If it weren't for your TV, would you still pick a tear?

[grant whipp]

... Now its finished I miss working on it.

Sounds like it's time to build another one, Steve ... ...!

[CARS]

a 71 R Model Mack toterhome,

You have to post pics of that rig!

I'm still working on my tear, but ya. I am building it to tow behind my Dodge Dart! My car influenced the size of boat I own too:

[stevem50]

there are a million reasons for a little camper, and the vehicle you drag it with is not one of them.

to me, they are an extention of your personallity- mind you, not all those huge motorhomes are an overcompensation for ahem..? but really, how much conversation can you have about them? yup, its as big as a house.yup, burns a LOT of fuel. seems the conversation is over...

build a td, people will come out of the woodwork to ask to climb inside, then talk you ear off. its pretty cool.

the first time mine was out of the driveway after it was built, at the gas station on our maiden voyage, an old fella came up to me and told me a story about one "just like this" he stayed in overseas during wwII.

old guys don't reminisce and get teary eyed over a winnebago-
i took that as a huge complement!

[NathanL]

I have a 3/4 ton diesel truck tow vehicle and I still have a TD "like" camper. I also have a 25' travel trailer.

Mostly I have the small camper for it's size not weight. Many of the places I go there's no room for a regular travel trailer.

[Tom U]

If you don't like people and just want privacy, don't do a teardrop. The conversations, all the people you will meet and new friends will certainly interfere.

[mechmagcn]

a 71 R Model Mack toterhome,

You have to post pics of that rig!

I don't have any pics of it on this computer, but here is a link of some pics during the build and a few while in use.
http://www.truckconversion.net/photopost/member.php?uid=2494&protype=1

[legojenn]

I use my car for commuting, so I bought a car with fuel economy in mind, plus I really like the way it looks. I have a small trailer even by teardrop standards. It fits the car. If I had a job like my brother does where he needs the carrying power of a truck that is also his office, then I would consider something bigger. I spend 20-30 nights a year camping, but over 200 days driving to work. The commute wins, and with the smaller setup, I can travel further seeing things I wouldn't be able to necessarily afford.

That being said, I picked up a 6x10 trailer recently. If I don't give it to a friend to transport his homemade sailboat, then I will be building a doghouse camper. I won't be able to tow it with the Aveo. I might need to pick up a bigger vehicle for towing.

[bearfromobx]

These are what got me into TTT and other minis. I was looking for a way to get home on Friday after work, hook up, turn around and be gone from civilization so fast that no one can catch me...
I can't see buying a motorhome which I'll have to pay to store or spending $40,000 on a tow vehicle to handle a trailer I won't enjoy driving, constantly fighting to keep between the white lines and won't drive enough. Top that off with a background in construction and engineering and I couldn't stay away from building it myself! The only regrets I have in the 10' range is the difficulty in getting a 3/4 bath and the related plumbing in!

[atahoekid]

The short answer is "yes". but here's the long answer anyway. I love camping but hate being the one who has to deal with pitching the tent, inflating the air mattress, rolling out the sleeping bags, pitching the dining fly, and then setting up the kitchen. I hate breaking down camp even more. If it rains, I'm really cranky. So in theory, some large motor home or travel trailer should cut it, right? NOPE. I like being outdoors, I don't understand why people pull up to a campsite with a motorhome or trailer, roll out the mat at the front door and then never come out of it. EVER... I enjoy sitting around an open campfire, watching the stars, talking with my wife and friends, cooking outdoors and sometimes just enjoying the roaring silence. To me, a teardrop is perfect. Easy to set up and take down, except my wife still wants the dining fly. I cook outdoors on the rear galley and my "tent" has hard sides and stays warmer and I don't need to collapse the air mattress or roll up the sleeping bags. I'm steps away from my campfire and I have room for storing the camp chairs in the storage bay of my trailer and I don't have to take them out of the back of my pickup and put them away in storage. It's ready to go in an instant, packing it away just takes a few minutes. I can also park it in the garage (barely) since the pickup truck doesn't really fit anyway and best of all... I'm building it myself.

Hope that answers the question

[bobhenry]

These are what got me into TTT and other minis. I was looking for a way to get home on Friday after work, hook up, turn around and be gone from civilization so fast that no one can catch me...
I can't see buying a motorhome which I'll have to pay to store or spending $40,000 on a tow vehicle to handle a trailer I won't enjoy driving, constantly fighting to keep between the white lines and won't drive enough. Top that off with a background in construction and engineering and I couldn't stay away from building it myself! The only regrets I have in the 10' range is the difficulty in getting a 3/4 bath and the related plumbing in!

It is really not that difficult........

[eamarquardt]

My brother has had two motorhomes and didn't enjoy either one because they were big and he never felt comfortable driving them. I love trailers because you can drive the vehicle you drive regularly and the adjustments in your driving style aren't difficult to make. We just drove 2,500 miles towing a 6' wide Little Guy and most of the time we weren't even aware it was back there. Small and reasonably light just make life a bit simpler.

Cheers,

Gus

[Wolfgang92025]

Our other car is a F150 with a 5.4L V8 and tow package.
Still love my teardrop.

The truck has pulled the trailer one time, to the DMV to get plates because the Edge trailer brakes were not yet installed.

[john warren]

i built my tear originaly for my dog and myself to go squirrel hunting in.

since then my grandson has gone out with me.
and now my wife is going on trips in it with me.

we started out in a tent 40 years ago, then got a nice used 40 foot class A.
we found we slept in it, got up had breakfast, then took off and didn;t see it again till dinner time. seemed a waste to have something that big. pluss it was hard to do side trips.

the flip side is she wants to be able to get dressed in the morning without having to take yoga classes . so i will get something bigger soon. probably a scamp 13 footer, or maybe a scotty.but for what we do that would be pretty lux camping. i like the scamp for its leak resistant fiberglass shell. i hate dents in aluminum siding.

[CarlLaFong]

I plan on building one because of my TV. I have a Dodge 3500 Diesel. It gets 22 MPG running empty and 13 pulling our 30' fifth wheel. 7-8 extra MPG when driving 2-2500 miles is a significant amount of money at over $4 a gallon. Our old trailer is getting a bit worn and we were considering a new one, but then fuel prices and an unexpected and unwanted early retirement squashed that plan. I have always been drawn to the unusual. I love tiny cars like Honda 600s (I had 25 or 30 of them!!), Fiat 500s, Subaru 360s, etc. I love giant motorcycles like my 350 inch/385 horse Chevy engined Boss Hoss. I was attracted to TDs when our old landlady had one behind her house when we were young marrieds. I used to look at it and think about buying it and fixing it up, but we didn't have a pot to pee in, at that time. Now just seems like the time to build one. I have plenty of time, God willing. I have the old trailer to sell as seed money. I have all of the tools and equipment needed and a large shop. I have a small pot to pee in. As soon as I finish a few projects, I will begin gathering stuff. My brother is very exited about TDs also and is willing to fund one as a prototype and a "foot wetter". We both worked at Santa Fe and Traveleze Trailers in the 70's, so we're old pros ;-). We just need to re acquaint ourselves with the liberal use of staple guns and putty tape. I suppose if we were to surround ourselves with a bunch of alkies, ex cons, illegals and drug users we could re capture that old trailer plant ambiance.

[Senior Ninja]

We wanted a project to help me recover from a divorce of a marriage that was thirty some years. We both are mechanically inclined. I am cheap by necessity and the TD would be paid for when we finished. No more loans for me. I really like building things from wood. Up to this time the biggest project was an extensive wall unit. This promised to satisfy my need to create something of my own design and it was going to be a one of a kind, unique trailer. I had quit sleeping in tents. This promised to allow me to sleep off the ground and give me a sense of security. I'm an outgoing personality type and the trailer is a real conversation starter. My friend and I had so much fun building the trailer, it's time to make one for both my son and daughter. My Pacemaker has given me new life, energy, and attitude. I intend to make good use of it.
Steve