New Owner

[GuitarPhotog]

Hi, I'm Charlie and I just bought my first teardrop

It is an aluminum trailer purported to date from 1948. Based on looking at the metal cabinets and original built-in cooler, I'd guess '48 is pretty close.

There is a maker's plate, but it's got too many coats of paint to read, and will have to wait until I can put the trailer in my garage for some closer inspection.

The trailer has no (zero) modern amenities such as rooftop ventilation, interior lights, insulation or sound-proofing. The galley is primitive with metal cabinets and almost no counter space.

Which brings up my dilemma... To what extent should I keep it "original" vs. what modern amenities (necessities in some cases) should I build in. I'm pretty convinced that I must have interior lights, and a more workable galley is very desirable but...

Here are the first pictures. Taken in the seller's front yard.

[CliffinGA]

Welcome to the madness!! Nice trailer!!

Cliff

[mvperini]

Which brings up my dilemma... To what extent should I keep it "original" vs. what modern amenities (necessities in some cases) should I build in. I'm pretty convinced that I must have interior lights, and a more workable galley is very desirable but...

from the looks of the paint and frame it does not look it is totaly original but i have been wrong before. i have a 1947 kenskill that was all original, but i needed electric, water connections as well as few modern items that the wife wanted. just remember you are the one that has to camp in it make it the way you want. here is ours




mike and zellie

[GuitarPhotog]

That's very nice trailer Mike. You're right about me being the only one who has to camp in it. I'm pretty convinced that I'm going to re-do the galley. The total lack of a counter kills the existing one for me.

Is that tongue box custom, or where should I look for such?

I'll start a gallery when I get it home and get some more pictures.

<Chas>

[Gage]

There is nothing wrong with upgrades. And by the way, what can be seen, nice looking teardrop.

[Roly Nelson]

Wow, you have a nice looking teardrop there. I wouldn't be too concerned about making changes in order to make it more comfortable. Unless it is a vintage, one-of-a-kind, much desired, original teardrop trailer, I wouldn't hesitate to alter it to suit your special needs. I think that insulation and sound-proofing, might not be required, especially here in our temperate climate, in California. I guess if you plan to camp in the high mountains, it might be a different problem.

So get to cracking, go ahead and remodel it, to what ever makes it more camp-worthy. After all, you are the one that will enjoy it in the long run. Twenty years from now, no one will care what changes you have made, since it was done to suit your particular needs.

As an aside, I suggest that you make plans to attend the once-in-a-lifetime, 18th Dam Gathering at Lake Shasta, April 28th to the 30th. This is one great teardrop gathering, that you just don't want to miss. (You're welcome, Grant)......who has been promoting this event for 18 years! If you fail to attend this wonderful gathering, shame on you, look what you have missed, sharing your teardrop find, with other like-minded TD' ers.

So bottom line is, we hope to see you there, with all of the other various shapes and designs of teardrop trailers, most of them, clad in aluminum, woody, fibergalss or Line-X coverings. (Lets see, what else, wood-strips, canvas, sheetmetal, Lowes 1/4 inch plywood, stainless steel (not hardly) and soon to come, space-age, carbon fiber constructiion.

Some may have other exterior finishes, but many of us, lacking common sense, are simply showing up with wooden, TD wonders, and often when or if it rains, turn into cornflakes, if the weather turns for the worst..... (I know, I've been there!, Ala, Dam Gathering #10!)

So, plan on attending, and go with the flow. No one expects perfect restorations, one-of-a-kind individual designs, or any kind of "violations of original builds, (which many of us know little of) or what ever floats your boat.
Roly, hoping to see you there, and plan to enjoy some Prime-Rib dutch-oven marvels.

[mvperini]

Is that tongue box custom, or where should I look for such?

the front storage box is a storage box made for travel trailers picked this one up from Lowes. it holds my electrical, battery, propane and BBQ.
lots of people make there own custom storage box to fit their needs



Mike

[mary and bob]

Hi Charlie: We have a 1946 Modernistic teardrop that we have tried to keep as original as possible. However over the years some things were changed or modified. We got it back to original as best we could, and use it like that. It has no interior, no roof vent, no electic or water, no cabinets. For inside lights we use a battery lantern and a couple of those stick-on battery lights. We use coolers, and portable camp stoves, some of them vintage. When we take it to a cruisein or show we have a collection of vintage camping items we take. When actually just camping we use a mix of old & new stuff. Like Gage & Roly said, do what works for you. Very nice looking trailer, congratulations and enjoy it. Bob

[GuitarPhotog]

Well, the trailer is home in my garage, and the maker's plate on the door says "Grote Mfg. Model 1050"

My first objective is to line the interior with carper/hull liner and add ventilation to combat the condensation problem.

Then the galley comes next.

I'll be starting a blog and will keep ya'll informed about the progress.

I think it'll be called "The Tin Tent."

<Chas>

[urban5]

Teardrop is cool, but so is the truck behind it