Hello from NJ

[Deryk the Pirate]

Hi folks,

Just wanted to give a quick intro. I live aboard a 34 foot sailboat, so am not a stranger to cramped quarters lol. Ive been wanting to do a little more since the boating season is really kinda short, and my PT Cruiser can only tow a 1000lbs the TearDrop is in my range.

This is kinda what i would like to do, wondering what the thoughts are for weight. I kinda like cliff's doing it as a 5x10 trailer http://picasaweb.google.com/cliffneff/T ... XRlBTMg_c#

but i was wondering if its too big to keep the 1000lb weight max. The 5x8 trailer is 265lbs.

any thoughts?
thanks
deryk

[Deryk the Pirate]

lol any one out there? Just trying to get an idea about the weight, would hate to build a trailor and find my lil car cant pull it.

[Steve Frederick]

It should be pretty easy to build a nice 4-by-8 under #1000.
I build this one for a customer to pull with a PT Cruiser. It weighs #760.
A 5-by-10 might crowd #1000..

[alffink]

Deryk

Just a thought, wieght as Steve suggests should not be all that difficult to attain. Just browse the forum and look closely at the different build techniques.

Speaking of build techniques, your sample showed one of the angular builds, Many like the angular look to go with specific TV's, but it isn't any easier to build than one with the classic curves, in fact they can be more difficlult to seal with all of the seams.

Build what you like and get what you want. No two Tears are identical even the commercial builds take own their own personality, very shortly after the owner camps a couple of times.

Welcome to the madness

[Deryk the Pirate]

Wow steve you are a talented carpenter. I definatly want to keep the weight down, but why do I have this sneaking feeling that Im gonna build a 2nd one lol.

My design is going to probably look a bit like:
http://www.mikenchell.com/weekender/index.html
but a flatter back.

I used to do a medieval reinactment, and want to get back into it but tent camping got old lol. So I kind of want to go with a gypsy cart looking 4x8(maybe 4x8 witha box in front for my battery and ac unit) I Want a rear door, thought either a futon or a foam mattress cut up so i can "S" fold it into a couch to be able to entertain. I read the posting on the forum about the wonderfully talented artisan who made the large gypsy cart, but I am not that skilled and don't have a vehicle that large lol. So 4x8'ish will have to do. Its just me and maybe sometimes my bengal cat named hobbes, and anyone else I bring along for the ride.

Thanks
deryk

[WayneFromMo]

Welcome

[Alfred]

Welcome from the mountains of Western NC! Seems to me I have seen a couple of folks on the list who had a gypsy wagon look to their campers...

Here is Steve Cox's Vardo:



Al in Asheville

[Deryk the Pirate]

Yeah Steve Cox is a master artisan, mine will also be smaller. But its all good, oneday if I get a stronger tow vehicle (and a garage to work in) I might want a full size Vardo of my own.