Mid-project greetings from a Western Wisconsin teardrop n00b

[Synthesis]

As a long-time Teardrop fan, I decided to start doing some serious research into them approximately two months ago.

I decided I had to have one.

No stranger to camping, whether it be under the stars, in a tent, or in a camper I felt that a teardrop would be the best option for me as I can pull it behind my little two seat sports car.

A little about myself:

I am a 32 year old guy from Western Wisconsin (On I-94), and an avid outdoorsman.
I am also an IT geek and work for a Fortune 500 company doing said geekery.

I regularly attend car shows around the Midwest, and would like a small camper to pull behind the toy when I travel further than a day trip.

I am also a rabid Pontiac Fiero enthusiast, and feel that a teardrop trailer would nicely compliment the Fiero, in that both are unique vehicles, and would tend to look good together.

On with some photos of the beginnings of my project.
I picked the trailer up, and loaded it with supplies..

[hotrod]

Hello from northwestern minnesota!
lots of good teardrop folks in your neighborhood...
check out the tearjerkers website also!

[tearhead]

Welcome from Southeast Wisconsin (Whitewater)! Did you know we're having the first gathering of the year this coming weekend? Cooler Near the Lake V (CNTL V) is at Kohler-Andrae State Park near Sheboygan. Good place to check out a bunch of teardrops, some manufactured, some home-built (there will be some great examples). There will be some tent campers and just day visitors who are in the build stage, too.

If you scroll down to the Midwest part of the forum index, there's a "stickie" for the gathering near the top of the list.

[TPMcGinty]

Welcome from Central Minnesota! Have fun with your build! I did! A few of us (who are not going to make it to Cooler Near the Lake) are getting together this weekend at Eau Galle near Spring Valley Wisconsin (not to far from you).

http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/recreation/default.asp?pageid=153

If you want to see a lot of Teardrop's definitly go to Cooler! They are having a great get together! If you can't make it that far stop in at Eau Galle. I will be in site 13 but infortuantely I won't be in my Tear. I have torn it apart to refinish it and it won't be ready to camp until June sometime.

[Synthesis]

I may have to swing down to Eau Galle then and scope out some teardrops, if people will let me.

Saturday I have the car club run, we are heading to the brewery in Chippewa..

I'd be available sometime after that, or early on Sunday if anyone is interested in giving me ideas for my build.

I got the sides cut yesterday and after tomorrow night I'll be able to start getting the vertical part of the trailer together.

[TPMcGinty]

I may have to swing down to Eau Galle then and scope out some teardrops, if people will let me.

Saturday I have the car club run, we are heading to the brewery in Chippewa..

I'd be available sometime after that, or early on Sunday if anyone is interested in giving me ideas for my build.

I got the sides cut yesterday and after tomorrow night I'll be able to start getting the vertical part of the trailer together.

Hope to see you! So far Jim and Lori will be bringing their Tear along. Lil will be in a tent (she is still building her Tear), and Cheryl and I (and the kids) will be in tents because of the repairs I am doing on my Tear. I hope more people will make it but a bunch of people are going to CNTL. That's the BIG gathering for this weekend.

[J.Heyboer]

Welcome aboard!

[starleen2]

[mcspin50]

Welcome, Synthesis!
As Tim said, I'm still in the building process. The Lily Pad is just out of hibernation, and I'll be camping in a tent this weekend instead of working on my teardrop.

I can show you pics of the build tho.
BTW, there are a number of Pontiac Fieros around my area.
Good luck with your build!

[Synthesis]

Welcome, Synthesis!
As Tim said, I'm still in the building process. The Lily Pad is just out of hibernation, and I'll be camping in a tent this weekend instead of working on my teardrop.

I can show you pics of the build tho.
BTW, there are a number of Pontiac Fieros around my area.
Good luck with your build!

That looks fantastic. You didn't stain the wood at all did you? That is strictly the urethane by the looks of it. Exactly the coloring/look I am going after myself.

As for the Fieros in your area... I am quite aware of them. Read the following if you haven't already and you'll see what I mean.
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43807

[mcspin50]

That looks fantastic. You didn't stain the wood at all did you? That is strictly the urethane by the looks of it. Exactly the coloring/look I am going after myself.

As for the Fieros in your area... I am quite aware of them. Read the following if you haven't already and you'll see what I mean.
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43807

You're right about the finish. The only other thing I did was give it a coat of CPES (stinky stuff) before I applied the 4 coats of Helmsman Spar Urethane. It's a natural birch 7-ply that I bought from Renneberg Hardwoods in Menagha. They even let me see the different plywoods available. Most of my ideas come from Sid by Side (Mark and Pat) from Tennessee with their build called Dragonfly. Looked simple enough for me. Still intimidated by some steps tho.

And what an awesome thing for you to do, pitching in and helping with Tyler's Toy. I admire your willingness to do that. I can only begin to imagine the devastation of losing one of my sons at 18. His Mom and family are just exceptional in the way they've dealt with their loss. I am humbled.

Hope you can make it to a gathering, any gathering, to see all the different ways you can make your teardrop truly yours. The folks on this forum are just amazing for helping, and giving ideas.