Introducing myself

[LiLREd]

Yup that's the one. I'm talking with the woman about the silver one. I'm really torn between buying one and going out this summer or waiting till next summer and building one. I'm a huge antique buff and the thought of owning an original is very appealing. However, the satisfaciton of building one is appealing to. What to do, what to do......

BTW, I just want y'all to know I have frittered away an entire saturday reading this website and researching teardrops. I know just enough now to be dangerous. Is this what happens when the bug bites?? Hours upon hours of reading and I'm soooo confooosed.....

[mikeschn]

Mary,

That is the typical path the new builder takes. Just think of all the money you'll save. Just think how you can build EXACTLY what you really want... Yes, you'll be a builder before you know it. And the satisfaction beats buying an original every time. Oh you want it to look old? Yep, you can do that too.

Share your dream with us, and we'll point you in the right direction. You've gotta do the building though...

Mike...

[martha24]

Yup that's what happens. And the more time you spend now reading and thinking, the better off you will be in the long run.

If you get a chance to see some trailers up close the better. I don't know how far you are from Piney Creek, NORTH CAROLINA, but there is a get together on May 18-20. I'm west coast, so I don't know how long it takes to drive on the east coast area.

We built on an old vintage trailer frame that had 1934 Ford wheels, so that was our start. But the more you think things out, & create plans etc, especially if you decide to build the better off you will be. I think in the poll section, could be wrong, there was a question of how much it cost to build. Some people build really cheap, others it depends on what you add. Especially if you want particular fenders & trim & wheels, windows etc.
If you like the look of vintage the best place to get it is though some of the TD builder-suppliers.
The other one, besides the two I already listed, to look at for parts is RW Johnson
http://www.teardroptrailers.net/
Good luck on deciding what to do.
Martha

[LiLREd]

:yes: Yup that's what happens. And the more time you spend now reading and thinking, the better off you will be in the long run.

If you get a chance to see some trailers up close the better. I don't know how far you are from Piney Creek, NORTH CAROLINA, but there is a get together on May 18-20. I'm west coast, so I don't know how long it takes to drive on the east coast area. Martha

I can't make it that weekend, my son graduates HS on the 18th, and if I can get away on the 19th, Damascus VA has their annual Trail Days festival that weekend. I'll be backpacking the Appalachian Trail for six weeks after that, so I'm covered up till the middle of July. I would love to go to a gathering and check out what others have done.

[Miriam C.]

BTW, I just want y'all to know I have frittered away an entire saturday reading this website and researching teardrops. I know just enough now to be dangerous. Is this what happens when the bug bites?? Hours upon hours of reading and I'm soooo confooosed.....

There is no cure, only treatment. Lots of picture taking and sawdust usually helps. For some the addiction is so bad they must run out and buy one. For them lots of camping an taking pictures helps some.

Good luck

[Gaston]

Hi Mary
welcome to the forum If you search the members list at the top I'm sure you will find members in your state that would love to have you visit and admire their teardrops and tell you how easy it is to build with all the help you'll get here

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Welcome Mary!!!
Here's some of my thoughts as I too think the KenSkill is the best looking profile out there...

If you buy an original, you're gonna be set at a four foot width... get's pretty cozy for two.

If you build, you can pick whatever width you need. Grant's free profile shows original lines and placements, but also has more contempory "suggested lines" on a few things. The profile diagram also gives information for bumping the overall length up to 10'.
So, building your own gives you lots of choices.

The information your husband was told is total hogwash... The only teardrop that I know of that flipped was parked at the time and lambasted by 150 mph winds during a hurricane in Florida.

If that doesn't sell your husband on getting involved, don't fret... I got another idea that might work... Try your hand at outdoor cooking in dutch ovens.
It's fun and easy and it's pretty hard to screw something up.
You will amaze yourself what you can cook in the great outdoors with them!

Associate the dutch ovens with teardropping and I'm sure you'll get his interest!

The nice thing about buying is instant gratification.
The rewards for building are many.
BTW- I'm two years into this and have two incomplete builds at present.
Limited free time and a busy self employment schedule.
So... Building your own can be a long drawn out time drain, not to mention the "Friendly Camaraderie" from the whens it gonna be done crowd.
Try to get your husband's interest from the starting gate if you decide to build, 'cause four hands can do more than two.
You'll know you have the bug when you drift into slumber with teardrop thoughts at bed time.

If you hang around here long enough and still have no teardrop to show for, the nice folks here will take pity on you...
I'm getting ready to set out to my seventh gathering in a forth different teardrop loaned to me.

Best of Luck!!!

[toypusher]

Mary,

Let me add my welcome to the list!! Hope we can help you which ever way you decide to go!!

[sid]

Hi Mary and welcome to the group.

We are just down the road from you in Smyrna, TN, so if you would like to take a look at ours just send me a PM. We built a 4x8 Kuffel Creek, sold it, and bought a 5x8 Yoder Toter. We are very happy with it and like the "retro" look.

[LiLREd]

Hi Mary and welcome to the group.

We are just down the road from you in Smyrna, TN, so if you would like to take a look at ours just send me a PM. We built a 4x8 Kuffel Creek, sold it, and bought a 5x8 Yoder Toter. We are very happy with it and like the "retro" look.

I would like to come down and meet y'all. But I doubt I can get down there before the middle of July. I'm leaving in just 3 weeks for a 7 week trip and haven't even started thinking about packing. I'll definately give you a ring when I get back. Thanks.