How long before you got moving?

[Danno]

I lurked for about a year, then I registered. I posted a few times here and there trying to work out details. I've been a registered member for a little over a year, and I think I've got a solid plan on paper. BUT, I haven't started building yet.

Probably won't start until this summer, and even then, i don't know how long it will take me.

I did just buy a hitch for the Honda CR-V, so it's tow capable now.

How long did you lurk/research/design for before you started to build?

I've followed a bunch of build threads, and they generally seem to move quickly once they start building (not all, but most, it seems)

I can't be the only slow-to-start lurker-type, can I?

[bobhenry]

I lurked 4 days signed in mid Feb assembled the HF frame in the dining room and was towing Eggbert that month

However...... He was just a test. He was a toy cargo trailer no bells no whistles. No doors and no windows.

Chubby was my summer project I starteed May 23rd



and finished (useing the term loosly) a month too late for our fall gathering in September. Ther first organized outing we were able to attend in Chubby was the 08 Shivaree In mid January


Here is Sept 10th note the lexan roof in front is not yet pulled down into place.

[gregp136]

We joined a year ago January, and I had planned to reseach and plan until the warm weather arrived. The the HD trailer went on sale, and was only able to keep it in the box for two days before it was calling me to start.

Greg(and Laurie)

[chorizon]

I bought my Kuffel Creek Comet plans the day after I first saw RV Crazy back in 2004.

I bought the all the steel and the axle for the frame a couple of days later.

I cut all the pieces and then the project sat there until I found this site in early 2008.

I got a lot of inspiration from this site and "finished" my trailer last year in 2010.

Only took 6 years!

[egjacks]

I have been lurking and dreaming for about 2+ years, I had no place to start a build because the wife and I were attending college and moving every 6 months. Finished school and now have access to a garage. but it wasn't until our last camp out (tent) to the Oregon coast this last February that the wife finally got behind the project. we talked about the benefits of not freezing to death (there was snow on the beach), and of having everything ready to go at a moments notice, and not having to retreat to a hotel, spending money we didn't have in order to keep the trip from being miserable. then the trailers went on sale and we picked one up with a 20% off coupon from harbor freight. Then I decided that I should get serious about asking a bunch of questions and registered on the forum, the trailer is currently laid out on the garage floor in pieces because I am still deciding if I want to make some small modifications before assembly. I have only had the trailer about a week and I am dying to get started for real. I want to start using it last week! sooner if possible!

[Woodstramp]

I think I started about 6 months after finding this place. Been building a camper from scratch (when time allows)off and on for about nine months. I have a budget of $1000....mainly using scrounged materials. I hope to have it campable by late summer of this year. So far...got a decked frame, two side walls, two windows, door frame, an AC unit and into only about half the budget.

[pete42]

If you think it takes time to build a TD try building an airplane.
I started with an all fiberglass one help from my friend
who upon learning he had diabetes said if he couldn't fly anymore he wasn't building an airplane and sold his I too followed soon after and sold mine.
Then I had an all metal build lots easier to build, father died I revamped my front garage the one I had built wider and longer so I could build an airplane,
into an apartment for my mother. which meant moving my airplane to a local airport until a dentist saw it and wanted it worse than I did.
long story longer never did finish my own build so I just bought a factory built one and flew it for several years.
good luck on your build try not to think of the long task ahead just do all the little things and one day we will read about your first trip.

pete

[rebapuck]

Who cares? Enjoy the ride.

[Bigwoods]

The Generic Benroy plans at the top of the page are designed for use with the HF trailer. That's what I did. Mike has terrific ideas on how to move the axle back and do the entire project. It will make tings much easier for you and you can always adapt them if you want to change something.



Once you start it will be all consuming. I really enjoyed the build. My main change was to make mine 5' wide.

[rmclarke]

Who cares? Enjoy the ride.

+1
...what she said! I got an old popup trailer (July 2007) took me 9 mos to rebuild it before I started my build...I've been working at it off and on ever since.....
I'm happy to say we will be camping in it this spring/summer
soooo it's taken me almost 3 years, but it's been a blast, I've learned a lotta stuff from all the great people on this forum
and I'm looking forward to meetin' a bunch of them too.

[caseydog]

I actually had my first TD before I joined this forum. That may be a rare thing.

After a sold that one, and got my new frame, I had my second TD built within six months.

CD

[kirkman]

I think I lurked for a year or more before I started my build. When I did it only took me 30 day to finish. Well I don't think I will ever finish. I am always changing and adding things.

[dh]

I lurked for two hours, then started asking questions. How fast you can build it depends on how many bells and whistles you want, and how much free time you have. Funding can also determin the pace of a build. Mine is built about $100 at a time

[gipsey]

I built before I found this site so there was no lurking for me. i thought about building but had no idea where to research, i was not computer literate then ( actually i'm still not computer literate ). i ask a streetrodder friend from california who had built his own teardrop what the measurments were. when he said his was built from 4x8 sheets of plywood the light came on. One week later I was pulling my first build to Pueblo Co. for a show. I'v gotten slower but not better on my builds and am working on and camping with # 7 now. roger

[aggie79]

Great topic!

I lurked for about a year, then started my build. Six months into the build, just after the walls and floor were framed, our house was broken into and all of my power tools were stolen. About 18 months after that, my teardrop was near campable, but I was in a car wreck and totaled my tow vehicle. Six months after the wreck, we made our first camping trip. In total, I am 2-1/2 years into my build and am about 80% complete.

The funny thing is I'm about 6 months into thinking about/designing #2. #1 will be finished no later than the end of August, and after fall camping season, #2 construction will begin.