it some place else being that I was in a big hurry and at that point didn't know anything. I would have been better of to get it though Lil Bear.
The basics of buliding is the same no matter which profile you choose. There are some different variations, but if you study how the generic benroy is built (at top of page) will give you ideas.

Plus another web site to check out is Teardrop Fix-It-Shop as they build exact replicas of Kenskills or you can buy a kit. I've never done bussiness with them, but never heard of any problems either.
http://teardropparts.com/index.htm
Just keep asking questions, people on this forum are very helpful. :thumbsup:

Martha

by **Steve_Cox** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:16 pm

Hi Mary,

Welcome to the forum. If you decide to build a TD yourself, you can do it and we are always here to help. Here's an ad for a Kenskill I found that's only about 280 miles from you.

1947 Kenskill Kamper Model 10 genuine teardrop vintage aluminum trailer. One of only 200 made by hand by Bill Kennedy in Burbank, California during the summer months of 1946 and 1947. Owned bya single family in Texas until last year. Very rare! $3800 firm. Call (937) 671-4557 Jim Cincinnati, Ohio
Submitted 04/18/07 [email protected]

by **LiLREd** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:26 pm

Steve,
I had seen that one on Craigslist, it's also listed on this site too. He emailed me back and upped the price to $4000. It was in Texas at the time, and he was shipping it to Ohio. He said "the price will continue to go up as I drive", what's with that?? So I have ditched that one.

Thanks for the heads up though, I appreciate it. If anyone else hears of one, let me know.

by **asianflava** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:55 pm

LiLREd wrote: It was in Texas at the time, and he was shipping it to Ohio. He said "the price will continue to go up as I drive", what's with that?? So I have ditched that one.

Don't get too discouraged with that one. The guy apparently thinks he has a museum piece. Those original trailers are out there if you look.

If you do decide to build your own, there are lots of us out here to answer your questions. There are some nice trailers built by people who were inexperienced (when they started) with tools.

by **Miriam C.** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:18 pm

Mary, Glad you found us. We have the best DIY on the net. There are lot of us with little or not experience actually building stuff. I had lots of experience doing pieces and parts of a lot of things. Putting it all together is easier when you have people willing to help.

Whatever you decide to do, Enjoy and help keep the bubble oil level. That means :pictures:

and good humor.

by **mikeschn** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:39 pm

Hey Mary,

Welcome to the forum. You can do it... (build a teardrop).

We would love to welcome you to the rank of builders!

Mike...

by **LiLREd** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 4:32 pm

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. Y'all have made me feel like I can build a tear, even after looking over the benroy plans. (i think i know what a spar is now). I'm still in the market for an original '47 Kenskill. I found one out in WA that looks to be in really good shape from what pics I have seen so far. Is $5000 a good price for one in good shape? How hard is it to find good condition originals?
If this one doesn't pan out, I will get the plans from Lil'bear for the Kenskill and y'all can walk me through the build. I have a feeling all the info I need is right here on this forum. I'm trying to figure out how to insert a pic of the one for sale on this post, but my post keeps disappearing when I do. I'll try again.

by **mikeschn** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 4:41 pm

I wouldn't spend $5000 for a teardrop. I could build 2 for that price.

As for uploading that pic... first download it to your desktop, and then check out the "Help with Photos up there in the menu.

Mike...

by **LiLREd** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 5:04 pm

mikeschn wrote:I wouldn't spend $5000 for a teardrop. I could build 2 for that price.

As for uploading that pic... first download it to your desktop, and then check out the "Help with Photos up there in the menu.

Mike...

Gee thanks Mike, I really appreciate that, but one is all I need. You can have it ready when???????

by **mikeschn** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 5:06 pm

That $2500 price is building it yourself. You don't want to know what teardrops cost if you have to figure in labor. Oh you do? Okay, hold on...

Got it... here are the Camp Inn prices...

http://home.centurytel.net/edevold/pricing.htm

Mike...

by **martha24** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 5:08 pm

Hi Mary,
Was this the web site where you found the Kenskill?
http://www.teardrops.net/classads01.html
as it shows a couple of '47 Kenskills on sale in Washington and one looking the best for $5,000.
Martha

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