How much?

[cracker39]

Couldn't vote, it went from "less than $3000" and jumped to "over $5000". What about something for in between? So far I've spent about $3200. My wife keeps wanting to include the cost of tools, but that's not right. (Don't tell her I told you that)

I noticed that my price range wasn't in the poll too. As for cost of tools, I don't count that either. I did buy some tools, but then, I'd be buying tools anyway. The only thing that I really bought that I may not have otherwise was the angle grinder for chassis work and it was under $20, plus a few metal cutting blades...maybe another $10. The build was just an excuse to get a replacement for my old bench band saw and sander as both wore out and quit working a few years ago, and a rabbiting jointer I've always wanted anyway.

[cs_whypt2]

CS_whypt2
For the trailer frame Miller Compressing has a useable steel lot, some place off of 14 and National Ave. If you talk to one of the operators they will hold off crushing a good boat trailer and save it for you. They some times get utility trailers that need some work but you can get them cheep. When they get one they will hold it for a few days. You can usually get a trailer frame for around 50 to 100 bucks, but some times even less. If you want to build a trailer the rear axel from a Dodge mini van will work. Most junkyards will charge a 100 bucks with tiers springs and hangers. All you have to do is pull the brakes out of them and repack the bearings.
Chuck

I came on the computer, and at first I thought my post got deleted. Then I saw it was a poll and I was overjoyed. Thank you guys all so much for helping out. Once I pay my cousin the last I owe him for my truck I will be all set to start construction on the grasshopper.

Chuck Craven-
Thanks for all the help. I will look into that. It works out real well, cause I will be talking to one of my buddies that likes going to the junk yards and stuff tomorrow (think it is a hobby of his).
Thanks again.

[JunkMan]

I haven't voted because I am still building and don't have all of my costs tallied yet. As you can see by my user name, I look for the bargins! Your final cost just depends on what you want the final product to look like.

Check the damaged rack at your local lumber yard, I have picked up pywood with damaged edges and/or corners for up to half off. Since you will cut off some of the corner anyways, it's a great way to save a couple of bucks.

I always watch the sale ads, and have picked up 1/4" birch plywood on sale for $12.99 a sheet (regularly $19.99).

Many of the items that I have picked up were salvaged. I once bought a trashed out pick-up camper for $20, and got a furnace, stove, reefer, several windows, and lots of miscellaneous from it (not to mention selling the scrap aluminum from it for a few bucks).

On the down side, I'm making birch cabinets, very $$$ compared to plywood. I choose some retro looking fiberglass fenders, over $200 for the pair compared to under $50 for some basic steel ones.

[Hardin Valley Magic]

I guess I got off lucky with mine. Reciepts all total $985 so yep kept it under a grand. Bought the H.F. 1474# trailer built every thing myself no frills kept it simple!!
Go with what fits your needs and add to it as you go along. Seems to work for everone else.

[Loader]

Still building. I'm keeping a spread sheet (Excel), counting everything, including tools I have bought (not too many, I had to get a pocket hole jig, a few more clamps, saw horses). I am currently at the "install 12VDC wire" point, and have spent about $1100.00. I am guessing I'll come in around $2500.00 when complete, including entertainment setup. I already have most everything for the galley from my tent camping days.

Welcome to the board! There are a lot of great camping spot inyour area. I grew up just south of you, over the IL boarder. Good luck with your project.

[Ira]

Maybe I'll sit down one day, stare at it head to toe, and do a guesstimate on total cost.

And I DO have to include the cost of tools, because the only time I'll ever pick up that orbital sander again is when it's time to revarnish.

[kartvines]

This is the first time I added thing up. I am restoring a teardrop, so I have 2 columns, the first is everything that goes into the restoration of the trailer, which includes the purchase cost of the original trailer and next column is supplies, screws, paint, sand paper, I also added add on, like radio and TV. I am not finish with the restoration of my tear but so far my cost has been for column # 1 is $2,109.06 and column # 2 is $983.81 for a grand total of $3091.87 I still have much more work to do , and I am sure this number will climb. There are other cost that I did not bother to add up, so this is my general cost so far.

[larryl]

We kept all the receipts, bought everything new total cost just shy of $3,000. Time spent with family members helping...priceless.

Larry

[PaulC]

I'm not sure but the handbrake(wife) informs me that around $8000.00AUD has been invested in materials and tools
Cheers
Paul

[Scott L]

I built my first tear on the cheap, figuring that it was just a prototype. I wanted to get it done quickly and didn't want to spend a lot on it. I'll be able to use this prototype for a few years and figure out what features I really want and which I don't need. My next teardrop will probably be in the $2000 range because it will be the real deal and I'll use materials that will give it a more finished look. In the meantime, I'm clean, dry and off the ground.

I choose the < $500 for my vote but it would have been in the $500-$1000 dollar range if I started from scratch. I started with my existing utility trailer and made a teardrop top for it. That kept the cost down quite a bit. Being a prototype, I used low cost materials (like OSB for the sides, left over house paint for the exterior finish, made my own windows, etc.) So the < $500 figure is just for the top. Like some others, I also scrounge different pieces. I just remodeled a bedroom so I kept a piece of the old carpet for the teardrop. I also just replaced the queen size mattress on my bed so the old one is going into the teardrop.

--Scott

[Finntec]

I originally planned to keep it down to about $1500, but a few extras here and there added up. Like two doors, windows, better galley supplies and interior AC electric. Cost was no object when it came to quality of materials, but I still wanted to stay within my budget. Still under $2000.

[Joanne]

Hello every one, I'm Dianne, and new to the site. I have just graduated highschool early and have found that even with a full time job I got a little extra time to do "stuff" and I would rather be doing something productive rather then sitting in front on the tv. My friends and I are big into camping/parking in the middle of the woods somewhere and sleeping the night, hunting and fishing. I want to build a teardrop/grasshopper trailer. How much did you guys/gals spend on building yours?

Thanks very much! I know it will be an adventure building the trailer, but an even bigger one using it.

Hi Dianne!

It's neat to see another gal around here. We are getting quite a large contingent of women teardroppers here. Tears aren't just for guys anymore!

As others have said, you can spend as much or as little as you want to. I've gotten a bit carried away with trying to make mine look nice so the costs are going higher than I planned. That said, a low cost trailer doesn't have to look like junk, you just have to work harder to find inexpensive materials. One suggestion is to build your first trailer as a "low cost" trailer then in the future if you decide you want a pretty one, build a second and sell the first. Although I'm on my first trailer I hear a lot of the guys saying that after using their first tear for a while they have changes they would like to incorporate into a new one.

I'm building a grasshopper style. You can see the progress at my website.

Welcome again. And as MadJack says, "Pictures, we love 'da pictures!"

Joanne

[DMSyde]

I'm a newbie, as well, so treat me right, and we'll be fine. Funny story, actually. A couple of hours ago I was browsing a fairly unknown auction site (eBAY) for a camping trailer. Nothing fancy, you see, something to accomodate me and maybe someone else, who knows, I doubt it, though. Anyway, I happen upon this cute little thing for sale called a "teardrop" storage trailer, having no idea what the hell a teardrop even was. It was 4'x8', I believe, don't recall, but I was sitting there thinking, "Oh yeah! That's what I need. See? Look. I could put a little stove back there, cabinets, maybe a fridge (okay, maybe not a fridge). Economical as hell!" Of course, I was joking to myself. Ahh, but a couple of hours later, lo and behold!

Bottom line, I'm 22, looking for something to do with my truck and time, my limited finances (11 or 12 large for a little 16' trailer? I think not), yadda yadda, sob sob. Thanks a bunch, everyone. In the short amount of time I've been here, I've gained incredible knowledge and I am, indeed, psyched and motivated to proceed with this little endeavor. YOU ROCK!

Good luck with the poll person's grasshopper, too. Can't recall the name...

[mikeschn]

Hi DMS,

Welcome to the forum... glad you found your way here...

I'm currently building an Ultralight (while finishing up the Lil Diner). Haven't started on a grasshopper yet... but you never know... Have you seen the Rugged?



Mike...

[DestinDave]

Couldn't vote, it went from "less than $3000" and jumped to "over $5000". What about something for in between? So far I've spent about $3200. My wife keeps wanting to include the cost of tools, but that's not right. (Don't tell her I told you that)

No, that's not right at all! Those tools can now be used for many other projects - maybe even something on her Honey-Do list... If they are used towards a Honey-Do project, do they get discounted from the total cost? Probably not. Hey, fair is fair. Right?
You can tell your wife I said this. Just don't tell my wife I said it...