Newbie to the T&TTT from Asheville, NC

[carpedubn]

Okay, time to say "hey" from just north of Asheville, NC in the western North Carolina mountains. I have been checking out the forums for awhile, but too busy until now to think about another hobby (building a teardrop). Will retire at the end of this year, so things are starting to loosen up a bit for me. I have designed three different mini-teardrops that I call "moondrops". Originally, I actually wasn't thinking about sleeping in the moondrop, just using it to store and transport our camping stuff. But, I want the TD I build to be lightweight and small enough to tow with my '74 VW Super Beetle or my '84 VW Vanagon Weekender. I am thinking of keeping it under 7-feet long an just 4-feet wide. The galley will need to be raised up enough so that our feet can occupy the space in the rear for sleeping. That way we can sleep in the TD, too. So, I am starting to draw up a new set of plans for the Dub-Drop (DD), i.e. to be towed with a V-Dub. My handle, "carpedubn" is a reference to my love of these VWs, like in "Sieze the V-Dub". Is it weird that the teardrop is the same shape as the VW beetle, or what? I was even thinking of modifying a VW Beetle body into a teardrop, then I think my brain seized up or was that my wife slapping me up against my head? Great to be part of this community. See y'all on the road.

Rod from Asheville, NC
CarpeDubn (Seize the V-Dub)

[Alfred]

Hey Rod,

Welcome from East Asheville/Haw Creek! I was just downstairs working on mine, came up to check the news on the forum! It will be great to have another builder in the area!



I'll be working on mine tomorrow - You are welcome to stop by! Otherwise, keep in touch!

AL in Asheville

[alffink]

hello Al

This is Al from So CAL

Making a tear to be towed behind a super Beatle should not be too be big of a problem to overcome

Over the 4th of July I was at a gathering in Cloudcroft NM, at a campground at 8,600 ft near the top of the mountain we many different tear with several different tow Vehicles, but what should interest you was the two tears that were towed by mini-coopers, the average of tears that I have seen weighs in at near 1,000 lbs dry.

So either one of your VW's should have little or no problem towing a tear, may not make it to the top of the mountain at 60 mph, but you would get there.

Welcome to the madness, keep asking questions, there is an answer out here .

[alffink]

Sorry Rod n Al

Got the names crossed

[rebapuck]

Welcome from the Piedmont. I'm not a teardropper but am a VWer. Tow an Eriba behind my '66 camper and '67 singlecab. Would not dream of trying it in the mountains. My 1600sp is currently being replaced. I was told it would pull the Puck no problem. Well, my 1600 had lots of trouble.

You will find more inspiration and help on this forum than you will ever need.

[carpedubn]

Glad that y'all are out there for assistance. I am gonna need it. Thanks for the warm welcome, too. I guess I need to get started on those plans, huh? I am also thinking of making a basic cardboard mockup so that the wife and I can "try" out the Dub-Drop for size. You know that the wife has to be happy or I don't think I am gonna be happy. Course, she wants to take a sewing machine camping and plug into power so that she can quilt-on-the-go. Don't know how this is gonna work out, but willing to give it a try. And to AL from Asheville, it is good to know there is a master in the area. Send me a p-mail and we can exchange more information. It would be good to get to know more people in Asheville. We have been here 12 years, but working all the time. We gotta get out more. Looking forward to the next campout, but the Vanagon has been in the tranny shop for two months. Also looking forward to getting it back before camping season is over. Rebapuck, are you familiar with the VW camping group "Full Moon Bus Club"? Check them out online at <www.fullmoonbusclub.org>; great bunch of people who like nothing more than camping in their buses and/or trailers pulled by buses. I have only seen a couple of teardrops at any of their campouts, though. See ya online and maybe before too long at a campground near you.

[rebapuck]

Yes, I'm a moonie. Up until my retirement, I worked Saturdays so I couldn't make campouts. I have been to EveryBus every year for vacation.

[carpedubn]

Maybe we'll see you at EveryBus next year. It is one of our favorite bus campouts, but haven't been for a couple years now. I haev also been working too many Saturdays. Will retire this December and maybe can get a life.

[Chip]

Carp,, welcome to the wood butchers association,,,, Greenville SC here,,, You shouldnt have a problem building a 4x7 lightweight,,, I have a 4x8 dat weighs in around 750 lbs loaded,,(sans castiron) one big mistake thats made is overbuild,,, when a light weight frame is mated to a light weight box both gain a lot of strength from each other,,,

a few of us are goning to Davidson River oct 30th thru the 1st,,, Apple Tree loop,,, come on up and join us,,,

welcome again,,
chipper

[rebapuck]

Rod!! Are you aware that EveryBus 2009 will be Oct 8-11? Chris had a conflict. 2010 will presumably be in April again. I am always at the registration desk. Say hi.

If you are anything like me, you are SOOOO going to love retirement.

[wanders]

Okay, time to say "hey" from just north of Asheville, NC in the western North Carolina mountains. I have been checking out the forums for awhile, but too busy until now to think about another hobby (building a teardrop). Will retire at the end of this year, so things are starting to loosen up a bit for me. I have designed three different mini-teardrops that I call "moondrops". Originally, I actually wasn't thinking about sleeping in the moondrop, just using it to store and transport our camping stuff. But, I want the TD I build to be lightweight and small enough to tow with my '74 VW Super Beetle or my '84 VW Vanagon Weekender. I am thinking of keeping it under 7-feet long an just 4-feet wide. The galley will need to be raised up enough so that our feet can occupy the space in the rear for sleeping. That way we can sleep in the TD, too. So, I am starting to draw up a new set of plans for the Dub-Drop (DD), i.e. to be towed with a V-Dub. My handle, "carpedubn" is a reference to my love of these VWs, like in "Sieze the V-Dub". Is it weird that the teardrop is the same shape as the VW beetle, or what? I was even thinking of modifying a VW Beetle body into a teardrop, then I think my brain seized up or was that my wife slapping me up against my head? Great to be part of this community. See y'all on the road.

Rod from Asheville, NC
CarpeDubn (Seize the V-Dub)

Hey Rod,

Welcome from another VW and teardrop enthusiast. Fear not, VW's and tears are a good mix. We tow with a 2001 Jetta TDI. Know yours are older, but as a veteran of towing boats with old Beetles, it's all good.

Hope to see you at a gathering soon.