Where are the Utah Teardrop Gatherings???

[PSBreen]

Hi!

We're still in the planning (dreaming) stage. We have been looking at a lot of the albums. I have to say we've seen some awesome teardrops here. I think we have it narrowed down to a Benroy style with a basic galley and a small cabinet in the cabin. The one that JMTK and her family built a few years ago is pretty close to what we are thinking about.

Since my wife and I are new to the teardrop community, we thought we'd see if there were any local events were we might meet some people. We'd especially like to talk to people that have built (or are building) their own trailer. Sadly there doesn't seem to be much happening in Northern Utah. Anyone know of anything happening in the near future? If there are any local builders that are interested in showing off your trailer we'd be happy to meet up with you sometime.

[nevadatear]

Sorry folks, there hasn't been much happening in NO. Utah for a while. There are a number of builds going on in NO. NV if you ever want to make the drive, and a few (like ours) completed ones. You may need to go to CA or CO for a gathering, or Las Vegas, doesn't seem to be much gathering interest in Utah. There is a Utah Tearjearker group, but they have been real quiet of late, as in the last two years.

[Corwin C]

I would like to see some activity in Utah as well. We're so blessed to live with the incredible opportunities to camp and yet there seems to be very little going on. I see the occasional picture on the forum about people from other areas of the country on their way through (I've even seen a few of you as you have traversed the highways of southern Utah) The problem I've got is I'm in the process of helping build my parents a home this summer and my build is stuck in planning stage due to lack of $$$ and time. For now, the TTT is home on weekends while I help w/ the house.

Sooner or later, I have the feeling that I might break down, pick a weekend, and send out a blanket invite and see if anything happens. Fall? Spring? Bryce Canyon? Capitol Reef? Maybe a little farther north? The interest is definitely here ... just awfully apathetic ...

[PSBreen]

Oh well, I was afraid of that Guess that explains why alot of people leave the state for outdoor activities. It's really a shame to as there are some amazing National Parks and camp grounds here. We were actually down at Bryce and Zion a few weeks ago (Memorial Day weekend) and hope to go back there before the end of the season.

We are considering looking through the member list for builders in Utah. Not sure if it's considered proper edict or not but thought about sending a PM to a few. Just to see if anyone would be interested in getting together to talk about their teardrops. We've got Steve's Shop Manual and it's got some great info, but nothing beats seeing the work and talking to people that have done it before.

@ Debbie & Randy Would the name of that group happen to be the Utah Salty Teardrops? We were members of their Yahoo group for a bit. As soon as their admin guy found that we didn't have a trailer. We were politely told that they were not a builders group. Just friends that camped together.

[TheresaD]

This same user posted some similar nonsense in a couple other threads. I have PM'd Mike about it.

[nevadatear]

No, that is a different group. I am not familiar with them, other than they are a camping group. Same with the TearJerkers, but they don't care what you bring as long as you come! Check the links above, under the title at the top of the page for "tearjerkers" and follow the links to that site. Unlike this site, you won't be able to see anything until you join. There is a Nevada and a great basin site. They used to be joined but Kathleen and folks in LV put together a NV site last year. Maybe you want to fire them up? I agree that your state has much to offer. We did the Zion Bryce loop a year ago Easter in our Tear.

[sunny16]

I have posted a few times with the same question about a Utah gathering. The latest was about a month ago over at the Tearjerkers site. I waatched and had over 100 people look at my post but no one replyed for the longest time. I did notice that there were some great replys recently for encouragement to keep asking. I think there are enough people in Uah who may come to a gathering. I would be willing to show up and even help plan something. But so far, until this thread, I haven't seen anyone reply when I have asked. I guess the best way is to plan a camping weekend, post it and see who shows up. Depending on the dates, a few may show up. I would try just to see who else is in Utah! Let's get something going here.
There are plenty of places to go to in Utah.

[Archeo Robert]

I live in Logan and I am in the planning stages. I have been gathering information here and there while working on designs as time permits.
I agree that it would be nice to get a gathering together. I don't know when or how but I am open to it the idea. Its always good to be able to exchange ideas and local resource information.

Robert

[robfisher]

First, I have to agree with Corwin about Utah camping opportunities. I live near Boise, ID but somehow I've camped more in Utah than Idaho. It's because of the diverse places within the state. Great deserts, exciting history, beautiful National Parks, Alpine mountains. Utah has it all.

It's way past time for somebody to start putting together some gatherings. Years ago Sumner did the Ruins Tour which was a lot of fun but since then I can't think of anything.

It really doesn't have to be that hard to get something going. Just put the word out and people will show up. You don't have to really plan much. Sue N. and I came up with CHUTE and did it 3 years in Oregon. CHUTE stood for Clyde Holiday Unplanned Teardrop Event. We were very invested in the UNPLANNED part. Just some people meeting in a roadside campground cooking dutch oven and telling lies to each other. Really the only planning that went into it is someone saying I'll be there the weekend of. Anyone want to meet me? The first year I think we had 7 teardrops show up.

So I challenge you Utahns. Just put out the word and see what will happen.

As a side note, form Ogden it's a 10 hour drive to Minden, NE and this weekend, the 16-19 will be a great collection of the best people on earth. There is a motel 50 feet from the campground. Drive over early Saturday, spend the afternoon and go to the evening potluck and drive home Sunday. Anyone working on a build, at any stage, will find it the most inspiring 2 days of your teardrop life. Well worth the drive.

[asianflava]

Here is my take on your situation; Just go camping and announce it on this forum. If people are interested, they will camp with you. Who knows, it could turn out to be an annual thing if the response is there.

[WayneW]

Hi, Steve and Cynthia. Welcome to the group!!! I'm in the planning/dreaming stage as well. I do know of one or two others that are building and I have seen a couple of TD's on the road (actually, I have only seen one on the freeway heading south in the Sandy area and my wife spotted one in American Fork last week). I think what we need to do is just finish our own builds and start our own group/gathering.

I have also decided on the Benroy plans. Actually, I'm getting more ideas from Mike's Baja Benroy. I want mine a little taller so that I can put a table in it and have head room for a couple of removable bunks (I have two kids at home still that love to go camping). The Benroy is well documented and Mike has one of the best build journals of the Baja of any project I have seen. I can't wait to start.

I would love to go someplace relatively local to see other people's builds. Once I have my own completed, I figured I would do what others have suggested and just announce my vacation plans and see who shows up.

[goramsey]

I am in Southern Utah. I gave up posting my next outing because of no interest. And as stated above, holy cow, we are in the land of beautiful National Parks, National Forests, and State Parks.

[PSBreen]

We really were hoping that there might some event already scheduled. The goal is to talk to someone who has already done what we are planning to do. Maybe they can keep us from making a few mistakes. One of the issues that still worries me is registering the trailer. Utah doesn't give you too many options and I get a different answer every time I call the DMV.

Like Sunny we've only seen a handful of teardrops. All of them were manufactured (Little Guy, Moby1, etc) trailers. All just sitting in a parking lot. We did see a T@B in a campground once. A T@B isn't really what I picture when I think teardrops though.

I wish we'd heard about the 4th International Teardrop Gathering a little earlier. Already have too many things planned this weekend. Sure sounds like something to think about for next year though.

A camping trip or maybe just breakfast/lunch somewhere to sit and talk trailers would be cool. Got to get our house repairs finished and build the trailer fund back up so we can start collecting parts. Our goal is to have a usable trailer by next spring.

Take care

[Engineer Guy]

See my Trip writeup on a UT outing in case it helps generate interest...

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=838614#838614