New from Southern Utah

[Reddirt]

I'm a newbie. I am retired and live in southern Utah. I'm interested in building my own camping trailer. I found this site and started thinking about a teardrop style. I have a few starter questions:
1) Why do you like the teardrop trailer?
2) What is a minimum - maximum cost to build one?

Thanks,
Reddirt

[bobhenry]

Nostalgia ~~~ These were minimalistic when times were hard! They are reasonably cheap to build , operate, and keep. I can't affor a class A motor home but I can park next to one and get a lot more interest from fellow campers. If it's home built there won't be 214 other models just like it in the campgrounds.

Minimum vs maximum $$$

There is a question What do you want ? How big is your ego ? Do you want all the bells and whistles? You can run the gammet from $400.00 to $40,000 if you want to go crazy. This is why we get together on the electronic highway. How can we keep up with the JONSES on a beer budget. Learn tricks that work and shortcuts that work well but save us $$$$.

Put your wants and need on paper and drop in and visit you will get as many opinions as there are stars in the sky some are gems some are turds sort them out and design for your needs. Just build something and take a bunch of pics.

[jmtk]

Reddirt,

Welcome to the forum from northern Utah! We're up in the Salt Lake area.

Why do I like teardrop camping?

- Camp setup is a breeze - just pull in, open the doors and hatch, and take out the camp chairs.
- A 6" foam mattress beats even a Camprest
- We don't care what the weather throws at us - wind, rain, snow, cold - it's all fun when you're nice and cozy in the teardrop.
- Cooking on a functional galley is a pleasure.
- We can pull the teardrop at freeway speeds with our little Subaru.
- And you'll meet lots of interesting people when they come to see the cool little trailer!

Jeanette

[TENNJIM]

The Teardrop is a perfect match for the way I like to camp. Add to that: It is easy to tow, easy on gas mileage, convenient to park, and can be stored in my garage. I found good teardrops to buy in the 5-6K range but one can be built for much less. This site will offer many options as you review it. Welcome to the Forum.

Jim B / Ogden Utah

[Reddirt]

The kids have left the nest - so, it's just me the wife and dog. I have time to build a trailer, so that's why I started searching the Internet. I had never seen a teardrop till I found this site. I think the design is very interesting and functional. Right now I'm using a tent that goes on the back of my pickup. It's better than a tent on the ground. But, it requires a lot of setup.

Thanks for the warm welcome.
Reddirt

[Miriam C.]

to the playground Reddirt.

1. Check out the Hall of fame
2. I could build it myself and it cost me about $20-30 a week. I saved for a canoe for a long time and found this site. Oh well soon I will get another canoe that weighs 30#. For now I can go fishing and duck in the Td when I want.
3. My husband loves it.

[Roly Nelson]

Reddirt, what other kind of camping unit can be stored in a very small place, requires no high priced insurance, burns no gas and is ready to roll in an eyeblink, with only a bag of groceries under your arm? No other little camping trailer gathers more curious folks than a teardrop. Just back into your campsite, kick off your shoes, open the door and go to bed.......even at 11 oclock at night in complete darkness.

Now, do like many of the rest of us have done. Look at the hall of fame tears, select the style that suits your taste, let us know what it is and when you want to start your build and there will be a bunch of folks that will give you all of the advice needed to complete your dream rig.

It takes no outstanding skills to build one of these trailers. No shop full of high-priced power tools, just basic run-of-the-mill ordinary handy-man style tools. Sure, you can blow your retirement checks on elaborate materials and bells and whistles, but in the long run, building light and cheap is very easy to do. Jump in and join the builder and users and we'll be looking for you at one of our gatherings. This step you are about to take will change your life. I know, I've been there. Good luck and welcome to this fourm, the best one on the net.
Roly

[Mike C.]

Hi Reddirt,

Welcome to the forum.

The best things about teardrops and TTT's are:

1. I don't have to sleep on the hard, hard ground and then try and get off of it in the morning.
2. The cost, we could afford to build one.
3. The size and the fact it doesn't get 5 miles per gallon.
4. People are curious and all want to see it when you stop to camp.


Anyway, see you around.

[doug hodder]

Reddirt...I think the reason a lot of us build a tear, is for the nostalgia thing, or compactness. I liked them as a kid, but for me now it's the beauty of building your own little RV, completely different from anyone else on the road. It really separates you from all the others out there. You won't get a big thumbs up or horn honks from people on the highway you don't know pulling a factory, off the lot, same thing as others have trailer. Storage isn't usually a problem, not like a big RV, easy to pull, park, set-up. Just my opinion. Got my first one in early 80's. Doug

[Nitetimes]

.......It really separates you from all the others out there. You won't get a big thumbs up or horn honks from people on the highway you don't know......Doug

Ain't that the truth!! I get honked at, waved at, thumbs up, smiled at and even followed into rest stops (by cops too, course he did give me a ticket anyway!) every time I pull it out on the highway. I've seen people nearly get whiplash trying to get a better look as I go by. Pretty funny really.
They are a whole different experience from RV traveling/parking and gettin wet in a tent is no fun any more!!

[Bill Fernandez]

Its great its great its good I love it.